Northern Europe: France, Iceland & Greenland

There’s a good reason that Iceland is considered a photographer’s dream destination. Its terrain is visually stunning, offering views of lava flows, hot springs, unspoiled nature – and colourful, fascinating cities like Reykjavik. The world’s most northerly capital brings together quaint villages, exciting museums, a flourishing music scene and restaurants that rival Europe’s finest. Explore more of Reykjavik on a European cruise!

Nestled along the shores of one of the most breathtaking fjords in Iceland, Akureyri is the nation’s second largest urban area and a centre of Icelandic folk culture. Visit the museums, hike along the extraordinary vistas or explore the botanical gardens. Shop in one of the charming boutiques and then catch a glimpse of the most northerly 18-hole golf course in the world. After you’ve worked up an appetite, feast on some Nordic specialties like smoked lamb and fresh fish and then indulge in an Icelandic fried pastry.

As the largest town in Iceland’s remote Westfjords’s region, Ísafjörður is a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts. Boasting an enchanting fjord ideal for watersports and a mountainous landscape brimming with opportunities for hiking, biking, horseback riding and more, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Originally a church site and a 16th century trading post, the town of Ísafjörður is home to wonderful museums and historic sites for those wishing to learn about the region’s rich heritage and local culture.

This charming, colourful town has a pleasant centre with a small square featuring Greenland’s oldest fountain. The culture project Stone and Man can be seen as an open invitation to explore the town to find the 30 different motifs that are chiseled into rocks and stones by local and Scandinavian artists. The Church of Our Savior from 1832 and the town’s two museums are also well worth a visit. Try traditional Greenlandic suaasat, an Inuit wild game soup made with rice, onions, and potatoes. Shop for local arts and crafts inspired by legends of the Inuit culture, such as the tupilak, a small carved figure representing powerful mythical magic.

The coastal town of Nanortalik provides a charmingly scenic way to experience the natural beauty of Greenland. With its name meaning “the place of polar bears”, it’s not uncommon to see amazing wildlife during your visit here. There are plenty of awesome encounters a trip to Nanortalik provides, including breathtaking views of its mountainous terrain, kayaking and hiking near the Tasermiut Fjord for some outdoor fun, and an engaging local history lesson at the Nanortalik Open Air Museum.

Canada’s oldest city is super friendly (and wait till you see the views)! Go sea kayaking, whale watching or wander down George Street (their version of Bourbon Street). Taste partridgeberry muffins (a Newfoundland treat) and see Cape Spear’s National Historic Site.

Saint Pierre and Miquelon is a French archipelago south of the Canadian island of Newfoundland. Sparsely populated Miquelon-­Langlade island contains the Grand Barachois lagoon, home to seabirds and seals. The busier Saint Pierre island has a distinct French atmosphere, with a cathedral and the Musée Heritage, which celebrates regional history. An island nearby, Île-aux-Marins, features an abandoned fishing village.

Admire the rugged coastline that surrounds Halifax, the world’s second-largest natural harbour. This beautifully preserved city is Nova Scotia’s capital and was founded in 1749. Take steps through history and climb to The Citadel to witness the Old Town Clock.

Everyone loves New York and there are a million reasons why. Here are but a few: the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Grand Central Station, the Ellis Island National Monument, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, Times Square, Broadway, Greenwich Village, 5th Avenue and Central Park.