Beyond the Viking ships, past the fishing villages and near the point where the fjords meet the mountains lays the Land of the Midnight Sun. Norway’s stunning natural wonders keep travelers booking Norway flights and discovery trips in an effort to glimpse at the midnight sun and walk along the world’s most magnificent fjords. Norway’s drastic landscape is what lures travelers to explore this European country.
Excursions down the Western Fjords or a stay on Norway’s sunny beaches are just two options for exploration. Take time from voyaging and enjoy the many cultural events that take place in Norway’s capital city and tiny villages. Folk dancing, singing and storytelling are just a few of the country’s artistic talents that keep the culture alive and thriving in Norway.
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The climate may surprise you. Norway benefits from the warming influence of the Gulf Stream and the south is the sunniest. In the summer, temperatures often climb past 77 degrees Fahrenheit. The west coast gets rain year-round, and the further north you go, the colder it gets. Temperatures can plummet to -60 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Peak Season:
Book flights to Norway between May and September for the longest, brightest days. The Bergen International Festival is the country's biggest arts extravaganza, and takes place in May. Flights to Norway and hotel accommodations must be made in advance if you plan to travel during this time.
The Northern Lights can be enjoyed (marveled at) between November and February in the north of the country. The lights can be rays or arcs of color – greenish white to deepest red. The Northern Lights Festival takes place in Tromso at the end of January.
Norway’s three most northern counties enjoy endless sun between the middle of May and the end of July. Places to enjoy the “longer” days include Nordkapp, Hammerfest, Vardø, Troms, Harstad, Svolvær and Bodo.
Off Peak:
From November to March, average temperatures are below freezing. If you are a skier, the most popular resorts include Lillehammer, the famous former host city of the Olympic Games, Trysil, Oppdal and Hemsedal.
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SAS, Norwegian and Wideroe fly domestically.
Norwegian State Railways has a well-developed network within the country, to other Scandinavian countries and to points in Europe.
The largest coach network in Norway is called NOR-WAY Bussekspress AS. Eurolines is its network partner, which provides services throughout Europe.
Passage between Bergen and Stamsund can be booked with Norwegian Coastal Voyage.
Car-rental companies are represented at the airports.
Flight Times
From London to Oslo is three hours 15 minutes, to Bergen is three hours 10 minutes and to Stavanger is three hours. From New York to Oslo is 10 hours 45 minutes (including stopover in London).
The following chart gives approximate journey times from Oslo (in hours and minutes) to other major cities and towns in Norway.
| | Air | Road | Rail |
|---|
| Bergen | 0.35 | 9.00 | 8.00 |
|---|
| Stavanger | 0.35 | 7.00 | 8.00 |
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| Tromsø | 1.40 | 20.00 | - |
|---|
| Trondheim | 0.40 | 10.00 | 8. |
|---|
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- In West Norway, the fjords of Geiranger and Nærøyfjord are on the UNESCO World Heritage list. They are among the longest and deepest fjords in the world, the product of several ice ages. The largest glacier in mainland Europe, Jostedalsbreen, lies between the fjords. Other World Heritage sites include Bryggen in Bergen, a number of Hanseaticcommercial buildings that line the side of the fjord. Although the buildings are not original, the same building pattern has been maintained for 900 years. Bergen is a great base for discovering the fjords and it is where the Norwegian Coastal Express, which sails some of the most popular tourist routes, starts from. In Bergen, you can take the funicular railway to the top of Floyen mountain, and enjoy the best views of the city.
- Flam Mountain Railway is one of the steepest in the world. The train travels from the mountain station at Myrdal on the Bergen Railway to Flåm station in the Aurlandfjord, which is a branch of the world's longest fjord (the Sognefjord).
- Pick up an Oslo Card for unlimited free travel by bus, tram, underground, boat and local train and the museums are free too. These include Viking Ship Museum; Norsk Folkemuseum; The Munch Museum; Akershus Fortress, the Nazi headquarters during the Second World War; and the Resistance Museum. The new Ibsen Museum features the playwright’s home, now restored to its original Victorian glory.
- The Alta Igloo Hotel is open between January and April. Located on the edge of the Arctic Circle, it is made of snow and ice, all of it - the bar, gallery, wedding chapel, lounges and, of course, ice sculptures. Reindeer hides help keep in the warmth as temperatures hover between -4 and -7 degrees Celsius. Alta also has northern Europe’s largest collection of rock carvings. There are more than 3,000 paintings and engravings.
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All visitors to Norway must have sufficient funds, or return or onward tickets, and any documents necessary for further travel. The borderless region known as the Schengen area includes the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. All these countries issue a standard Schengen visa that allows the holder, in principal, to travel freely within the borders of all.
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United States citizens must have a passport valid for at least period of intended stay. No visa is required for stays of up to three months in any six-month period.
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