Norway and I are a love story that began more than10 years ago with the discovery of Lofoten islands and the midnight sun. What a way to start. And since then, I’ve been going back every year, mainly in winter to watch the Northern Lights.

The Lofoten Islands again, but especially the Tromso region, the superb island of Senja, Alta, are great playgrounds for hunting the aurora in an incredible setting, between mountains and fjords. So be careful, because your first trip to Norway will inevitably lead to others! You’ve been warned!

The center of the country is also truly impressive. Numerous fjords between Alesund and Stavanger, including Geiranger, Naeroyfjord and exceptional scenic roads like Sognefjell.
The superb city of Bergen.

In short, the whole of Norway is blessed with an exceptional natural environment, a setting unique in the world, and a truly healthy sense of security. Here you’ll find a wealth of information about the country, how to prepare your trip and the climate.

Whatever questions you may have, I’ll try to answer them in an ideally relevant way 😀

At the end of the page, you’ll find a list of articles written on the blog about the different regions of Norway.

5 reasons to travel to Norway

I could come up with many more, but these 5 should be enough to convince you:

• Exceptional landscapes, with fjords, glaciers and mountains
• The Northern Lights, of course
• Pure, respected nature that belongs to everyone
• Magnificent scenic roads, a pleasure to drive on
• You feel good, safe and at peace, quite simply.

Must-see regions in Norway

Even though I’ve been going there for over 10 years, I’m a long way from having seen everything. But I very, very strongly recommend the places below. And I can’t advise against anything, it’s all really magnificent.

On the other hand, you need to be aware that the distances are VERY long, the speed limited and the road conditions can be difficult. I really advise you to concentrate on one region, and not to try to do too much, otherwise you’ll spend your time on the road.

Target one region for your trip to Norway (you’ll be back anyway :p ), depending on the period and the time available. Don’t expect to go from south to north in a week, or to visit Bergen and Tromso quickly, for example :p

• Tromso and surroundings
• Senja Island
• Lofoten Islands
• Vesteralen Islands
• The fjord region, between Bergen and Alesund
• The wild west coast, from Bodo to Trondheim
• Bergen and surrounding area
• Stavanger and Lysefjord
• Oslo is also worth a visit

I give you plenty of details just below, for each region. Let’s dive in!

Tromso and its area

Tromso is a huge playground, whatever the season. People mainly come to Tromso in winter for its activities, because it’s one of the best places to see the northern lights, because you can go dog sledding or see whales and orcas.

But Tromso is more than that: it’s a paradise for hikers, with hundreds of trails, each more beautiful than the last.

You can visit the region with or without a car, immersing yourself in fantastic landscapes, visiting the island of Kvaloya, the Signaldalen mountains and the Lygen Alps in particular. In short, it takes more than one trip to get the hang of it!

Blog articles and resources :

• What to do in Tromso: I give you all the information you need to prepare your trip to Tromso, including activities, places to see and how to get organized.
• What’s the best time to visit Tromso: because there’s always something to do in Tromso, but the activities are specific to each season, I tell you month by month what you can do.
• Where to sleep in Tromso: I present the range of accommodation in Tromso, from the good to the cheap to the unusual.
• The best things to do in Tromso: I show you everything you can do in Tromso to make the most of your stay.
• Tromso, the dog-sledding paradise: find out how to dog-sled and the best service providers
• See orcas and whales in Tromso and Skjervoy: here’s all you need to know about whale watching, the best time to go, and the different boats available.
• The map to visit Tromso: on a single map, you’ll find all the information you need to visit Tromso.
• The best guides for seeing the Northern Lights in Tromso: find the best agencies and guides, and advice on how to choose the best one for you.
• The 10 best places to see the Northern Lights around Tromso: because you need to see the Northern Lights in the right conditions, here’s a list of good places to admire them.
• Cheap car hire in Tromso with Discover Cars: find your car with a quality comparator

Senja Island

Just outside Tromso, a 3-hour drive or 1-hour ferry ride from Sommaroy, lies the fabulous island of Senja. A true concentrate of Norway, with fjords, mountains, fjords, mountains and… absolutely nobody, or almost nobody.

