35 Best Places to Visit in Norway

Norway has a small population, but it’s a surprisingly big country with long distances, so I know how difficult it can be to figure out where to go when planning a trip here. While I currently live in Lofoten, I have spent the past 11 years in several different areas all over Norway. From famous destinations to my favorite hidden gems in Norway, here are my top picks for places to visit here.

I’ve tried to be direct (at times blunt) when describing each place and why it will or won’t fit in your dream Norway trip. 

Another great way to organize your Norway itinerary when you don’t know where to start is to choose a spectacular hotel to stay in. I’ve shared the most incredible hotels in Norway here, and all my Norway itineraries here. 

And if you’re looking for ways to get off the beaten path in Norway, I’ve also put together a huge list of unique things to do in Norway, which I am always adding to. 

And if you want more in depth Norway advice, I’ve also gathered all my best tips for planning an incredible trip through both Southern and Northern Norway in two 95-page ebooks that cover everything you’ll need to know to plan a Norway trip that you will love. You can purchase my Norway travel guides here. 

You definitely want to rent a car for many of these places as public transport in Norway is limited in more rural areas. I recommend comparing car rental prices on AutoEurope. I’ve shared a full guide to driving in Norway here. 

Bergen & Stavanger

I’m listing Bergen and Stavanger together here because they serve similar roles in a trip to Norway. Both are beautiful coastal cities with lively centers, picturesque wooden buildings, interesting museums, and international airports. They also each are great bases for exploring the Norwegian fjords. 

Bergen is a great choice if you would also like to visit Hardangerfjord, including the popular hike to Trolltunga, and Sognefjord with Norway’s beloved Flåm Railway. Bergen is also a bigger city with more arts and culture, and its airport has more international connections. The train from Oslo to Bergen is also beautiful. 

Stavanger is the better choice if you want to be near Lysefjord and the popular Pulpit Rock hike, as well as the famous Kjerag hike. Stavanger also has a really interesting oil history – if you haven’t watched State of Happiness I highly recommend looking it up!

If I were to really generalize here, I’d say Stavanger is more popular amongst outdoorsy hiker types who still want time in a city, whereas Bergen attracts more families and older travelers. 

I lived in Bergen for three years and shared my guide to Bergen here, as well as day trips from Bergen here, and my friend who lives in Stavanger helped me with this guide to Stavanger and the surrounding area. And I’ve shared a guide for getting from Bergen to Stavanger here. 

Åna-Sira

Åna-Sira is one of the most beautiful places I’ve been in Norway, and not many people know about it. In fact, the only reason I ended up going was that my former manager offered to let me stay in his summer house there for a couple of nights.

And it immediately became one of my favorite places in Norway. You can read more about my time in Åna-Sira here, and just know that if you’re looking for a fairytale village in Norway, this is it. Oh and be sure to hike up Brufjell when you go!

Hardangervidda

I might be biased because I used to live on the edge of Hardangervidda, but I honestly can’t think of a better place in Norway to go on a multi-day hiking trip. And I mean, if anyone asks me what to see in Norway my first answer is the mountains, of course! Hardangervidda is Europe’s greatest mountain plateau with one of the biggest populations of wild reindeer. The views are incredible, and because it’s a plateau the hiking isn’t too intense.

You can either drive up over Hardangervidda, or you could take the ferry to Mogen and start your hike from there.  You can read about the ferry into Hardangervidda here.

Gamle Strynefjellsvegen

A 27-kilometer loop of road may not sound like anything special, but when I think of the places in Norway that have most taken my breath away, Gamle Styrnefjellsvegen is at the top of the list. The views here are incredible. And since this route is a detour off the main road, it’s pretty quiet. I’ve camped here with my dog Alfie a couple of times now, and we always have the whole mountainside to ourselves – in summer!

You can read more about driving down Gamle Strynefjellsvegen here.

