Vacations in Norway: Fjords and Fascinating Landscapes in Northern Europe

Travel Tips for Your Norway vacation

Norway is not only a beautiful, but also a super easy travel destination. It is excellent to travel around with a car, as car ferries regularly cross from different European countries. You can also easily cross the Öresund Bridge between Copenhagen and Malmö with your own vehicle. You will also find a large number of campsites and parking spaces in Norway, so that you can explore Europe's wild north on your own with a camper van.

Why Vacation in Norway?

A vacation in Norway will simply inspire everyone, because as different as we all are, Norway is also multifaceted. Adventure vacations and active vacations are at their best here with climbing, hiking, kayaking, and so on.

Norway is also one of the most popular travel destinations in Europe for fishing trips, hiking trips, camping trips, and of course winter destinations with the Northern Lights.

City breaks in Norway are also very popular with popular travel destinations such as Oslo. As you can see, there is actually no reason not to spend your next vacation in Norway.

Practical Tips & Entry

Entry: 3 months visa free as US citizen with a passport

Currency: Norwegian Krone

Socket adapter: Type F and Type C

If you plan to stay in Norway for less than 3 months, you can simply enter with a valid passport. If you want to stay longer, you have to have a proper visa and contact the Norwegian authorities or the embassy and get a residence permit.

Still not convinced? Then watch this video and get an impression of what your holiday in Norway could look like.

Weather & Travel Time for Norway

Basically, Norway has a special appeal at any time of the year. In summer, of course, the temperatures are pleasant and you can draw strength from the long, sunny days around midsummer. In winter, of course, the north is particularly attractive with the northern lights - a breathtaking natural spectacle in the sky. Here you can find out when it is worth traveling to Norway.

How is the Climate in Norway?

Norway's geographic location is characterized by a strong north-south extension. Although Norway is so far north, the climate is not as cold as you might think . Due to the Gulf Stream, Norway has a comparatively mild climate all year round , which even ensures ice-free waters on the coast.

Rainfall in Norway

Most of the precipitation falls in the southwest of Norway and Bergen is considered one of the cities with the highest precipitation in Europe. Overall, fall and winter have the most precipitation in Norway.

In the east and northeast, the climate is characterized by larger, seasonal temperature fluctuations: Here you can experience warm summers and very cold, long winters with temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees.

When is the Best Time to Travel to Norway?

The best time to travel to Norway is between May and September. During the summer months, it is lighter and warmer across Norway. Norway's location and climate mean that it can be light all day in midsummer and dark all day in winter. But of course, cold, dark, and wintry Norway also has its charm, and depending on what kind of vacation you are looking for, traveling to Norway in winter can also be quite impressive. Winter in Norway is ideal for skiing and other winter sports in particular (and in some parts of Norway this is as early as the end of September). The best travel time for a ski vacation is between November and February.

The Best Time to Travel to See the Northern Lights

However, some of you might want to travel to Norway for a very specific reason: the Northern Lights. Then of course there is a different best travel time for you. The best time to go to see the Northern Lights in Norway is during the months of October, February, and March. Unfortunately, there is never a guarantee for this. However, if you absolutely want to go snowboarding in Norway during the winter months, then you also have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights in November, December, and January in the more northerly areas.

Our pirate tip: You should definitely take a few days to see the Northern Lights. Sometimes the northern lights are covered by clouds and only become visible again after a few hours or days.

City Trip to Norway? These Are the Most Beautiful Cities

Start your Norway trip with a visit to one of Norway's cities that are bursting with Scandinavian charm! Here are a few tips:

Oslo - Worth it for a City Trip!

On a city trip to Oslo you will be offered many sights, which is why a trip there is one of the highlights of a vacation in Norway. The beautiful capital Oslo, which stretches from its compact center to the quayside and surrounding hills, also invites sightseeing and shopping and should definitely be visited during a vacation in Norway. The location on the fjords is particularly worth seeing for all nature lovers. The mixture of mountains and sea, colorful wooden houses, and modern design offers something for everyone. In addition, the medieval old town of Oslo is worth a visit as well as the that Royal Castle, Akershus Fortress (Akershus slott og festning) or the Town Hall , where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded every year.

Norway's capital, Oslo, is surrounded by stunning surroundings. One of the best ways to get to Oslo is by sea, as the route offers uninterrupted views of scenic fjords where fishing boats moor alongside cruise ships and yachts.

Bergen - Norwegian Tradition Between Fjords

Bergen is an international city in Norway with a lot of history and tradition. You still feel the charm of a small town, although modernity has also moved in here. The whole region offers the perfect mix of nature, culture, action and colorful city life. Also here starts the gateway to all the beautiful and majestic fjords. The fjords are on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites and have been named the world's most pristine travel destination by National Geographic magazine.

There is a smell of fresh fish everywhere in the streets, you should definitely visit the fish market and try some delicacies. The Hanseatic commercial buildings also offer a beautiful photo motif. Bergen's oldest settlement arose along Bryggen, which has been the lively center of the Norwegian city for many centuries. Bryggen is now a World Heritage Site and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and Bergen has also become a World Heritage City.

You can take the ferry across a fjord to Lysøen. Here, the former villa of the composer Ole Bull from the 19th century enchants visitors with its fairytale charm. Bergen will definitely be one of the highlights of your Norway vacation!

Stavanger - Your Starting Point for Hikes

The city of Stavanger has experienced enormous economic growth with oil production in recent years, which means that you can now fly from many US cities to the west coast of Norway at very reasonable prices .

