Lying at the very top of Europe, Finnmark is the northernmost part of Norway that reaches around Sweden and meets Finland. This is the heart of Norwegian Lapland, where Karasjok is the cultural and political seat of Sami life. Though Norway's biggest county by size, Finnmark has the fewest people. Alta, the biggest city with just 17,000, is called the Town of Northern Lights for its great views of the phenomenon. Alta Museum is largely devoted to local rock carvings from thousands of years ago.

Roll on over to the Alta rocks to check out the UNESCO World Heritage Site carvings. There are thousands of these fascinating archaeological remains, which detail images of animals, and scenes of hunter/gatherer life. Alta is also home to the northernmost ice hotel in Europe, an utterly majestic masterpiece replete with ice chandeliers, chairs and even beds.

Situated at the feet of the western Pyrenees near the French border, Spain's Basque Country comprises three provinces: Guipúzcoa and the popular beachfront capital of Donostia-San Sebastian; Vizcaya, where capital Bilbao houses the jaw-dropping Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum; and Alava, whose capital Vitoria-Gasteiz teems with medieval architecture. Running with the bulls at Pamplona and drinking rioja from area wineries add to the region's exotic romanticism. Travel in early summer and fall to dodge the madding crowds.