Norway Travel Guide

Travelling in Norway - Cities in Norway

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Oslo

Oslo is the capital of Norway and is also the largest city, this is where most people travelling in Norway arrives. Oslo is situated at the end of the Oslo fjord. A fjord that and is surrounded by hills and forest with litte islands and coastal communities scattered throughout. Oslo is a diverse city with a few good attractions, like the vigeland Park, the Viking museum and Holmenkollen

Bergen

Bergen is Norway's second largest city. It is a city rich in history and cultural heritage and is also listed on the UNESCO worl heritage list. Bergen is over 900 years old and used to be a hub for the Hanseatic trade and the cities architecture shows numerous examples of this. This is also responsible for the early growth of Bergen. Bergen has a number of tourist attractions including its unique outdoor fish market, the steep railway "floibanen" and the home of composer Edvard Grieg at "Troldhaugen" among others. Bergen is a good starting point for travelling in the west of Norway.

Tromso

Tromso is called the gateway to the arctic and many people travelling in the arctic part of Norway arrive in Tromso. Surrounding Tromso is wild and dramatic nature with snowcapped peaks and a maze of small islands with beautiful lanscapes. Due to the gulf stream the climate is not as cold as one would think being situated above the arctic circle. Tromso has the highest density of bars compared to its population in Norway, and has a vibrant exciting night life. Tromso is also home to the Mack brewery who claims to be the northernmost beer brewery in the world. The Cathedral "Ishavskatedralen" offers some truly unique architecture in style with the arctic surroundings. Both the midnight sun and the northern lights can be experienced in Tromso and if you plan on travelling in Norway north of the arctic circle this is likely to be the city you arrive in.

Trondheim

In ancient times Trondheim used to be the capital of Norway, it was founded by the King, Olav Trygvasson, and new kings still get their ceremonial blessings here. Attractions in Trondheim includes the "Nidarosdomen" it is a dome raised upon the grave of the ancient king "Olav the Holy". The oldest yet existing parts stems from the 11th century. The archictecture of this dome is truly spectacular. If you're travelling within Norway a quick trip to Trondheim should be included in your trip.

Travelling in Norway -Top Attractions

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The Geiranger Fiord

The Geiranger Fjord is known for it's pristine and dramatic landscapes . Surrounded by steep mountains and cascading waterfalls pouring into the fiord from all sides. It is probably Norway's most famous fiord or even the most famous attraction in its category. The Geiranger Fiord has recently been added to UNESCO's world heritage list. Seeing the Geiranger Fiord is a must if you're travelling in the west of Norway.

The North Cape (nordkapp)

The North Cape is a peninsula claiming to be the northernmost point of Europe. Many tourists travel here for that reason but the nature and landscape in this area is also spectacular. A spectacular cliff formation located at the northern point of Magerøya makes up the plateu reffered to as the “North Cape”. This Plateu sits about 1000 feet above the arctic ocean. There's a monument here that marks the meridian for the northernmost point and most of the postcards you see is from here. The North Cape is also a good place to observe the midnight sun or the Northern lights in winter. If you're travelling in the north of Norway you should pay The North Cape a visit.

Lofoten Islands

The Lofoten Islands forms an archipelago of islands reach far out into the North sea just above the arctic circle. The landscape and culture here are spectacular. Fishing is the traditional way of living here and it shows in uniqe traditional architechture. You can spend the night in the traditional fisherman cabins along the shores. Marine life is abundant here, and it is also possible to go on boat safari's to watch the marine life including whale's, killer whale's and seals. It is also a beatiful place to observe the midnight sun. Anyone travelling in the north of Norway should pay a visit to the Lofoten Islands.

The Viking Ship Museum

in Bygdoy, Oslo, Is the home of three Viking longships. They're preserved in good condition due to the clay taht surrounded them before they were excavated. Royalties used to be buried in with the Vikingships along with everything else the would need to bring with them to the afterlife or Valhalla. The largest and best preserved ship is the Gokstad ship, and the most beatiful is the Oseberg ship. The museum is situated In Oslo. If you starting your trip here you should consider stopping by The Vikingship museum, it will make for a good start to your travel within Norway.

Travelling in Norway - how to get around

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Travelling by air

The 3 major domestic airlines in Norway are SAS, Braathens and Widerøe - with these major airlines you can travel to about 50 airports spread throughout the country from Nort to south across the country. If you want to experience both the north and the south of norway in a limited period of time you should consider travelling by air.

Travelling by Bus or Train

Norway's bus network is well organized with multiple small stops between every major locations. Travelling by rail is also a good option in the south, although this is not possible in the north. The national railway company NSB is where you need purchase your trip by train.

