Visit Norway for its natural wonders and its rugged coastline. Explore its shimmering fjords, majestic mountains, and snow-covered tundra. Escape the heat, head north, and reconnect with the outdoors.
Must Sees: Oslo | Must Sees: Bergen | Must Sees: Stave Churches | Must Sees: Fjords | Must Sees: Stalheim | Must Sees: Lillehammer | Must Sees: Haukeliseter | Food | Transportation
MUST SEES: OSLO
Frognerparken
At Frogner Park, Gustav Vigeland’s over 200 bronze, granite, and iron sculptures depict the human condition. Most of the statues depict unclothed people engaging in everyday activities. Some are surreal, with one statue wrestling with attacking babies.
Vikingtidsmuseet
The Museum of the Viking Age will reopen in 2027. It is home to Viking karve longships and artifacts from Oseberg, Gokstad, and Tune. Immerse yourself in the Viking Age and join these explorers and warriors on their expeditions to new lands.
Fram
In 1893, Fridtjof Nansen attempted to float the polar ship to the North Pole. After surviving on walrus and polar bear meat for three years, Nansen returned home. Roald Amundsen used the Fram in his expedition to become the first to reach the South Pole.
Kon-Tiki
In 1947, Thor Heyerdahl sailed 4,971 miles across the Pacific from Peru to the Tuamotu Islands. The adventurer spent 101 days on the Kon-Tiki, a balsa wood raft, that he built. He proved that contact was possible between widely separated peoples in ancient times.
Slottet
Follow Oslo’s main road, Karl Johans Gate, to the top of the hill. Charles XIV John founded the royal palace, but died before its completion in 1849. Haakon VII was the first monarch to permanently reside here. The current monarch resides at the Neoclassical palace.
Oslo Rådhus
Arnstein Arneberg and Magnus Poulsson designed Oslo City Hall in the Functionalism style, with a plain red brick exterior. The main hall, on the other hand, has magnificent murals of Norwegian culture by Henrik Sørensen and Alf Rolfsen.
Midnight Sun
Due to Earth’s tilted axis, the North Pole faces the sun during the summer. This is why the sun never sets from May to July above the Arctic Circle. OK, Oslo is south of the Arctic Circle, but you will still have daylight for 21 hours a day.
Holmenkollbakken
Ski jumpers are nuts! Holmenkollen’s ski jump hill is host to one of the world’s oldest ski jumping competitions. Robert Johansson of Norway set the current record of 472 feet on March 9, 2019. From the top of the tower, you have a panoramic view of Oslo and the Oslofjord.
MUST SEES: BERGEN
Bergen
Bergen is a charming city of seven hills and seven fjords. Norway’s gateway to the fjords is between the longest fjord, Sognefjord to the north, and Hardangerfjord in the south. Bergen’s historic core is conveniently next to the harbor.
Bryggen
The Hanseatic League was an association of guilds in Northern Europe. In 1360, German merchants established a trading post here. Along the wharf, colorful wooden houses hide a world of passages and old warehouses. Today, you can explore its small shops and artist studios.
Fløyen
Catch the funicular to the top of Mt. Fløyen where a fantastic view of the city awaits. From 1,050 feet above sea level, you can see the city center and the ships in Bergen Port.
Fisketorget
The fish market has stalls with wild and smoked salmon, mackerel, shrimp, and lobster. It even sells whale and seal. Are you looking for shrimp sandwiches and raw oysters? Don’t miss out on getting freshly boiled shrimps.
Troldhaugen
Edvard Grieg composed many of his best-known pieces in the little red garden hut by the water. Grieg’s compositions were inspired by Norwegian folk songs that describe the mountains, forests, and fjords of this beautiful country.
Bergenhus Festning
In the 13th century, Håkon Håkonsson constructed the Gothic stone Haakon’s Hall. Then, the governor of the fortress, Erik Rosenkrantz, built Rosenkrantz Tower for the purposes of defense and residence.
Sailor’s Monument
Dyre Vaa created this monument as a tribute to Bergen’s celebrated maritime past. Twelve sailors stand at the base of the first platform. The top platform has panels illustrating four different centuries of Norwegian seafaring.
