Dublin blends cobbled streets, buskers, and lively pubs with warm, cosmopolitan energy. Its history runs from Viking trading port to Georgian capital, and its role in the 1916 Easter Rising is preserved at Kilmainham Gaol. See St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Book of Kells at Trinity College, and the Guinness Storehouse, and explore the city's rich literary legacy, from Joyce to the Museum of Literature.

Reborn as a cool modern city, Belfast blends culture, architecture and cosy pubs. Explore the Maritime Quarter and Titanic District, where the Titanic Museum tells the story of the famous ship built here, alongside SS Nomadic and the Maritime Mile. See the Salmon of Knowledge, tour the Peace Lines and murals by black taxi, then visit the light-filled Metropolitan Arts Centre and lively Cathedral Quarter.

Canna, one of the Little Isles in the Inner Hebrides, has been home to Neolithic people, Celtic monks, Norse settlers and later Scottish groups; stone churches and a standing stone used for punishment still remain. A bridge links it to Sanday. Now managed by the National Trust of Scotland, Canna has tiny populations, Compass Hill (139 m), and a bird sanctuary with 15,000 breeding seabirds of 14 species, especially guillemots. White-tailed sea-eagles may also be seen.

The Shetland Islands, Britain's northernmost point, lie between Scotland and Norway across 100 islands linked by bridges and ferries. Rich in 5,000 years of history, they offer Neolithic sites, Iron Age brochs like the Broch of Mousa, wild cliffs and beaches, abundant seals and seabirds, and hardy Shetland ponies. Lerwick, the capital, greets visitors with stone waterfront buildings.

The sandstone cliffs of the Isle of Noss are home to gannets, puffins, guillemots, shags, kittiwakes, razorbills, fulmars, and great skuas. Designated a National Nature Reserve in 1955, it has one of Europe's largest and most diverse seabird colonies. Inland hillsides have been grazed by sheep since the late 1800s, when about 20 people lived there to run the sheep farm; shaggy Shetland ponies also graze the windblown slopes.

Fosnavåg offers a taste of coastal Norway at its most authentic, where a working harbour, sea-salted air and striking island scenery set the scene for a peaceful port call. This is a place for exploring the waterfront, soaking up the raw beauty of the surrounding fjords and skerries, and enjoying the unhurried pace of life that defines the Norwegian west coast.

Norway's "powered by nature" slogan fits Bronnoysund. Arrival by sea, just below the Arctic Circle, can feel eerie and awe-inspiring, especially at midnight sun. Torghatten Mountain (258m) is pierced by a natural hole, with a troll legend explaining it; you can walk through for views. Nearby are 13,000+ islands, including UNESCO-listed Vega Archipelago, famed for Stone Age traces and centuries of eider duck farming.

At the head of Holandsfjorden, Svartisen Glacier offers a spectacular taste of Arctic Norway, where icy blue ice meets steep mountains and deep, still waters. From the deck you can admire one of the country's most impressive glaciers, or venture ashore to enjoy crisp air, dramatic scenery and a true sense of wilderness in this remote and beautiful corner of the north.

Svolvaer, a pretty port in the Lofoten Islands, sits beneath salt-and-pepper mountains and opens onto extraordinary scenery. Its dramatic backdrop is unforgettable, though the Northern Lights, Midnight Sun, and pods of orcas are strong distractions. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, the climate is milder than its northern location suggests. Stroll the compact streets, see fresh fish and shrimp in the harbour, and watch sightseeing boats head out to Norway's wild landscapes.

Tromso, in far northern Norway above the Arctic Circle, is an Arctic gateway of mountains, glaciers and husky sledges, yet also a lively city with a strong student vibe. In summer, enjoy the midnight sun; in winter, the polar night, a half-marathon, and the return of the sun. Ride the cable car to Storsteinen for views of the city, fjord and bridge. Visit the Polar Museum, Science Centre and the Alpine Botanic Garden, and look for the world-famous northern lights.

Skarsvag, a tiny Arctic fishing village in northern Norway, is the world's most northerly fishing village and a gateway to the North Cape on Magerøya. With only about 60 year-round residents, it offers stark beauty, birdlife, and fjords. Nearby are the midnight sun, North Cape's globe viewpoint over the Barents Sea, bird cliffs with puffins and gannets, Knivskjellodden, and the North Cape Hall and tunnel chapel.

Svalbard's southern region, especially Spitsbergen's west coast, is less ice-clogged than the rest of the archipelago because of the Gulf Stream. Fjords here were used by trappers, hunters, and mining companies, and you can still visit remains of huts and mines, along with active scientific and commercial settlements. Depending on the season, glaciers can be reached on foot or by sea. Hornsund offers dramatic geology, rugged mountains, spectacular glaciers, seabirds, and seals.

Svalbard's southern region, especially Spitsbergen's west coast, is less ice-clogged than the rest of the archipelago because of the Gulf Stream. Fjords here were used by trappers, hunters, and mining companies, and you can still visit remains of huts and mines, along with active scientific and commercial settlements. Depending on the season, glaciers can be reached on foot or by sea. Hornsund offers dramatic geology, rugged mountains, spectacular glaciers, seabirds, and seals.

Svalbard's north is less affected by the Norwegian Current than the south, so it has more ice. Northern Spitsbergen offers striking fjords, bays, and glaciers. Nordaust Svalbard Nature Reserve includes Spitsbergen's east coast, Hinlopen Strait, Nordaustlandet, and islands such as Kvitøya and Storøya. Expect walrus haul-outs, bird cliffs, glaciers, Arctic flora, polar bears, and historic sites; ice conditions determine access.

Svalbard's north is less affected by the Norwegian Current than the south, so it has more ice. Northern Spitsbergen offers striking fjords, bays, and glaciers. Nordaust Svalbard Nature Reserve includes Spitsbergen's east coast, Hinlopen Strait, Nordaustlandet, and islands such as Kvitøya and Storøya. Expect walrus haul-outs, bird cliffs, glaciers, Arctic flora, polar bears, and historic sites; ice conditions determine access.

Svalbard's north is less affected by the Norwegian Current than the south, so it has more ice. Northern Spitsbergen offers striking fjords, bays, and glaciers. Nordaust Svalbard Nature Reserve includes Spitsbergen's east coast, Hinlopen Strait, Nordaustlandet, and islands such as Kvitøya and Storøya. Expect walrus haul-outs, bird cliffs, glaciers, Arctic flora, polar bears, and historic sites; ice conditions determine access.

Svalbard's north is less affected by the Norwegian Current than the south, so it has more ice. Northern Spitsbergen offers striking fjords, bays, and glaciers. Nordaust Svalbard Nature Reserve includes Spitsbergen's east coast, Hinlopen Strait, Nordaustlandet, and islands such as Kvitøya and Storøya. Expect walrus haul-outs, bird cliffs, glaciers, Arctic flora, polar bears, and historic sites; ice conditions determine access.

Longyearbyen is Svalbard's largest settlement and administrative center, with the archipelago's best services and infrastructure. Set deep in Adventfjord off Isfjorden, it has a year-round airport, though the harbor freezes in winter. Most shops, hotels, restaurants, and the hospital are within walking distance of the port. Notable sites include UNIS, the northernmost higher-education center, and the nearby Svalbard Museum. Traces of former mining remain throughout town.