Senja is a paradise, and you’ve got to make the most of it before more and more people discover it (well ok, since I’m talking about it so much, I’m not helping keep it quiet!)

You’ve got to visit all the fjords in the north and west, go to Sifjord for a slap in the face, take a walk in Anderdalen Park and of course see the aurora because yes, Senja is an excellent place to see the northern lights!

Blog articles and resources :

• What to do in Senja: discover the most beautiful places and activities to do in Senja
• The best map to visit Senja: a map with all the info and places to know what to see
• How to get to Senja: find out how to get here by car, ferry or plane
• The best accommodation in Senja: here’s a list of interesting accommodation in Senja
• A 2-week itinerary between Tromso, Senja and the Lofoten Islands: I suggest a great itinerary to discover the most beautiful places in the north.
• The village of Gryllefjord: Gryllefjord is one of the most beautiful places in Senja.

4 recommended accommodations in Senja

The Lofoten Islands

We’re talking about the most beautiful landscapes in Norway, no less. Incredible mountains of impressive black stone. And that’s over several hundred kilometers. And with all this, the Lofoten Islands boast magnificent fishing villages such as Nusfjord, Henningsvaer, Reine and many others.

The Lofoten Islands are especially popular in summer, as they boast some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Fine sand, transparent water, all surrounded by mountains. Heavenly! Well, except for a few degrees.

The weather is quite funny, very cloudy, sometimes beautiful, often rainy. These are the Lofoten Islands, which can be visited in any weather!

Blog articles and resources :

• What to see in the Lofoten Islands: discover all the places to see and things to do in the beautiful Lofoten Islands
• What to do in Lofoten, all the best activities like hiking, kayaking…
• The best map for visiting the Lofoten Islands: and it’s all on one map!
• The best hotels in the Lofoten Islands: here’s a super-helpful list of accommodation, houses and hotels, to stay in the Lofoten Islands.
• A 2-week itinerary between Tromso, Senja and the Lofoten Islands: here’s how to discover the most beautiful spots in northern Norway
• Rent a car to discover the Lofoten Islands: here’s a good comparison to rent the right car in Norway
• The best ways to get to Lofoten Islands by car, plane or ferry : find out all the ways to arrive in paradise!

Bergen and surroundings

Bergen is probably Norway’s most beautiful city (it’s a battle with Alesund). With its crazy architecture, its different districts of wooden houses, its historic past, notably embodied by the Unesco-listed Bryggen docks and its royal buildings, Bergen has it all.

Bergen has it all (except for the weather, let’s face it), and that’s not all. It’s a city where you feel really good, and you love strolling through the narrow streets, along the peninsula and along the quays. We’ll love taking the funicular up to the top.

But above all, Bergen is a great starting point for discovering the surrounding area, especially the fjords. In other words, it’s easy to get to Flam by boat or train, to discover Naeroyfjord and the fjords around Bergen. Or simply head north to the fjord region for a great roadtrip!

Blog articles and resources :

• What to do in Bergen: historic districts, wooden houses, cruises, I tell you everything for a great stay in Bergen
• The best accommodation in Bergen with Booking: use Booking to find the right accommodation in Bergen
• Cruises in the fjords around Bergen: here are all the cruises to discover the fjords around Bergen
• How to get from Bergen to Flam: Flam is one of the region’s must-sees, so here’s how to get there
• Rent a cheap car to discover the fjords with Discover Cars: here’s a trusted comparator to find your car

The fjord region

Norway’s fjord region is said to stretch from Stavanger (with the Lysefjord) to Alesund. That’s big! And on top of that, there are so many things to do, so many places to see, so many roads to take, so many Viking churches to discover.

Incredible fjords like Naeroyfjord, Geiranger or Sognefjord, churches like Borgund or Urnes, take the country’s most beautiful road, Sognefjell, relax in Fjaerland, which is a real paradise.

But you also have mythical places like the Trollstigen road (beware, many roads in Norway are closed for part of the year), the village of Geiranger and its Dalsnibba viewpoint. Well, I could mention them all, but that’s not the point.

The fjords are one of the best places to visit in Norway in summer, but not the only one. In winter, the weather and road closures make it much harder, but either way, you’re in for a real treat!

