Norway travel guide

Norway in general, and Geirangerfjord in particular, boasts some of Europe’s most beautiful waterfalls. Some of them are almost too easy to access – all you have to do to see them is stop your car and open your window. Others, like the Seven Sisters, require a boat trip and (for the best possible view) a steep hike. According to legend, the Seven Sisters – seven streams, each forming its own waterfall – were seven girls, dancing playfully down the side of the mountain. Across the fjord stands the much more powerful Suitor, who – not surprisingly – was a man seeking to court the sisters. Be that as it may, these waterfalls are worth almost any effort to get close to them – the fleeting view provided from ferries and cruise ships is not enough to really appreciate the beauty and raw power of them, so try a sea kayak instead!

Sognefjord is not only the longest and deepest (an unbelievable 1300m in some parts) of Norway’s fjords, it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and varied. In some places its sides are steep and unforgiving, in others gentle, dotted with farms and cherry blossoms. There are countless little villages and towns along Sognefjord and its many branches, each cuter than the next. There is no end to what you can do here, from hikes in the many nearby mountains and boat trips on the water to scenic bike rides or drives along the paths and roads. Sognefjord also includes one of Norway’s two UNESCO-protected fjords, Nærøyfjord, which is often proclaimed to be Norway’s most beautiful. Boat trips are ideal, since they allow you to see places very difficult to access by land, such as waterfalls, farms and Viking graves. Nærøyfjord and its sister, Aurlandsfjord, are probably the most picturesque parts of Sognefjord.

The tiny island of Sommarøy is located about an hour drive from Tromsø (bridges all the way). It's locally known for its white sandy beaches and turquoise water. The mesmerized color is normally something you find in an atoll in the South Pacific, but the water temperature will quickly remind you that you are north of the Arctic Circle.

Despite being Norway's fourth largest city, Stavanger has more of a small town feel. The quaint, walkable streets abound with cafes and restaurants ensuring that any visit to Stavanger must coincide with a meal or drinks with friends and laughs. With highlights like Norway's oldest (untouched) cathedral (St. Svithun's cathedral), the colourful old centre (Gamle Stavanger) and a lake that is totally windsurf ready, there is plenty to occupy the traveller. Not to mention MaiJazz, Stavanger's international jazz festival in May. But perhaps Stavanger is more famous for being the gateway to the Lysefjord and 2 of Norway's most popular day hikes, Preikestolen and Kjerag.

Svartisen (meaning "The Black Ice" in Norwegian) is the collective term for two glaciers located in the Saltfjellet–Svartisen National Park. One of the outlet glaciers, Engenbreen, can even be seen from the road Fv17. However, it's possible to get up close by taking a seasonal boat across Holand Fjord and hike up to the ice cap (about 60 min one way).

Svolvær is the capital of Lofoten. It's a proper town with a small marina. Svolvær is probably most famous for the 150 meters tall pinnacle, Svolværgeita, which thrones over the town. It's possible to scale the Svolværgeita, but climbing gear is needed, though the climb isn't technical. A return trip is set to 5 hours and can be done by joining a tour.

With a hole right through the middle, Torghatten is probably one of the most iconic mountains in Norway. The giant natural hole measures 30 meters in height and 20 meters in width, and you can hike through the 160 meters long hole. There are three hiking routes at Torghatten. The circuit hike at the base of the granite mountain (6.5 km), the summit hike (4 km return) and the hike to the hole (1.4 km return).

Treriksrøysa is a point where the borders of Norway, Finland and Russia meet. It might not sound too crazy, but the journey you have to undertake to get here is. First you need to get to Kirkenes, which is far away in the first place. Then you need to drive to Øvre Pasvik National Park, which is a bumpy road, but sealed. Then follows a 19 km long potholed dirt road through forest and past lakes, and very close to the Russian border (your cell phone might switch to a Russian network). Then there is the last 5.5 km of beautiful hiking along a well marked path with sections of boardwalk. You feel very remote out here in the middle of nowhere, with only bears and Russia as neighbors (and the Norwegian military). However, do not cross into Russia, not even sticking your arm or peeing inside their territory, for heavy fines will follow (for there are cameras). It's alright to venture into the Finnish side and have a short peek. The actual mark for the border intersection isn't particularly mind blowing, but the adventure is.

Of all of Norway's crazy roads – and there are lots of them – this is perhaps the most thrilling. The serpentine road winds its way up to the mountain pass in sharp hairpin bends with 10% incline, while waterfalls are tumbling down the mountain sides. The road is two-way, but many sections are only wide enough for a single vehicle. Below the actual mountain pass is a visitor center with exposed viewing platforms that are even more hair-raising than the ride.
Trollstigen is part of country road 63, one of Norway's 18 National Scenic Routes, and attracts thousands of vehicles every day in high season. It's closed during winter due to excessive snow cover.

Since Tromsø is a stop on the cruise route along the north coast of Norway, the cute city is very much geared for tourists. There are plenty of hotels, (ice) bars, tour agents and souvenir shops, but they never take away the cuteness and small-town feel of Tromsø. The waterfront and the nearby shopping streets are, of course, the first places to visit, but on the other side of Tromsø bridge, you will find the Arctic Cathedral and the cable car to the top of Fløya Mountain. A little quirkiness of Tromsø is the underground road network, complete with junctions and roundabouts, bored into the mountain below the city.