Welcome to your Norway guide!

Rugged coastline and staggering mountains. Pristine pine forests and vast plateaus. Norway’s so much more than its legendary network of deep fjords. Norway’s natural features are stunning, no question. But what it offers in adventure, it offers in culture and history in equal measure.

Friluftsliv, “outdoor life.” It’s a Norwegian philosophy that’s widely embraced in this extraordinary country. And when your outdoors is as good as this, it’s no wonder it’s cherished regardless of the weather.

Norway experiences 4 seasons. It’s a large country, so various regions have different climates and different weather. Northern Norway has long, dark winters, and short cool summers with the midnight sun lighting the sky 24 hours/day. Central and southern Norway experience cold shorter winters than up north, and mild summers with a lot of daylight. Layering clothing and being prepared for many types of weather all year is the best way to plan for your trip.

Norway is a long, narrow country: 1,100 miles from north to south, the same distance that it is from Oslo to Rome!

Svalbard & Northern Norway

• Svalbard is an archipelago of islands just 800 miles from the North Pole, and 1200 miles from the Norwegian mainland, with a fascinating history. Here, humans live carefully among polar bears and other wildlife and embrace the arctic environment. A variety of activities and cruises are available year-round for visitors.

Northern Norway (mainland)

• Take a king crab safari near the town of Kirkenes, where it is also possible to overnight in a snow hotel, go dog sledding and hunt for the northern lights.
• The North Cape (Nordkapp), the northernmost point in Europe.
• The city of Tromsø
• Learn about the Sami culture, lifestyle and traditions, and their occupation of reindeer herding.
• Saltstraumen, the world’s strongest maelstrom, is located near the city of Bodø and is thrilling to observe.
• The Lofoten Islands have a long history of fishing traditions, now also home to artists, outdoor enthusiasts, and accommodations for visitors in fisherman cabins.
• Narvik features outdoor adventures, Sami culture, and World War II history.

Trøndelag

• Namsen River is known for fly fishing for salmon.
• Trøndelag has become a popular food destination and has three Michelin-starred restaurants.
• Stiklestad National Culture Center
• The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Røros.
• Seven national parks are located in the region.
• Trondheim, location of Nidaros Cathedral, Munkholmen Island, and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology

The West Coast and Fjord Region

• The region is served by an extensive system of ferries
• Many UNESCO World Heritage sites are located in this region including two fjords, the Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord.
• The city of Bergen, called the “gateway to the fjords”
• Other major cities in this region are Ålesund, Kristiansund, and Stavanger
• The mountains of Fjord Norway are steep, and there are excellent ski resorts in the area.
• Glaciers carved the fjords millions of years ago, and there are still glaciers in the area to explore on a glacier walk.

Southern Norway

• Norway’s “riviera” is a paradise with a rocky coastline, sandy beaches, quaint towns, and a relaxed mood.
• The architecture features white, wooden houses in small towns perched along the rocky coastline.
• Lindesnes Lighthouse is Norway’s oldest lighthouse dating to 1656, on its southernmost point.
• Lindesnes is the location of Under, Europe’s first underwater restaurant.
• Major cities in the region include Kristiansand, Arendal, and Grimstad.

Eastern Norway

• The capital, Oslo, is located at the innermost point of the Oslofjord.
• Hadeland Glassworks
• The Hamar Cathedral ruins, protected by a glass enclosure, are part of an open-air museum with ruins of a medieval town and other historical structures.
• Eidsvoll, where Norway’s constitution was signed in 1814.
• The Gudbrandsdal valley, a fertile area of farms, the Olympic town of Lillehammer, and Norway’s largest lake, Mjøsa.
• Skibladner paddle steamer still operates on Lake Mjøsa after 166 years.
• Maihaugen’s open-air museum in Lillehammer.
• Outdoor activities in the beautiful mountains include downhill and cross-country skiing, hiking, biking, white water rafting, and paddling.
• The pilgrimage trails, St. Olav Ways.