33 Must-See Attractions in Norway You Won't Want to Miss

The UNESCO-protected Geiranger Fjord is one of the most well-known fjords in Norway. Take a sightseeing trip with a local guide or drive up Trollstigen mountain road to a viewing point and take in the breathtaking views.

This is a must-see when in Bergen. The funicular runs all day and takes you up Mount Fløyen for fantastic views over Bergen. Once you’re up there, you can embark on a serious of spectacular hiking trails, or simply enjoy the views with a hearty picnic!

Vigelandsparken is the world’s largest sculpture park made by one single artist, Gustav Vigeland, and is home to more than 200 sculptures in bronze, granite and wrought iron.

The most famous tourist attraction in Ryfylke is this spectacular natural viewing point 604 metres above sea level. Take the four-hour hike up to Preikestolen between April and October for the best and most Instagrammable viewing conditions.

Join the locals and climb the roof of this architecturally astonishing building that seems to rise like an iceberg from Oslo Fjord. Enjoy an opera, ballet or simply take in the fabulous design.

The 19th century Fram Polar Ship has sailed further north and south than any other wooden ship in the world. Discover an incredible part of Norwegian exploration and maritime history at this museum.

This wharf has been one of the main trading hubs in Bergen since the Viking Age. The historic houses from the 14th century and mid-16th century are now home to numerous artists producing jewellery, textiles and leather goods.

Whether you want to channel your inner Eddie the Eagle or simply want stunning views over Oslo, head to the top of the Ski Jump Tower. The Ski Museum is the world’s oldest ski museum and houses 4,000 years of skiing history.

The world’s northernmost medieval cathedral is found in Trondheim. It is home to the Norwegian king’s crown and the coronation objects as well as being the grave church of St. Olav, the patron Saint of Norway.

Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park is the perfect destination for families looking to get to know Norway’s non-human inhabitants. Experience Nordic animals in their natural habitats as well as animals from Africa and Asia.

On the west side of Vågen, you’ll find 173 wooden buildings from the turn of the 18th century. These make up Old Stavanger; a beautifully preserved area with many galleries and handicraft boutiques.

The northernmost point of Europe is a completely unique area of Europe. Experience the midnight sun and the Northern Lights, and get to know the people who have made this wilderness their home.

Learning about the Vikings is an essential part of any trip to Scandinavia, and what better way than through their famous ships? The Viking Ship Museum in Oslo houses some of the world’s best-preserved Viking ships – and even some of the people who were buried in them.

One of the most popular trails in Bergen is the Slotzekleiven trail leading up to Sandviksfjellet. The 722 steps up are hard work, but well worth it when you reach the top and can take in the breathtaking views.

Hardanger Fjord is 179 kilometres (111 miles) long, which makes it the third longest fjord in the world. It is 900 metres (2,953 feet) deep at the deepest point and is the perfect place for an active holiday combining nature and culture.

The National Gallery is home to Edvard Munch’s The Scream, as well as Norway’s largest collection of paintings, drawings and sculptures. It is a must-visit on a trip to Oslo.

The “Troll Tongue” is one of the most spectacular scenic cliffs in Norway. The cliff is suspended 1,100 metres above sea level and to hike there and back takes 10-12 hours.

Bygdøy Peninsula is the museum centre of Oslo, as well as being a very popular recreational area in the summer with beaches, forests and ice cream stands.

Based in the above-mentioned Bygdøy, this museum comprises 150 buildings which all come together to form one large open-air museum, which depicts the lives of different Norwegians through history, social groups and regions.

Tromsø is situated 321 kilometres (200 miles) north the Arctic Circle and it is home to the world’s northernmost university, brewery and cathedral. It is a great place from which to explore the northern Norwegian wilderness.

Forget the Alps, Norway is the perfect place for snow sports. It is no wonder that Norway has won more medals than any other nation at the Winter Olympics. Lillehammer, the pretty little town two hours north of Oslo, hosted the Olympics in 1994 and is now there for the public to show off their skills, or lack thereof, in both skiing and snowboarding. Hemsedal, Trysil and Geilo are also excellent winter sport resorts. Try your hand at langrenn, something that some Norwegians even practice on roller skis during the summer.

Norway is a European sanctuary for certain species. Moose, bears, wolves and musk oxen are all still spotted (some occasionally) in Norwegian forests, while reindeer can be found both in the wild and as part of Sami herds. Polar bears are reserved for Svalbard; however, diving for king crabs or spotting a white-tailed eagle is possible on the mainland (as long as you head to the north). Whales visit the Norwegian coast every year, and there are numerous whale-watching tours to allow a glimpse of these magnificent creatures. Sperm whales are most common, and if luck is on your side you might see pilot whales, minke whales, humpbacks, dolphins and killer whiles. Head to Vesterålen, Tromsø or Narvik to give yourself the best chance of spotting these impressive beasts.