Blog articles and resources :

• • The most beautiful places in Norway’s fjords
  • Fjord cruises around Bergen
  • How to get from Bergen to Flam
  • Rent a cheap car to discover the fjords with Discover Cars

OSLO THE NORWEGIAN CAPITAL

So no, the Norwegian capital isn’t a city with the wow factor of European imperial cities. In Oslo, you’ll find some really interesting museums, like the FRAM on polar expeditions, Norwegian folklore, the history of the country, the Nobel Peace Prize…

But it’s also a very pleasant city to stroll around, with its attractive architecture, wide sidewalks and many parks like Vigeland. So it can be a good stopover for a long weekend or to start your stay in Norway, Oslo never disappoints 🙂

Blog articles and resources :

• • What to do in Oslo
  • The best accommodations with Booking
  • How to get from Oslo airport to the city center
  • Where to stay near Oslo Gardermoen airport

Northern lights in Norway

In my opinion, Norway is the best place to see the Northern Lights, especially up north near Tromso.

Why? Because the far north of Norway is located on the « aurora oval », i.e. the latitude where the northern lights pass by default. Then there’s the fact that the weather has a huge importance to see them. For example in Tromso area the clouds are less present than in Lofoten or Nordkapp for example.

In northern Norway you can see them from late August to early April. Outside this period, there’s no night, so you can’t see them. But they’re in the sky nonetheless 🙂

To help you choose the place in Norway that’s best for you to see the Northern Lights, don’t hesitate to consult this article. I’ve written quite an article on the Northern Lights, in the form of questions and answers, based on my experience of several years’ travel in Norway.

I’ve also done articles listing the best places to see the Northern Lights in Tromso or Senja (one on the Lofoten Islands will follow). More info on the Northern Lights here!

The best places to see the Northern Lights in Norway

In the infographic below, I’ve tried to give you a clear view of the northern lights in different parts of Norway, depending on the season.

You can see quite easily the best places (Tromso, Senja, Finnmark in particular) which are above the Arctic Circle, and it will depend a lot on the weather.

When to go to Norway, climate and seasons

Specifically, it depends on what you want to find. If you want the Northern Lights, although they’re visible from late August to early April, I’ll explain all that right after. But here are the different seasons:

• summer, a great time with the midnight sun. It’s great for hiking, and the weather can be fine, even hot. The whole country is great, but the fjords and Lofoten are the places to be. In the following article, I explain where to go in Norway in summer
• Autumn: the northern lights appear at the beginning of September, beyond the Arctic Circle. Rain but still plenty of hiking as we wait for snow at the end of October. September and October are two great months*.
• November, December: the weather turns sour, the days are very short, but there’s dawn. There’s snow and it starts to get cold.
• winter: from end of january, the days get longer, there’s lots of snow, it’s cold, and it’s great! there’s all the magic of winter 🙂
• spring: there’s no more night, temperatures are getting milder, but it’s going to snow until around mid-May. Beautiful colors!

Specifically, it depends on what you want to find. If you want the Northern Lights, although they’re visible from late August to early April, I’d recommend two periods in particular (which doesn’t mean I don’t recommend the others 🙂 ):

• autumn: September to mid-October. That is, until the first snowfall. Because you can hike, you have the auroras, you have the colors of autumn and a climate that’s still right.
• winter: from late January to mid-March, for decent weather and, above all, plenty of light. January is okay, and much better than December, which usually combines rotten weather with a lack of light. November is half and half, not so bad as all that.

November is a month of beautiful dawns, but weather can be tricky and temperatures can drop.

To enjoy the midnight sun, I’d probably advise against April in the center of the country, as there’s still a lot of snow melting and not all the roads in the center are open. But from May to August, it « shouldn’t » snow any more, the weather should be good and most roads open.

But in the north, April is a good time, but there are no more northern lights from the middle of the month. After that, weather, especially in Norway, is far from an exact science and it can change pretty much all the time, from one hour to the next, from one fjord to the next.

All that to say, if you want to see the aurora, any time is good (between September and March), but some are even better than others 🙂

Monthly activities in Tromso

To give you an idea of what you can do in Norway depending on the season, I’ve made a new infographic for month-by-month activities, to find out what’s the best time to go to Tromso, depending on what you want to do.

