Grab your down coats, gloves, and knit hats and get ready for the adventure of your lifetime. If you choose to visit Norway, you’ll find a place that is unlike anywhere else you’ve been to before. It’s a stunning beauty will surely linger in your memory banks for many years to come.
If you’ve never visited Norway before, you might be wondering where you should go and what’s worth seeing.
What kinds of things do you like to see and do when on holiday? Whether you’re an avid skier, nature-lover, history buff, or fan of the nightlife, Norway is a country that is packed full of endless adventures, attractions, oddities, and historical points of interest.
You could easily spend several months exploring everything that Norway has to offer and still not get the full experience, but that’s okay, because after watching this video, you should at the very least have a pretty good understanding of which of it’s many draws best mesh with your interests. Whether you’re planning a weekend excursion or a multi-week stay, we’ll be covering some of the very best things that Norway has to offer.
Viewcation Presents; The Best Things To Do In Norway
Visit The Norwegian Fjords
Norway proudly boasts more than a thousand fjords. With so many options, you might be at a loss as to where to start.
In our opinion, the best fjord to begin your exploration is Geirangerfjord. In 2005, this site was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage site list – and for good reason. It consistently ranks among the contenders of the world’s most stunning fjords.
Visitors will be delighted to find tranquil waters to gaze upon, in addition to majestic mountains, gushing waterfalls, and other natural wonders. A few of the most famous waterfalls in the region include the Bridal Veil and the Seven Sisters.
NÆRØYFJORD is another UNESCO site that delivers it’s own assortment of distinct charms. This fjord is renowned for it’s delightful scenery and is regularly included on lists of the best fjords in the world.
Nearby you’ll find what’s been called the King of the Fjords. Sognefjord is the country’s deepest and longest fjord. The gorgeous and dramatic scenery includes deep blue waters and steep mountains that will leave you feeling tiny and full of awe.
Go On A Dog-Sledding Adventures
Have you ever wanted to be a musher for the day? If so, a dog sledding tour is a must for any canine-loving travelers visiting Norway for the first time. These four-legged friends are more than willing to show you around Norway’s lush wilderness. You can take a stab as a musher while steering your pack of dogs around the snow-covered countryside side for a couple of days, or if that sounds like a bit too much, you can always take in the sights as a passenger on a single day dog sledding excursion.
Take A Winter Safari
You might think that safaris are only for the warmer months, but in our opinion, the best time to go on a safari in Norway is the winter.
Noway’s wildlife is remarkably diverse and unique in a number of ways. By going on an adventure above the Arctic Circle, you can see animals like humpback whales and orcas. On a King Crab safari, you can help fetch giant king crabs and enjoy a delicious seafood dinner afterward.
In the Dovrefjell Mountains region of Eastern Norway, wintertime safari-goers just might catch a glimpse of the powerful musk oxen. But don’t let their tremendous size deceive you. These mighty animals are uber-fast, so in order to see them safely, it’s best to observe them from a healthy distance while taking a guided tour.
Visit Mount Floyen
Situated high up above the city of Bergen, Mount Flyen offers visitors stunning views of both the surrounding landscape and the city below. The mountain offers travelers a number of other activities to flesh out their experience as well, including biking and hiking. There is also a popular railway known as Floribanen Funicular, which offers visitors train rides to the city center.
Hike To The Top of Galdhopiggen
The mountainous area known as Jotunheimenis home to some of Norway’s tallest mountains as well as Jotunheimen National park. One of the most popular things for visitors to this region is to hike up to the top of Norway’s highest mountain, Galdhopiggen. At a height of 2,469 meters or 8,100 feet, visitors can enjoy mesmerizing views of the surrounding mountains as the puffy white clouds float above and below them.
Jotunheimen National Park is a popular spot for travelers to enjoy a myriad of outdoor activities, such as fishing, skiing, mountain climbing, hiking, biking, and kayaking.
Take Sight-Seeing Road Trip Across The Norwegian Countryside
While taking a road trip throughout Norway, travelers will see sights that appear to be straight out of a fairy-tale book. Needless to say, we can’t get enough of the natural beauty that Norway is renowned for. Mountains are in no short supply, and some of Norway’s roads are even built on them. Throughout Norway’s rugged countryside, it’s many roads form a zig-zag pattern as they traverse it’s unique terrain. Throughout your road trip, you’ll be blown away by breathtaking mountains, waterfalls, rivers, and vast open spaces full of foliage. If petrol wasn’t so expensive, you might be tempted to ride through all the roads in this Scandinavian nation.
