Things to do in Norway

25 things to do in Norway

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Witness the Northern Lights in Tromsø

  Watch the ethereal aurora borealis dance across the Arctic sky from one of the world’s best vantage points, with fjord landscapes as your backdrop.

  Tromsø

• Hike to Trolltunga

  Trek to this dramatic rock formation jutting out over Lake Ringedalsvatnet, offering a heart-stopping photo op 700 meters above the valley floor.

  Odda, Hordaland

• Explore the Geirangerfjord by ferry

  Cruise past sheer cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and abandoned farmsteads in this UNESCO-listed fjord, one of Norway’s most spectacular natural wonders.

  Geiranger

• Visit Bryggen in Bergen

  Stroll through the iconic row of colorful Hanseatic wooden buildings dating back to the 14th century, a living piece of Bergen’s trading history.

  Bergen

• Tour the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo

  See remarkably preserved 9th-century Viking longships and artifacts, offering a tangible connection to Norway’s seafaring ancestors.

  Oslo

• Admire the Urnes Stave Church

  Step inside the oldest stave church in Norway, a UNESCO masterpiece blending Christian and Viking motifs with incredible wooden carvings from the 12th century.

  Luster

• Ride the Flåm Railway

  Take one of the world’s steepest train journeys, descending from mountain plateaus to the fjord while passing thundering waterfalls and deep gorges.

  Flåm

• Enjoy fresh seafood at Fisketorget in Bergen

  Savor just-caught king crab, salmon, or fish soup at the bustling outdoor fish market surrounded by the harbor’s sights and smells.

  Bergen

• Go dog sledding in Alta

  Mush your own team of eager huskies across the Arctic plateau under a vast, snowy sky, with the chance of Northern Lights overhead.

  Alta

• Walk along the Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen)

  Hike to a flat-topped cliff plunging 604 meters above the Lysefjord, for an awe-inspiring view and a classic Norwegian adventure.

  Forsand

• See the midnight sun at North Cape

  Stand at Europe’s northernmost cliffside and watch the sun never set below the horizon, painting the Barents Sea in endless golden light.

  Nordkapp

• Visit the Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo

  Wander among over 200 bronze and granite sculptures by Gustav Vigeland, capturing the human experience in a sprawling, serene park.

  Oslo

• Kayak through Nærøyfjord

  Paddle the narrowest arm of the Sognefjord, where sheer cliffs rise straight from the water and only the sound of dripping paddles breaks the silence.

  Gudvangen

• Discover the white sand beaches of the Lofoten Islands

  Walk on Haukland Beach’s powdery white sand with jagged granite peaks and turquoise Arctic water, a surreal tropical illusion above the Arctic Circle.

  Vestvågøy, Lofoten

• Drive the Atlantic Ocean Road

  Wind along bridges and causeways that leap from islet to islet, with the open ocean crashing against the tarmac in dramatic weather.

  Averøy

• Sample brunost (brown cheese) at a traditional café

  Taste Norway’s sweet, caramelized whey cheese, often sliced thinly on fresh bread or waffles, for a unique flavor found nowhere else.

  Oslo

• Explore the Røros mining town

  Walk the well-preserved 17th-century streets of this UNESCO-listed copper mining town, where wooden buildings and smelter history come alive.

  Røros

• See the Northern Lights Cathedral in Alta

  Enter a striking modern cathedral wrapped in titanium sheeting, designed to echo the aurora borealis, and housing a luminous altarpiece.

  Alta

• Go whale watching in Andenes

  Spot sperm whales and orcas in their nutrient-rich feeding grounds off Vesterålen, with a deep-sea canyon creating prime cetacean corridors.

  Andenes

• Hike Besseggen Ridge in Jotunheimen

  Tackle Norway’s most iconic ridge walk, with emerald Gjende Lake on one side and deep blue Bessvatnet on the other, in the land of the giants.

  Jotunheimen National Park

• Walk on the Oslo Opera House rooftop

  Climb the angled white marble roof sloping into the Oslofjord, a public art piece offering panoramic city and water views at all hours.

  Oslo

• Visit the Fram Museum in Oslo

  Step aboard the polar exploration ship Fram, which carried Amundsen and Nansen to the Arctic and Antarctic, preserved inside its museum.

  Oslo

• Sleep in an ice hotel in Alta

  Spend a night in a room sculpted entirely from ice and snow, with thermal sleeping bags and an otherworldly, frozen ambiance.

  Alta

• Savour reindeer stew in a Sami lavvu

  Share a traditional meal of slow-cooked reindeer around an open fire inside a reindeer-herder’s tent, learning about Sami culture firsthand.

  Karasjok

• Wander through Gamle Stavanger

  Lose yourself in Northern Europe’s largest collection of preserved wooden houses, with cobblestone lanes, white picket fences, and blooming gardens.

  Stavanger