Because yes, in Norway, there really are things to do in every season, and that’s why we come back again and again 🙂

Climate and temperatures: the weather in Norway

In winter, it’s freezing! But it’s dry. In other words, unlike a big, wet, bone-chilling cold, here the cold is dry and much more bearable. There are two different climates, I think. At the water’s edge, it’s never really very cold. Between -5 and -10, rarely less. But with possibly a lot of wind.

On the other hand, as soon as you get away from the sea, you’re in for temperatures worthy of Lapland. Very quickly, we’re going to lose a good ten degrees or more. In Senja  for example, I had -5/10 in the fjords but -35 at the entrance to Anderdalen Park. In Tromso it’s a bit the same.

In town or on Kvaloya, it’s never very cold, but if you go into the Breivikeidet valley or towards Signaldalen, you can lose a good twenty degrees or so.

In spring and autumn, you can expect 0-10°, and in summer it varies enormously between 5 and 30 (but more reasonably 10 and 20).

So it’s totally unpredictable, and one of the country’s surprises! The best weather app and website is Yr.no. But for cloud cover, the best app (and website) is Ventusky

Midnight sun and polar night: two good reasons to take a trip to Norway!

That’s what’s so special about the far north countries, we have two periods that I think are really great.

The midnight sun is the sun that never sets. It’s not just a matter of being bright at night, it’s really sunny at 2-3am. And it’s funny because it gives you a hell of a buzz. You can have an aperitif until midnight, wake up in the sun at 4 a.m. and your body will say to itself, « Wow, it’s late! It’s a funny feeling. You can wear a mask, as they don’t know about shutters (although they need them a lot more than in Paris!).

The polar night is… well, the opposite. The sun doesn’t rise, doesn’t go above the horizon, and we get a bit of light for a few hours. On December 21, the longest night, it’s really dark all the time. It may sound depressing, but it’s fun to watch too. On the other hand, the body is all flabby. As soon as it gets really dark, you feel like going to sleep, it’s amazing how much the body depends on light. You get used to it over time.

But the advantage is that you can have an aperitif at 2pm! The disadvantage is that you can’t enjoy the scenery too much, and you might think that the midnight sun is preferable to the polar night. And yet, when I ask the locals what they prefer, they can’t choose.

Lack of light or darkness is something that has a huge influence on the journey and on the body. So it’s something to bear in mind when planning your trip to Norway. And of course, the midnight sun means no northern lights (I’m not trying to influence you at all!)

Must-do activities in Norway

You can do all kinds of activities in Norway, snow activities, hiking, boat trips, see whales…. I’ll give you an overview below

See the Northern Lights

As I explained earlier, the northern lights are a must-see in Norway, at least in the north, 8 months a year (September to April).

To optimize your chances, go beyond the Arctic Circle, go where the weather is good (I especially recommend Tromso, Senja or Finnmark), but above all I advise you to follow the advice for hunting the northern lights. Namely:

• be mobile to escape the clouds (because, of course, with clouds, there’s no chance of seeing the aurora)
• anticipate the weather by using websites to find out about cloud cover. That way, you’ll know where to go, where the clouds are going to be, and where the clear skies are, hour by hour. Use Ventusky for this.
• avoid light pollution; you need to be in a dark environment to see the aurora in the right conditions
• have a clear view, because if you’re locked up somewhere, behind mountains, you won’t see much.

Anyway, as you have some of the best places to see the Northern Lights in Norway, here are some key articles to help you in your quest for the Northern Lights:

• All the questions and answers about the northern lights
• See the northern lights in Tromso
• The best agencies to see the Northern Lights in Tromso
• See the Northern Lights in Lofoten Islands
• Where to see the Northern Lights in Senja

Dog sledding

With so much snow, there’s plenty of opportunity for dog sledding in much of the country. Okay, especially in the north near Tromso, in Finnmark, and in the center. It’s a super fun, active activity, with a lot of contact with the doggies, who are adorable.

Personally, I love it, both for the sledding part and for staying with the huskies, who are real athletes!

