Norway is the land of fjords, quaint fishing villages, Vikings, trolls, the northern lights, the midnight sun, scenic drives, and some of the best hikes in the world. If you are planning a visit to this amazing country, here are 20 of the best things to do in Norway.
Best Things to do in Norway
In no particular order, here is our list of the best things to do in Norway. At the end of this post, you can see them all on a map.
Explore the Fjord Region
Exploring the fjords is one of the best things to do in Norway. There are several ways to do this…by cruise, by car, by hiking trail, or by ferry.
Hardangerfjord
If you are planning a road trip through southern Norway, you will drive along many of these fjords. Southern Norway is laced with fjords and waterways and most likely, you will also cross these fjords by car ferry while driving through this part of the country.
On some of the hikes on this list, you will get a bird’s eye view out over the fjords. Pulpit Rock and Kjeragbolten both offer amazing views of Lysefjord.
Finally, Hurtigruten offers various cruises through the Norwegian fjords.
For an epic road trip through the southern fjords, check out our 10 Day Norway Itinerary: The Ultimate Road Trip through the Fjord Region
Norway in a Nutshell
Norway in a Nutshell is a packaged tour that combines a ferry ride on Naeroyfjord (one of the narrowest and most scenic fjords in Norway) with one of the world’s most scenic train rides, the Flåm railway.
Naeroyfjord
If you have limited time in Norway, this is a great excursion to do. You can start and end this tour at several of Norway’s most popular cities, with all transportation included. This excursion has a big price tag, but for travelers with limited time, it is a very easy and convenient way to experience this part of Norway. Learn more about the official Norway in a Nutshell tour here.
If you are planning a road trip and will have a rental car, you can piece together your own Norway in a Nutshell tour, and save some money in the process.
For more information on how to piece together your own Norway in a Nutshell tour, read our article How to do Norway in a Nutshell on Your Own.
Pose for Photos on Trolltunga
Trolltunga is one of Norway’s most popular hikes. It is an incredibly scenic hike, ending at the Troll’s tongue, a thin sliver of rock that is perfect for creative photographs.
It is a long, strenuous hike to get to Trolltunga…28 km (17.4 miles) round trip. This hike will take a full day of your time, but it’s worth it. Not only will you come home with a memory card full of unique photographs, but you will also get to spend the day hiking through a beautiful part of Norway.
Learn how to do it: Hiking Trolltunga: Everything You Need to Know to Have the Best Experience
Visit Historic Bryggen
Bryggen is a historic harbor district in the coastal town of Bergen. This is the location of the colorful red, orange, and white Hanseatic Houses, commercial buildings that were used from 14th to 16th centuries for the trading of stockfish. Bryggen is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and many of these buildings date back to 1702.
While in Bergen, explore Bryggen, visit the fish market, and ride the Fløyen funicular for a bird’s eye view over the town.
Road Trip through the Lofoten Islands
The Lofoten Islands are a wonderland of jagged mountains, rocky coastlines, and white sandy beaches. This is a spectacular part of Norway to explore, especially for those who love scenic drives, hiking, and being outdoors.
If you plan to road trip through the Lofoten Islands, set aside a minimum of four days in order to have the best experience. This area might look small on a map, but it is packed with beaches, hiking trails, and scenic detours that can easily fill several days of your time.
Learn more: Top Ten Things to do in the Lofoten Islands
Explore Oslo
Oslo is the capital of Norway and the largest city in the country. Most likely, you will spend a little bit of time here, either when you arrive and/or depart Norway.
Top sights in Oslo include the Viking Ship Museum, the Kon-Tiki Museum, the Holmenkollen ski jump, Akershus Fortress, and the Oslo Opera House.
Drive the Atlantic Road
The Atlantic Road has been called the world’s most beautiful drive and has been voted as the “Norwegian construction of the century.”
This coastal road connects the island of Averøy with the mainland. It is just 8.3 km (5 miles long), and hops from island to island along a series of bridges. The Atlantic Road is located between Trondheim and Ålesund.
Go Hiking in Vesterålen
Vesterålen is a quieter, less touristy version of the Lofoten Islands. This archipelago sits just north of the Lofoten Islands in northern Norway.
For jaw-dropping views of the coastline, hike the easy trail to Måtinden. This hike takes just 3 to 4 hours of your time and it is filled with spectacular coastal views.
Visit Tromsø
Located at 69° North in the Arctic Circle, this small northern city offers a lot to do. During the summer months, you get to witness the midnight sun. In the winter, the northern lights shimmer and dance over the town. Take in the view from Fløya, go shopping, visit the Arctic Cathedral, or use Tromsø as a home base for exploring the fjords and mountains in the area.
Hike to Pulpit Rock
Pulpit Rock, also called Preikestolen, is a uniquely shaped rock that towers 604 meters over Lysefjord. It has been featured in Mission: Impossible – Fallout, not to mention thousands of photos on Facebook and Instagram.
With its great views, relatively easy hiking trail, and convenient accessibility from the town of Stavanger, this is another very popular hike in Norway.
Learn More: How to Hike to Pulpit Rock
Drive Trollstigen
Trollstigen, aka “The Troll’s Road,” twists and turns as it climbs up from the Romsdal Valley. This short stretch of road features 11 hairpin turns, several viewpoints, and views of the Stigfossen waterfall. It is part of the National Tourist Route that connects Geirangerfjord with Åndalsnes.
Journey to Svalbard
If you look at Svalbard on a globe, it looks like it is just a hop, skip, and jump away from the North Pole. Longyearbyen, at 78° North, is the world’s northernmost community.
In Svalbard, many adventures await. Go hiking, kayak past glaciers, explore the snowy landscapes by snowmobile, or go on a multi-day sled dog expedition. If you have lots of time (and money), take a one-week cruise around Svalbard in search of polar bears.
