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Here are 20 of the very best things to do in Norway.

One of my favourite countries that I’ve travelled to in recent years, read this article to learn more about Norway and the many things there are to see and do.

What to Do in Norway

Norway is known for its outstanding natural beauty and glistening natural fjords, with plenty of opportunities for hiking, water sports and winter activities. Rich in arts and culture, the country has strong ties to the Vikings and a number of bustling towns and cities to explore.

With a population of around 5.6 million, Norway is a relatively young nation which gained independence for the first time in 1905, after previously being unified with Sweden. Prior to 1814 Norway had also been under Danish rule, until it was lost to the Swedes as a result of the Napoleonic Wars.

Today the capital city of Norway is Oslo, which also houses its main international airport. Alternative options can be found in Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim, Tromsø and more.

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Where Is Norway?

Located in Northern Europe, Norway is a Nordic country based on the western and northern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

Looking at a map, Norway appears long and narrow in shape, bordered by the North Sea to the west, Sweden to the east, Finland to the northeast and Russia, also to the northeast.

Is Norway Worth Visiting?

Absolutely, yes! Norway is a beautiful country with a rich history, known for its picturesque fjords, views of the northern lights and strong Viking heritage. The landscape here is fantastic with many glaciers, mountain ranges and waterfalls to discover. It’s somewhere that tourists flock to year round, with different things to see and do in each season.

I visited Norway for the first time in 2023 as part of a cruise and had an amazing time. Departing from Southampton and travelling through the North Sea, our ship stopped in several towns and cities along the west coast before travelling down the 106km Nordfjord to Olden.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Norway?

Norway makes an exciting year-round destination with different activities available in each season.

Spring

Arriving at different times depending on the region, spring sees Norway transform under the melting snow to reveal foaming waterfalls and lush green landscapes.

The longer daylight hours and cool but not freezing temperatures make this an ideal season for hiking, with snow sports still available in the north of the country until the late spring.

Summer

Enjoy the long days of summer and experience Norway’s midnight sun. This natural phenomenon means that sunlight is visible for 24 hours a day in all areas above the Arctic Circle, with a higher number of long days the further north you travel.

This is a popular season for cruising the Fjords, with calmer waters in the coastal regions and pleasant warm weather. It’s also a great time to take part in water spots such as kayaking, white water rafting, surfing, diving and sailing.

Autumn

The perfect season for long hikes in the mountains, surrounded by red and gold shimmering landscapes, Norway makes a stunning location to visit in the autumn. As the country’s peak harvest season you’ll find that the cuisine is particularly sumptuous between September and November, with an abundance of local produce including berries, vegetables, game and seafood.

Opportunities to spot the Northern Lights begin again in September and October, as the days become shorter and the skies darker.

Winter

If you want to explore a snowy winter wonderland, then you need to visit Norway between December and February. This season provides your best chance of seeing the northern lights, with a 24 hour polar night experienced in areas above the Arctic Circle.

There’s plenty of opportunities to take part in snow sports, including skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and dog sledding, with Christmas Markets popping up in late November.

What Is There To Do In Norway?

While the number of fab things to do in Norway is endless, here are 20 of the activities on my shortlist.

Cruise the Fjords

With so many options to choose from, deciding on a Norwegian Fjords cruise can feel somewhat overwhelming. Norway has more than 1000 fjords, with 10 that are frequented by large cruise lines such as P&O, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line.

Day trip cruises are also available, such as this cruise from Stavanger to Lysefjord & Preikestolen. You can also join this scenic Oslofjord cruise from Oslo and this day long trip from Bergen to Nærøyfjord.

Go on a Whale Safari

Norway is a fantastic place for whale watching, with a variety of species inhabiting the Norwegian coast. Sperm whales tend to be visible all year round by the Vesterålen coast, with humpbacks, orcas, and fin whales best seen during the winter.

For the highest chances of spotting whales, you’ll want to book an organised tour led by local experts. This one lasts for four hours and sails down the Altafjord in a heated boat for maximum comfort. RIB tours are also popular, with this 3 hour tour offering a high speed experience.

Ride the Flam Railway

Enjoy this 20km train ride which runs from the end of Aurlandsfjord up to the mountains at Myrdal station. Lasting for one hour each way, the railway ascends to 867 meters above sea level, passing 20 tunnels and endless foaming waterfalls on its way up to the mountains.

The Flam Railway is known to have one of the steepest standard gauge railway lines in the world, with much of the journey taking place on a 5.5% gradient.

