Let me tell you about the land of supernatural beauty,

a country of mystery and unmatched charm.

My name is Stig Bareksten, and I make one

of the best gins in the world.

Bareksten Botanical Gin has won many international awards

for its taste.

People ask if it's the lingonberries

or the elderflowers that create this distinct flavor,

but the real secret ingredient is actually

the terrain of Norway itself.

I use Norway as my garden to forage for my botanicals

and herbs.

Let me show you my Norway and why

so many fall under its spell.

I'm going to bring you to the best places to taste,

see, and connect with the history of this enchanting

country.

I will recommend you to go around, rent a car,

and go from place to place, then you

will experience more of what Norway has to offer.

On this journey, I'm taking you to Bergen, the west coast up

to Trondheim, and down to Oslo.

In my opinion, Bergen is the most beautiful city

in the world.

And I recommend to explore the narrow streets of Bergen,

smell the fish market, take Fløybanen

and admire the view over this beautiful city.

Norway is known for its seafood.

We export 37 million meals a day.

The best way to enjoy local seafood is here with Mariann

from Bergen Fjord Adventures at Villa Vestre.

My name is Mariann.

Here at Villa Vestre, we serve the fresh seafood

Norway is known for right by the Atlantic Ocean.

The traditional diet on the west coast

is heavily dependent on seafood.

There are many kinds of fish soup,

and one you absolutely need to try

is the traditional Bergen fish soup.

It's made with heavy cream, mussels, fresh fish,

and vegetables.

A couple of fjords north and a bit to the east,

you will find Loen Valley, known for its green glacier water

and fantastic mountains.

Here in Loen Valley at the Kjenndalstova,

you can actually have fish--

fish this morning, eating in this fantastic view.

When you're done eating, you can just stroll over

to the glacier just behind us.

On the other side of the glacier,

you will find Gudvangen.

Norway is, of course, known for its Vikings.

Here in Gudvangen, there is a Viking village.

The Vikings were excellent navigators,

and it's commonly known in Norway

that the Vikings were the first Europeans

to set foot in America.

Even the notorious warriors who dedicated their days

to earning their place in Valhalla

needed the domestic comfort of life.

Many people think the Vikings were just savages,

but here you can experience the softer

side of the Viking traditions.

The Vikings were also great craftsmen.

They are particularly known for their woodwork, which includes

ship making and wood carvings.

Wood carvings were commonly used on their homes and their ships.

When you are done with Viking boats, try taking a modern one.

Norway is full of ferries.

While in Norway, you will take a ferry or two.

We have 130 of them, and every time you take a ferry,

you will definitely have a svele.

This ferry is taking us towards Trondheim in central Norway.

Trondheim is the third largest city in Norway.

It is known for its historic architecture

and is great for visitors who want to experience inner city

trails.

In Norway, we are passionate about Friluftsliv,

the experience of outdoor recreation and time in nature.

Trondheim is great for the travelers who wants

to experience both Friluftsliv and

city life.

This is Nidarosdomen.

It's a Gothic medieval cathedral in the city

center of Trondheim.

Actually there is a saying that the cathedral is not finished.

There is one of the small sculpture here holding

the last stone, and if they finish it,

the whole of Trondheim will go into the fjord,

at least that's what the myth is saying.

Then we move south and 3,000 feet up

in the mountains of Jontunheimen,

where you find Vianvang.

If you want to stay in a higher altitude, this is the place.

Here you can experience authentic Norwegian food

in this amazing mountain landscape.

And the best of all, you will meet this legend Arne Brimi.

Brimi is a famous culinary icon.

From 1995 to 2002, he was a chef and a co-host of a popular TV

show.

He is the embodiment of traditional Norwegian food

and is a household name across Norway.

My name is Arne Brimi.

I am a head chef and the founder of Vianvang.

This is a remote restaurant in the great Jontunheimen.

Vianvang is made to be best but to take care of something

we are missing more and more and to make a little difference.

Today all over the world, wherever we go, we meet

falsehood.

I think that's not good.

I think we have to be closer to the gastronomy

to understand part of the freedom that nature gives us.

On our way towards Oslo, we find Trollstigen.

You have never experienced a true scenic drive until you

driven down Trollstigen.

And then we get to Gudbrandsdalen

where you find Peer Gynt Arena.

Here you can experience Ibsen's dramatic poem

Peer Gynt in this spectacular outdoor theater.

Every summer crowds flock here to witness Norway's most famous

play.

Many of the Norse gods were characterized by the weather.

Everyone is familiar with Thor and his lightning bolt,

but we also have Freyr, the god of good weather.

Occasionally, he smiles upon us.

The weather can shift fast here in Norway.

There's a lot of rain, but that makes the sunny days better.

And there is no better place to spend a sunny day than here

in the capital city of Oslo.

Norway's biggest city is where you find the famed opera

house, the royal palace, and the Vigeland Sculpture Park.

It took the artist more than 40 years to finish this park.

Oslo is known for a lot of good restaurants, bars,

and a fantastic nightlife.

Now we are sitting a Pier 42.

I love it because of the hospitality,

but also they make a fantastic dry martini with using my gin.

Just around the corner you find Restaurant Rest.

Rest is definitely living by the saying one man's trash

another man's treasure.

My name is Jimmy Oien, and I'm the head chef here

at Restaurant Rest in Oslo.

We turn waste food into a fine dining experience.

Food waste is a huge problem in the whole world

and also here in Norway.

It's what we do here with Restaurant

Rest is that we use all this weird shaped vegetables,

weird species of fish, and also the weird pieces of meat.

Food waste potentially robs us from extraordinary tastes

and experiences.

Our ambition is to bring such experiences to you

here at the restaurant.

Heading north again towards my cabin,

we pass through some car tunnels.

We have over 1,000 of them.

There's not only car tunnels and ferries there in Norway.

There's also a lot of roadside art.

Like here in Gudbrandsdalen, you have Flokk.

After a long day of exploring Norway,

you'll need a cozy place to rest your head.

Renting a cabin is a great way to stay.

It's part of our culture, and you get close to the nature.

Brown cheese is a big part of our cuisine.

When in Norway, you'll definitely

see this cheese that was invented in 1863 just

around the corner from our cabin.

Fantastic for breakfast.

Come and explore Norway and find your own hidden gems.

Thank you for following us on this journey around Norway.

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Comment below what you would like to explore in Norway.