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Scandinavia

Kristiansand in southern Norway.

The gloriously eccentric museum that reveals Norway’s strange past

Where in the world did women use potatoes to make themselves look sexy to potential suitors?

  • Sue Williams
Hurtigruten has plied the Norwegian west coast for 130 years, originally as a postal service and later as a vital supply line.

A 130-year-old, essential ferry route doubles as a spectacular cruise

Over breakfast, a debate begins: is this a cruise or a ferry? Delicious meals, viewing lounge and other luxuries on one hand, a busy schedule of stops and cargo deliveries on the other.

  • Simon Johanson
The glass pyramid was designed to handle 4 million entries a year. But the Louvre now regularly draws more than twice that figure.

The best of Europe

Its compact size means you can pack a huge amount into a holiday. Our guide will help you make the most of your time.

Cruising through Norway’s fjords with Havila.

No buffets or entertainment – just an incredible cruise experience, period

Most cruises are a blur of activity – buffets, crowded pools, and predictable entertainment. This journey is very different.

  • Natasha Bazika
MS Silja Serenade.

I took this ferry to save on an airfare. I had no idea what I was in for

A quiet overnight trip from Stockholm to Helsinki was what I expected. Instead I found myself on board a debauched Vegas on water.

  • Natasha Bazika
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Hotel tragic … we stopped in at the posh Hotel d’Angleterre.

I discovered the key to a perfect (and affordable) city stopover

I felt like a competitor in The Amazing Race. “You have five hours in Copenhagen – go!” But then I did something smart, a move that proved to be very useful.

  • Lee Tulloch
Tórshavn has a population of 20,000 people.

Remote island is now the ultimate bucket-list destination for food

Home to the world’s most remote Michelin-starred restaurant, this town of just 20,000 is a magnet for foodies looking beyond the typical gourmet destinations.

  • Tim Ecott
“Finnish women are tough, and we know how to make the best of our lives.”

Want to know the secret of the world’s happiest country? Ask its women

Saunas, nature and a lack of corruption are often cited as the reason this country leads the way on happiness. But there may be another key factor.

  • Heidi Fuller-Love
Frederiksberg is a confident district with its own character.

The new way to see Europe – travelling via the ‘unbucket list’

My plan is simple: ignore the tourist sights and pick a neighbourhood neither too dishevelled nor too wealthy – and do nothing.

  • Brian Johnston
Reine in the Lofoten Islands, Norway.

Europe’s most beautiful islands are nowhere near the Mediterranean

The Lofotens are made up of hundreds of islands but wherever you are, the scenery is stupendous.

  • Brian Johnston