With a limited number of tickets available for each date, this activity is likely to sell out so make sure you book your spot in advance.

Visit the Jostedalsbreen Glacier and National Park

Known to be the largest ice cap in Europe, the Jostedalsbreen Glacier is well worth a visit with its enormous National Park. The specially built visitor centres provide an educational experience of the park, which includes several other glaciers and a variety of wildlife including rare birds and wild reindeer.

Several experiences are bookable on Get Your Guide, including a half day glacier tour across Styggevatnet Lake, and a combined kayak and glacier hike.

Explore Norway’s Capital City Oslo

You’ll want to spend at least two days in Norway’s capital city, which has a number of museums, shops and cafes to explore. Make sure you stop by the Munch Museum, which is dedicated to Edward Munch and houses his world famous painting, The Scream.

The summer is a great time to go island hopping, with a regular ferry schedule and opportunities for swimming, camping and hiking. If you’re on a strict time limit, then you may want to book a guided tour like this one, which spends time exploring three of Oslo’s islands and includes the ticket price for all of the ferry rides.

See the Sights in Bergen

Known for its colourful wooden houses, Bergen is Norway’s second largest city and revered for its fresh seafood, fascinating history and spectacular views from Mount Fløyen. The Floibanen funicular is a popular way for tourists to ascend the mountain, which dates back 100 years and takes just 6 minutes to reach the peak.

Other highlights include the Ulriken Cable Car, which covers 7 of Bergen’s highest mountains, tours of the official royal residence in Gamlehaugen, and strolls through the historic Fish Market.

Sail Around the Loften Islands

Located above the arctic circle, this beautiful island arpeggio in northern Norway has much to offer at all times of the year. It’s a great place to experience the midnight sun in the summertime and the Northern Lights in the winter, with villages, mountains and beaches to explore.

Consider booking this full day guided tour which escorts you around some of Loften’s best spots, including picturesque villages Henningsvær, Reine and Å.

If water sports are more your thing, then make sure you book a kayaking tour, with options including this 2 hour winter tour and a midnight sun kayaking experience.

Hunt the Northern Lights

Norway is one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, which are visible from late September through to early April.

The winter months are often considered to be the peak season for aurora hunting, with Tromsø and the Loften Islands making popular viewing locations.

To maximise your chances of seeing the lights, you may want to book an organised tour like this one, which is led by experts and includes professional photography and expedition-grade clothing. The trip lasts for 9 hours and even includes a campfire experience with hot chocolate and a hearty expedition meal.

Book your space on the Get Your Guide website here.

Enjoy Winter Activities in the Arctic

Norway is one of the best places in Europe to take part in snow sports and other winter activities.

Whether you want to hit the slopes, drive a snowmobile, or stay in an ice hotel, you’ll find it all here.

Nature lovers should try sledding with huskies or head out on a snowshoe hike - a great activity for beginners - to see the landscape up close. Other activities include ice bathing, fat biking, tobogganing, kick sledding and so much more!

Learn About Sámi Culture

The indigenous Sámi people live in the Sápmi region of northern Europe, which stretches across parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. It’s thought that there are around 80,000 Sámi people populating this area, with around half of those living in Norway.

Traditionally, the Sámi people would have a range of occupations that include reindeer herding, fishing, livestock farming, and hunting. They’re also the creators of many intricate fashion and crafts, including the traditional gákti clothing.

A visit to Norway is the perfect chance to learn about Sámi culture.

Cultural experiences are available to book across northern Norway, including Tromsø, Lapland and Alta. This 4.5 hour experience includes reindeer feeding followed by lunch in a gamme Sámi hut, accompanied by a knowledgable guide who can teach you about the Sami life and culture.

Visit a Christmas Market

Popping up in mid-to-late November, Norway is a magical location to visit at Christmasstime. Make sure to purchase a glass of mulled wine, and spend time perusing stalls stocked with artisan crafts and sweet treats. You can find Christmas markets across Norway, with some of the more popular markets in Oslo, Bærums Verk, Fredrikstad, Bergen and Trondheim.

Explore Norway’s Third Largest City Stavanger

Located on the southwestern coast, Stavanger is a bustling city popular with cruise passengers who are exploring the fjords.

Stavanger perfectly blends well preserved historical sites with modern arts and culture, including rows of beautifully preserved wooden houses and a cathedral that dates back to the 12th century. There’s plenty of galleries and museums to see here, as well as a vibrant nightlife scene and excellent sea food.

