Norway is one of the most peaceful and spectacular countries in Europe with beautiful nature, incredible outdoor activities, relaxed cities and friendly people. But it is also one of the most expensive places to countries in the world!
Often described as the Jewel of Europe, Norway offers a dazzling mix of history and stunning natural wonder. The old meets the new seamlessly within the surrounding mountains, fjords and gorges. You could allow yourself weeks of exploring here.
In Norway, you can visit bustling large cities like Oslo, smaller cities like Trondheim and Molde or quiet country villages like Vikersund and see the day-to-day life of modern Norwegians in both. A backpacking trip to Norway is also an ideal way to see it’s neighbours Sweden and Denmark too, and it can be done cheaper than you might think.
The scenery changes from steep mountain peaks to quiet valleys to deep fjords. Backpacking lets you determine your own route and schedule and provides an opportunity to get to know the country and its people.
Once I had decided that I fancied Norway I wanted to make sure that I really got the most out of my visit. After all with its midnight sun, the northern lights and spectacular fjords to see it can be the trip of a lifetime.
But how can you see all of these natural wonders and still experience the hustle and bustle of Oslo or stand in awe at cathedrals and fortresses whilst not spending a fortune? View my tips for where to go, what to do and how to visit Norway on a budget.
Norway Facts
• Total Area: 385,802 square kilometres
• Population Size: 4,908,100
• Voltage and Plug Info: 230 V. European plug with two round metal pins.
• Religions Practised: Christianity
Top Things to Do in Norway
These are some destinations you need to add to your Norway and essential things not to miss.
The capital of Norway boasts an impressive variety of attractions with its impressive Natural History Museum, Vigeland sculpture park, Akershus fortress, TusenFryd amusement park and the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet.
Head to Bergen
The picturesque southwest city and jumping off point for Norway’s famed fjords. Be sure to climb the most popular of many ‘city mountains’, Mount Floyen. View my summer things to do in Bergen.
Stavanger is a city in southwestern Norway. Here is where you can find some of the best attractions in Norway, including the world-renowned Pulpit Rock cliff and Kjerag in the mountains. There are also stunning lakes, walking trails, caves and beaches.
Get Awestruck at the Fjords
The fjords are amazing to visit all year round. If you take a cruise trip from the comfort of the boat you will sail through the breath-taking fjords and see picture perfect waterfalls.
You might not be aware but some of the fjords have been rated as the top and best cared for UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Now that’s got to be something worth seeing!
The coastline itself has over 67,000 islands which make the surrounding waters a calm and inviting voyage. So no worrying about getting sea sick either. Brilliant! You could travel the Geirangerfjord region, home to unmissable sights such as Seven Sisters waterfall.
Be careful and don’t look down as you pose for the ultimate travel’gram 1,100 metres above the fjords below, atop of Trolltunga.
Stand Below the Northern Lights
What can only be described as one of the most magical sights in the sky, the Aurora Borealis can be seen from Norway, Finland, Sweden, Greenland, Canada, Scotland and of course Iceland.
The lure of the mesmerising colours bouncing around the sky is a sight to see, with the best time to see the lights being between October and March when the nights come early.
While the northern lights are unpredictable, those who are lucky enough to stand below the dancing colours won’t be forgetting it anytime soon! Seeing the northern lights truly is one of the top travel experiences you can have!
Nordkapp
Nestled at the very top of Europe — as in, the very top. What should you do when you get there? Swagger over to the cliff edge, where you’ll find a great big globe of the world at one of the most northerly points on mainland Europe.
And then? Leap… into a tirade about how tacky Valentine’s Day is, and that you don’t care anyway. You don’t even like teddy bears. They’re for children. And chocolate is. And flowers are for old people.
Letting the Train take the Strain
Climbing up Mount Ulriken would strain a Winter Olympian. Luckily, those ever-obliging Norwegians have stuck a funicular train on the side so you can appreciate the views over Bergen without having a heart attack.