Svalbard feels like an adventure. New landscapes, new experiences…a trip here is one of the coolest things to do in Norway (pun intended).
Climb Svolvaergeita
Here is another adventure for your Norway bucket list. Svolvaergeita, also called “The Goat,” is a pinnacle of rock that is a popular rock climbing spot in the Lofoten Islands.
This was our favorite experience in the Lofoten Islands. The view from the top of Svolvaergeita is incredible! And if you are a beginner rock climber, you can do this.
Learn more: Complete Guide to Climbing Svolvaergeita
Enjoy the View over Ålesund
Ålesund is a beautiful coastal town in southern Norway. This Art Nouveau town is scattered across several islands along the Atlantic Ocean. A highlight of a visit to Ålesund is the view from Fjellstua.
Relax in Sommarøy
Sommarøy is a hidden treasure in northern Norway. I like to think of it as Norwegian paradise. Hiking trails, amazing views, tiny islands with white sandy beaches, and picture-perfect red cabins dotting the water’s edge…can it get any better than this?
Drone photo of Sommarøy
It’s easy to day trip here from Tromsø, but for a quieter, more relaxing experience, spend the night at the lovely Sommarøy Arctic Hotel. For the best view over Sommarøy, it’s a short, easy hike up to Ørnfløya.
Learn More: Ørnfløya, A Short but Sweet Hike in Sommarøy
Explore the Lovely Island of Senja
Not far from Tromsø and Sommarøy is the lovely island of Senja. This is another great spot to add to your northern Norway road trip.
Drive the Norwegian Scenic Route from Bothhamn to Gryllefjord, visiting Tungeneset, Bergsbotn, and the Senja Troll on the way.
Drone photo of Segla
There are also several great hikes to do on the island. We hiked the short but challenging trail up Segla for unbeatable views over the island.
Learn More: How to Hike Segla on the Island of Senja
Visit Geirangerfjord
Geirangerfjord is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a fjord known for being one of the most beautiful in Norway.
For an amazing view of the fjord, you have several options. Go to the Dalsnibba viewpoint for the highest view of the valley and fjord (best on a clear day). The Flydalsjuvet rock is an outcropping of rock where you can get iconic photos of Geirangerfjord. The Ørnesvingen viewpoint on the Eagle Road is also another great spot to visit.
For a unique experience, you can kayak in Geirangerfjord. When we did this, we saw dolpins!
Stand on Kjeragbolten…Do You Dare?
Hiking to Kjeragbolten is one of the best things to do in Norway. Not only do you get the chance to do something absolutely crazy, stepping out onto the boulder, but this hike is just downright fun. From climbing sheer granite faces with the aids of chains, to descending down into valleys inhabited by sheep and their clanging bells, to views out over some of the most spectacular scenery in Norway, this hike is a pure joy.
Learn More: Hiking to Kjeragbolten: The Complete Guide
Get the Postcard View of Hamnøy
Hamnøy, with its collection of red fishing cabins on the water, is one of the most picturesque spots on the Lofoten Islands.
The exact spot to get this photograph is labeled on Google Maps as Hamnøy Bridge Photospot Viewpoint.
Visit Trondheim
Trondheim is the third largest city in Norway. University students make up a sizable portion of the population. This colorful city is filled with museums, the world’s northernmost tram, boutique shops, and an excellent food and nightlife scene. Learn more here.
Best Thing to do in Norway: On a Map
Norway Itinerary
Learn how to put all of these together with our Norway itineraries:
10 Day Lofoten Islands and Northern Norway Itinerary
10 Day Norway Itinerary: The Ultimate Road Trip through the Fjord Region
10 Days in Norway: The Fjords and the Lofoten Islands
Comment below if you have any questions or if you want to share your experience.
Read all of our articles about Norway in our Norway Travel Guide.
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Comments 9
Wow, Norway is GORGEOUS! The hiking and the views look amazing, my legs actually felt shaky looking at some of your photos, can’t imagine being there in person on top of some of those rocks, incredible! Do you have itinerary suggestions for someone who wants to visit some beautiful spots but not necessarily do a lot of hiking? Thank you!
Author
Beautiful, right? If you have 10 days and want to see both the Lofoten Islands and the fjord region, check out our Highlights of the Fjord Region itinerary in this post. It combines the Lofoten Islands and some of the most scenic destinations in the fjord region without doing a lot of hiking. Cheers, Julie
Sounds good, thank you!!!
Hi Julie, I was in Island of Senja just before this corona-thing took place. I stayed in Hotel in city Finnsnes. That place is beyond beautiful. If you are there I would recommend you visit Ånderdalen National Park also. It is one of most eye-catching places on earth!
Author
Thanks for the recommendations…we would love to go back and explore more of Senja and northern Norway. Stay safe and happy travels! Cheers, Julie
Wow, this is such a thorough and informative list! Reminded me just how badly I need to get to Norway. Thanks Julie!!
Author
You’re welcome!!
Beautiful places! Is it possible to see even half of this in one trip? Especially Lofoten, Preikestolen, Trolltunga, Atlantic Road, Kjeragbolten, Trolstigen and some fjords? That is my dream 🙂 What do you think?
Author
Hello Paulina. It depends on how much time you have. We have been to Norway twice, for a total of 20 days, and have not been to 2 places on this list: the Atlantic Road (but we were so close, just 2 hours away) and Trondheim. At the end of this article we have links to 3 different itineraries, each of them 10 days long. Ideally, I recommend two visits to Norway: one to northern Norway and one to southern Norway. We have a 10 day itinerary where you will visit both, but you won’t get to everything on your list. However, this itinerary would be a good starting point for planning your trip, you just might need to add more time. Cheers, Julie