If you’re a nature lover, get ready to discover Norway, the land of fjords and northern lights. In this post we tell you everything you need to know about the best things to do in Norway, how to get there, the best hiking areas and much more. So if you don’t know what to see on your next holiday, read on, and you’re sure to get some ideas.
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Cities you should visit in Norway
While Norway is most famous for its wilderness, there are also a number of cities to visit that serve as strategic places to get around the country. The must-sees are Oslo, Tromso and Bergen.
1. Oslo
To be honest, Oslo is not the most beautiful city to visit in Norway, a country whose main attraction has always been nature, fjords and forests. However, as the country’s capital, Oslo has a great story to tell as well as being a cultural landmark.
As we told you in this post about Oslo, the city is easy to see in two days, which you’ll spend mainly visiting museums, such as the Museum of Contemporary Art, the National Gallery or the Munch Museum, or the city’s parks, such as the Ekebergparken sculpture park, the Botanical Gardens or Vigeland Park. Another must-see is the Oslo Opera House, as well as the Royal Palace.
There are also several places in the surrounding area where you can take a day trip, such as the fortified town of Fredrikstad, the fortress of Akershus, just 45 minutes away, or Verdens ende, one of the best viewpoints in the country.
2. Tromso, the city of the Northern Lights
Tromso is one of the most famous tourist destinations to visit in Norway as it is the best location to see the famous Northern Lights, so every year hundreds of cold-weather tourists flock to the city between October and March. Summer, on the other hand, is filled with hikers and nature lovers touring the mountains and fjords.
The town is small and can easily be seen in a day. It’s best to spend a morning visiting the city centre, the Tromso Museum and climbing Mount Storsteinen to see the city from the top. The rest of the time we recommend hiking in the surrounding area, going to Telegrafbukta beach, visiting the islands of Kvaløya and Sommarøya, and Lake Blåisvannet. In this post about Tromso we give you more details and tell you the best things to do in the surrounding area.
3. Bergen
The port city of Bergen is Norway’s second largest, and a must-see stop on our trip. It’s located at the foot of Mount Floye and close to the fjords. From Oslo it takes 8 hours by car and 7 hours by train, but the city has its own airport as it’s quite touristy.
In this another post about Bergen, we’ve told you all about what to see in this charming World Heritage city, but here’s a sneak preview of what not to miss. The colourful Bryggen district, the Bergenhus Fortress and St. Olaf’s Cathedral. We also recommend getting lost in the historic centre and climbing Mount Floye, from where you can see the fjords and the city from the heights.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
Norway’s must-see fjords
When you think of Norway, one of the first things that comes to mind are its fjords. There are more than 1,000 fjords in the country where you can cruise, hike along the coast, climb the mountains that protect them and kayak, among other activities. Here is a list of the main fjords to see in Norway.
1. Sognefjord, the world’s largest fjord
Slightly less than 6 hours from Geiranger is the world’s largest fjord, Sognefjord, stretching 204km and more than 1,300m deep in places. Among the surrounding mountains, which are more than 1km high, is the Jostedal glacier, the largest in Europe. In addition, one of the fjord’s branches, Nærøyfjord, is a World Heritage Site. The largest glacier in Europe, the Jostedal Glacier, begins right there. Along the fjord you can go on numerous hiking excursions, visit it by boat or by train, as there is a line of tracks running parallel to the coast.
2. Geiranger Fjord
Geiranger Fjord is probably the most famous fjord in Norway for the incredible scenery through which it flows. However, it is also one of the most popular tourist destinations throughout the year for the many cruise ships that dock in its harbours every day.
In one day you can easily visit the town of Geiranger, its wooden houses perfectly integrated into the hillside and the Storsæterfossen waterfall, which is 3km from the town and where the views are spectacular.
However, the best destinations are in the surrounding area, where you’ll have no choice but to drive. Some of the main points of interest are the Dalsnibba and Skageflå platforms, and the 7 waterfalls viewpoint. Another popular activity in the area is kayaking, which allows you to enjoy the scenery from a different point of view. If you want to know more about the Geiranger Fjord, visit this post where we tell you all about what to see.
