What to see in Norway

Explaining what to see in Norway is talking about Aurora borealis, gigantic fjords, precious Nordic cities y lost villages in full Arctic Circle. But also from ancient lands populated by legendary Vikings and of ancient traditions in a modern country.

Located on the Scandinavian Peninsula, just like Sweden o Finland, and more than three hundred thousand square kilometers in size, Norway is bathed by the barents sea and divided into eleven administrative regions o fylkers that are to each one more beautiful than the previous one. If you want to discover what to see in Norway, we invite you to follow us.

What to see in Norway: cities and nature

We will start our tour of Norway in the capital, Oslo, located in the south of the country and then continue your journey through the northern, eastern and western regions, all of which offer you wonderful monuments and landscapes.

Oslo, the ancient Christianity

Called Cristianía until 1897, with almost seven hundred thousand inhabitants it is the third city in Scandinavia after Copenhagen and Stockholm. It has served as the capital of the country since 1314, when the king Haakon V he established the court there.

The most iconic monument in the city is the impressive Akershus fortress, built seven hundred years ago although it was extensively renovated in the XNUMXth century in accordance with the Renaissance style. Later, other annex buildings were also added. In one of those buildings you can visit the Norwegian Resistance Museum, which collects the history of the country's opposition to the German occupation between 1940 and 1945.

Other civil constructions that we advise you to visit in Oslo are the imposing Royal Palace, neoclassical style; the building of Deposit o Parliament of Norway; the striking Town hall, where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded, and the Vigeland park, which also serves as a permanent exhibition of the sculptures of the artist who gives it its name, Gustav Vigeland.

Regarding religious constructions, we recommend that you see the Cathedrals of the Savior of Oslo and Saint Olaf, the latter the largest in the whole country and neo-gothic style; as well as the Gamle Aker and Trinity churches, the first of which, Romanesque, is the oldest building in the capital.

Finally, you shouldn't leave Oslo without seeing museums like the one dedicated to the painter Edvard Munch and the most curious of the Kon-Tiki, about the Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdhal, Y de Viking ships. Without forgetting the Norwegian people, in the open air and that shows you houses from all over the country together with the customs and traditions of its inhabitants.

Tromso, the country of the Northern Lights

We jump to the north of Norway to see Tromso, which is within the geographical (non-political) region of Lapland. It takes its name from the tromsoya island, where the city center is located.

In it you can see temples like the ancient cathedral built in 1861 and museums such as that of the Tromso University, where you can learn about the history and customs of the sami people or Lapp and which is completed with the spectacular and unique Arctic-Alpine Botanical Garden. But perhaps the modern one is more spectacular arctic cathedral, a 1965 construction that has the largest window in Europe. Also, Tromso is famous for its urban life and for the many music festivals it organizes.

However, the best of this region is found in the most remote areas of the city. These are perfect places for you to see the wonderful Aurora borealis, the call "midnight Sun" and also for watch whales. You can reach the northernmost point of Europe in North Cape, watch birds in the Varanger peninsula and spend the night in an ice hotel in Kirkenes.

Bergen, the city of wooden houses

Talk about what to see in Norway and not mention its spectacular fjords it would be unforgivable. And Bergen is the gateway to some of the most impressive ones like dream, considered the longest and deepest in Norway, or that of Hardanger, where is the Trolltunga plateau.

From Bergen you can also go by train to the village of Flam by one of the most beautiful rail routes in the world for being in the internal part of the fjord of aurland and cross deep ravines with spectacular waterfalls.

But you also have interesting things to see in your own Bergen. For example, the beautiful neighborhoods of Bryggen and Strandside, with its wooden houses painted in cheerful colors. Or also visit the beautiful Blue Stone square, where is the church of san juan. Although, if we talk about temples, the church of Santa Maria, the oldest building in the city as it dates from the XNUMXth century. And also the Saint Olaf's cathedral, later by very little.

Finally, you cannot leave the city without going up to the viewpoint of Floyen, which is reached by the Floibanen funicular and from which you have extraordinary views of Bergen itself and also of the fjords.

Alesund, another starting point to the fjords to see in Norway

While Bergen is an excellent starting point to see fjords, Alesund is best for visiting the most spectacular in all of Norway. Its about geiranger fjord, listed as Heritage, but there are also many others.

On the other hand, this region is ideal if you like the Mountain climbing because in it is Andalsnes, considered the Norwegian capital of this sporting activity and which you can get to by taking another beautiful train route.
But we also advise you to stop at the aforementioned Alesund, a gem known as «The city of Art Nouveau» for the large number of buildings of this beautiful architectural style that it has.