Olden, Loen & Stryn

Rakssetra hike

All along stunning turquoise glacial lakes, I always try to include a stop in one of these towns on my road trips with visitors. The views are all similar, so choose the place you find the best accommodation! I especially loved staying in this cabin in Stryn. 

Honorable mention for turquoise water goes to Luster – this cabin was one of my favorite weekend getaways when I lived in Bergen. 

Geirangerfjord

 

If you’re looking for the quintessential Norwegian fjord views that you probably first saw in a travel brochure, head to Geirangerfjord. It’s one of Norway’s most popular summer destinations for a reason! 

Trollstigen

 

And while you’re exploring Geirangerfjord, head to Norway’s most famous 11 hairpin mountain drive: Trollstigen! 

Hjørundfjord

I’ve shared my list of the most beautiful fjords in Norway here, and Hjørundfjord is at the very top of that list. It’s stunning and less visited than Geirangerfjord and Sognefjord, so you’ll find some actually quiet nature escapes here.

I wrote about my visit to Hjørundfjord here, including some amazing accommodation options. You could also stay at Norway’s historic Hotel Union Øye on Norangsfjord, which is an arm of Hjørundfjord. I wrote about my experience staying at the Hotel Union Øye here.

Ålesund

If you’ve read a few of my Norway articles you probably saw this one coming.

I really love Ålesund, and it makes for the perfect base to explore some of Norway’s most stunning nature. Geirangerfjord and Trollstigen are both close by, along with many beautiful places to go hiking. Plus the city itself is probably the most beautiful in Norway. Read my full guide to visiting Ålesund and the surrounding areas here.

Jotunheimen National Park

Or really, just go hiking in any national park in Norway. But I chose Jotunheimen because it has Norway’s two tallest peaks and over 250 mountains reaching nearly 2000 meters. Most mountains in Norway aren’t actually that high, so hiking in Jotunheimen makes for quite a unique experience in Norway.

If you don’t have much time, an excellent way to see some of the park is to stay at the Leirvassbu Fjellstue which is actually in the park. This mountain lodge is right by Leirvatnet lake at 1400 meters high and serves as a base camp for all sorts of hikes in the area. I stayed here with Alfie and we had a great time! 

I’ve included Jotunheimen in my epic road trip itinerary from Bergen here. 

Atlantic Ocean Road

Another area of southern Norway I love is Molde, Kristiansund, and Norway’s famous Atlantic Ocean Road.

Røros

Røros is actually my mother’s favorite place in Norway! It’s an old copper mining town founded in 1644, and now one of the oldest towns of wooden houses in Europe and one of Norway’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Røros also gets a lot of snow in the winter, making it the perfect Christmas destination.

Trondheim

Trondheim is Norway’s third largest city, and while it doesn’t have the spectacular nature of Bergen or Stavanger, it is on the train line to Røros in the south and Helgeland in the north. 

Trondheim was the first place I lived in Norway, and I still always love returning to the vibrant downtown. It’s very much a student city as well as Norway’s foremost foodie destination. 

Helgeland coast

One of my Norwegian friends once told me that the friendliest people in all of Norway are on the Helgeland coast (Helgelandskysten), and I think she may be right! I lived in Helgeland for two years, and now I usually return once or twice a year to visit my friends there. But you shouldn’t just go for the friendly locals, but also the incredible views.

My favorite islands in Helgeland are Træna, Myken, and Vega. 

It’s the perfect place for a summer road trip (especially if you want to escape the summer crowds!), or you could even cycle down the route. I took my friend Ida on a Helgeland road trip a couple summers ago (she’s a typical southern Norwegian who hadn’t ever been north of Trondheim).

We visited in early August and the weather was incredible and there weren’t many tourists at all! Read more about driving down the Helgeland coast here.

Mosjøen

I still can’t believe I hadn’t heard more about Mosjøen before the first time I visited – it really is one of the loveliest towns in Northern Norway. I lived here for two years and still think about moving back. If you take a trip down the Helgeland coast, definitely consider a detour inland to spend a night or two in Mosjøen.