Going to the Dark Side
Jamaica gave the world reggae, Brazil, samba and Norway, black metal. Don’t let names like Mayhem, Darkthrone and Burzum, and the tendency of their fans to burn down churches, put you off going to a gig in Oslo.
Enjoying the World’s Coldest Pint
Eye-watering bar prices and restrictions on when and where you can buy booze mean Norway isn’t a drinker’s paradise. But the Mack brewery, tucked inside the Arctic Circle in Tromsø, produces the most northerly beer in the world.
Getting Totally Addicted to Base
Ever had the urge to throw yourself off a cliff with seconds to open your parachute? No? Well, the Romsdalen and Eikesdalen mountains are the ultimate places to see the base-jumping madmen who do.
Norway Travel Itinerary
It’s always best to start your trip in Oslo, Norway’s capital and a city in the southern region of Norway.
In close proximity to Oslo, you’ll find Kristiansand, a large city with both well-preserved old architecture and a modern nightlife. We also recommend you see Bergsjo, where kite-skiing is an incredible experience if you have the stomach for it.
I recommend you travel as much as possible by rail. One of the best train journeys you can take is the Flam railway loop. It’s one of the steepest railroads on the planet using a normal gauge, rather than a narrow gauge. Jump on the train up near Myrdal on the Oslo-Bergen railroad, and it takes you through a mountainous province packed with forests and waterfalls, until it reaches its outermost point at Sognefjord.
Be sure to visit Norway’s oldest wooden church, or stave, while you’re in Sognefjord. It’s on UNESCO’s World Heritage List and was built in 1150 as a private chapel for a wealthy family. The inside is filled with elaborate carvings both of Norwegian flora and fauna and imaginary creatures like dragons.
The Telemark region is well worth a call when you return from Sognefjord. It’s thought to be the birthplace of cross-country skiing and is surrounded by a beautiful mountain region. Around the region we recommend you see some of the best-preserved villages anywhere in Europe, with small white houses and stunning summer gardens. Bed-and-breakfasts are available at a reasonably low cost throughout Telemark.
The next stop should be Trondelag in central Norway where the people claim to be the friendliest in the country. You should easily be able to find a hostel or a bed and breakfast at any village from the rock-strewn coast to the forests and mountains. Trondelag includes the historic spot of Stiklestad, where King Olav Haraldsen died.
After much travelling, see the midnight sun in northern Norway, which stretches into the Arctic. If you go after November, you’ll be in darkness except for the Northern Lights, which many travellers claim are most beautiful in Norway.
Close by, you’ll hear of the ethnic Sami people, an indigenous people who preserve their traditions of fishing, hunting and reindeer herding whilst living in the 21st century.
Norway Travel Tips
Best Time to Visit?
Determine what season you’d like to spend in Norway. Be aware that winter is long, cold and snowy and, in the north, is dark nearly all day. Conditions can be treacherous depending upon where you are but this take nothing away from the outstanding beauty you’ll experience. There are mountainous regions throughout Norway where you can ski in the summer if skiing is a part of your plan.
A popular time to visit is May through to early September when the weather is warm and pleasant. The tourist season runs from mid-June to mid-August and during this time accommodation is often cheaper. Snow lovers should head to Norway from December to April. In the arctic region temperatures can plummet below 50 degrees in winter.
Getting There and Away
You can fly to Norway from cities around the globe and budget airlines link it to major European destinations. Overland, buses run from Oslo to its Scandinavian neighbours on an almost hourly basis or alternatively, hop onto a ferry if travelling within Scandinavia or from Germany.
Visas
Citizens of the EU, EEA (European Economic Area), Canada, the USA, Australia and New Zealand only need a valid passport to visit Norway for up to three months. Other nationals will require a visa.
Getting Around
If you like the idea of exploring Norway independently, trains run from Oslo to most towns and cities and are a generally comfortable and scenic way to travel.
