Norway

Norway Flag

Why visit Norway?

Best known for art, colorful wooden houses, countryside, cycling, cruises, dog sledding, fishing, fjords, forests, glaciers, hiking, horseback riding, mountains, music festivals, open air museums, Northern lights, rock carvings, shopping, skiing, Viking history, water sports, and wildlife.

Photo Credit: Nico Franz/Pixabay 

At a Glance

• Souvenirs to Buy: Ceramics, elk leather products, handmade glass, hunting knives, moose leather products, pewter, pine furniture, porcelain dinnerware, ski equipment, smoked salmon, wood carvings, and wool goods.
• Local Cuisine to Try: Breiflabb (sea scorpion). Brunost (brown cheese). Fårikål (mutton dish). Karbonader (reindeer burger). Kjøttkaker (meatballs). Lapskaus (stew). Lutefisk (dried white fish). Pinnekjøtt (lamb dish). Rakefisk (fermented trout). Raspeball (potato dumpling). Sursild (pickled herring). Vaffel (pastry). Smalahove (sheep head).
• Local Drinks to Try:Aquavit (spirit). Glogg (mulled wine). Mead (honey wine). Pilsner (beer). Punsch (liquor punch). Solo (orange flavor beverage). Voss (bottled water).
  

Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim, Norway. Photo Credit: Michelle Raponi/Pixabay 

Fun Facts

• Black Death (1349) spread killed a third of the population. 
  
• Part of Norway lies above the Arctic Circle.
  
• World's largest oil exporter.
• The remote Arctic Island of Jan Mayen (volcanic) is also a part of Norway.
  
• The copper mining town built entirely in wood went bankrupt (1977).
  
• Claims a section of Antarctica known as Queen Maud Land.
  
• The country has also been used as filming location for several Hollywood: Black Widow (2021), Die Another Day (2002), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009), Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2008), No Time to Die (2021), Spies Like Us (1981), Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Tenet (2020), and The Golden Compass (2007) just to mention a few.
  
• Amongst one of the first countries in the world to give women the right to vote.
  
• Urnes Stave Church (Ornes) is one of the most prominent and oldest wooden churches.
  
• Home to a strong folk music tradition which remains popular.
• National Geographic ranked the Norwegian fjords as the world's top tourist attraction.
  
• Village of Lyngor (southern coast) is one of the best preserved villages in Europe.
  
• Birthplace (Tønsberg) to World Chess Champion, Magnus Carlsen.
  
• There is no midnight sun in Oslo.
  
• The first country in the world to enact an anti-discrimination law protecting the rights of gays and lesbians.
• The 6th country to legalize same-sex marriage.
• Host of one of the world's biggest extreme sport festivals with music.
• First country to ban cutting of trees (deforestation).
• The elks are considered "king of the forest".
• World's second largest exporter of fish.
  
• The Royal children attend state run schools.
• Has the largest registered stock of plug-in electric vehicles per capita in the world.

Saltstraumen Bridge, Nordland County, Norway. Photo Credit: David Mark/Pixabay

Special Holidays/Occasions

• Annual Events: (January) Bodø Jazz Open, Northern Lights Festival, (February) Birkebeiner Race, Kristiansund Opera Festival, Polarjazz,(March) Holmenkollen Ski Festival, Narvik Winter Festival, (April) oss Jazz Festival, (May) Bergen International Festival, MaiJazz, Nordic Media Days, Norwegian Festival of Literature, The Oslo Forum, Trondheim Jazz Festival, (June) Arts Festival of Northern Norway, Ekstremsportveko,
  Emigration Festival, Faerder Sailing Race, Fête de la Musique, Midnight Sun Marathon, Midsummer Night, North Cape March, Norwegian Wood Festival, Viking Festival, (July) Exxon Mobil Bislett Games, Gladmat Festival, Kongsberg International Jazz Festival, Molde International Jazz Festival, Nattjazz, Norway Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament, (August) Chamber Music Festival, Oslo Jazz Festival, Øyafestivalen, Peer Gynt Festival, Risor Wooden Boat Festival, Sildajazz, Telemark International Folk Music
  Festival, Tromsø Jazz Festival,(September) Arctic Film Festival, Bjørnson Festival, Norwegian Military Tattoo, Oslo Marathon, (October) Kids in Jazz, (December) Nobel Peace Prize Concert, and Christmas Markets.
• Holidays: New Year's Day, Princess Ingrid Alexandra's Day, Saami National Day, King Harald V's Day, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, Labor Day, Day of Liberation, 17 May Constitution Day, Ascension Day, Whit Sunday, Whit Monday. Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.