This private walking tour makes a great way to explore the city, lasting between 2 and 6 hours and accompanied by a local guide. Alternatively, this hop-on hop-off tour gives you the chance to explore at your own pace, stopping at a number of museums, a park and the Ledaal Royal Residence.

Check out this link for more ideas of things to do in Stavanger.

Hike Up Pulpit Rock

Easily accessible from Stavanger, Pulpit Rock is one of the most popular hiking spots in Norway. The rock formation itself is also known as Preikestolen and towers 604 metres above the nearby Lysefjord. It takes around 4 hours to complete the roundtrip hike, which is considered to be moderately demanding.

This guided nature hike includes return transfers from Sandnes and Stavanger, and features stunning views of the Lysefjorden. You’ll also learn all about the local flora and fauna, away from the busier tourist paths.

See the Midnight Sun

The iconic midnight sun is a phenomenon that takes place above the Arctic Circle each summer. Amazingly the sun doesn’t set here for months, with the longest period of sunshine lasting between 20 April and 22 August in Svalbard.

It really is worth experiencing, purely for the novelty of standing in the golden sunshine in the middle of the night!

A variety of activities are available during this time, including this midnight sun hike and this luxury catamaran ride - both from Tromso.

Visit One of Norway’s 47 National Parks

With 40 national parks located on the mainland and 7 in Svalbard, Norway is the ideal place to get in touch with nature.

Outdoor activities are important here, and the right to roam is enshrined in Norwegian law. This means that you can walk anywhere, as long as you are considerate and respectful, leaving as small a footprint as possible. Many parks will allow activities like salmon fishing and cross-country skiing, with the opportunity to see enormous glaciers and magnificent waterfalls.

Visit Norway’s Book Towns Fjærland and Tvedestrand

Book towns can be found all around the world, after the very first was founded in Wales in 1961. In Norway you have the choice of two dedicated book towns; Fjærland and Tvedestrand, which are both located in the southern side of the country.

A must-visit for literature lovers, Fjærland is comprised of bookshops based in ordinary spaces such as retired ferry waiting rooms, barns, stables, banks and more. Today, the town is home to 7km of mostly second hand books, with a literary festival that takes place in June each year. Tvedestrand also hosts events in the summer, primarily geared towards children, with between 5 and 10 bookshops to explore depending on the time of year.

Enjoy Panoramic Views in Olden

Another frequently visited cruise stop, I visited Olden in 2023 and it was one of my favourite locations.

A small town with a population of just 500 - 600 people, Olden is based along the beautiful Nordfjord and is walkable from the cruise terminal. It’s a lovely place to explore on foot, with stunning scenery and a historic wooden church that dates back to the 1700s.

If I were to return to Olden I would definitely take the opportunity to go kayaking in the fjord, which I regretted not doing the first time. Other activities available in Olden include e-bike tours, RIB tours and guided hikes.

Learn about Norway’s Viking History

Ideal for families and history fans alike, Haugesund is the ideal place to learn about Norway’s Viking roots.

This diverse group of seafaring people lived in Scandinavia throughout the 8th - 11th centuries, largely populating coastal towns and known for their raids upon neighbouring countries. Haugesund was considered to be an important power centre for the Vikings, making it the ideal place to learn about their history.

Today, Haugesund has multiple tourist attractions including the interactive digital museum Viking Planet, as well as the Viking Farm. Situated on a small island, here you’ll find a variety of replica buildings which show how normal people lived during the Viking era.

You can explore both as part of a guided tour in Haugesund here.

Enjoy an Arctic Train Ride

The fabulous Ofoten Railway runs between Narvik and Bjørnefjell, which is located next to the Swedish border. This train ride offers fantastic arctic views and retraces the steps of one of the Second World War’s most important iron transport lines.

Along your journey you will see tumbling waterfalls, rugged mountains and glittering fjords, cross bridges and pass through tunnels. You can also turn on your included audio guide to learn about the history of the Ofoten Railway as the scenic views pass by your window.

Book your ticket on the Get Your Guide website here.

Hike Plateau Mountain in Svalbard

Located within the Arctic Circle, take on this iconic Svalbard hike accompanied by a local historian. The hike itself is four hours in length, and involves traversing rugged terrain, passing far off glaciers and enjoying views of two fjords: Longyearbyen and Adventfjorden.

While you’re walking, learn all about the area’s history as a mining town, the local tundra ecology, and how climate change is having a profound impact on the Arctic.

Book your space on the hike here.

Whatever you choose to do, I hope you have an amazing time exploring Norway!

What to Do in Norway