Edvard Munch’s painting The Scream is probably Norway’s most famous painting and it can be found in the National Gallery in Oslo as well as at the Munch Museum (full disclosure: he painted several versions of many of his paintings). Norway’s art scene is much bigger than Munch, however. A trip to Vigelandsparken, with more than 200 sculptures, is another must-see in Oslo. For some live art, head to the city’s beautiful, modern Opera House.

Do as the Norwegians and pack an orange, a Solo (orange-flavoured soft drink) and a Kvikklunsj (Norweigan chocolate wafer) in a trusty bag and then go and explore one of Norway’s many magnificent hiking trails. Some of the country’s favourite hiking trails and viewing points take you around the fjords and include, but are not limited to, Preikestolen, Trolltunga and Fjellstua. If hiking is not adventurous enough, then glacier hiking might be just perfect. At the Briksdal glacier it is possible to join a tour and hike along one of these constantly-moving, ancient parts of nature. Hiking is a fantastic way to discover Norway’s nature and to get a better understanding of the Norwegians’ close relationship to their surroundings. Oh, and of course the views are just amazing.

From reindeer to mutton to salted and dried fish, traditional Norwegian cuisine has been heavily influenced by Norway’s harsh environment, which made it essential that food could last for many months. Therefore, much of the country’s traditional food has been preserved in creative and unusual ways through history. Many of these classic dishes taste amazing and make for a fun way to learn more about traditional Norwegian ways of life. For an experimental, modern take on Scandinavian food, the three-Michelin-starred Maaemo in Oslo is the ultimate place to go.

Norwegian waters are not just rich in oil but also have a huge variety of fish, something that has been essential for survival through many centuries. Traditional fishing villages such as Henningsvær and Reine are still around, and the Lofoten archipelago is dotted with them. People still live in the villages and use them as they have always been used. When visiting, try and stay in one of the traditional fishing huts, which may have a cod or two drying outside.

Norway can be a bit confusing at times, especially if you find yourself above the Arctic Circle at the right time of year, when it is either dark or light all day. Although it can take a toll on the body clock, this phenomenon is exactly that – phenomenal. You’ll find few other places on earth where you can experience the midnight sun and endless nights in the same comfort as in Norway. Norway is of course also home to another above-the-Arctic-Circle must-see experience: The Northern Lights. The North Cape and Tromsø are perfect places to experience both.

The area south-east of Oslo is known as the Østfold (‘Øst’ means ‘East’). The whole coastal area down the eastern side of the Oslo fjord is beautiful and the landscape inland is more soft and green than much of the starker, mountainous nature we’re used to seeing from Norway. Both the coastal and inner regions of Østfold are worth exploring – the town of Fredrikstad is an urban highlight. If you’re on a road trip of the Scandinavian countries, Østfold is on the route from Oslo to the Swedish border, from where you can get on a motorway that’ll take you along the Swedish coast past Gothenburg all the way down to Malmö and Copenhagen.

Located within Romsdal og Møre county on Norway’s beautiful west coast, Ålesund has had the fortune to find itself surrounded by nature which is pretty spectacular even by Norwegian standards. Ålesund – as well as the rest of the county – is gorgeous all year round. Most of the buildings were constructed just after the turn of the 20th century, and the city’s architecture is one of the most complete expressions of Art Nouveau (or more accurately, the Germanic version Jugendstil) you’ll find anywhere.

Unlike many other popular destinations in Norway, Oppland county is not on the coast, though it is not too far from coastal cities like Ålesund and Molde. In fact, it is one of only two entirely landlocked counties in Norway. Oppland could be a contender for Norway’s prettiest and most dramatic nature: It includes much of Jotunheimen and Rondane National Parks (among others) and also has some of Norway’s greatest and most challenging skiing routes.

Most people who plan on visiting Oslo will read about the Holmenkollen mountain and ski slope. On the same metro line you’ll also find Vettakollen, another peak along the mountain range surrounding Oslo. Though it lacks the very impressive ski slope, Vettakollen is a very popular hiking destination for local Oslowegians and its views of Oslo and the Oslo Fjord are possibly even better than those you’ll find at Holmenkollen.

Harstad, northern Norway, is smaller and less well-known than its big brother Tromsø, but it is a great place from which to observe both the Northern Lights and the midnight sun. In fact, the Harstad municipality (Harstad is both a town and a municipality) features the little Nupen mountain, which has been deemed the most romantic spot from which to take in the midnight sun in Norway.

Longyearbyen is the largest and only town on Svalbard, the huge Norwegian island midway between the north of mainland Norway and the North Pole. What the little town lacks in metropolitanism it more than makes up for in mountains, starry skies and polar bears; Svalbard is the only part of Norway with wild polar bears, which with 3,000 specimen actually outnumber the human population.