Category Travel Destinations

Provided you want lively streets, coastal views, and easy day trips, Portugal gives you all three, and then a little more. You can begin in Lisbon for Baixa, Chiado, and Alfama, then move to Porto for riverfront charm and wine country. After that, Sintra and Cascais add palaces and sea air, while the Algarve and Évora suit extra days with beaches or history. The best part is how simple it feels once you know where to start.

If you prefer to avoid Norway at its busiest, the fjords still reward good timing. From May to September you get calmer seas, longer daylight, and clear access to the main cruise routes, while June and July bring the warmest days and the brightest skies. May and September feel quieter and often cost less, and winter adds snow, frozen falls, and a real shot at the northern lights. The best month depends on the kind of magic you want next.

Like a quiet curtain rising after sunset, the northern lights reward you whenever you choose the right place and the right night. You’ll get the strongest chances in dark, open spots like Iceland’s Thingvellir, Norway’s Lofoten, Sweden’s Abisko, Finland’s Lapland, Greenland’s Ilulissat, Russia’s Kola Peninsula, Canada’s Yellowknife, and Alaska’s Fairbanks, especially from late fall to early spring. Should you plan for clear skies, steady forecasts, and a warm tripod ready setup, you’ll already be ahead. The best part could surprise you.