Norway

Oslo is one of the most expensive and least-populated capital cities in Europe. Intrepid travelers who chase the midnight sun or brave the midwinter weather find a magical land of frost and fjords where the warmth of the people outweighs the chill in the air.

Whether you’re crunching over snow under an electric sky dancing with the Northern Lights, or in the urban comfort of Oslo with a warm fire and fine dining, you’ll start to understand how the country that brought Vikings and trolls to the world is also home to the Nobel Peace Prize.

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Language(s)

Norwegian, Bokmål, and Nynorsk

Currency

Norwegian krone

	Summer	Winter
Tromsø	59	21
Bergen	64	29
Oslo	71	19

Outlets

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Norway is during the shoulder seasons, in spring (between May and June), and fall (between September and October), when the weather is amazing and there aren’t that many tourists. The high season to visit Norway is between mid-June and August.

Fun Facts

The world’s longest road tunnel is in Norway
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo
Income and wealth of all residents is on public record
Modern and ancient skiing were invented in Norway
Europe’s biggest herd of wild reindeer live in Norway
You can see polar bears in the wild (Svalbard)
Norway is one of the world’s happiest countries
The sun doesn’t set in the summer in northern Norway
Norway knighted a king penguin living at the Edinburgh Zoo Sir Nils Olav. He is the mascot for the Norwegian Guard

Bucket-List Activities

Climb Norway’s highest mountain, Galdhøpiggen (Lom)
See the northern lights (Tromsø, Alta)
Walk the Pilgrim Way (Trondheim)
Kayak on a fjord (Geiranger)
Ride the Bergen Line (between Bergen and Hønefoss)
Experience a homestay with a Sami reindeer herder

Natural Wonders

Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen)
Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord (Bergen)
The Seven Sisters (Møre og Romsda)
The Midnight Sun (Bodø & Lofoten)
Jostedalsbreen Glacier (Luster, Sogndal, Sunnfjord, & Stryn)
Saltstraumen (Bodø)
Aurora Borealis (Lom)

Major Attractions

Norwegian Glacier Museum (Fjærland)
Norwegian Canning Museum (Stavanger)
Tromsø Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden (Tromsø)
Lofoten War Memorial Museum (Svolvær)
Lofoten Aquarium (Kabelvåg)

Native Foods

Fårikål (Mutton and Cabbage)
Lapskaus (Stew)
Kjøttkaker (Meatballs)
Smalahove (Sheep’s Head)
Rømmegrøt (Sour Cream Porridge)
Raspeball (Potato Dumpling)
Pinnekjøtt (Dried Lamb Ribs)
Reindeer

General Travel Tips

Common Phrases

Ja – Yes
Nei – No
Takk – Thank you
Vær så god – You’re welcome
Vær så snill – Please
Unnskyld me – Excuse me
Hallo – Hello
Ha det – Goodbye
Jeg forstår ikke – I do not understand
Hvordan sier man dette på norsk? – How do you say this in Norwegian

Oslo / Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL ✈✈✈✈) – The capital city and start to most Norway trips
Bergen / Bergen Airport Flesland (BGO ✈✈✈✈) – Norway’s southwestern coast surrounded by mountains and fjords
Trondheim / Trondheim Airport Værnes (TRD ✈✈✈✈) – Norway’s leading cycling city
Stavanger / Stavanger Airport Sola (SVG ✈✈✈✈) – An oil city on the west coast
Tromsø / Tromsø Airport (TOS ✈✈✈✈) – A major cultural hub above the Arctic Circle
Sandefjord / Sandefjord Airport, Torp (TRF ✈✈✈✈)- Known for its rich Viking history and the prosperous whaling industry
Ålesund / Ålesund Airport (AES ✈✈✈✈) – A port town on the west coast of Norway, at the entrance to the Geirangerfjord
Haugesund / Haugesund Airport (HAU ✈✈✈✈) – Homeland of the Viking Kings
Kristiansand / Kristiansand Airport (KRS ✈✈✈✈) – A port city in the South of Norway

13 Reasons You'll Love Winter in Norway

From the urban beauty of Oslo to the tranquility of snow-clad Alta, there are many reasons to visit Norway in the winter… 13 reasons specifically. Keep reading, and you might…

Visiting Norway in Winter - The Magic of Snow and Shadows

Norway was recognized as the world’s happiest country in 2017. I imagined this was based on the eternal sunlight of the Scandinavian summers. I never imagined how beautiful or transformative…

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Here at Coleman Concierge, we encourage everyone to travel responsibly and believe there is potential for tremendous good for the world following that ethos. There is also the potential for horrific consequences from irresponsible travel.

Before you go, please check out the latest CDC recommendations for travelers.

Even if you can’t physically explore the world, we hope that you enjoy the escape our site provides. Keep your spirits up and your hands clean. There will be a time to travel soon enough.

Meet Ed & Jenn

Hi! We are Jenn and Ed Coleman, and together we are Coleman Concierge. It is our goal to inspire you to get out, expand your world, and to seek adventure, even in your own backyard.

We deeply believe in the transformational power of travel. Our tagline is amazing adventures for ordinary people because we believe that you don’t have to be super rich, super fit or super anything to have an amazing adventure. Expanding your comfort zone and trying new things will pay huge dividends in both health and happiness.

We advocate for sustainable and ethical travel and truly believe in the power of travel to transform both ourselves as well as the world around us.