You can do it from November to April, although it will depend on the snow conditions, which makes a lot of sense 😀

• Dog sledding in Tromso
  • Recommended agency opposite the Lyngen Alps
• Dog sledding in Lyngen Alps
• Dog sledding in Alta
• Dog sledding in the Lofoten Islands
• Dog sledding near Lillehammer
• Dog sledding in Roros
• Dog sledding 2 hours from Bergen
• Dog sledding in Trondheim
• Dog sledding on a glacier in Folgefonna

See whales and orcas

This is one of Norway’s most popular activities. Whales and orcas line the country’s coasts for much of the year, and are fairly easy to see.

In Tromso, they can be seen from early November to late January. Sometimes a little earlier, sometimes a little later, it can vary by a week or two. We go to see them by boat at Skjervoy, a 3-hour drive from Tromso. There are several companies offering this service, and I’ll tell you all about them in the following article:

• discover all orca and whale watching cruises in Tromso
  • recommended cruise with Brim Explorer

In Andenes, just north of the Vesteralen Islands, you can see them all year round. The only problem is the weather. It can blow very hard, and outings are regularly cancelled.

• discover whales from Andenes

In Lofoten, you can see them. Last year they saw a lot, mainly orcas enjoying themselves along the coast. In Alta and along the coast, it’s a cetacean paradise. You can sometimes see them from the coast (especially dolphins), but you can also take a boat trip into the fjord to see them up close.

• discover the whale watching cruise from Alta

Discover the fjords by boat

With so many fjords and thousands of kilometers of coastline, it would be a shame not to take advantage of them. I do it on almost every trip, and definitely when I’m in a new place (Tromso, Oslo, Bergen, Geiranger, Naeroyfjord, Trollfjord…).

There are impressive boat trips all over the country and in every season. Here are the main fjord cruises – there’s bound to be one in your area! Oh, and in the next article, I’ll also list all the fjord cruises around Bergen.

• Bergen
  • Discover the Mostraumen
  • Bergen to Flam by boat
  • Cruise from Bergen to Fjaerland
• Stavanger
  • Cruise on Lysefjord and Preikestolen
• Naeroyfjord
  • Naeroyfjord cruise from Flam or Gudvangen
  • Naeroyfjord cruise from Bergen
• Geiranger
  • Discover Geirangerfjord by speedboat
  • Boat cruise from Hellesylt
• Oslo
  • Discover Oslofjord and the bay
• Lofoten Islands
  • Silent cruise in Trollfjord, Norway’s narrowest fjord
• Tromso
  • Discover the Tromso fjords by electric boat
• Alta
  • Cruise the fjords around Alta

See glaciers and walk on them

There are still quite a few glaciers in Norway, especially in the center, in the big ranges like Jostedalsbreen. But in general terms, here are the glaciers you can visit:

• Nigardsbreen, accessible from Road 55, in the Jostedalsbreen. You can walk on it with guides (see here).
• Briksdalsbreen, on the other side of Jostedalsbreen, accessible via a short walk
• Bøyabreen, from Fjaerland, a few minutes’ walk from the parking lot
• Folgefonna, next to Odda, a magnificent setting that can even be hiked (see here)
• Okstindbreen, further north in Helgeland, can also be hiked with a guide (see here).
• Svartissen, also in Helgeland, is Norway’s 2nd largest glacier. It is located in a superb national park. A nice hike to get there, between lakes and mountains.
• Steindalsbreen, a glacier in the magnificent Lyngen Alps, not far from Tromso.

Some suggested itineraries

With such a large country, the possibilities are almost endless! But I’ll try to give you a brief summary of the main itineraries. But here are a few suggested itineraries for different durations and seasons:

• Norway in winter
  • 1 week in Tromso, landscapes, snow activities and northern lights
    • discover my suggested itinerary in Tromso
  • 1 week in the Lofoten Islands, between beaches, mountains and small villages
• All year round
  • 1 week / 10 days between Oslo and Bergen, train connection and passage to Flam and Naeroyfjord
  • 10 days between Tromso, Lofoten Islands, Senja
    • discover this itinerary in northern Norway
• Norway in summer
  • 1 week around Bergen and the fjords above (Sognefjord, Naeroyfjord, Flam, Borgund…)
  • 1 week in Lofoten
  • 2 weeks in the fjords between Bergen and Alesund, plus some time to explore the fjords around Stavanger
• Weekend in town for 3/4 days:
  • Oslo, for its history and museums, a very pleasant city
  • Bergen, for its architecture, Bryggen and the fjords
• ATTENTION:
  • Norway can be visited ALL year round, so there’s always something to see and somewhere to go (whales, northern lights, hiking, towns…) depending on what you want to do.