Car rental

You can rent a car at various companies at most airports and in the major cities, however this is expensive and not a good option for budget travellers.

Travelling by boat or ferry

Norway has an extensive infrastructure of express boats and ferries. This is a necessity especially in the west and the northern coastal areas. This gives a great opportunity to explore the many islands and coastal communities of Norway. "Hurtigruta" is also an option if you want to travel along the coast. It has 33 stops on its 6 day journey from Bergen to Kirkenes. However this is a rather expensive option particularly in the tourist season.

Travelling Norway by thumb

Hitchhiking is not very common in Norway so it might take a long time for someone to pick you up, also you are potentially putting yourself at risk. Therefore you should never travel by thumb on your own. the best places to hitchhike would be in the more urban areas in the south and other areas with high traffic. Choosing this as your only mode of transportation is risky. In more remote and rural areas you might have to wait hours for a car to pass at all.

Local Transport

Local transport in cities and towns consists mainly of public buslines. In Oslo you can also travel by metro, trams or ferries.

How you choose to travel within Norway depends largely on the goal of your trip. Consider the fact that distances between attractions may be great, it's important to plan your destinations and means of transport before you go. This will make your travel experience more effective. Travelling within Norway you might find that the road quality is quite variable especially in the north and the west. If you are renting a car this is important to take this into consideration especially if you travel in winter and don't have experience driving on snow and ice.

Experience Norway

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Travelling in Norway can be a rewarding experience.

Norway is a beautiful country filled with mountains, lakes, fiords and forest. Norway is a long country with many thousands of kilometers of coastline. From Lindesnes in the south crossing the arctic circle to North Cape in the north. If you turned Norway on its head it would reach all the way to the south of Europe and the mediterranean countries. The cruiseliner "Hurtigruta" can take you all the way along the coast from Bergen in the south to Kirkenes in the north. This is a beatiful voyage with fantastic scenery and oceanic wildlife to enjoy along the way.

Norway is also considered the land of the midnight sun and the northern lights can be observed here as well. The midnight sun can be observed from may until august and the northern lights is best observed between November and February in the northern parts of norway.

There is a wide range of attractions and adventures that may be experienced while travelling in Norway. Hiking, hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities are always available. In Norway, hikers and travelers enjoy something called the right to access, this means you can camp freely in most places for a couple of days even on private, as long as you're not on cultivated land and if you are at least 150 meters away from residents. In the major cities you can also enjoy fine dining, sightseeing and unique architecture. Skiing is also a major part of Norwegian culture and you shouldn't miss out on an opportunity to go skiing in the many ski resorts scattered around the country if you're travelling in Norway during winter. In a few places you can even go skiing in July.

Oslo is the capital of Norway and makes a good starting point for exploring the rest of the south. If you're more interested in the north of Norway, Tromso is Norway's biggest city above the arctic circle and makes a good starting point for travelling in the North. In the north activities like whale watching and salmon fishing are popular among tourists and in the town of Alta you could even spend the night in the Ice Hotel if you're travelling in winter. The West of the country probably offers the wildest nature and landscape with an abundance of fiords, mountains, cliffs and waterfalls. A good starting point for exploring this part of Norway would be the cities of Bergen or Stavanger. From Bergen you can also start your journey with the cruiseship "Hurtigruta" and travel all the way to Kirkenes in the North close to the border with Russia. In order to have the best travel experience possible you should learn as much as you can about attractions and activities before you leave for Norway.

Norway is an expensive country for travelers. It is however possible to travel in Norway on a limited budget , however careful planning and budgeting is needed in order to do this.

Below you can find just a small selection of attractions you should not miss on you journey through Norway.

"Hurtigruta": Cruiseliner that commutes along the coastline from the very North to the very South. A rewarding experience with beatiful scenery to be experienced along the Norwegian Coast.

Flaam railway: A steep experience that will let you experience scenic waterfalls, snow-capped mountains and a beautiful view. The famous Sognefiord is the end of the line for this fantastic railway experience.

Voeringsfossen: Well known and spectacular waterfall but there are many more waterfalls to be experienced throughout Norway. Especially in the West of the country

Lofoten Islands: Here's what National geographic traveller had to say about the Lofoten Islands "the Lofoten islands are chilly, high-latitude islands that form a "masterpiece" of spectacular outcrops steeped in cherished tradition"

To find out more about Norway and Norwegian travel experiences you can navigate the sidebar at the left side of this page. There you will find a comprehensive guide to travelling in Norway.