It’s also on the train line, about five hours from Trondheim in the south and Bodø to the north. 

You can read more about Mosjøen, including things to do there and where to stay, here.

Marmorslottet

If you want to see somewhere unique in Norway, head to Marmorslottet, or “the Marble Castle.” I’ve never seen anywhere quite like it!

It’s really close to Mo i Rana, which is on the train line (and also right by the Arctic Circle, if you want to see the monument there). You can read more about planning a trip to Marmorslottet here.

Bodø

Bodø is best known as the gateway to Lofoten – you can get the ferry to Lofoten from here as well as express boats to all the gorgeous islands on the Helgeland coast. The center is quite small, but it’s worth spending a day here if you have time! 

Lofoten

Lofoten is Norway’s hiking paradise and the views here really can’t be beat. It’s very crowded with tourists in the summer, but if you’re willing to skip the most popular hikes you can easily get away from the crowds. I live in Lofoten, and it’s mostly only in July and August that the tourist crowds feel overwhelming.

However, be aware that Lofoten is not a budget destination in Norway. This is not a good place for wild camping or to come with your campervan – if you are on a tight budget head to Helgeland or Vesterålen instead. But if you are willing to pay a bit extra for accommodation and activities, you will have an amazing time in Lofoten. 

Read my guide to planning a Lofoten road trip here.

Steigen

About a three hour drive north from Bodø, Steigen lies directly opposite Lofoten with views out across to Lofoten’s famous mountain peaks. But it has plenty of its own dramatic scenery as well! 

Steigen is so beautiful and since it’s a bit of a drive to get to, it’s a lot less visited than destinations in the North. 

Vesterålen

If you want Lofoten’s landscapes without the crowds and high prices, head up to Vesterålen, the archipelago above Lofoten. In fact last year I spent all of July and part of August in Vesterålen, because it’s so much more peaceful (and cheaper) than Lofoten. 

You can also see reindeer and whales here! I’ve shared a guide to Vesterålen here.  

Senja

Another island I keep returning to over and over is Senja! Senja is north of Vesterålen and south of Tromsø, and the landscape here is incredible. I love Senja both in the winter and the summer, though if you enjoy hiking I’d definitely recommend coming in the summer because the hikes are so good here. 

I’ve shared a guide to visiting Senja here. 

Sommarøy

Arctic Norway has some surprisingly tropical looking beaches, and I think the most beautiful beaches of all might be on Sommarøy, which is just a short drive outside of Tromsø. Even on a cloudy day the water surrounding Sommarøy is such a beautiful turquoise color that you might even be tempted to take a dip! Read more about Sommarøy here.

Tromsø

I lived in Tromsø for two years, and now that I live in Lofoten I usually drive up to Tromsø every few months when I need a city break. 

Tromsø is an interesting destination because it is so crowded with tourists and expensive during the northern lights season (October through the end of March), and then it is pretty empty and cheap in the summer. Of course I love it all times of year, but it is an excellent base if you have your heart set on seeing the northern lights. 

Whenever someone says they want to see the northern lights, I send them to Tromsø. I’ve shared my guide to seeing the northern lights here. 

Lyngen Alps

The Lyngen Alps were my favorite getaway when I lived in Tromsø. The Lyngen Alps are so incredibly beautiful, and it is so quiet and peaceful there – I barely see anyone else on my hikes around Lyngen. If you’re looking for unique places to visit in Norway, Lyngen is a great place to start. 

Plus, the Lyngen Alps are less than two hours from Tromsø, so they’re quite easily accessible for somewhere that feels so remote. Read more about visiting Lyngen here.

Alta

Alta is another popular northern lights destination, much smaller than Tromsø with more of an Arctic wilderness feel. The town itself is not really much to see. I also love Alta in the summer, and have taken many road trips north from here. 

If you would like to stay in an igloo in Alta, or anywhere in Norway, I’ve complied a list of all the best glass igloos and domes in Norway here. 

