The beautiful country with Europe's longest coastline - 63,000 miles

Europe is home to many beautiful places. Countries like Greece, Portugal, Spain and Italy attract tourists from all over the world. As a result they often struggle with overtourism. Another issue that now bothers many holidaymakers is the heat. Temperatures in popular hotspots can reach 40C or more. Luckily there are some nations that are not only beautiful but also offer the perfect escape from scorching weather, and one of them has more coastline than anywhere else in Europe.

That country is Norway. When every fjord, inlet and island shore is counted, its jagged edge adds up to a staggering 63,000 miles (about 101,000 km), according to the government-run Norwegian Mapping Authority, Kartverket. Some guidebooks quote a shorter figure of around 15,600 miles. That lower total measures only the outer "rim" of mainland Norway and skips the countless bays and islands. Either way, it is still the continent's longest coastline.

All that shoreline makes Norway a natural air-conditioner.

Summer highs in Oslo and the southern fjords usually sit between 18C and 26C, while places north of the Arctic Circle such as the Lofoten Islands hover around 15C, the Norwegian Meteorological Institute reports.

With thousands of lakes, crystal-clear rivers and sheltered sea coves, there is always somewhere cool to swim, and plenty of space to spread out.

For a land almost as big as the UK (roughly 148,000 square miles) Norway has only about 5.6 million residents, says Statistics Norway.

The low population density means even popular spots rarely feel crowded.

Visitors usually start in Oslo, the fjord-side capital famous for its Viking Ship Museum, the new National Museum and floating saunas.

A scenic rail ride west lands you in Bergen, where colourful wooden warehouses line the harbour and boats sail deep into the UNESCO-listed Sognefjord.

Further north, Ålesund charms with Art-Nouveau streets, while Tromsø offers midnight-sun kayaking in summer and spectacular northern lights in winter.

Outdoor lovers can hike to Trolltunga's cliff edge, ride the world-class Flåm Railway or simply picnic beside a hidden waterfall.

Norway also boasts the planet's longest road tunnel at Lærdal (15 miles) and the famous Atlantic Ocean Road .

Food is another draw.

Fresh prawns straight from a fishing boat, tart cloudberries picked on a mountain slope or cinnamon "skillingsboller" pastries in a waterfront café all taste better in the cool Scandinavian air.

With direct flights from several UK airports to Oslo, Bergen and Stavanger, swapping packed Mediterranean beaches for Norway's endless coastline can be surprisingly easy, and gloriously refreshing.