Perched on a harbor rock, the Little Mermaid welcomes visitors to Copenhagen, a lively Danish capital famed for happiness, good food, free education and healthcare, and a 37-hour work week. The city blends modern architecture, world-class museums, charming canals, and Old Town streets in the world's oldest kingdom, plus 15 Michelin-starred restaurants and Strøget, the world's longest pedestrian shopping street.

Sandnes is minutes from Stavanger, one of Norway's oldest cities, founded in the 12th century and unusually rich in historic buildings. Highlights include Gamle Stavanger's cobbled streets and 18th-century wooden houses, the 12th-century cathedral, lively music and museums, and the dramatic Lysefjord with Pulpit Rock: a 26-mile fjord framed by cliffs, best seen by boat or a tough 2-hour hike.

Bergen, ringed by the Seven Mountains, is one of Norway's most beloved cities for its scenic harbor and fjords. Ride the Bergen Cable Car or Fløibanen for great views, or climb Rosenkrantz Tower for a panorama of the city. UNESCO-listed Bryggen preserves Bergen's Hanseatic past with colorful alleyways, restaurants, studios, and boutiques; nearby museums cover that history and 19th-century life. For art and music, Kode includes works by Edvard Munch and the home of Bergen native Edvard Grieg.

Geiranger is a tiny village visited mainly for its breathtaking fjords. The UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord is narrow, framed by steep cliffs and waterfalls dropping into clear blue water, with only a few abandoned sheep farms marking human presence. For views, visit Geiranger Skywalk on Dalsnibba or Eagle Road's hairpin bends. Explore by yacht, boat cruise, or kayak, and watch for the Seven Sisters, the Suitor, and the Bridal Veil waterfalls, visible from the water.

At the head of Nordfjord, Olden is a tiny village of about 600 people, ringed by peaks, waterfalls, and Jostedalsbreen National Park. The park holds mainland Europe's largest glacier, with over 175 square miles of ice spilling into ancient valleys. Hike in the morning to Briksdal Glacier, then return to Olden for fresh fish lunch beside waters reflecting the surrounding mountains.

Heimaey, the largest of Iceland's Westman Islands, is famed for the 1973 volcanic eruption from a previously unknown fissure that buried part of the town in ash and lava. Residents were evacuated after a heroic effort to slow the flow with seawater, saving the harbor and fish stock. They later returned and rebuilt amid volcanic peaks. Eldheimar Museum tells the story and includes an excavated ruined home from the eruption.

Reykjavik is Europe's northernmost capital and a delight to visit, with modern steel-and-glass buildings contrasting the colorful wooden houses of the old quarter. Outside the city, Iceland's rugged beauty shines: the Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa with mineral-rich waters, and the Golden Circle leads to Thingvellir National Park, site of Iceland's first parliament (930 AD) and a place to see tectonic fissures. The country also offers spectacular geysers, glaciers, and waterfalls.