Norway is a Scandinavian country encompassing mountains, glaciers and deep coastal fjords. Oslo, the capital, is a city of green spaces and museums. Preserved 9th-century Viking ships are displayed at Oslo’s Viking Ship Museum. Bergen, with colorful wooden houses, is the starting point for cruises to the dramatic Sognefjord. Norway is also known for fishing, hiking and skiing, notably at Lillehammer’s Olympic resort.

Tromso is the “Paris of the Arctic” and a great place to “chase the northern lights”.

Norway at a Glance

Norway operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz. For Norway there are two associated plug types, types C and F. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and type F is the plug which has two round pins with two earth clips on the side.

Norway Currency is the Norwegian Krone

Top Experiences in Norway

1. Tromso

Our first visit to Norway was to Tromso and we loved it.  We slept in a reindeer hide tent with the Sami people, chased the northern lights, snow shoed through town, and enjoyed the food.  

Tromsø, a city in northern Norway, is a major cultural hub above the Arctic Circle. It’s famed as a viewing point for colorful Northern Lights that sometime light up the nighttime sky. The city’s historic center, on the island of Tromsø, is distinguished by its centuries-old wooden houses. The 1965 Arctic Cathedral, with its distinctive peaked roof and soaring stained-glass windows, dominates the skyline.

We spent four days in Tromso and were sorry to leave.  If you want a chance to see the Northern Lights, spend time with reindeer, love the winter and winter sports, go to Tromso.  You will not be disappointed. 

2. Bergen

Fresh seafood and other local delicacies match a bustling art scene of museums and galleries. The streets of this capital of the fjords is full of wooden, fairy tale houses with the seven mountains as a backdrop.

The medieval Hanseatic wharf of Bryggen, with its around 60 historic buildings in succession, is on the UNESCO World Heritage list and several foundations date back to the 12th century.

3. Oslo

The Palace Park is popular with both locals and tourists – you can see the changing of the guard here every day at 1:30 pm. Or check out the Botanical Garden in Tøyen (next to the Munch Museum in the eastern part of town), which was founded in 1814 and is home to some 7,500 species of plants. Vigelandsparken Sculpture Park in Frogner is another good option – the park with its 212 sculptures is one of Oslo’s top attractions, and certainly warrants a visit.

Markets are a good bet if you want to mingle with the locals. The second-hand and antique market on Vestkanttorvet takes place on a square in Majorstuen every Saturday between March and December, while in the eastern part of town the Birkelund flea market in Grünerløkka attracts its fair share of visitors every Sunday.

Christmas markets are also popular and well worth a visit if you happen to be in Oslo in December. The main two are the one on Rådhusplassen (the big square in front of the City Hall), and the one at the Folk Museum on Bygdøy. And if you are interested in food, make sure you check out the Matstreif Festival (also on Rådhusplassen) in September.

Some of our favorite Oslo sites:

4. Sognefjord 

The Sognefjord is Norway’s longest and deepest fjord, and it’s famous arm the Nærøyfjord has World Heritage status. The surrounding mountain areas are amongst Norway’s most popular hiking areas. The Sognefjord extends from the coast just north of Bergen to the mighty mountains of the Jotunheimen National Park and the blue ice of the Jostedalsbreen glacier.

There are strong food traditions in the Sognefjord area, and the mild climate, fresh air and abundance of lush mountain pastures mean that the Sognefjord area produces fresh ingredients of high quality.

5. Geirangerfjord

The Seven Sisters and numerous other waterfalls run down steep mountain sides that end in the clear, blue water of the 9.3 miles long Geirangerfjord. Here, you’ll find the natural peace and quiet of one of the world’s top nature attractions.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is even more present off season.The immediate surrounding regions also have a lot to offer the whole year round.