Norway travel guide

Henningsvær is one of the cutest fishing villages in Lofoten, and that says something. The wooden houses are colorful and there are plenty of shops, restaurants and accommodation options. The old caviar factory has been turned into a contemporary art museum named unpretentious Kaviar Factory. There are many tours to join depending on the season; northern light, whale safari,
The football stadium has become a bit of an icon; a green field located on its own island and surrounded by cliffs. If the ball is kicked too far off, it will end up in the sea.

Certainly not for the faint of heart. One might say that clambering over sheer mountain faces for a strenuous 3-hour hike to reach a tiny boulder wedge between the rocks is fool-hearted enough. But to gain the courage to scoot onto the 5.3 m rock perched over a 984 m drop to the stunning Lysefjord below is a true test of courage. Not to mention it is undoubtably the most memorable photo-op in Norway. Although geographically close to the more famous Preikestolen, this hike is in a league unto itself. Prone to weather variations for sun to rain to snow in a matter of minutes, good preparation is paramount.

The wild and wonderful Lofoten archipelago, off the north-west coast of Norway, is an absolute treat for any hiker wishing to get away from it all. Stunning natural scenery, quaint fishing towns and spectacular bird watching all await the intrepid traveller seeking solace above the Arctic Circle. While 24 hours of daylight greet the summer visitor, winters can be a little extreme when it comes to weather. Getting there could be half the fun. There may just be no other better way to reach the islands than by the iconic Hurtigruten ship - although little ferries and planes make the trip too.

The beautiful wooden church in Lom is one of Norway's 28 remaining medieval stave churches. It was originally built around 1160 and is among the oldest. In the 17th-century extensions to the main building were added. It's one of the few stave churches, where the original medieval crest with a dragon head has survived. The church is still in use and is closed for visitors during service.

Longyearbyen is the northernmost real town on the planet with university, supermarket, bank, library, and yes, even night clubs. The town is located so close to The North Pole (1300 km... yes, that's close) that it's in the dark half of the year and enjoys the midnight sun the other half. During autumn and spring, there is a good chance of catching northern lights waving up and down the sky in the most amazing hues of greens and violets. Svalbard has a big population of polar bears, so Longyearbyen is probably the only place on the planet where students are allowed to carry firearms to uni (we kid you not). Polar bear protection (firearms) also need to be carried when venturing into the amazing raw arctic wilderness, which lies unspoiled beyond the settlement. Just grab your ski, snowmobile, dog sled or hiking boots and off you go - just remember your rifle... or better, join a tour.

Road 55 runs between Lom and Høyager and is 248 km long. The 108 km long section which runs across Sognefjellet (knows as Sognefjellsvegen) is declared National Scenic Routes. The scenery is of course amazing and there are plenty of hairpin bends, but what sets this route apart from the other National Scenic Routes is the elevation. It traverses the alpine plateau of Sognefjellet and passes several glaciers and the highest peaks of Scandinavia. The highest elevation on the route is 1,434 m, but you can take a detour to Galdhøpiggen Summer Ski Center, which will bring you up to 1850 m (where you can touch snow).

Another National Scenic Routes is the country road 5627 (on Google Maps the number is Fv243?). It's about 50 km long and runs from Lærdal to Aurlandsvangen across the Aurlandsfjellet. The views from the barren mountain plateau on Aurlandsfjord 600 m down is even more spectacular. Do we need to mention that there are plenty of hairpin bends. The traffic is just tourists because the route was replaced by the 24.5 km long Lærdal Tunnel - the world's longest road tunnel.

There are many beautiful road trips in Norway and National Scenic Routes 63 is among the absolute best. It's about 100 kilometers long and runs between Åndalsnes and Stryn via Valldal and Geiranger. The route passes amazing alpine landscape, several waterfalls, including Gudbrandsjuvet, and one of Norway's most famous fjords, Geirangerfjord. Four of the most iconic serpentine roads (including Trollstigen and Ørnesvingen) are also part of the route. No wonder why the route has been nicknamed the Golden Route.

The northernmost point on mainland Norway is also the northernmost point in continental Europe, so it's therefore a popular destination for (long) road trips. The parking lot at North Cape visitor center is normally filled with motorcycles, auto campers and everything in between. However, the true "northernmost point" is actually located a bit to the east and can only be reached by hiking in rocky terrain 18 km (return). So most people are happy to reach the visitor center and the big globe at Nordkapp and turn around to go south.

Northern lights (aurora borealis) are a natural phenomenon caused by solar eruptions. It is often associated to the far North and winter, but can be seen at any time of year and at almost any place. However, it's best observed during the dark winter months in a belt around the magnetic pole at a distance of about 2,500 km called the auroral zone, which includes parts of Canada, Alaska, Siberia, Greenland, Iceland, and Scandinavia. Svalbard, where the pictures are from, lies in the periphery of this belt, meaning the mainland of Norway actually is a better place to see northern lights. On the southern hemisphere, the similar phenomenon is called aurora australis and happens simultaneously with the northern lights.