Opus XVI

With enough avant-garde design to make the most discerning art collector turn green, impressive views steal your attention every way you turn at The Thief. From inspiring contemporary art gracing guestrooms to Julian Opie animations playing in the elevators and an Andy Warhol piece sitting in the restaurant – and not forgetting those fjord panoramas – this is Oslo’s exciting, cutting-edge design hotel. Facing the water’s edge in the Tjuvholmen district, now deemed a hotspot for innovative design, with the Astrup Fearnely Museum of Modern Art next door and superb restaurants scattered among pedestrianised streets and squares, this boutique bolt-hole fits perfectly into its creative environment. Closely tied to its Norwegian setting, The Thief is adorned with local designers’ furniture while the restaurant’s seasonal menu is peppered with regional accents. Drinks and views then come hand in hand up at the gorgeous roof terrace, though each room and suite also offers private vistas from floor-to-ceiling windows and French balconies. Scenery isn’t the only thing your room provides either. Infused with gadgets, carefully chosen artwork and luxuries including rainforest showers, bespoke woollen blankets, slippers and bathrobes, the accommodation here is superb.

Set beside a fjord in the idyllic village of Solvorn, this charming hotel is one of the oldest family-run hotels in Norway, having been owned by the same family since 1690. The 22 comfortable rooms look out over the mountains, garden and Sognefjord. In fact, the gardens are among the hotel’s most prized features. Stroll between lilacs and fruit trees – it’s a peaceful and evocative place to unwind. Every evening a set four-course dinner is served as guests share tales of their day exploring the region. Enjoy dishes such as langoustines from the fjord, venison from the mountains, berries from nearby fields, farmhouse cheeses, home-made apple juice, and raspberry nectar. To celebrate the Nitter Walaker family’s 300-year jubilee at the hotel, a gallery was opened in 1990. The building was constructed in 1883 from material from an old church which dated back to around 1600. Work by local and international artists is featured, with many of them attending the opening of their exhibitions. Spend time exploring the fjords, rivers and small towns around the hotel. A variety of walking trails will take you to waterfalls, glaciers and stave churches.

Experience life as the trappers of the Arctic archipelago once did with a stay at the remote Trapper’s Station. Based approximately ten kilometres from the edge of Longyearbyen, this is a truly unique and hands-on place to lodge. Designed as a replica of an old trappers’ station and filled with artefacts, fur rugs, sealskins and oil lamps, the feel here is complete Arctic authenticity. The accommodation is made up of the trapper’s hut, and for a truly different experience, the secondary station and gamma. Reminiscent of a shelter used by trappers during their hunting trips, the secondary station provides four beds, while the gamma is styled as a wooden teepee hut where you can settle down into sleeping bags on reindeer skin. Let the everyday stresses of modern life trickle away as you get up close to this peaceful and relaxed wilderness on husky sled rides, before returning to the station for hearty four-course meals of Arctic food and flavours.

Its name means ‘polar light’ in Norwegian, and a journey aboard the MS Polarlys is the perfect way to take in the epic landscapes of the Norwegian coast. The boat has capacity for 619 passengers with cabins spread over four decks. There is a separate deck for dining where you’ll find the main dining room, fine dining restaurant and bistro. On the top deck you’ll find the Explorer Lounge and Panorama Bar where you can gaze out the windows at the passing scenery, or head to the outdoor deck for the best views. With mahogany panelling, polished brass and a selection of Norwegian contemporary art, the MS Polarlys is a beautifully styled vessel with a traditional maritime feel.