3. Nordfjord fjord
Enveloped by the wildest nature is the Nordfjord, one of Norway’s most popular fjords. It is located in the heart of Jostedalsbreen National Park, the largest in Europe, which covers an area of 1,300km2. Around the Nordfjord you can go hiking, horseback riding, surfing, and explore the coastline, where you’ll find white sandy beaches.
Where to see the Northern Lights in Norway?
The Northern Lights are one of the main reasons people travel to Norway, however, they are not so easy to see. The best time is from October to March, but the period between November and January is when you’re most likely to see them. Your chances will also increase as you get closer to the Arctic Circle. Here’s a list of some of the best places to see on your trip to Norway.
1. Lofoten Islands
The Lofoten archipelago is a group of five islands in the Arctic Circle, ideal for viewing the Northern Lights or spending the summer. All the islands can be visited and each one has its own personality. It is advisable to spend between 4 and 5 days there, but if you go in winter, you should be aware that bad weather can leave you without seeing many things. And the best way to get around is by private car, as the islands are not well served by public transport. To hop from one island to another, there are ferries where you can take your car.
Some of the most recommended excursions around the islands are the Troll Fjord, the climb up Mount Reinebrigen, Flakstad beach (ideal for aurora sightings) and the villages of Hamnøy and Reine. The largest town on the islands and where most visitors stay is Svolvaer, from where you can organize kayak trips and visit beautiful forests. If you want to know more about the Lofoten Islands, here is this post with all the details.
2. Svalbard Island
The island of Svalbard is one of the most impressive destinations to see in Norway. The archipelago is a few hours’ flight from Oslo and is unlike anything you’ve seen before. It’s an Arctic paradise, always covered in ice and snow, where you can see polar bears, go sledding and see the Northern Lights. Fun fact: it’s one of the few places in the world where you can see the auroras during the day.
3. Alta Valley
The Alta Valley is another place where you have a good chance of seeing auroras as the skies are usually clear. However, this area is probably best known for its whale-watching boat trips, as blue whales can be spotted in the area if you’re lucky. The valley is quite touristy and has several resorts where you can stay. There are also several hiking trails through the surrounding forests where you’ll see a variety of animal species.
Gastronomy in Norway
While Norwegian cuisine is not one of the most varied in the world, it will surprise you with the quality of its fish and lamb stews. In addition, they have two unusual ingredients such as reindeer and whale that you will have the opportunity to try in some traditional restaurants.
The most famous dishes are stews and soups based on fish (Sodd, Lapskaus), and they also have other typical products such as brown cheese or lutefisk, which is fish with a gelatinous texture. Roast lamb’s head is also a traditional dish. Like their Swedish neighbours, the Norwegians also have a wide variety of cakes and pastries, such as cinnamon rolls, which you can enjoy in their cosy cafés.
Travel tips for Norway
- Tap water is safe to drink throughout the country.
- Alcohol can only be bought in specialised “Vinmonopolet” shops with very limited opening hours.
- If you’re travelling by private car, be aware that there are many toll roads. Check before you set off on your trip to Norway.
- The official currency of Norway is the Norwegian krone.
- We recommend that you exchange money before you set off on your trip, as it will be cheaper.
- As European citizens, we don’t need a visa to enter the country either, just an ID card or passport is enough.
- Winter tyres are compulsory in the car at this time of year.
- Be covered for medical emergencies: travel insured
- The best time to see auroras is from October to March, and for hiking the summer months.
How to plan your trip to Norway
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all the possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers
- Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
- Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post)
- Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make any modifications you need to make, and you’re all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you’ve visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Norway
Frequently asked questions when travelling to Norway
This question depends on what you are looking for. If you are visiting the fjords and hiking, the best months are the summer months. However, if you are hunting for the Northern Lights, we recommend going between October and March.
If you are travelling from anywhere in the European Union, you will only need your ID card or passport.
Norway is quite an expensive country compared to the rest of Europe, a beer can cost up to 8€ and a coffee 4€ to give you an idea. There are also quite a few toll roads. Expect a minimum of €200 per person per day excluding airfare.
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