How to get to Norway

Visa for a trip to Norway

Easy, even if Norway is not in the European Union, it is part of the Schengen Area. This means you don’t need a visa to enter, and only your identity card if you’re coming from the EU or Canada (for example). The full list of visa-free countries is available here

Flying to Norway

This is the quickest and easiest way. From France, AIR FRANCE offers direct flights to Tromso, Oslo, Bergen and Stavanger. Here are the airlines that operate direct flights from France to Norway:

• Air France
• Transavia
• Norwegian
• Easyjet
• Scandinavian Airlines
• Volotea

The network of internal flights is excellent with Norwegian and Wideroe, a company that serves small local airports in omnibus mode. Super convenient.

Norwegian’s prices aren’t too bad, but Wideroe’s can go up fast.
The airlines I always fly are between : Air France, Scandinavian Airlines, Norwegian, Finnair (a new Helsinki-Tromso route). The price to Oslo is regularly under €100 AR, and to Tromso it’s pretty easy to get flights for under €300 round trip.

My last one, in the middle of winter, was at 160€ round trip, without luggage (with SAS). On the other hand, they usually go all out with the luggage, which adds a nice €100 to the bill.

I can only advise you to be flexible on your dates. It varies enormously from day to day. That’s how I went from 400€ to 160€, just by shifting my flight by 2 days because there was no flight operated by SAS on the outward journey.

By car or van

I’m often asked whether you can go to Norway, and mainly to Tromso, by car or converted van. It depends on two things. First, the season. In winter (i.e. from October to May), I strongly advise against doing so, because of the climate. The locals have snow tires, which are ultra-efficient, and for good reason. When it snows, it’s no joke. For example, this winter, in the middle of a storm, I did 60km in 2h30.

But in the end, the snow isn’t the most important thing. The snow settles on the road, forming a kind of layer of ice several centimeters thick (it’s well over ten centimeters), like permafrost, which takes a long time to melt. Especially far from the sea, where it’s very cold. In the middle of July, I saw thick layers of ice on the sides of the Sognefjell road, so you can imagine what it must be like when the first ice falls.

Otherwise, if it’s summer, given the price of van rental in Norway (which is very, very expensive), I think it’s a good idea. But it’s a long drive (I’d say 3 days to get to Tromso), so it’s worth it if you’ve got 3 weeks, I’d say.

The easiest way is to take the ferry north of Denmark (Hirtshals) to Kristiansand in southern Norway, and then drive either up the coast (Stavanger, Bergen, the fjords, Alesund, Trondheim, Bodo…) or along the central road, the E6.

Car rental in Norway is not expensive. If you book a little in advance, you’ll pay between €30 and €40 a day. Gas depends on the day. It varies enormously. It can be 17 NOK this evening, 24NOK tonight.

How to pay tolls and ferries in Norway

Tolls in Norway sound super complicated, but in fact it’s super simple. In the following article I explain where to register to pay tolls on Norwegian roads. But to make it simple:

1. You need to register on EPASS24 to register your license plate, without getting a discount
   • to pay ferries automatically (without discount), you need to register on FERRYPAY
2. Alternatively, you can order an electronic toll tag and benefit from discounts at toll booths
   • then you can register with Autopass Ferje to benefit from big discounts on ferries.

By train

This is more complicated, and especially longer. To reach Norway by train, you first have to pass through Copenhagen, then cross over to Goteborg and then Oslo.

The Oslo-Bergen route is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. But to go all the way north, that’s where it gets funky.

From Oslo, you can go to Bodo, then take either the boat or the bus to Tromso. Or from Stockholm, you can go to Narvik.

Narvik is in Norway, further north than Bodo, but strangely not accessible from Norwegian lines. More info on train travel here

The Hurtigruten for a boat trip

The Hurtigruten is a Norwegian institution. Although the company has moved on to other destinations, the primary aim of this coastal express has been to connect all of Norway’s coastal towns for 130 years.

