Reykjavik, Iceland's capital, is a walkable, welcoming city of color, creativity, cafés, bars and a growing food scene. Two-thirds of Icelanders live here, and it's the best base for outdoor adventure. See Hallgrímskirkja, Harpa, the harbor, geothermal pools, geysers, waterfalls, and the northern lights.

Vigur Island, the second largest in Isafjardardjúp Fjord, is 2 km long and 400 m wide. A single sheep-farming family ferries sheep to the mainland each summer to protect nesting Eider Ducks; eider down is still collected here. Visitors can walk the maintained path to see Arctic Terns, Black Guillemots, and Atlantic Puffins. Highlights include a 1840s windmill, Viktoria House café, and one of Europe's smallest post offices.

Djúpavík offers a hauntingly beautiful glimpse of remote Iceland, where a tiny settlement nestles beside a dramatic fjord and steep mountains. Once a bustling herring station, its weathered factory buildings and quiet shoreline tell a fascinating story of the country's coastal past, while the surrounding wilderness invites travellers to soak up stark scenery, seabird life and the raw, elemental charm of the Westfjords.

Husavik, the European capital of whale watching, offers close encounters with humpbacks, minkes, blue whales and white-beaked dolphins in Skjalfandi Bay. Backed by Húsavíkurfjall, the pretty town has red houses, old wooden warehouses and a 1907 church, plus a whale museum and local food like reindeer burger and plokkfiskur. Nearby hikes, horseback rides, Lake Botnsvatn, Dettifoss and lupin-covered slopes add to the spectacular Icelandic scenery.

Humpback and minke whales feed in the waters around Jan Mayen, a striking volcanic island with towering black peaks and lava beaches. North of the island rises 7,500-foot (2,300 m) Mt Beerenberg, an active volcano capped by glacial ice and last erupting in 1985. With Norwegian permission, visitors may land at this rarely visited outpost, walk to the research and weather station, and view the eastern black-sand shore. Birds may include Atlantic Puffins, Northern Fulmars, and Snow Buntings.

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 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.

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.

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.