Verdant hillsides flank placid waterways in Torvik, where the scenery is as inviting as the rural charm. Within driving distance, travelers can explore fjords, glaciers, waterfalls and multiple national parks. This tiny village serves as the gateway to Heroy, an important fishing municipality comprised of 200-plus islands, many of which are connected by bridges. The region is home to a museum that reveals what life was like in the 16th and 17th centuries, as well as an annual Viking pageant. On the island of Runde, birders have the chance to see more than 500,000 seabirds, including colonies of shags, gannets, skuas and some 100,000 pairs of puffins, during the February-to-August nesting season.

Language: Norwegian

Currency: Norwegian Krone (NOK)