If you ask us, putting one foot in front of another on a hiking trail is the best way to experience Norway. Hike along the jagged mountain peaks of the Lofoten Islands, the picture perfect fjords in southern Norway, and through some of the world’s most awe-inspiring landscapes. Stand on iconic Trolltunga and Pulpit Rock and even Kjeragbolten (if you dare!). Even journey to the far north for an unforgettable kayaking and hiking adventure in Svalbard. Here are 14 of the best hikes in Norway.

Norway is our favorite spot in the world to go hiking. Every time we hike a new trail we fall more in love with this beautiful country. We have done most of the hikes on this list but a few are still on our bucket list.

Get ready to be inspired…and have fun picking out which ones you would like to do!

Note: All hiking distances are round trip.

Best Hikes in Norway

#1 Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen)

Distance: 8 km (5 miles)
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Length of Time: 5 hours
See it on a map

The hike to Pulpit Rock is one of the most popular hikes in Norway. Its great views, relatively easy hiking trail, and convenient accessibility from the town of Stavanger is what makes this hike appealing to so many people.

Pulpit Rock

Pulpit Rock

Pulpit Rock in August

Pulpit Rock can be a very crowded place in the summer months.

If you are new to hiking, or if you are traveling with kids, this is a perfect first hike to do in Norway. And once you stand on top of Pulpit Rock and enjoy the amazing view over Lysefjord, you’ll be hungering for more.

#2 Kjeragbolten

Distance: 12 km (7.5 miles)
Difficulty: Strenuous
Length of Time: 6 to 8 hours
See it on a map

Hiking to Kjeragbolten, this giant boulder wedged between two cliffs, is our favorite hike of all time. Why? It’s not just because you get the chance to do something absolutely crazy, stepping out onto the boulder, it’s also because this hike is just downright fun. Do you dare?

Best Hikes in Norway

Kjeragbolten | Best Hikes in Norway

Hiking Norway with Kids

#3 Segla

Distance: 5 km (3.1 miles)
Difficulty: Strenuous
Length of Time: 3 to 4 hours
See it on a map

Located in northern Norway on the island of Senja, this short hike is surprisingly tough. But, oh the view from the top! Your reward is breathtaking panoramic views of Mefjord and the nearby mountains. It is worth visiting Senja just to do this hike.

Senja Hike

Segla Hike

Segla

#4 Galdhøppigen

Distance: Varies depending on the route
Difficulty: Easy to extreme
Length of Time: Varies
See it on a map

Galdhøppigen is the tallest mountain in Norway and northern Europe. To reach the summit there are several hiking trails to choose from. Some are strenuous climbs, some take you across glaciers, and some require having a guide. This is a hike that is still on our bucket list, and wouldn’t it be awesome to stand on the highest point in northern Europe?


#5 Romsdalseggen Ridge

Distance: 11 km (7 miles) point-to-point hike
Difficulty: Strenuous
Length of Time: 8.5 hours
See it on a map

This is a point-to-point hike along the Romsdalseggen Ridge, a narrow ridge high above the fjords and the town of Åndalsnes. On a clear day, the views are unbeatable, and you can even see out to the Atlantic Ocean.

Some people say that this is the most beautiful hike in Norway. Come see for yourself!

Romsdalseggen

Hiking Romsdalseggen Ridge

#6 Besseggen Ridge

Distance: 13.3 km (8.2 miles)
Difficulty: Strenuous
Length of Time: 6 to 8 hours
See it on a map

Located in Jotunheimen National Park, this trail offers stunning views of emerald lakes and alpine scenery. This is usually done as a point-to-point hike between Memurubu and Gjendesheim. Many people choose to take a ferry to Memurubu and then hike back to Gjendesheim from here.

#7 Ryten and Kvalvika Beach

Distance: 8.7 km (5.4 miles) round trip
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Length of Time: 3 to 5 hours
See it on a map

The hike to Ryten has all of the ingredients of a perfect Lofoten Islands hike: sweeping vistas across the mountains and fjords, a fun but slightly strenuous hike to a mountain peak, and a breathtaking view of a white, sandy beach. The icing on the cake is a “mini Trolltunga,” an outcropping of rock where you can get creative with your photos.

Ryten | Best hikes in Norway

Ryten

Ryten Hike

Kvalvika Beach | Best hikes in Norway

Kvalvika Beach | Best Hikes in Norway

#8 Svolvaer Fløya and Svolvaergeita

Distance: 5 km (3.1 miles)
Difficulty: Moderate
Length of Time: 3 to 4 hours for the hike, 2 hours for Svolvaergeita
See it on a map

If you are looking for the ultimate adventure in the Lofoten Islands, consider this rock climbing and hiking experience.

Svolvaer is one of the largest towns in the Lofoten Islands. For the best view over the town (and one of the best views in the Lofoten Islands), you can hike to the top of Fløya.

Svolvaergeita, also called The Goat, is a pinnacle of rock that is very popular with rock climbers. It’s located on the slope of Fløya, so it is very easy to combine this rock climbing adventure with the Fløya hike.

Svolvaergeita

Svolvaergeita

Svolvaer Floya | Best hikes in Norway

The view from Svolvaer Fløya | Best Hikes in Norway

If you are looking for a truly unforgettable travel adventure, put this on your list. And yes, you can do this if you are a beginner rock climber.

