Norway
The top sights and landmarks in Norway showcase spectacular fjords and Nordic nature. Visitors come for the dramatic scenery of the western fjords around Bergen, the vibrant capital Oslo, scenic railway journeys, the Northern Lights, and countless opportunities for hiking, cruising, and exploring coastal villages.
General information
Norway is a long, mountainous Nordic country stretching up the western edge of Scandinavia, famous above all for its fjords — deep, glassy inlets framed by sheer cliffs and cascading waterfalls. Beyond them lie glaciers, Arctic islands, the midnight sun of summer and the northern lights of winter, all set against some of Europe's most dramatic scenery. Oil wealth has made it prosperous and expensive, with a strong outdoor culture and a proud Viking heritage. Norwegian is the language, but English is spoken almost universally, making this spectacular land easy — if costly — to explore.
Transport and how to get there
The main gateway is Oslo Airport (OSL), with important regional airports at Bergen (BGO), Stavanger, Trondheim and Arctic Tromso. Norway's scenic railways — above all the Oslo-Bergen line and its Flam branch — are attractions in themselves, and the coastal Hurtigruten ferries sail the fjord-cut shoreline. Distances are large and the terrain rugged, so combining trains, ferries and internal flights is common, while a car unlocks the remoter fjords and mountain roads.
Prices
Norway is one of the most expensive countries in the world. Expect roughly 1,300-2,400 NOK per night for a mid-range hotel (about 110-210 EUR), with hostels from around 350 NOK. A casual meal runs about 200-350 NOK, a coffee 45-60 NOK and a beer 90-120 NOK. Public transport and the scenic tours add up, so passes help. Alcohol is heavily taxed. The currency is the Norwegian krone (NOK); prices are approximate and vary by season, peaking in summer.
Main attractions
The fjords are the headline: the UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord and Naeroyfjord, best seen by boat or from the Flam Railway. Bergen, with its colourful Bryggen wharf, is the classic gateway to fjord country, while Oslo offers the Vigeland sculpture park, the striking opera house and Viking and polar museums. Hike to the cliff-top Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen), chase the northern lights from Tromso, and sail out to the jagged peaks and fishing villages of the Lofoten Islands. Norway is nature travel at its grandest.