Known as the home of the Scandinavian mountains and spectacular fjords, Norway is a land of stunning mountain landscapes, glaciers and fjords, stretching beyond the Arctic circle along the North Atlantic coast. A great place for skiing, trekking or scenic cruises, this wealthy North European monarchy hosts also interesting cultural cities such as Bergen and a lot of fascinating folklore, not to mention the lively capital city Oslo.
City destinations. Apart from Oslo, the country has also other interesting cities such as Bergen. Norway's culture capital and a charming World Heritage city located in fjord-Norway, Bergen is filled with not only historical and cultural sights, but also with a good amount of outgoing atmosphere. What is even better, the city is located in mountainous surroundings, offering you an easy gateway the astonishing Norwegian nature. Bergen is a good base for cruises to the most famous Norwegian fjords such as Geirangerfjord. Within a few hours drive or a leg on a cruising ship. you can find also the city of Stavanger.
Nature destinations. One of the most famous nature attractions of the country (after the fjords) is Jotunheimen, the home of the highest mountains of Norway. Also worth testing is the winter sports city of Lillehammer, the scenic Lofoten Islands, Tromso in northern Norway, and Nordkapp, the so-called northernmost point of continental Europe. The arctic archipelago of Svalbard that hosts stunning natural attractions and an interesting mixture of Norwegian and Russian cultures is an interesting overseas area of Norway. Overall, Norway is a land of scenic landscapes, and thus a very suitable place also for touring – if only you can manage the curving roads.
Located in Scandinavia, Northern Europe, Norway is in most cases best reached by air. The main airport of Norway is located in the capital city, Oslo, and receives plenty of flights to Norway from all around the world.
Norway, land of fjords, mountains and folklore
Norway offers a great mixture of scenic landscapes, mountain areas for winter sports and hiking, national parks and adventure sports. However, Norway's most popular travel destination is its capital city, Oslo. This charming Scandinavian fjordside city with varied attractions has been characterized as one of the most beautiful cities in Northern Europe. With its diverse attractions ranging from ski jumping hills to several fascinating museums and cultural sights, Oslo is an attractive travel destination for a reason. The city might be expensive, but all the same it is interesting.City destinations. Apart from Oslo, the country has also other interesting cities such as Bergen. Norway's culture capital and a charming World Heritage city located in fjord-Norway, Bergen is filled with not only historical and cultural sights, but also with a good amount of outgoing atmosphere. What is even better, the city is located in mountainous surroundings, offering you an easy gateway the astonishing Norwegian nature. Bergen is a good base for cruises to the most famous Norwegian fjords such as Geirangerfjord. Within a few hours drive or a leg on a cruising ship. you can find also the city of Stavanger.
Nature destinations. One of the most famous nature attractions of the country (after the fjords) is Jotunheimen, the home of the highest mountains of Norway. Also worth testing is the winter sports city of Lillehammer, the scenic Lofoten Islands, Tromso in northern Norway, and Nordkapp, the so-called northernmost point of continental Europe. The arctic archipelago of Svalbard that hosts stunning natural attractions and an interesting mixture of Norwegian and Russian cultures is an interesting overseas area of Norway. Overall, Norway is a land of scenic landscapes, and thus a very suitable place also for touring – if only you can manage the curving roads.
Hospitable but expensive: Practical information for your trip to Norway
In general, Norway has warm summers and cool winters. However, regional differences in weather inside the country are quite big, ranging from Oslo's warm summer temperatures and tolerable winters to the harsh conditions of Northern Norway, where the sun stays above the horizon continuously for most of the summer (this phenomenon is known as the Midnight Sun), and where the rest of the year is more or less a struggle with cold conditions. Mild rainfall is received in Norway around the year. Overall, visit Norway between May and September for summer activities, and between December and March for winter sports.Located in Scandinavia, Northern Europe, Norway is in most cases best reached by air. The main airport of Norway is located in the capital city, Oslo, and receives plenty of flights to Norway from all around the world.
Photo: Dulcimer61, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
Ferries to Norway are available from for instance Denmark, Great Britain, Germany and Belgium, and buses and trains from Sweden.
Moving around in the country is best done with internal flights, especially if you want to travel long distances in this mountainous country of fjords and curving roads. In additional to domestic flights, another good possibility to travel inside Norway is to use the ferries, which offer also a lot of sightseeing in the middle of the scenic Norwegian landscapes. Buses and trains are widely available outside the fjord area and the highest regions of Norway, where driving around in slow. If you want to travel independently, rental cars are available and roads are generally in good condition.
Visitor services. Norway is a popular tourism destination with well-maintained services for tourist information, accommodation and entertainment. Modern shopping facilities are available in all major cities. However, services in Norway have one unpleasant feature, which is their high price. Overall, Norway is a very expensive country, which however offers excellent use for your money. Norway is also a very safe destination where many local people speak also English.
Norway, a viking nation and a wealthy modern country
A Viking nation with more than 1,000 years of history as a country, Norway was first united in in 872 AD. Part of the the Danish-Norwegian reunion in the 15th-18th centuries, after which the country built a union with Sweden, Norway has been independent since 1905. After the independence declaration, Norway spent its first decades as neutral nation, but this principle was abandoned after the German occupation in the Second World War, when Norway joined NATO. However, unlike most of its neighbors, this oil-rich Scandinavian country has decided to stay outside the European Union and to stick with its own currency.hint See also these nearby destinations: Lillehammer
