Norway travel guide

In days gone by, the west and northern coasts of Norway were all but inaccessible. Before roads, rail or air travel, the only lifeblood for the brave few who called the area home was the Hurtigruten shipping line. Originally charting the waters, then sailing the route on a regular basis, the shipping route is a big part of Norway's history. Today, cruisers have their choice of vessels from new and shiny to old and "authentic". Whether opting to do the 12-day return trip from Bergen to Kirkenes or merely hopping on for a shorter trip, the Hurtigruten is a unique opportunity to experience a bit of Norwegian history, while taking in some of the country's most spectacular scenery.

The tiny village of Flåm is a true tourist phenomenon. Although the village itself is very old – its name dates back to the 1340s – its small size belies its popularity and significance. It receives a crazy half million visitors per year, including 160 cruise ships, and these – with their accompanying convoy of sight-seeing buses – are almost as interesting as the village itself. The two main attractions here are the fjord on which it lies (Aurlandsfjord, an arm of Sognefjord) and the Flåm railway, one of the steepest and arguably most beautiful train journeys in the world. Since it is only 20 km long, it can easily be done as a day trip. Boat trips on the fjord are popular, too. There are Viking graves and abandoned farms, steep cliffs and majestic waterfalls. For those wishing to stay on dry land, there are some touch but mind-blowing hikes and bike trails in the area. The village itself has some nice buildings, but the feeling is really that this is mainly a cruise-ship port with accompanying hotels, souvenir shops and restaurants.

With its 2469 m is Galdhøpiggen not only Norway's highest mountain, but also Scandinavia's. It's possible to hike the peak and there are several options. The easiest, but not the shortest, is from Spiterstulen Mountain Lodge. A return hike is estimated to be 9 hours. There is a shorter route from Galdhøpiggen Sommerski Center, but that involves traversing a glacier, which requires a guide. A return hike one this route is estimated to be 7 hours. But even if you are not interested in scaling Galdhøpiggen, a visit to the Sommerski Center is an adventure itself. You zig-zag your way up to 1850 m, where you have amazing views over the surrounding mountains and glaciers (if the clouds permit). There is snow at the ski lift, if you want to fool around.

Geiranger is essentially a tourist village, which is supported primarily by the many cruise ships which travel up the fjord almost every day of the year. Small and somewhat quaint, Geiranger is mostly of interest as a place from where to explore Geirangerfjord, or to pick up a hideously tacky and overpriced troll souvenir (the cruise participants love them, it seems). But there cannot be many more beautiful locations for a village anywhere in the world, surrounded as Geiranger is by mountains on three sides and Geirangerfjord on the forth.

The road E45 passes the very scenic lake of Trangdalsvatn about 40 km south of Alta, but just a bit north, the scenery changes dramatically. The road follows the river through a narrow gorge. Mountain sides rise high up on both sides, while the river rages below. There are a few parking spots along the way, so you have a chance to take in the majestic landscape without the danger of driving into oncoming traffic.

Grense Jakobselv is considered the "End of Norway". It's not the most northern part of (mainland) Norway, but if you go any further north, you will end up in the Barents Sea, and if you go any further east, you end up in Russia. The beach is one of Norway's finest and seeing the midnight sun from here is just spectacular. There is an old stone church, King Oscar II Champel, built in 1869 to reinforce Norway's claim to the territory. The bumpy road to Grense Jakobselv literally runs along the Russian border and is apparently not open during winter.

Hardangerfjord is the world’s third largest, almost 180km long. It is more a collection of destinations than a destination in itself – in it and along its shores you will find glaciers, fruit orchards, salmon farms, powerful waterfalls and some of the best hikes in Norway, including the famous Troll’s Tongue. The soil is more arable along Hardangerfjord than many of its northern neighbours, so in spring and early summer the cherry, plum and apple trees are in bloom. Snow persists in the nearby mountains until quite late, so if hiking (but not trudging through deep snow) is what you are coming here for you would be wise to wait until July. The town of Odda is the place to organize hikes, although much of it can be done independently. As with much of Norway’s nature, its attractiveness changes dramatically with the weather, so be prepared to hang around for a few days in the hope of glimpsing the sun – it really is worth it!

A stunning beach with soft white sand and crystal blue water. It's squeezed in by mountains on one side and there are big boulders in the shallow water. However, the parking lot gets filled quickly, since several hikes start from here.

For the absolute best view of Haukland Beach hike up the mountain behind it. To get to the trail, cross the road and follow the sealed road away from the beach. After a couple of hundred meters a mud trail veers off up the mountain side. Just follow that until you reach the peak. It can both get muddy and rocky. Sections at the top can be particularly tricky with some scrambling needed. A return trip will take a couple of hours.

Of Norway's 28 remaining medieval stave churches, Haddel is the largest. It was built in the 13th century, and is the only one with three towers. During summer, it's still used as the main church for the parish.