It has to be said that, in those days, traveling by road wasn’t necessarily super-easy given the climate and terrain, so an « omnibus boat » quickly became vital for the country’s towns and villages.

Once in Norway, it’s easy for tourists to take it for a short trip or for the « total package », which runs from Bergen to Kirkenes, on the border with Russia.

So making a trip to Norway by boat is simple, thanks to this company. You start where you want, you get off where you want. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Renting accommodation in Norway

Norway has a reputation for very expensive holiday accommodation. Well… it’s true. In the tourist areas (Tromso, Bergen, Geiranger), you’ll find hotels that easily exceed €100 a room. On the other hand, if you get in early, there are always a few smaller, cheaper hotels, but they’re packed. On the other hand, if you get out of the city centers, you’ll find quite a few pleasant surprises, which are less expensive, and outside tourist areas, where it’s not expensive at all.

More and more people are renting out their vacation accommodation, and this is a very good alternative to hotels if there are a lot of people or if you want a bit more space. It’s still quite expensive in Norway, but you can often find a good deal

I wrote some articles to bring you some recommendations about where to stay :

• Discover the best accommodation in Tromso
• Where to stay in Senja Island
• The best rorbuer in Lofoten Islands

Trouvez votre logement en Norvège

Getting around Norway

I’ve already mentioned this above. The train network is relatively well-developed when you consider Norway’s topography. The main towns are connected, as far as Narvik and Bodo. In the north, there’s nothing. See the Norwegian rail network map.

By plane, it’s easy but not cheap. Local airlines Norwegian and Wideroe operate throughout the country, and there’s a well-developed express bus network, but not everywhere. And of course, it takes a long time, given the distances involved. I’d say there’s a network in the south and center, as far as Trondheim. From there, however, it seems impossible to reach the north by bus.

But between Lofoten, Tromso, Alta, Kirkenes, these towns are very well connected. There’s an excellent trip planner in Norway, with all the bus routes, absolutely all the stops. I highly recommend Entur

Car rental in Norway

Renting a car in Norway is the best way to enjoy nature. If you book early enough, it will cost you €30 a day, and you’ll get something very good. There’s no need to take a big car, because firstly, the speed limit is between 60 and 90km, secondly, small cars are very well equipped, and thirdly, the roads are in very good condition. So a Polo or equivalent is more than enough, even in winter. It all depends on the size of your luggage. And in winter, snow tires are excellent, so there’s no risk there. I’ve also written an article on tips for renting a car in winter. What’s going to be costly, however, is picking up a car at point A and dropping it off at point B. But compare. Absolutely. Prices vary enormously from one day to the next, and the earlier you book, the cheaper it is. Pay particular attention to unlimited mileage. I like DISCOVER CARS, it’s reliable and there are no surprises

International license

No need for an international license or official translation. Your French (or European, US, Canadian) driver’s license is all you need to rent and pass inspection

Driving in Norway

Frankly, it’s all good fun. Except during snowstorms. People are very respectful, in terms of behavior, speed, safety distances and priorities. What’s more, the scenery is always exceptional.

Driving on snow is not particularly difficult, as the cars are equipped for it. The tires are perfect, sometimes studded, and they roll perfectly on snow and ice. There’s no need to be afraid, just avoid sudden movements, don’t turn too fast, don’t brake too hard and always leave a safe distance, as it takes longer to brake on snow and ice (of course).

To find out about road conditions in Norway, visit the Vegvesen website. I’ll explain it all in the article on road closures in Norway, because you’re likely to encounter them! So it’s best to know what’s closed and what’s open before you hit the road. And avoid either waiting for the convoy, or making a 400 km detour as there are only 2 roads in the whole region.

Ridesharing companies and cabs

Uber is the only carsharing company in Norway, but is very expensive. Otherwise we find lots of cabs. And they’re expensive, much more than here. Unlike with us, they really go to remote corners, have a slightly more social role.

Planning your trip to Norway

Should I use an agency?

Norway is a country where it’s very easy to find information, to book, to pay because everything is online, everything is really simplified compared to other countries. So I really think you can manage on your own without too much trouble.