#9 Stetind

Distance: 10 km round trip (6.2 miles)
Difficulty: Challenging
Length of Time: 10 to 12 hours
See it on a map

This is another hiking and rock climbing adventure in northern Norway. Located in Nordland in northern Norway, Stetind is Norway’s national mountain. This giant granite obelisk is another popular spot for rock climbers. If you hire a guide you can do this if you are a beginner.

This is still on our bucket list. We didn’t have enough time to fit this in to our recent trip to northern Norway but that’s OK…we don’t mind going back again. 🙂

Norway Travel Guide


#10 Trolltunga

Distance: 28 km (17.4 miles) round trip
Difficulty: Strenuous
Length of Time: 10 to 12 hours
See it on a map

This is an incredibly scenic hike, with phenomenal views out over lakes and snow-capped mountains. The hike ends at the Troll’s tongue, a thin sliver of rock perfect for creative photographs.

Trolltunga | Best hikes in Norway

Trolltunga

In recent years, the popularity of this hike has skyrocketed. This is one of the busier trails in Norway. If you are looking for a quiet, tranquil experience, this hike may not be for you. However, posing for photos on Trolltunga is a blast, and that’s what makes this hike so famous.

#11 Reinebringen

Distance: 3 km (2 miles) round trip
Difficulty: Challenging
Length of Time: 3 hours
See it on a map

Reinebringen, with its dazzling view over the fishing villages of Reine, Sakrisøy, and Hamnøy, is the most popular hike in the Lofoten Islands.

It’s a hard, steep, challenging hike on muddy, rocky trails, so it’s not to be underestimated. Don’t let the short distance fool you…it’s a tough hike and you need to have a good level of physical fitness to do this.

Julie Rivenbark

Reinebringen

Reinebringen Panorama

#12 Munken

Distance: 11 km
Difficulty: Strenuous
Length of Time: 6 to 8 hours
See it on a map

Located just around the bend from Reinebringen is another spectacular hike. This was on our to-do list while we were in the Lofoten Islands, but a solid day of rain kept us indoors.

This hike takes you through the stunning high mountain scenery of the Lofoten Islands. On a clear day, the views are unbelievable.

If you have a lot of stamina, or want to turn this into a two-day backpacking adventure, you can sleep or camp near Munkebu Hut and then continue on to Hermannsdalstind.


#13 Måtind and the Stave-Bleik Coastal Trail

Distance to Måtind: 7.6 km (4.7 miles) round trip to Måtind
Distance of the Coastal Trail: 9 km round trip
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Length of Time: 3 to 4 hours
See it on a map

This gorgeous hike is located on the Vesteralen islands of northern Norway. It’s a relatively easy hike and the views you get of the coastline are breathtaking. You can hike directly out to Måtind, the highest point on the hike and a spot that offers panoramic views, or you can hike the entire distance of the coastline.

Matind | Best hikes in Norway

Måtind | Best Hikes in Norway

Vesteralen Islands | Best hikes in Norway

#14 Hiorthfjellet

Hiking Distance: 8.7 km (5.4 miles) round trip
Kayaking Distance: 5.4 km (3.4 miles) round trip
Difficulty: Strenous
Length of Time: 11 hours
See it on a map

Hiorthfjellet is one of the tallest mountains on Svalbard. The hike to the top of the mountain is not technically challenging and this is a great way to experience Svalbard. Along the way, it is not unusual to see reindeer and arctic fox. And on a clear day, the view from the top of Hiorthfjellet offers stunning views over Longyearbyen and Adventfjord.

Hiking Hiorthfjellet

Hiking Svalbard

If you are feeling adventurous, you can combine this hike with a kayaking trip across Adventfjord for a full day adventure. It is an amazing day!

See Norway’s Best Hikes on a Map


Are you ready to start planning your trip to Norway? Which of these best hikes in Norway do you want to do? Comment below!

More Information for Your Trip to Norway:

10 DAYS IN THE FJORD REGION: On this 10 day itinerary through the fjord region, visit southern Norway: Bergen, Geirangerfjord, and Stavanger and hike Trolltunga, Pulpit Rock and Kjeragbolten.

NORTHERN NORWAY ITINERARY: On this 10 day Norway itinerary, road trip through Senja and the Vesteralen Islands, two beautiful off the beaten path destinations, and visit the Lofoten Islands.

LOFOTEN ISLANDS: For an overview of the best things to do, read our Lofoten Islands Top Ten List. Get lots of travel planning advice in our Lofoten Islands Itinerary. For advice on where to stay, read our Lofoten Islands Hotel Guide.

MORE GREAT HIKES IN EUROPE: From thrilling trails in the Alps to easy walks along the coast, read our article 20 Best Hikes in Europe for some beautiful hiking trails to put on your travel wish list.

Planning a trip to Norway? Read all of our articles in our Norway Travel Guide.

Best Norway Hikes
Best Hikes Norway Trolltunga
Best Hikes in Norway Travel

All rights reserved © Earth Trekkers. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, etc.), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.

Julie

About Julie

Julie is the main author for Earth Trekkers. Hiker, foodie, photographer, and triathlete, Julie loves traveling the world in search of new experiences and then sharing them on this site. Her goal is to make your travel planning process easier and to inspire you to visit new places.

Comments 16

    Load More Comments

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *