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Travel guide · Fjords

Travelling to Norway

Postcard fjords, the northern lights, the midnight sun and fishing villages in the Lofoten. We tell you when to go, what to see in each region and what to eat.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • Best time: from May to October
  • Where to eat: the harbour food stand
Photo: Unsplash

Norway in 30 seconds

  • The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Norway are from May to October.
  • Norway in a Nutshell.
  • To eat like a local: the harbour food stand. Don’t leave without trying: Salmon, Tørrfisk, Brunost.

Norway in November

You can go, with a few caveats: polar night in the north, mountain roads closed. It’s the best time for the northern lights: save outdoor activities for the daylight hours.

  • November

    Polar night in the north

    In midwinter the sun barely rises in Tromsø and the Lofoten.

    What to do: It’s the best time for the northern lights: save outdoor activities for the daylight hours.

  • November

    Mountain roads closed

    The Geiranger road and several mountain passes close in winter.

    What to do: For the fjords, May to September is best.

More destinations for November

When to travel to Norway

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Norway are from May to October.

  1. Jan with warnings
  2. Feb with warnings
  3. Mar with warnings
  4. Apr with warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul no warnings
  8. Aug no warnings
  9. Sep no warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov with warnings
  12. Dec with warnings

More destinations for those dates: where to travel in May · where to travel in June · where to travel in July · where to travel in August

  • from November to January

    Polar night in the north

    In midwinter the sun barely rises in Tromsø and the Lofoten.

    What to do: It’s the best time for the northern lights: save outdoor activities for the daylight hours.

  • from November to April

    Mountain roads closed

    The Geiranger road and several mountain passes close in winter.

    What to do: For the fjords, May to September is best.

Festivals and special moments

  • June, July

    White nights

    Light skies until late in the north. Ideal for long walks outdoors.

  • June

    Summer solstice

    Nordic outdoor celebrations; very long days.

What to see in Norway

The cities and areas most worth your time, with their highlights. Open each one for all the places, where to stay and its day trips.

  • Oslo
    Oslo

    Oslo

    The Opera House you can walk across the roof of, the Viking ships, Vigeland Park and the fjord right there.

    • Opera House
    • Vigeland
    • Munch
    • Holmenkollen
    Oslo guide
  • Bergen
    Fjords · Bergen

    Bergen

    Colourful wooden houses on the Bryggen wharf, the fish market and the gateway to the fjords.

    • Bryggen
    • Fløibanen
    • Sognefjord
    • Troldhaugen
    Bergen guide
  • Tromsø

    Tromsø

    The capital of Arctic Norway: northern lights in winter and the midnight sun in summer.

    • Arctic Cathedral
    • Fjellheisen cable car
    • Northern lights
    • Polaria
    Tromsø guide
  • Lofoten Islands

    Lofoten Islands

    Mountains rising from the sea, red fishermen’s cabins and white-sand beaches above the Arctic Circle.

    • Reine
    • Hamnøy
    • Henningsvær
    • Haukland Beach
    Lofoten Islands guide
  • Stavanger

    Stavanger

    White wooden houses and the gateway to the Lysefjord and its famous Pulpit Rock.

    • Preikestolen
    • Kjeragbolten
    • Lysefjord
    • Gamle Stavanger
    Stavanger guide
  • Ålesund

    Ålesund

    An Art Nouveau town rebuilt after a fire, spread across several islands, near Geiranger.

    • Art Nouveau centre
    • Aksla viewpoint
    • Brosundet
    • Atlanterhavsparken
    Ålesund guide
  • Trondheim

    Trondheim

    The old Viking capital, with the great Nidaros Cathedral and colourful warehouses along the river.

    • Nidaros Cathedral
    • Bakklandet
    • Trampe
    • Kristiansten Fortress
    Trondheim guide
  • Geiranger

    Geiranger

    Norway’s most famous fjord, with waterfalls tumbling down walls of rock.

    • Geirangerfjord
    • Seven Sisters
    • Dalsnibba
    • Ørnesvingen
    Geiranger guide
  • Flåm

    Flåm

    A village at the head of the Aurlandsfjord, famous for its mountain railway.

    • Flåm Railway
    • Nærøyfjord
    • Stegastein viewpoint
    • Aurlandsfjord
    Flåm guide
  • Svalbard

    Svalbard

    An Arctic archipelago halfway to the North Pole, with polar bears, glaciers, the polar night and the midnight sun.

    • Longyearbyen
    • Glaciers
    • Pyramiden
    • Northern lights in the polar night
    Svalbard guide
  • Preikestolen

    Preikestolen

    Pulpit Rock: a flat rock 600 metres above the Lysefjord, one of the most famous hikes in Norway.

    • The rock
    • Trail
    • Lysefjord
    • Kjeragbolten
    Preikestolen guide
  • Senja

    Senja

    “Norway in miniature”: peaks dropping into the sea, white beaches and fishing villages, less well known than the Lofoten.

    • Bergsbotn
    • Segla
    • Husøy
    • Tungeneset
    Senja guide
  • Alta

    Alta

    The “city of the northern lights”, with the Northern Lights Cathedral and World Heritage rock carvings.

