7 must-see places in Norway
With a plan to lift restrictions on international travel underway, Norway is back on the radar of international travelers after more than 18 months.
No matter where you are in Norway, you are never far from mountains, fjords or ocean views. In the summer, the midnight sun provides 24-hour natural light, while the dark winter months are great for exploring indoor attractions and catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights.
If you don’t know where to start when planning a trip to Norway, here are seven suggestions for must-see places to consider on your itinerary.
Norwegian fjords
There are so many sites to see in and around the fjord region that even a whole book wouldn’t do them justice. Carved by glaciers during the last ice age, the fjords attracted the first settlers to Norway and do the same with tourists today.
While many tourists plan to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord, the fjord region is much larger and offers plenty of options for curious tourists. The spectacular Hjørundfjord and Sunnmøre Alps are easy to visit from Ålesund, while hikers can consider famous routes such as Preikestolen, a cliff overlooking the Lysefjord.
Oslo Vigeland Park
Explore the essence of human nature through the lens of Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland. Its park in the leafy west of Oslo features more than 200 sculptures in bronze, granite and cast iron.
While the diminutive Angry boy attracts tourists to the camera, the imposing monolith is the undisputed highlight of the park. Carved from a single piece of stone, the monolith represents more than 100 intertwined human figures soaring skyward.
Lofoten Islands
Much has been written about Lofotens in recent years, but words struggle to do justice to the breathtaking landscapes of these arctic islands. Jagged granite peaks rise from the ocean with tiny fishing villages nestled on the shore.
The compact red and yellow fishing huts and distinctive fish dryers date back to a bygone era, but in fact the fishing industry is alive and thriving in this part of the world.
Outdoor experiences dominate Lofoten, with hikers, mountaineers, surfers, cyclists and landscape photographers all welcomed.
Norwegian coast
Lofoten is just one part of Norway’s epic coastline. The best way to see it is the coastal trip from Bergen to Kirkenes.
Offered by Hurtigruten and newcomer Havila, the trip is billed as a cruise, but the entertainment on offer is above all the ever-changing coastline. From the west fjords to Lofoten and the harsh northern landscape, the coastline is the undisputed star of the trip.
With the world’s largest on-board batteries, the all-new Havila fleet is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to travel. Most of the Hurtigruten coastal fleet has been modernized with hybrid technology, so sustainable travelers have several options.
The Flåm Railway
Previously named by Lonely Planet as the world’s most beautiful train journey, the Flåm Railway offers breathtaking landscapes of mountains, fjords and valleys in less than an hour. The trip includes a few photo stops, including the mighty Kjosfossen Waterfall.
From the high mountain resort of Myrdal to the Aurlandsfjord, the twisting 50-minute ride through the lush Flåm Valley is a true marvel of engineering. It took 17 years to build it, a story that is commemorated in a small museum next to the Flåm arrival station.
The easiest way to reach the Flåm railway is to take the Oslo-Bergen railway to Myrdal station. From Oslo, the scenic ride takes just under 5 hours, and departures from Flåm coincide with the arrival of the train in Myrdal. The two trains combine for a very memorable trip.
Bergen Bryggen
There is so much to see in Norway’s second largest city, but most tourists start with UNESCO World Heritage Site Bryggen. This set of wooden buildings built around narrow alleys and cobbled squares recalls the days of Bergen, one of the most important trading towns in the medieval Hanseatic network.
The Hanseatic Museum has temporarily moved from a historic trading house to the meeting rooms in Schøtstuene and is still worth a visit despite the less atmospheric setting. Also check out the nearby Bryggens Museum which tells the stories of Bryggen’s archaeological digs to this day.
The Atlantic Ocean Road
Daniel Craig drove the Atlantic Ocean Road during his last appearance as James Bond in No time to die. It was the latest in a long list of big and small screen appearances for the iconic stretch of the Coastal Road, one of Norway’s 18 National Scenic Routes.
Opened in July 1989 after six years of construction, the 5.2-mile-long road connects the island of Averøy to the mainland by causeways and eight bridges crossing an archipelago.
For tourists, the road can be a destination in itself, or it can simply be part of a much longer road trip along the coastline. The big bridge at Storseisundet is the most famous place and it is worth making several round trips on the road to see every bend from both angles.
Recent investments include improvements to parking lots and trails that bring visitors around the small islands to see the road and its surroundings from a different perspective.