It’s only fitting for your Norwegian adventure to begin in Bergen, Norway’s cultural and artistic hotspot. Your hotel is located in the heart of the city. Spend the rest of the day or evening at your leisure exploring Norway’s second-largest city.

In many ways, Bergen is a living museum of medieval times. Founded by King Olaf III in 1070 AD, Bergen was Norway’s capital for many years. As you wander its cobblestone streets and alleyways, note how this bustling city hasn’t lost any of its heritage and historic charm.

Depending on how much time you have, take a funicular train to the top of Mount Fløyen. At the summit, take in spectacular views of Bergen, its fjords, and the surrounding mountains.

For dinner, what better place than the fish market in the city center? Its indoor stalls cook fresh seafood on the spot, filling the air with appetizing aromas.

Molde is the capital and commercial center of Romsdalen, which sits on the southern coast of the Romsdal Peninsula. We’ve stopped at this port many times on our Coastal Express route, but this time we’ll be making a much longer stop. You’ll have all the time you need to enjoy the town.

Your Coastal Experience Team will organize optional activities to enhance your experience in Molde. Accessible nearby on an optional excursion is the Atlantic Road, an icon of the Norwegian coast that often features in Hollywood movies.

If the weather is favorable and time permits, join us on an optional hike up to Varden viewpoint for the best panoramic views of the area. Gaze down at the town from a height of 1,319 feet above sea level and admire the 222 snowy peaks that can be seen across Moldefjord.

If you prefer to stay closer to the ground, pop into the Romsdal Museum, one of Norway’s largest folk museums. It’s only ten minutes from the town center.

Lødingen is a village and administrative center on the southwestern shore of Hinnøya, with a population of under 2,000. Our ships used to visit this port on one of our earlier coastal routes. Returning here is a kind of like a homecoming for us.

We’ll dock at around midday, using Lødingen as a base for a few hours to explore more of Hinnøya island, Norway’s largest island south of Svalbard. Wander the streets near the port and admire the traditional red fishing huts, or rorbuer, that line the shore. As you walk, you’ll likely notice the calm atmosphere of village life.

The highlight of this visit is definitely the breathtaking fjords and mountains that have made the Norwegian coast so famous. Gullesfjord branches off of Andfjord and cuts into the north side of Hinnøya, bordered by pristine mountain ranges. The area is popular with campers, who stay on the campsite or in cabins and fish for cod in the fjord during winter.

One optional excursion is a boat safari that brings you closer to the fjord. Challenge yourself to a hike in the mountains for the reward of majestic panoramas of the surrounding land and sea.

You have a full and exciting day to look forward to in Honningsvåg. Honningsvåg is the northernmost city on the mainland, and its landscape is distinctive, with barely any trees or bushes. This far north, winters are long and the snowfall is high, so prepare for fantastic winter scenery and activities.

Feel the snow crunching under your snowshoes as you hike across the plains. You could even try your hand at ice fishing, a beloved winter tradition in the far north. Taste the local delicacy, king crab, which is caught in the waters around Honningsvåg and served year-round. Admire local art in the Once Upon a Dream art gallery, and don’t miss the Honningsvåg Church. This is the oldest building in the area, dating back to 1885.

The highlight of any trip to Honningsvåg is a visit to the North Cape. This is one of the northernmost points in mainland Europe, which we will access by snowmobile during the snowy winter months. It’s an unmatched experience to stand near the northern edge of Norway and look out over the Barents Sea under the polar night sky. Add the Northern Lights to the sky above and the moment will be unforgettable.

The cape is marked with a famous globe monument, which demands a selfie or two… or five. When you’re ready, head inside North Cape Hall to warm up. Learn about life in the High Arctic through a short film and a variety of exhibits.

Having reached the northernmost point of our cruise, we’ll turn around and begin going south as we sail away in the evening.

Today, we explore Lofoten, a striking group of islands that rise out of the Norwegian Sea. As soon as you see the towering peaks around you with fishing villages clinging to their sides, you’ll understand why this island chain is so often praised as one of Norway’s most stunning locations.

We can’t visit the area without spending some time in Stokmarknes. This historic town is part of Vesterålen, an archipelago just northeast of Lofoten. For us, this place is particularly special. Shipping pioneer Richard With founded the Original Coastal Express here in 1893.

The Coastal Express soon became a lifeline for Norway’s remote coastal communities. Fittingly, our legacy has been immortalized in the place where it all began. Standing on the waterfront, you’ll find our 1956 ship MS Finnmarken, encased in a glass building like a ship in a bottle.

This is Hurtigrutemuseet, the museum that chronicles our history as Norway’s leading costal exploration cruise line. On a guided tour, you can explore the retired vessel and experience the atmosphere of a bygone era.

We’ll dock in the town of Svolvær in the afternoon. Located on the island of Austvågøya in the south of Lofoten, Svolvær is the biggest town of the archipelago, humming with shops, restaurants, galleries, and cafés. You can also admire views of the Svolvær Goat, a nearby mountain that resembles a goat and its horns.

A wide range of optional excursions is available from Svolvær, which may include snowshoe hikes, scenic bus tours to Lofoten’s highlights, or winter kayaking.

After a hearty breakfast on the ship, we’ll dock mid-morning at Ålesund, a town that spreads out across a string of islands.

As we approach the shore, you might notice the distinctive architecture. Every detail of the buildings, from the bright colors to the rounded spires, were inspired by the Art Nouveau style, which was popular in the early 1900s. Almost the entire town received a makeover in the style when it was rebuilt after a major fire in 1904.

As you leave the waterfront, you’ll enter a fairy-tale town, filled with narrow streets lined with unique houses. Take a walking tour of Ålesund’s distinctive Art Nouveau architecture, then taste some of the best local beer from a small brewery. You could also venture out of town for a scenic bus tour to Alnes to experience the Saga Islands, see a lighthouse, and hear countless tales of the Vikings.

If you don’t fill up your camera’s memory card with this, snap some impressive photos of the archipelago from the nearby Mount Aksla viewpoint. The 418 steps leading there might look intimidating, but the views are well worth the effort.

Sitting along the southern tip of the country, Kristiansand is Norway’s fifth largest city. We aim to be alongside from mid morning to early afternoon, giving you plenty of time to explore. 

As you walk around Kristiansand, you might notice that the city is built on a very uniform grid plan, with several straight roads running from the harbour all the way through the city. These roads are lined with architecture from different eras, evidence of the extensive rebuilds the city had to go through after major fires in the 18th and 19th centuries-, and a World War II attack. 

Kristiansand is on a mission to become the most sustainable port in Europe. Find out more about this admirable quest on an optional excursion that includes a visit to Odderøya Island. Here, you can see beautiful views of the ocean and city and visit 18th-century military barracks transformed into creative artist studios that run several sustainable initiatives. 

Kristiansand’s 20th-century military past is the focus of an optional excursion to Batterie Vara. Originally built as a German fort in World War II, it features the world’s second largest cannon ever to be mounted on land. 

Another optional excursion takes you to the working Lindesnes Lighthouse, which marks Norway’s southernmost point. See the beacon that has been guiding seafarers to safety on dark nights since the early 20th century, and learn about the long history of the site that goes all the way back to 1656.  

Once our guests who visited the South Cape have rejoined the ship, we’ll end our cruise on a high note with an end-of-trip farewell dinner. Use this chance to swap stories and show photos to your fellow travelers one last time.