However, with all the different forms of transport, distances and accommodation, you might prefer to use an agency to organize things, and I can understand that. If I had to recommend just one, it would be the French agency EVANEOS , which has an excellent reputation. In particular, it allows you to create your own « à la carte » stays or to benefit from those created by local agencies.

But for activities, there’s no need to go through these big agencies. For my part, when I want a specific activity, I use Getyourguide, a very practical agency comparator

Find your holiday with Evaneos!

Maps of Norway

I’m creating maps to help you to plan your trips in Norway. These maps contain all the best places to see, where to see the northern lights, the hikes, the activities, accommodations. Well, everything you need !

• Map of Tromso
• Map of Senja
• Map of Lofoten Islands

The right of access to nature

One thing that is exceptional in Norway is the famous right of access to nature. It’s written into the law that everyone can enjoy nature and open spaces, even in private areas. The only condition is that you respect the environment.

And for camping, it’s much the same. You can access private land (not fenced in, that’s important), but you have to stay at least 150m away from dwellings and respect any signs indicating that you must not pass/park/camp.

You can find out more about the right of access to nature here. Be careful, if someone says « privat / no camping », it means you can’t.

Practical information about Norway

Which languages to speak in Norway

Of course they speak Norwegian (from the old Norse language of the Vikings), which has the same roots as German. If you speak German, you can easily read and understand Norwegian. But, even simpler, everyone speaks English. And when I say everyone, I really mean everyone

Safety on a trip to Norway

What’s great about the Nordic countries, and Norway in particular, is the omnipresent feeling of safety and benevolence. There’s no aggression, no theft, people are honest.

It’s happened to me quite a few times that I’ve forgotten my card in the cash dispenser (because the bills are returned before the card, which is the opposite of my country) and either it’s returned to me at the back, or I find it in the dispenser.

People will leave their bags, wallets and phones on the table to go to the toilet or have a smoke. You can leave the car unlocked without worry.

There’s no feeling of mistrust towards foreigners or tourists. Norway is a country that opened up and became rich late in life, but although they’re not very talkative, they’re very friendly and won’t hesitate to stop if you have a problem.

In some of the more remote corners, they’ll also be surprised to see tourists and will be happy to chat

Cost of living in Norway

It’s very expensive. In supermarkets, it’s a bit more expensive than in Paris, as if we were always shopping at the 3am mini-market, so a nice 20% more. Minimum.

Drinks are much more expensive, whether in supermarkets or restaurants. Restaurants were originally very expensive, but with immigration (Italians, Asians…) opening new restaurants of rather good quality, prices are damnably down.

Before, in Tromso, it was hard to find a dish for less than €25/30. With drinks and dessert, that meant €50 per person for a normal dish. Now it’s possible to find dishes for 20€. But the very good restaurants are still very expensive, at over €60 per head, with some costing  more than €100.

The main activities, for example here in Tromso, are not cheap and cost over €100. Nature, on the other hand, is free. And that’s the best kind of activity 🙂

After that, for those who know, the pleasant surprise is that it’s cheaper than in Iceland, for example.

Telephone and Internet

Norway is included in the european packages for Internet, SMS and telephone. And the icing on the cake is that reception is extremely good almost everywhere in the country

Currency and payments in Norway

The Norwegian krone is the local currency and the only one used. Neither euros nor dollars are accepted. Its rate has long been around 1€ for 9NOK. Nowadays, it’s low at 1€=10NOK, a gain of around 10%, which is not insignificant for prices in the country.

In Norway, you can pay for absolutely everything, everywhere, by credit card. It’s the default method of payment. And if you pay in cash, you’ll see a look of astonishment in your interlocutor’s eyes

Drinking water

That’s another easy question. The water is obviously drinkable everywhere in Norway. And even better, it’s damn good, especially in the north. The icing on the cake is that, unlike in other countries, tap water is free in restaurants.

Electrical outlets

The differences in electrical outlets is often something we forget before we leave. But on a trip to Norway, you can rest easy! There are the same plugs as in France and Europe (except UK), i.e. type C/E and 230v. There’s no need for an adapter if you’re coming from Europe.

All articles about Norway

Find below all articles about Norway, from all regions. And you can use the filter to select your region, between Senja, Tromso, the Lofoten Islands, and the Northern Lights 🙂