You could buy a Norwegian Rail Pass for the cheapest fares. Express buses serve most major destinations (including national parks) and some have free wifi and drinks onboard. Domestic flights are the best option to explore the rugged north while ferries connect the mainland with offshore islands.
After a bit of research I found the best way to explore all that Norway has to offer is on a cruise around the Norwegian coastline. From these fjord based trips you get a real combination of experiences, from being out at sea to docking at major and less well known ports along the coastline.
Many companies offer these trips but the longest serving Norwegian line is Hurtigruten. Other options include renting a car or booking organised trips. Check out Norway tours, easily the best and most affordable way to experience Norway.
Safety
Norway is a very safe country and your visit should be trouble-free. However, don’t forget the usual safety precautions and keep an eye out for pickpockets in urban areas. If you’re planning on trekking or hiking seek local advice before you set off.
Vaccinations and Health
There are no specific vaccines needed for Norway but, as with most countries, it’s advisable to have a tetanus booster. If you’re planning on hiking in forests or spending a lot of time outdoors then tick-borne encephalitis may also be necessary.
Money
The country’s currency is the Norwegian crown or norske krone also abbreviated as NOK. The pennies are called øre. A euro is worth 8 NOK. Bills have 50, 100, 200 and 1000 NOK. The coins are 1, 5, 10 and 20 NOK.
At airports, banks, post offices and tourist offices anyone can exchange euros for crowns. ATMs are called MiniBanks in Norway. They are numerous in the urban areas so you will never have trouble finding one. Almost all stores accept credit cards such as Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Euro Card and Diners Club. However you need to show your passport or driver’s license to buy a card.
Budget
Norway is one of the most expensive countries in the world and visiting on a small budget can be tough.
Decide how much time and money you have to spend on a trip to Norway well in-advance of departing. Check the current rates of currency exchange so you know how far your money will go in Norway and practice changing your native currency, be it Euros, Pounds or dollars, to the Norwegian kroner in your head. Norway is more expensive than most countries so financial planning is more important than it may be for other destinations.
Look into discount travel passes and lodging passes. You can stretch your money with train passes like Eurorail and InterRail, or Minipris for regional travel off main lines. Check the benefits of a VIP backpacker’s lodging pass. All of these can help you find hostels and cheap but friendly bed-and-breakfasts throughout the villages of Norway.
Shopping
Most shops open from 9:00 to 21:00 from Monday to Friday. Usually they also open on Saturdays from 9:00 to 18:00. Banks are usually open from 8:00 to 15:30 during the week. Saturdays and Sundays are the only days they are not working.
Norway is known for its jewelry, their knitted sweaters, pottery and glassware, articles of pewter, silver, porcelain or wood, goat or reindeer skins and fur coats. Therefore if you’re considering going on a shopping spree you should make sure to look for high quality products like the ones mentioned above!
What to Pack
Choose the clothes you may need when you’re there, keeping in mind that even summer can range from chilly to downright cold, especially in the mountain and fjord areas. You may need a warm jacket and a pair of sturdy hiking boots, and also a warm jumper, warm socks, undershirts and a rain-proof jacket. Keep your packing to a minimum.
Language
Buy a language app, guidebook and a Norwegian phrasebook with dictionary. Most Norwegians speak very good English, but in some small villages, you may need to know a little Norwegian.
Plan a Trip to Norway
Norway is a nature-lovers idea of paradise from the top fishing spots to polar expeditions and whale safaris, there is something for every type of traveller here.
And that’s without considering the national parks and glaciers that line up along the coastline just waiting to be explored on foot, by mountain bike or jeep safari.
Even whilst out at sea you might be lucky enough to spot giant Crabs, Atlantic Puffins or Sea Eagles.
So there you have it, my Norwegian highlights have been noted down and my coastline cruise booked. What are you waiting for?