Trondheim or what to see in the heart of Norway

Most important city in the region of Trondelag, this town is known as "The homeland of Nordic flavors" due to the large number of restaurants it has, some with Michelin star. But, in addition, it was the religious capital of Norway during the Middle Ages thanks to its spectacular Nidaros cathedral, a building with a Gothic-Elizabethan base, and at the Archbishop's palace, which is the oldest civil construction in all the Nordic countries.

Furthermore, Trondheim is a University City whose faculties of science are, by the way, in a beautiful building. And it was also an important military stronghold, as evidenced by Kristiansen and Munkholmen Island forts.

But the Trondelag region has other attractions that we advise you to visit. This is the case of the mining city of roses, Which is Heritage and that, with its wooden houses and copper mines, will make you travel back in time. And also that of the Inderoy Gold Route, which, despite its name, has nothing to do with the precious mineral, but with wonderful landscapes that will not leave you indifferent.

The Svalvard Islands, on the way to the North Pole

This archipelago is located in the middle of the Arctic Ocean. It should not surprise you, therefore, that the main activities you can do there are riding in a dog sled, watch Aurora borealis or visit ice caves. In addition, in its most important locality, Longyearbyen, you will be able to appreciate a wonderful landscape and, as a curiosity, know its University, which is the northernmost in the world.

Kristiansand, the beaches to see in Norway

In the south of the country is the holiday area of ​​the Norwegians. It is logical, since it has more hours of sunshine than any other point in the nation and with nice beaches. But you also have small typical fishing villages, with their white wooden houses, like Risol, Grimstad o Arendal. And, if you move to Setesdal valleyIn addition to beautiful landscapes and grass-roofed buildings, you will learn about some of Norway's oldest traditions.

But the most important city in the region is Kristiansand, they have a cozy beach. But above all, the Posebyen Old Town, the only part of the town that survived the great fire that broke out in it in 1892. It is a pleasure to walk through its streets adorned with trees and framed by old wooden houses.

Also, if you travel with your children, in Kristiansand you have the The zoo, an amusement park and also a zoo that you will love. For your part, if you like gastronomy, in Lindesnes you can eat at the Under, the largest underground restaurant in the world and which has a Michelin star.

Eastern Norway: spectacular valleys and mountains

Finally, we take you to eastern Norway to see some of the most impressive national parks in the country. Outstanding among them is that of DovrefjellThat of Jotunheimen and of Rodane. You can also browse the telemark channel and go hiking along the Gudbrandsdalen valley.

But, if you are fond of skiing, you will be missing that, in a Nordic country we will talk to you about stations to practice this sport. Just some of the best, like those of Cool, Hemsedal o Trysil, are found in the eastern region of Norway.

When is it better to travel to Norway

We don't have to tell you that Norway is very cold. The warmest summers occur, as we said in the south of the country, where there are also more hours of sunshine. The behavior of this is another of the peculiarities of Norway. As in other countries in the area, between the end of November and January you can hardly see the sun (nothing in the northernmost regions). However, from the end of May to the end of July, it barely sets, with a few twenty hours of light a day. Hence, Norway is known by the poetic name of "Land of the Midnight Sun".

Therefore, we cannot recommend a time for you to visit the Nordic country, simply because it depends on what you want to do. For example, if you want to see the Northern Lights, you have to go in winter. But, if what you want is to do tourism, we advise you to go between May and September, when the weather is milder and the days much longer, as we said.

How to get to Norway

Traveling to the Nordic country is very easy. Its main airport is Oslo, but there are also international ones in other cities like Bergen, Tromso o Kristiansand. Also, you can fly from the latter to the most remote places such as lofoten islands, Svalvard and even North Cape.

You can also get to Norway by rail. Oslo is connected by train to Copenhagen, Stockholm o Göteborg and, from these, all over europe. The same can be said about the bus and, if you prefer the boat, there are also lines from Germany, Denmark y Sweden to various cities in Norway.

Once in the country, we advise you to travel through it in train. It has some of the most spectacular railway lines in the world. Among them, that of Nordland; the one Bergen, that crosses imposing mountain landscapes; that of Flam, of which we have already told you, or that of Dover, which crosses natural parks with impressive snowy plains.

In conclusion, if you were wondering what to see in Norway, you already know that it offers you much more than the Northern Lights. It has precious cities with a lot of history and monuments, imposing mountain scenery and even beaches in the south of the country. Don't you want to get to know Norway?