However, most Norway vacationers are less interested in oil, they flock here because the city is the starting point of two spectacular hikes that end in photo opportunities that most of you have probably already seen on social networks.

How to Get to the Famous Viewpoints from Stavanger

More specifically, it is about the Preikestolen viewpoint and the Kjeragbolten crevice. Both whims of nature can be found at the Lysefjord, which eats its way inland from Stavanger. Since they are on opposite sides and, typically Norway, are not developed for mass tourism, you can only reach both via a day trip from Stavanger if you don't want to camp somewhere locally. However, camping trips in Norway also have their appeal.

The easiest way to get to the Preikestolen, which rises like a pulpit above the fjord and offers a gigantic view, is by boat 51 from Stavanger to Tau, where in summer there is a bus connection via Ryfylke to the Preikestolhytta at the beginning of the 2-to 3-hour hike.

After Kjerag, the best thing to do is take the bus to Lauvvik and then change to the boat in the Lysefjord, which will take you to the end of the fjord, from where the hike up to the famous crevice begins. Information on timetables and prices for buses and ferries can be found at Columbus. Especially in summer you can easily book tours, for example with Tide Reisen from Stavanger.

The Best Photo Spots on Vacation in Norway

Looking for the right backdrop to pimp your Instagram profile? Then we recommend a vacation in Norway! Here you can take Instagram-worthy photos almost anywhere . Whether it's a city trip to Oslo or an active vacation on the country's lakes and mountains (according to the motto "Hikes for Likes"), you're guaranteed to take the perfect photo in Norway!

Our Top 10 Most Beautiful Photo Spots in Norway

• Trolltunga in Hordaland

• Kjerag and Kjeragbolten in Rogaland

• Preikestolen in Rogaland

• The Seven Sisters waterfalls in the Geirangerfjord

• Trollstigen, the street of the trolls at Åndalsnes

• Senja, which is Norway's second largest island

• Lodalen valley near Loen

• The Atlantic Road in Fylke Møre og Romsda

• Naeroyfjord in Aurland

• Bergen, Norway's second largest city

This is How You Get to the Photo Locations

1. Trolltunga & Ringedalsvatnet

Pure nature on vacation in Norway: Trolltunga, or "Troll's tongue" in English, has blossomed into one of the most photographed places in Norway, even though you have to hike between ten and twelve hours for a photo. The 17-mile hike is really not for wimps, because the way is very long and strenuous... but it's also worth it, because you won't get a view like this again in a hurry. After all, Trolltunga is at 3,600 feet, i.e. about 2,296 feet above Lake Ringedalsvatnet. With such a demanding hike, there are of course a few things to consider.

Tips for Your Hike to Trolltunga

• Possible travel time: mid-June to mid-September

• The hike with a guide is possible from mid-February to mid-June and mid-September to the end of October

• Definitely do not hike to Trolltunga in winter as it is very dangerous

• The weather often changes quickly here, so you should definitely check the local weather forecast again before the hike:

• The right equipment is a MUST

• Sturdy walking shoes

• Weatherproof and warm clothing

• Enough food and drink

• Flashlight

• First aid kit

• Compass and map (you don't have cell phone reception everywhere, so don't rely on Google Maps!)

• There are several search and rescue operations every year, so be prepared and respect nature and the weather

Getting to Trolltunga

You start your hike in Skjeggedal. You can get there by renting a car on route 13 to Tyssedal, which is about three miles from Odda. In Skjeggedal you will then find the parking lot, which costs NOK 500 per day. However, the money is well invested as it will be used to improve the area.

You can also get to Skjeggedal by public transport. If you are vacationing in Norway between June 15th and September 15th, you can use the Trolltunga Shuttle, which also serves most accommodation and campsites. Just ask for route 995 to Trolltunga . However, you should note that you cannot buy tickets in advance and you can only pay in cash on the bus.

3. Preikestolen in Rogaland

The beautiful Preikestolen in Rogaland is one of Rogaland's most visited attractions and one of the most spectacular photo opportunities in Norway... according to CNN Go and Lonely Planet even one of the most impressive viewpoints in the world. The Preikestolen is a 1968-foot-high "rock pulpit" from which you can admire the breathtaking Lysefjord.

The ascent is therefore a tough one... The five-mile hike takes four hours (including a difference in altitude of around 1,640 feet). Although the hike is only of medium difficulty, you should definitely have hiking experience through rough terrain. You can visit the Preikestolen all year round, but in winter and in bad weather conditions you should take into account the recommendations of the Preikestolen employees at the parking lot. The best time to visit Preikestolen is in the summer season from April to October/November.

4. Northern Lights / Polar Lights in Tromsø, Norway

Dress warmly and pack all your camera gear! It's going to be huge! Tromsø is located in the north of Norway on the Arctic Sea - here nature and culture go together like wind and sea. Just under 217 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Tromsø impresses above all with the popular Northern Lights. This season lasts from September to March and is particularly popular with photographers.

Unspoilt nature is only a stone's throw away from the city. Therefore, you can choose between a variety of activities, such as hiking, fishing, kayaking or dog sledding . But if you prefer to make the city unsafe, this is the place for you. Numerous restaurants will sweeten your palate with arctic specialties from the region . The municipality is absolutely multicultural, because almost 100 nationalities live together here.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the city was still the starting point for expeditions into the ice. That's why Tromsø is also called "Gateway to the Arctic"! That all sounds pretty tempting, doesn't it?