Highlights
Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord
Two UNESCO-listed fjords with sheer cliffs and waterfalls such as the Seven Sisters. Ferries and sightseeing boats cruise both, and the roads in and out, including the hairpin bends of Trollstigen near Geiranger, are journeys in themselves.
Bergen
A rainy, colourful harbour city ringed by seven mountains. The wooden Hanseatic warehouses of Bryggen are a World Heritage site, and the Fløibanen funicular climbs Mount Fløyen for a view over the city and coast.
Oslo
The capital sits at the head of a fjord. The Opera House roof can be walked on, the Munch Museum holds versions of The Scream, and Vigeland Park displays over 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland.
Lofoten Islands
Jagged peaks rise straight out of the sea above red fishermen's cabins (rorbuer) and white beaches. Summer brings hiking under the midnight sun; winter brings cod-fishing season and a chance of the northern lights.
Tromsø and the northern lights
The largest city in northern Norway is a base for aurora-watching from roughly September to March, as well as dog-sledding, whale-watching in winter and the striking Arctic Cathedral.
Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)
A flat-topped cliff rising about 600 metres above Lysefjord near Stavanger, reached by a popular hike of a few hours return. Kjeragbolten, a boulder wedged in a crevice, lies across the same fjord.
The Bergen Railway and Flåm Railway
The line between Oslo and Bergen crosses the high Hardangervidda plateau, and the steep branch line from Myrdal down to Flåm on the Aurlandsfjord is one of the most scenic short train rides in Europe.
Interesting facts about Norway
- Norway's coastline, including fjords and islands, is so heavily indented that its full length is measured at around 100,000 kilometres.
- Norway is not a member of the European Union but is part of the European Economic Area and the Schengen area.
- Norway has one of the highest shares of electric cars among new car sales in the world.
- Svalbard, the Norwegian Arctic archipelago, has the Global Seed Vault, which stores back-up seeds of food crops from around the world.
- Norway has two official written forms of Norwegian, Bokmål and Nynorsk, and Sámi languages also have official status in parts of the north.
Best time to visit
June to August is the main season: long days, open mountain roads and hiking trails, and the midnight sun north of the Arctic Circle. It is also the busiest and most expensive time, especially in the fjords. May and September are quieter and often good value. From late September to March the north is dark for long periods, which is the time for the northern lights, winter sports and snow-covered landscapes; some mountain roads close in winter.
Practical information
| Capital | Oslo |
|---|---|
| Currency | Norwegian krone (NOK) |
| Languages | Norwegian, Sámi |
| Plugs | Type C, F |
| Voltage | 230 V, 50 Hz |
| Emergency | 112 police, 113 ambulance, 110 fire |
| Driving | On the right |
| Tipping | Not expected, as service is included in prices. Rounding up or leaving a little extra for good restaurant service is a nice gesture. |
Getting around
Trains link Oslo with Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger and Bodø, and many of them are scenic routes in their own right. Domestic flights are the practical way to reach the far north. Along the coast, ferries are part of the road network, and the Hurtigruten coastal ships sail between Bergen and Kirkenes. Driving gives the most freedom in fjord country, but roads are narrow and winding, many have tolls collected automatically, and winter tyres are needed in the cold season. Norway is almost cashless: cards and phone payments work almost everywhere.
Staying connected in Norway
Mobile coverage is very good across most of Norway, including in towns, along main roads, on ferries and in many tunnels, with 4G and 5G in populated areas. Coverage can disappear in high mountain areas, remote valleys, on the Hardangervidda plateau and in the far north, so do not rely on signal on long hikes. Free Wi-Fi is common in hotels, cafés, trains and on many ferries. Norway follows EU roaming rules through the EEA, but visitors from outside Europe can face high roaming charges; install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.
See Norway eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Norway
- Entur: Journey planner and tickets for trains, buses and ferries across the whole country.
- Ruter: Tickets for buses, trams, the metro and boats in Oslo and the surrounding area.
- Yr: The Norwegian weather service's app, essential for planning hikes in fast-changing mountain weather.
- Vy: Book and manage tickets on long-distance and regional trains, including the Bergen Railway.
- Google Maps: Driving routes and ferry crossings; download offline areas for the mountains and far north.