Breathtaking, adventurous, rugged, inspiring, photogenic, extraordinary...these are all words that can be used to describe Norway. It is hard to look at photos of Norway without saying "Wow!" over and over again. Norway is the land of fjords, quaint coastal towns, the Northern Lights, Vikings, trolls, dramatic photo spots, scenic drives, and some of the best hiking in the world. Whether you are coming here for a relaxing cruise through the fjords, an epic hiking adventure, or a trip to the Arctic Circle, Norway will not disappoint.
Things To Know
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Language
The official language is Norwegian but most people are fluent in English.
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Power
220 V 50 Hz, Europlug (Type C and F)
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Currency
Norwegian Krone (plural - kroner), NOK. Symbol - kr.
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Visas
Citizens of the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Japan can enter Norway for up to 90 days without a Visa.
Travel Tips
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Norway is expensive
Norway is one of the most expensive countries to visit in the world. Food, accommodations, and fuel are the most pricey items. It is not unusual for a cheeseburger to cost $20 USD and a beer to cost $12 USD. Norway is not a budget destination but there are ways to save money. Shop at supermarkets and bakeries rather than dining at restaurants. Good, clean hotels at reasonable prices can be found, as accommodation prices are not as shockingly high as the price for food. Rental car prices are average and we took several in-country flights that were very economical. I believe you get what you pay for. That cheeseburger may be expensive but the views you will have of the fjords are priceless.
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Best Time To Go to Norway
Summer is brief in Norway. For outdoor activities such as hiking and camping, the best months are June through August. Before and after these months, snow is possible, especially as you travel north. The summer months also get the most tourists, so expect larger crowds at most of the popular sights. Norway was the birthplace of skiing, so visiting Norway during the winter months can also make for a great trip. If you want to see the Northern Lights, visit Norway between November and March.
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Tipping
Service charges are already included in your bill. There is no need to add an extra 10 or 15% to your restaurant bill.
Top Experiences
Hike to Trolltunga. Nowadays, almost everyone has seen the photos of people posing on a narrow outcropping of rock, with the dramatic scenery of Norway in the background. You can hike, bike, and climb to Trolltunga, this being one of the epic hikes possible to do in Norway.
Kjeragbolten. Quickly becoming another Norwegian icon, Kjeragbolten is a large boulder wedged between two cliffs. Do you dare step out onto this rock? Even if you don't, the hike to get there is packed with breathtaking scenery.
The Northern Lights. Northern Norway is one of the best places in the world to view the Northern Lights. The best chances to see the Northern Lights are during the winter months from the Lofoten Islands and Tromso.
Geirangerfjord. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Geirangerfjord is labeled is one of the most beautiful fjords in Norway. View it from land, cruise ship, ferry, or kayak.
Trollstigen. Also called the Troll's Footpath, this dramatic road is one of Norway's most visited sites. This winding road provides more dramatic views and a chance to drive on one of Europe's "most dangerous roads," although we found it to be quite safe.
Svalbard. The Svalbard Islands are located between Norway and the North Pole. Visit polar bears, historic mining towns, and the town Longyearbyen.
Bergen. Bergen is the second largest city in Norway. Eat fish caught fresh from the ocean, visit Bryggen, the Hanseatic houses that dominate the harbor, and get a bird's eye view of the city from the funicular.
Pulpit Rock. This is the most popular hike in Norway. Easily accessible from Stavanger, expect large crowds of people during the summer months.
Lofoten Islands. Located in the Arctic Circle, these islands are one of Norway's most beautiful and off the beaten track destinations. Known for its quaint fishing villages, the Lofoten Islands are also spot to go surfing. Who knew?
Ålesund. This coastal town is one of the prettiest in Norway. It's quick to visit and don't miss the short uphill climb to a viewpoint over the city.
Tromso. Tromso is considered to be the northernmost city in the world and one of the best places to witness the Northern Lights.
Oslo. Oslo is Norway's capital. Things to do include seeing the Holmenkollen Ski Jump, the Viking Ship Museum, the Norwegian National Opera, and Akershus Castle.
Articles about Norway
Lofoten Islands Itinerary: Complete Guide for First Time Visitors
The Lofoten Islands are one of the most stunning areas of Norway. This is where majestic mountains meet brilliantly white sandy beaches, fishing villages dot the coastlines, and hiking trails criss...
2Norway Bucket List: 20 Epic Things to do in Norway
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...
910 Days in Norway: The Fjords and the Lofoten Islands
10 days in Norway…the options are endless for the best way to explore this gorgeous country. We have been to Norway twice and after each trip we wrote a 10-day Norway itinerary. One itinerary onl...
1610 Day Lofoten Islands and Northern Norway Itinerary
The islands of northern Norway are the perfect destination if you enjoy hiking, scenic drives, and jaw-dropping landscapes. On this northern Norway itinerary, road trip from Tromsø down through Se...
63Top Ten Things To Do in the Lofoten Islands
The Lofoten Islands are a wonderland of jagged mountains, beautiful fjords, and white sandy beaches. This is a spectacular part of Norway to explore, especially for those who love scenic drives, hi...
1014 Best Hikes in Norway to Put on Your Bucket List
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 i...
6Where to Stay in the Lofoten Islands, Norway
If you are making a decision about where to stay in the Lofoten Islands, you have a lot of options. Take your pick from rorbuers (fisherman cabins that have been converted into small apartments), h...
4How to Hike Ryten and Enjoy the View over Kvalvika Beach
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 breathta...