    • Northern Lights Cathedral
    • Rock carvings
    • Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel
    • Alta Canyon
    Alta guide

Day trips and activities

What’s most worth booking from each city. We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

From Oslo

From Bergen

From Tromsø

From the Lofoten Islands

From Stavanger

From Ålesund

From Trondheim

From Geiranger

From Flåm

From Svalbard

From Preikestolen

From Senja

From Alta

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What to eat in Norway

To eat like a local: the harbour food stand, and order fish soup or salmon. And don’t leave without trying:

  • Salmon

    Smoked, cured (gravlaks) or grilled: the country’s star product.

  • Tørrfisk

    Cod air-dried in the Lofoten, as it has been for centuries.

  • Brunost

    A sweet brown cheese that tastes of caramel, served in thin slices.

  • Kjøttkaker

    Meatballs with gravy, mash and lingonberry jam.

  • Lutefisk

    Cod cured in lye, a Christmas dish that leaves no one indifferent.

  • Skillingsboller

    Cinnamon buns typical of Bergen.

The typical dish of Norway, at home

Fårikål
Photo: Jarvin · CC BY 3.0

Fårikål

Norway’s national dish: lamb and cabbage with whole black peppercorns, cooked together in layers for hours. It even has its own day, the last Thursday in September.

  • Serves 6
  • 3 h

Ingredients

  • 1.5 kg bone-in lamb (neck or shoulder), in pieces
  • 1.5 kg cabbage
  • 2 tablespoons of black peppercorns
  • 2 tablespoons of flour
  • Salt
  • Boiled potatoes

How to make it at home

  1. Cut the cabbage into large wedges.
  2. In a pot, layer the lamb and cabbage alternately, sprinkling each layer with salt, peppercorns and a little flour.
  3. Add water to a third of the way up.
  4. Cover and cook over a very low heat for about 2½ hours, until the meat comes away from the bone.
  5. Serve with boiled potatoes.

The trick: Don’t stir: the layers cook on their own.

The typical food of each city, with a recipe

Curious facts about Norway

What guidebooks don’t tell you and will help you understand the country better.

  • In the north, in summer, the sun doesn’t set for weeks; in winter, it barely rises.
  • The Geiranger and Nærøy fjords are World Heritage Sites.
  • Wine and strong alcohol are only sold in the state-run Vinmonopolet shops.
  • There’s a right to roam: you can walk and camp almost anywhere, as long as you follow a few rules.
  • Every year Norway gives London the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square.
  • Almost everything is paid by card; some places don’t even accept cash.

Traditions of Norway

Customs and celebrations that will help you experience the country like a local.

  • 17 May Constitution Day

    School parades, traditional costumes (bunad) and flags at every house.

  • 23 June Sankthans

    Bonfires along the coast to celebrate the summer solstice.

  • November and December Julebord

    Christmas dinners with traditional dishes among friends and colleagues.

  • Friluftsliv

    Outdoor life: hikes, cabins and cross-country skiing, whatever the weather.

What not to do in Norway

First-trip mistakes that are easy to avoid.

  • Don’t go out without a rain jacket and layers: the weather changes in minutes.
  • Don’t go near the edge of Preikestolen or other unfenced viewpoints.
  • Don’t plan mountain drives in winter without checking which passes are closed.
  • Don’t leave rubbish in nature or light fires where it’s banned.
  • Don’t speed: there are lots of speed cameras and the fines are huge.
  • Don’t count on buying wine at the supermarket.

Before you go

Entry requirements depend on your passport and change: always check them with official sources before travelling.

Frequently asked questions about Norway

What people search for most before travelling to Norway.

What’s the best time to travel to Norway?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Norway are from May to October.

What to see in Norway in a week?

The essentials of Norway: Oslo, Bergen, Tromsø, Lofoten Islands and Stavanger. How many places fit into your days, and in what order, depends on your dates and how you get around: the Bagintravel app plans your trip day by day in a minute.

What to eat in Norway?

Salmon, Tørrfisk, Brunost, Kjøttkaker, Lutefisk, Skillingsboller. To eat like a local: the harbour food stand.

What is the typical dish of Norway?

Fårikål. Norway’s national dish: lamb and cabbage with whole black peppercorns, cooked together in layers for hours. It even has its own day, the last Thursday in September.

What should you not do in Norway?

Don’t go out without a rain jacket and layers: the weather changes in minutes. Don’t go near the edge of Preikestolen or other unfenced viewpoints. Don’t plan mountain drives in winter without checking which passes are closed.

Is it worth travelling to Norway in November?

You can go, with a few caveats: polar night in the north, mountain roads closed. It’s the best time for the northern lights: save outdoor activities for the daylight hours.

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Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Seasonal data, places and areas: the same ones the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.

Photos: cover, Unsplash. Oslo, Orjanarvola (CC BY-SA 4.0). Bergen, TomasEE (CC BY 3.0). Tromsø, Fjellheisen at German Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 2.0 de). Lofoten Islands, Lukas Beck (CC BY 4.0). Stavanger, Olaf Meister (CC BY-SA 4.0). Ålesund, Micha Krautwasser / Micha221 / Krautwasser.com (CC BY-SA 3.0). Trondheim, Åge Hojem/Trondheim Havn from Trondheim, Norway (CC BY-SA 2.0). Geiranger, Ximonic (Simo Räsänen) (CC BY-SA 3.0). Flåm, The original uploader was Palmiped at English Wikipedia. (CC BY-SA 3.0). Svalbard, Svalbard Global Seed Vault/Peter Vermeij (Attribution). Preikestolen, Carsten Steger (CC BY-SA 4.0). Senja, Ximonic (Simo Räsänen) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Alta, DXR (CC BY-SA 4.0).