Karasjok

Karasjok is Norway’s Sami capital and you can learn more about the Sami, who have lived at the top of Europe for thousands of years, at the Sami museum. It’s such an interesting place to visit – I even love simply wandering around the supermarket listen to everyone speak Sami. 

Read my itinerary including Karasjok here.

Hammerfest & The North Cape

I can’t exactly explain why, but Hammerfest is one of my favorite places in Norway, and I would probably move there if I weren’t worried about being lonely. The town center is cute and the surrounding nature is so pretty with lots of reindeer roaming in the summer. 

Hammerfest is probably most popular for its proximity to the North Cape, the northernmost point in Europe accessible by car, about a 3 hour drive from Hammerfest (3 hours is nothing in Northern Norway!). 

Sørøya

Sørøya is Norway’s fourth largest island. I actually got the idea to visit from my doctor, who said she’s always wanted to see Sørøya but had never made it there. 

Alfie and I got the express boat from Hammerfest to Akkarfjord on Sørøya, which only took half an hour. You can check the time table and prices here. And wow, we had the most incredible time here. And then from Hammerfest you can keep driving up to the North Cape!

Vardø

Vardø is the quirkiest town at the very tip top of Norway. Driving into Vardø always feels like a surprise, because even though I’ve visited several times now I never expect to see such a vibrant, happening place in the far far north of Norway. I’ve visited Vardø in July and saw very few tourists. 

Kirkenes

Kirkenes is most popular as a stop along the Hurtigruten cruise, but I’ve now been several times and do quite love it. Right by the border to Russia, I love the barren landscape and deep history here. The Kirkenes Snow Hotel is one of my favorite snow hotels!

Svalbard

Svalbard is a Norwegian group of islands far north of mainland Norway – up by the North Pole. I’ve only visited Svalbard in winter, but I definitely want to return in the summer, when you have the chance to see polar bears, narwhals, and walruses. And flights to Svalbard are surprisingly affordable! 

Oslo

And then back down in southern Norway we have the capital city! I always say Oslo is a great place to live but not the best place to visit, though it does have lots of incredible museums and restaurants. It’s not as beautiful as Stockholm or Bergen, but I do love some areas. I’ve shared my Oslo guide here. 

I just think you should always combine a trip to Oslo with a visit to another part of Norway to see some of the beautiful nature as well. 

Rjukan

I’m always telling people to go to Rjukan, whether they’re looking for a day trip from Oslo or an interesting place to stop on their way from Oslo to Bergen. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site with a fascinating World War II history, and it’s also home to one of the most beautiful mountains in Norway: Gaustatoppen.

I’ve included Rjukan in one of my one week Norway itineraries, and you can read my complete guide to visiting Rjukan here.

Grimstad

I hesitated to include Grimstad because I’m not sure it has the same appeal to foreign tourists as it does to Norwegians, but it’s one of my favorite places in southern Norway so I can’t leave it out. My grandparents used to have a summer cottage near Grimstad and I still miss it so much. 

Grimstad is right on the coast in the far south of Norway, and it’s the ultimate cute summer seaside town, where you can buy fresh shrimp and fish cakes and go for boat rides to the many tiny islands dotting the coast. Also be sure to check out the lovely Cafe Ibsen downtown. 

Norwegians love this area in the summer, but I think sometimes foreigners can find it a bit boring because there are no fjords or mountains here. But it’s definitely an important part of Norwegian summer culture!

For accommodation in Grimstad, the Home Hotel looks truly incredible (I really want to stay here next time I visit Grimstad), or if you’re on a smaller budget the Holsthuset Losji would be perfect. 

Bonus: Christmas in Drøbak

And finally, Drøbak is a very cute town near Oslo that happens to be one of Norway’s Christmas towns! Mosjøen and Røros also claim this title, but if you address a letter to Santa Claus, Norway, it will actually be delivered to his official home in Drøbak. I’ve shared my guide to the best and worst places to spend Christmas in Norway here.