Sod Roof
What’s up with all those grassy patches of lawn growing on rooftops? The sod insulates the home during winter and birch bark layers under the sod keep the home dry. Sod roofs have been around in Scandinavia since prehistoric times. Also, they look cool.
MUST SEES: STAVE CHURCHES
Borgund Stavkirke
This is Norway’s best preserved stave church, built around 1180 in Lærdal. Stave churches form a bridge between Christian architecture and Viking animal-ornamentation. The dragon heads on the four gables resemble the prows of Norse ships.
Heddal Stavkirke
Heddal Stave Church is located in the Telemark region. It is the largest of Norway’s 28 surviving stave churches. Unlike older stave churches, its crosses occupy a higher position than the dragons. It was founded in 1200 after Christianity had spread throughout Norway.
Fantoft Stavkirke
The old stave church was built in 1150 at Fortun in Sogn. In 1883, it was moved to Fantoft. The expert shipbuilders switched to top-notch woodworking. Design elements from the ancient dragon boats are applied on the eaves of the church.
MUST SEES: FJORDS
Sognefjord
A fjord is a long narrow inlet in a deep glacial valley. Sognefjord is the longest and deepest fjord in Norway. It reaches a maximum depth of 4,291 feet below sea level with sheer mountains climbing to heights of 6,561 feet.
Hardangerfjord
Hardangerfjord is the second largest fjord in Norway with 111 miles of coastline. Consider exploring colorful homes nestled in the snowy ridges above or hiking to waterfalls along the way.
MUST SEES: STALHEIM
Stalheim
Make a pit stop at the Stalheim Hotel just east of Voss. From the back patio, enjoy stunning views of the waterfall and the beautiful glacier-carved Nærøy Valley. Have a slice of chocolate cake next to a giant picture window.
MUST SEES: LILLEHAMMER
Lysgårdsbakkene
In 1994, Lillehammer was the first city to hold the Winter Olympics in a different year than the Summer games. The ski jump is so tall there is an elevator. Or you can climb 954 steps to the top.
MUST SEES: HAUKELISETER
Haukeliseter
Haukeliseter Mountain Lodge is in a secluded spot in the middle of the tundra in the Telemark region. The mountains are frosted with ice and glaciers. The lodge along Lake Ståvatn has a sod roof and is a great spot for a hearty meal. To the south, the tunnel may have a long line since it’s only open to one direction at a time.
FOOD
Voksenåsen
Voksenåsen is just above the Holmenkollen ski jump with mesmerizing views of Oslo. They serve Nordic delicacies using the freshest local produce. Sample the wild mountain aroma of a reindeer steak (reinsdyrsteik) with local lingonberries.
Baked Salmon with Sandefjord
Baked salmon is a staple and pairs well with the rich and creamy Sandefjord butter sauce.
Elk Sandwich
Elk is delicious. The elk meat cake is juicy with a flavor similar to beef. Elk is tender with subtle sweet notes and is not gamey compared with other wild meats.
Shrimp
Buy a bag of little shrimp at Bergen’s Fisketorget. The tiny shrimp are sweet, succulent, and briny. Find a bench and peel and eat them right away.
Rømmegrøt
For breakfast, Rømmegrøt is a warm porridge of semolina flour, sour cream, milk, sugar, and cinnamon. It has a smooth pudding-like texture and is extremely rich from the melted butter on top.
Lefse
Lefse is a soft thin wrap. Think of it as Norway’s answer to a tortilla. You roll it up with butter, sugar, and cinnamon.
Brunost
Norwegian brown cheese is a mix of goat and cow’s whey (the liquid left over from cheesemaking). The whey is boiled until the sugars caramelize and the cheese solidifies. The cheese is soft, sweet, sharp, and creamy, and tastes like butterscotch.
Hvalbiff
Whale steak is thinly cut and seared with a raw center. It is usually served with a mushroom and onion sauce. The meat is gamey and chewy. (Note: minke whales are not an endangered species.)
TRANSPORTATION
Fløibanen
GThe Fløibanen funicular takes you from Bergen to the top of Mount Fløyen in six minutes.
Ferry
Experience Norway’s grandeur by cruising its fjords and steep mountains. At Sognefjord, catch a ferry at Gudvangen, pass by Midtfjords and Kaupanger, and disembark at Lærdal. The Hardanger ferry takes 20 minutes to get from Utne to Kvanndal.
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