16Hiking Festvågtind in the Lofoten Islands, Norway
From the top of Festvågtind, the views over the fishing village of Henningsvaer are breathtaking. This hike is very similar to Svolvaer Fløya and Reinebringen, in that it’s a steep, somewhat un...
0Svalbard Travel Guide & Itinerary for First Time Visitors
Svalbard. An arctic playground where there are more polar bears than people. This is a land of glaciers, the northern lights, the midnight sun, and frozen tundra. Svalbard may seem barren, but it i...
8Hiking to Måtind on the Stave-Bleik Coastal Trail, Vesteralen, Norway
Norway never ceases to amaze me. You know how you see photos online and think to yourself, “yeah, that looks nice…I’d like to do that.” And you get there and it’s so much better than you ...
6Top Ten Things to do in Longyearbyen, Svalbard
Longyearbyen is the world’s northernmost city. This is a town where the streets have no names, reindeer wander through town, and there are more snowmobiles than people. If you have plans to visit...
2How to Hike Reinebringen in the Lofoten Islands, Norway
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 long, sto...
6Svalbard Budget: How Much Does it Cost to Visit Svalbard?
Do you have big dreams of visiting Svalbard? Then you probably also have the question how much does it cost to visit Svalbard? The short answer: it can be very expensive. We spent four days in Sval...
11How to Hike Segla, One of Senja’s Most Popular Hikes
The hike up to the summit of Segla is one of Senja’s most popular hikes. And this was our main reason for visiting Senja. Many visitors skip past Senja, heading directly to the Lofoten Islands. B...
14Svalbard Packing List: What to Pack for the Summer Months
One of the biggest questions we had while planning our trip to Svalbard was “what do we pack?” Svalbard is located so far north that it’s easy to assume that it will be ice-cold all year round. G...
2Cruising to Pyramiden, a Russian Ghost Town in Svalbard
Cruising to Pyramiden, an abandoned Russian mining town near Longyearbyen, is one of the most popular excursions in Svalbard. On the way, you also get to see a massive glacier, go whale watching, a...
4Discover Northern Norway in 25 Amazing Photos
Without a doubt, northern Norway is one of the most spectacular places we have been. With rugged coastlines, small harbors filled with picture-perfect red fishing cabins, winding roads through the ...
15Hiking Svolvaer Fløya in the Lofoten Islands
There are two ways to get a spectacular view over the town of Svolvaer…hike to the top of Svolvaer Fløya or climb Svolvaergeita. We did both on the same afternoon, making this one of our most me...
4Ørnfløya, A Short but Sweet Hike in Sommarøy, Norway
The view from Ørnfløya over Sommarøy is gorgeous! The hike up Ørnfløya is short and easy, perfect if you like the idea of getting an amazing view with minimal effort. This hike can be done as ...
2Complete Guide to Climbing Svolvaergeita in the Lofoten Islands
Svolvaergeita, also called “The Goat,” is a pinnacle of rock that is a popular rock climbing spot in the Lofoten Islands. It is named The Goat because of the two horns of rock that sit atop the...
11Kayaking Adventfjord and Hiking Hiorthfjellet: A One Day Adventure in Svalbard
Svalbard offers a wide range of adventure activites. Ride on a rib boat and search for walrus, kayak in front of an active glacier, or cruise out to an abandoned mining town. For a really cool one ...
3Glacier Kayaking in Svalbard, Norway
Does the idea of kayaking in icy waters to get up close to a glacier sound like fun to you? If so, put the Icebreaker excursion with Better Moments on your list of things to do in Svalbard. We had ...
6Where to Stay near Trolltunga, Norway
Trolltunga is one of Norway’s best hikes. It is a very long day hike and for the best experience you should plan on spending the night near the start of the hike. Here are recommendations for som...
0How to do Norway in a Nutshell on Your Own
Norway in a Nutshell is a scenic tour of Norway. Targeted towards travelers on whirlwind tours of Norway, this is a convenient way to see the “best of the best” of Norway in just one day. If you o...
57The Kjeragbolten Hike: A Complete Guide
The Kjeragbolten hike is one of the most spectacular hikes in the world. We have hiked on some amazing trails around the globe, in countries like Australia, South Africa, China, and Nepal. The four...
5510 Day Norway Itinerary: Ultimate Road Trip through the Fjord Region
For hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, this Norway itinerary is perfect. In 10 days, you will be able to do four amazing hikes. Be daring and stand on Kjeragbolten, hike out to Trolltunga and pose for...
195The Best of Norway in Photos
Our family spent twelve days touring Norway, visiting Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, and Alesund. Hiking was our favorite activity here. Norway is an amazing (and very expensive!!) country to visit, and ...
13Hiking Romsdalseggen Ridge in Norway
The Romsdalseggen hike, our final hike in Norway, was the most challenging and physically demanding hike of the trip. This was the hike I was looking forward to the most. It was a point to point hi...
14Hiking Trolltunga: Everything You Need to Know to Have the Best Experience
Trolltunga is one of Norway’s most popular hikes for good reason. It is an incredibly scenic hike, ending at the Troll’s tongue, a thin sliver of rock perfect for creative photographs. This is ...
121Kjeragbolten: Our Favorite Hike in Norway
When Tim and I first researched Norway as a travel destination, we repeatedly saw photos of what looked to be crazy people standing on a boulder with 3000 feet of empty space underneath of it. Who ...
77How to Hike to Pulpit Rock in Norway
The hike to Pulpit Rock is one of the most popular hikes in Norway. With great views, a relatively easy hiking trail, and convenient accessibility from the town of Stavanger, this hike has a big ap...
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