A few of the best places to visit along your road trip include the Atlantic Ocean Road, Lofoten Road, and Trollstigen Pass.
Immerse Yourself In Art At The Vigeland Museum
Located in Oslo, this incredible sculpture museum has one of the most extensive and impressive collections of neoclassical architecture in Norway. The museum proudly dedicates itself to the esteemed Gustav Vigeland whose works make up the bulk it’s collection.
Vigeland Museum offers travelers a chance to see sculptures from it’s vast collection of more than 2000 pieces. The majority of these are creatively constructed figures of men, women, and children in varied poses.
Take A Train Ride
Norway’s railroad system is well-developed and spans across 4,000 km of the country. Taking a train ride is one of the best ways to explore the beautiful views of the country on the go. Travelers exploring Norway via the railway will enjoy astonishing views of the country’s many mountains, scenic lakes, fjords, and lush vegetation.
Marvel At The Polar Night Sky In Svalbard
Svalbard is known for many things, including it’s stunning glaciers, large population of polar bears, and for being one of the best places in the world to see the polar night sky. The atmosphere in this area is very inviting and distinct, especially during the winter months when the the sky sees no sun due to the region’s northernmost latitudinal location.
Polar Night is a unique experience that travelers won’t soon forget. You’ll be amazed how dark this region gets even in the middle of the day. During this unique period of the year, there is a good chance that you’ll get a glimpse of the Northern Lights as they fill the sky with an explosive and colorful light show.
Visit Oslo’s Akershus Castle
The Akershus Castle can be found in Oslo. It’s a medieval structure that was constructed in the 13th century and is said to have been built as a royal residence. Inside, travelers will find a blend of exciting and historically significant sections, including one that was once used as a prison.
The castle is home to the Norwegian Armed Forces Museum and Norway’s Resistance Museum. These museums offer visitors a look back at the history of the Norwegian military from the age of the Vikings to World War II.
Take A Ride Through The Sky At Loen Skylift
The Queen of Norway opened this attraction in 2017. It’s one of the more recent additions to the country’s numerous phenomenal viewpoints.
Travelers can hop aboard cable cars that travel along an aerial tramway that ascends to a height of 1,011 meters at the top of Mount Hoven. From the summit, you can take in the glorious views of Nordfjord. Guests can also participate in activities like hiking and bird-watching or they can stop for a bite to eat at a restaurant that overlooks the countryside.
Marvel At Trolltunga
Travelers seeking the ultimate thrill can visit Trolltunga. This gravity-defying rock formation dramatically juts out of the mountainside. The formation hangs, completely unsupported, over 700 meters above the equally beautiful Lake Ringedalsvatnet. The sensational views make the ten to twelve-hour hike totally worth it.
Explore Lillehammer
This city hosted the Winter Olympics in 1994. To this day, it remains an outdoors sports-enthusiasts utopia.
Visitors can learn all about the historic games that were held here at the Norwegian Olympic Musuem. Another great attraction worth checking out is the Lysgaard Bakken Ski Jumping Arena, where both the opening and closing Olympic ceremonies were held.
The city is also home to the country’s largest open-air museum in addition to a collection of idyllic 19th-century wood cottages that line the shores of Lake Mjosa.
Pitch A Tent And Connect With Nature
Norway has a unique law known as Allemannsretten, which roughly translates to Everyman’s Right. This law allows anyone to gain access to uncultivated land. This means that if you find a spot that you find to be particularly attractive – perhaps one with a view that you appreciate – you can stop there and pitch a tent or park an RV for the evening and camp there for free.
Well, there you have it. That pretty much wraps up our rundown of the best things to do in Norway. But before you move on to watching another one of our videos, take a moment to show us a little support by hopping in the comments and letting us know what some of your thoughts are on this incredible Scandinavian country.
Have you visited Norway before? If so, what are a few of your favorite attractions and sights? If not, what are you most excited to see on your first trip?
We’d love to hear what you have to add to the conversation, and as always, we sincerely appreciate you taking the time to watch this video.
Be safe out there, and happy travels Viewcationers.