Europe Up Close

9 of Europe’s Best Funicular Railways

Published/Revised October 5, 2016 By This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

They go up, they go down, and they show a side of things you can’t get anywhere else. Sure, funicular railways might have their roots in yesteryear, but they’re still one of the most sought after attractions on the tourist trail. From heritage cars to sleek, modern cabs, Europe sports some of the most visually spectacular funicular rides on the planet. Here’s a bucket list of ten of the best ... Read Full Article

Top Coastal Attractions in Norway

Published/Revised May 20, 2016 By This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

First off, the Norwegian coastline is absolutely filled with picturesque villages, the most breathtaking natural scenery imaginable and ancient cities. This coast is spectacularly long—it extends for more than 25,000 kilometers (15,500 miles) from the Swedish border in the south to the Russian border in the far northeast. As great as that sounds, the downside is that you’ll most likely have to ... Read Full Article

Bergen the Beautiful: Its Art and Artists

Published/Revised July 30, 2014 By This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

The tourist website for Norway captures the spirit and history of Bergen with its description of this city as  “a spectacular amphitheater clambering up the mountainsides.” We were there at midsummer’s eve, a time of celebration with bonfires in the three hours when it’s actually dark. Okay, let’s say dusky. In addition to the topographical clamber, Bergen also clamors in ... Read Full Article

Norway Tourist Information

Published/Revised November 3, 2015 By This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Norway is one of the most stable countries in the world and it boasts an environment mostly protected from the ravages of progress and modernization. Norway is famous for its thousands of fjords, deep forests and snow-capped mountains. The early Norwegians were the first Vikings (along with the Danes) and when they ceased raiding the coasts, they built some of Europe's most unique temples to God, ... Read Full Article

A Journey on Norway’s Flamsbana Railway

Published/Revised June 11, 2014 By This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

A trip to Norway would be incomplete without a ride on the spectacular Flam Railway. This journey, involving two trains and a ferry, unveils the best of Norway’s natural beauty and creative engineering: majestic mountains, lush forests and sparkling fjords all visible from the perch of a twisting and twirling rail line. It was an experience that left me speechless, a condition I rarely suffer ... Read Full Article