Photo Credit: ELG21/Pixabay 

Good to Know

• The prime travel destination in Scandinavia.
  
• Western coast area is known for fjords.
• Standard of living is among the highest in the world.
• One of the most expensive countries in Europe.
  
• Seatbelts are mandatory for drivers and passengers.
• Has one of the lowest crime rates in the world.
• Has a low level of crime.
• A $1,300NOK fine is imposed for use of a hand-held cell phone while driving.
• Mountain roads tend to be narrow, tunnels, and winding.
  
• You must be north of the Arctic Circle for the sun at midnight.
• Roadway cameras enforce speed limits.
  
• Possible to see the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) between mid September - April.
• Local law requires drivers to use headlights when driving.
• From April 15th - September 15th fire lighting is prohibitive.
  
• From late May - late July beyond the north area there's 20 hours of daylight per day. 
  
• Maximum legal blood alcohol content level while driving is .02%. 
• Tourism to Ny-Alesund is restricted due to polar bear attacks.
• From late November  - late January beyond the north area the sun never rises above the horizon and daylight hours are very short.
• Arctic char, salmon, and trout are popular catches.
  
• Much of nature  remains unspoiled.
  
• Winter dog sledding is very popular.
  
• Indigenous Sami consider "Laplander" and "Lapp" offensive.
  
• Most visited cities/towns: are Ålesund, Bergen, Kristiansand, Oslo, Stavanger, Tromsø, and Trondheim.
• Bergen's Bryggen and Oslo's Vigeland Sculpture Park are the most visited landmark.
  
• Oslo Central Train Station is known for pickpockets and bag snatchers.
  
• Use of winter tires is mandatory on all motor vehicles (November - April).
  
• Mountain roads usually close due to snow from late Fall - late Spring.
  
• Svalbard is accessed by limited air service, sea, or snowmobile.
  
• Svalbard is not a part of the Schengen Agreement.
  
• Beyond Tourist Season (June - August) museums keep limited hours.

Bodø, Norway. Photo Credit: Tommy Andreassen/Pixabay 

This international destination requires:

• A valid passport with six months of validity and two blank page for entry stamp.
• Tourist VISA not required for visits under 12 months.
• Required Vaccination from select countries. 
• Currency Restrictions for Entry/Exit: $25,000NOK.

Henningsvær "Fishing Village", Vågan, Norway. Photo Credit: Gustav Melin/Pixabay 

Subject to extreme weather, floods, landslides, and snowstorms.

• Best Time to Visit: June - September
• Coldest Months: December - March
• Hottest Months: May - September
• Peak Season: May - August

Kjøllefjord, Norway.Photo Credit: Bernd Hildebrandt/Pixabay 

Your Must-See & Do

• UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Bryggen, Rock Art of Alta, Rjukan–Notodden Industrial Heritage Site, Røros Mining Town and the Circumference, Struve Geodetic Arc, Urnes Stave Church, Vegaøyan The Vega Archipelago, West Norwegian Fjords and Geiangerfjord and Nærøyfjord.

 

Photo Credit: Murat Demirel/Pixabay 

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"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page" ~ Saint Augustine

                                        All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Subject to change without notice.