The Norwegians are skiing people and proud to be so. You'll find around 200 skiing resorts in the country – Hemsedalen, Geilo, Trysil and Häfjell are some of the largest, with vertical drops of between 300 – 750m. Slopes can be limited at many resorts, so board parks tend to be quite impressive. Telemarking originated in Norway and is another popular pass time.

Nightlife can be a bit hit-and-miss, mainly because taxes are prohibitively high on alcohol. Norway is a great choice for a family holiday though – many resorts have great ski schools for kids and impressive childcare services.

Norway is a haven for cross-country skiers – it's got some of best terrain and facilities in Europe for the serious Nordic skier. And if you like nice views, try a resort like Narvik, which has the most fantastic view over the Atlantic Ocean from its ski slopes.

One thing that is guaranteed is high snow quality – due to the sometimes extremely cold temperatures. The weather can be changeable though, and during midwinter the daylight hours are short. The Scandinavian ski season is pretty long and runs typically from mid October until late May.