Reykjavik offers an interesting mix of cosmopolitan culture and local village roots. A beautiful salmon river runs through the city limits, and so do fine parks and even wild outdoor areas. But against this backdrop of nature, Reykjavik has a packed program of familiar city joys too: art museums, several theaters, an opera house, a symphony orchestra and concerts/live music spanning the whole spectrum of age and taste. One must for all visitors is dining out on Icelandic specialties, including delicious seafood. Reykjavik is one of Europe's hottest nightspots, where the action on the friendly pub and nightlife scene lasts right through the night.

Oslo abounds with sights of interest, such as museums, parks, urban districts with listed buildings and a well-developed array of shops. As most sights are within walking distance of each other, you can leave your car behind. Oslo City Hall is located in the city center only a few hundred meters from the city's main street and overlooks Oslo Fjord filled with moored pleasure craft, shrimp trawlers, cruise ships, charter boats and ferries to all the islands. Oslo has a wide variety of restaurants, bistros and bars. Most are located within such a limited area that they are within walking distance of each other. In addition, each quarter of the city has an unusual atmosphere all worth visiting.