Cities and Towns in Europe
Nusfjord is another cute historical fishing village in Lofoten. It's very compact and is a bit more groomed than some of the others, which is probably one of the reasons why it's on most visitors' itinerary.
Despite being Norway's fourth largest city, Stavanger has more of a small town feel. The quaint, walkable streets abound with cafes and restaurants ensuring that any visit to Stavanger must coincide with a meal or drinks with friends and laughs. With highlights like Norway's oldest (untouched) cathedral (St. Svithun's cathedral), the colourful old centre (Gamle Stavanger) and a lake that is totally windsurf ready, there is plenty to occupy the traveller. Not to mention MaiJazz, Stavanger's international jazz festival in May. But perhaps Stavanger is more famous for being the gateway to the Lysefjord and 2 of Norway's most popular day hikes, Preikestolen and Kjerag.
Svolvær is the capital of Lofoten. It's a proper town with a small marina. Svolvær is probably most famous for the 150 meters tall pinnacle, Svolværgeita, which thrones over the town. It's possible to scale the Svolværgeita, but climbing gear is needed, though the climb isn't technical. A return trip is set to 5 hours and can be done by joining a tour.
Since Tromsø is a stop on the cruise route along the north coast of Norway, the cute city is very much geared for tourists. There are plenty of hotels, (ice) bars, tour agents and souvenir shops, but they never take away the cuteness and small-town feel of Tromsø. The waterfront and the nearby shopping streets are, of course, the first places to visit, but on the other side of Tromsø bridge, you will find the Arctic Cathedral and the cable car to the top of Fløya Mountain. A little quirkiness of Tromsø is the underground road network, complete with junctions and roundabouts, bored into the mountain below the city.
Trondheim is Norway’s third largest city, and it is a lively place with lots of university students. There is a lot to see and do here. The port’s fish market is the place to grab a couple of fish cakes (a must!), look at boats and people watch. There are lots of museums in town, and the 12th century cathedral – Nidaros Domkirke, Scandinavia’s largest medieval building – is its biggest draw card. If old buildings are your thing, Trondheim also has Scandinavia’s largest wooden palace, which is now the official royal residence. Pleasant and beautiful, if architecture and fish cakes isn’t enough to entice you to come for a visit, the fact that you will have been in a city founded by a Viking king more than one thousand year ago might just do it.
A progressive city with a pretty Old Town. There are plenty of cool spots on the banks of Brda river, which snakes through the city. Mill Island (Wyspa Młyńska) in the middle of the river, is particularly charming with footbridges, old mills and museums. Locals like also to emphasize Bydgoszcz’s vibrant music scene.
A traditional town with grand churches and a fine Town Hall. It's a quiet place with old folks and dilapidated houses, which are probably more charming to look at than to live in. The town has its fair share of old red-brick buildings, which could be Poland’s trademark.
In terms of authenticity and prettiness, the Old Town of Gdansk is in the absolute top of Poland's "Stare Miasto". The cobbled streets are lined with embellished, slender houses, which all seem well preserved. And though the photogenic historical part is popular with tourists, it never feels invaded. The drinking scene is particularly authentic with many characterful bars. But Gdansk isn't just a one trick horse. The "modern" part has several quirky sights, like the longest residential block (860 m) and Zaspa, a neighbourhood filled with murals. There are also great day trips from Gdansk. Sopot and Torpedownia to the north, and Malbork Castle (a UNESCO site) to the south are the obvious ones.
Charming Krakow is not just Poland's second largest city, but also its biggest tourist magnet. The main market square (Rynek Główny), that makes up the heart of the Old Town (a UNESCO site), is the biggest medieval town square in Europe and one the most impressive you will ever see (the town wasn't destroyed during WWII). The square is flanked by historical townhouses while the many halls, towers, and ancient churches catch your attention. Add to that a pretty riverside castle and a bohemian Jewish quarter with bars at every corner, and you will quickly understand why Krakow is considered to be the new Prague. If that shouldn't be enough reason to put Krakow high on your to-do-list, there is also a handful of major sights just a daytrip away (Auschwitz, salt mines, to name a few). Oh, did we mention the nightlife is pumping?
Like so many other Polish cities, the medieval Old Town of Olsztyn is charming with several churches and other historical buildings. It's also here you find the statue of Olsztyn resident Nicolaus Copernicus, the scientist (among other things) who placed the sun in the center, rather than the earth. Surprisingly, the Catholic church didn't pay any attention to his theory until many decades later. Since Olsztyn is the largest city in the region, it makes a nice base for exploring the northeast, where you find among other sites; Wolf's Lair (Hitler's secret bunker), the burial pyramid in Rapa, and the Masurian Lake District.