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- More Places In Norway To Put On The Bucket List
With its extreme location on the northernmost part of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Norway might seem like a cold and boring place to visit but it is actually one of the few countries in the world that features an impressive line-up of exciting experiences. Most famous for its mountainous landscape and record-breaking fjords, the Scandinavian country is endowed with lots of breathtaking sights to enjoy, and travelers who wish to explore the Nordic country for the first time should not miss out on these experiences.
UPDATE: 2023/02/04 21:30 EST BY AARON SPRAY
More Places In Norway To Put On The Bucket List
Norway is bursting with places to visit. It is famous for being one of the most spectacular countries in the world. While Norway is internationally acclaimed for its spectacular fjords, it also has plenty of other places to go and things to do. This list was expanded to include yet more places to consider putting on the bucket list.
UPDATE: 2022/11/12 12:03 EST BY AARON SPRAY
More Must-See Attractions In Norway
No trip to Norway could be complete without visiting Nordkapp (the northernmost point of Europe) and Troll's Tongue (the most Instagrammed spot in Norway). This article was updated to include these remarkable destinations for one's first-time itinerary in Norway.
15 Visit Mount Floyen
Situated on an elevated spot above the city of Bergen, Mount Fløyen offers great views of the city below and the surrounding landscape. On the mountain, travelers will be met with a long list of adventures as the mountain features lots of biking and hiking trails, and a popular railway called Fløibanen funicular which offers train rides to the city center.
14 Go To The Geirangerfjord
Unarguably the most famous fjord in Norway, the 15 km-long Geirangerfjord is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of exceptional scenery. With the curved mountain contours, the lush vegetation, the scenic river flowing through the mountain, and the blending of sky colors, Geirangerfjord looks like a painting. On a cruise across the fjord, travelers will be met with spectacular waterfalls and deep blue waters, as they ride through tall surrounding mountains.
13 Visit Jotunheimen
The mountainous area of Jotunheimen hosts Norway’s highest mountains and the Jotunheimen National Park. Travelers who visit this region can hike up Galdhøpiggen - the highest mountain in Norway at 2,469 meters (8,100 feet) and enjoy the breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains as the clouds float over them. At the Jotunheimen National Park, travelers have heaps of activities such as - fishing, hiking, skiing, mountain climbing, kayaking, and biking to enjoy.
12 Cruise The Sognefjord In Western Norway
Norway features more than a thousand fjords across its landscape, and Sognefjord, at 127 miles (205 km), is the largest and deepest of all the Norwegian fjords. Sognefjord also features smaller fjords including the Nærøyfjord which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are so many cruises to take along this fjord, and while many of them offer glorious views of mountains and waterfalls, others include an exploration of small goat-rearing towns along the fjord’s shores.
11 Take Road Trips And Ride Hard Through Norway
Views from road trips in Norway are unreal and out of this world (you can’t get enough of them). As mountains lie in abundance, some of the roads are even built on them, and the roads end up forming zigzag shapes as they try to fit onto the mountain’s rugged terrain. With views of the breathtaking mountains, rivers, and vast green lands, only the cost of fuel might stop you from riding through all the roads in this Scandinavian country.
Some scenic road trips to take include:
- Trollstigen Pass: For zigzag-shaped bends, stunning sights, interesting folk tales, a thrilling ride, and excellent viewpoints.
- Lofoten Road: For bird watching, fishing, sandy beaches, Nusfjord, and hiking.
- The Atlantic Ocean Road: For an awe-inspiring scenery of the impressive road, the sea, and the mountains.
10 Visit The Vigeland Museum
Located in Oslo, the Vigeland Museum is a sculpture museum that best displays the neoclassical architecture of Norway. The museum is dedicated to the famous Gustav Vigeland, whose works make up the amazing museum. In Vigeland museum, travelers will enjoy unique views of sculptures from the museum's 200+ sculptures which are mostly creatively-constructed structures of men, women, and children in various postures.
9 Enjoy A Train Ride
The railway system of Norway is well-developed and stretches up to 4,000 km across the country. As one of the best ways to explore the views of Norway on the go, travelers on this medium of transportation will enjoy incredible views of the mountains, lush vegetation, scenic lakes, and the fjords that Norway is known for.
8 Experience Polar Night In Svalbard
In Svalbard, travelers will enjoy views of the stunning glaciers and lots of polar bears and also the spectacular polar night. The atmosphere in Svalbard is unique, especially during the winter period from late October to mid-February when the sky sees no sun due to the region’s northernmost proximity. Polar night in Svalbard is a unique experience, and travelers will be amazed at this atmospheric wonder which has the sky turning pitch dark in November and emitting blue light with the arrival of the civic twilight in December. During this unique period, the amazing Northern lights are seen in all their unique colors. For travelers who are not used to this nighttime - it simply feels like a really long and quiet night.
7 Explore Akershus Castle In Oslo
The Akershus Castle in Oslo is a medieval castle with its construction first believed to have started in the 13th century. The castle was said to have been built to serve as a royal residence for the city of Oslo. In this castle, travelers will be met with different interesting and historical sections including one section that served as a prison. Located within the castle are the Norwegian Armed Forces Museum and Norway’s Resistance Museum which offer the history of the Norwegian military from the Viking Age and the history of the military during WWII.
6 Pitch A Tent And Camp In Nature
In Norway, a law known as – Allemannsretten (Everyman’s Right) allows every person access to uncultivated land. What this means is that if you find a scenic view you admire and want to take in more of that spectacular sight, you can stop, pitch a tent or park a motorhome and spend the damn night right there, Freely!
5 Gaze Out From Nordkapp
Travel all the way up to the northernmost peak of Europe and deep into the Arctic Circle to Nordkapp (English North Cape). Nordkapp is the northernmost point of Europe and offers stunning views over the tempestuous and stormy Arctic Ocean. Northkapp is deep in Lapland and in the Norwegian district of Finmark.
Nordkapp has a visitor center and can be reached by cruise ship or by road. There are great-all season roads to Nordkapp. There is a cafe and a small museum at the visitor center. Go in the winter or the shoulder seasons and see the northern lights (only if the skies are clear).
4 Hike To Troll's Tongue
Perhaps the single most iconic landmark (and Instagram hot spot) is the Troll's Tongue (Trolltunga in Norwegian). The hike takes around 7 to 12 hours to hike there and back (depending on the starting point), so it is a full-day hike, and visitors need to be prepared.
The stunning rock formation is tucked between picturesque Norwegian fjords and villages. It is around 3,600 feet above sea level in Norway's Vestland county. It juts out horizontally out of the mountain (kinda like a Troll's Tongue). It is situated around 2,300 feet above Ringedalsvatnet Lake.
3 Stay In The Arctic Hideaway
The Arctic Hideaway is a unique eco-destination where visitors can enjoy the best of the Arctic of Europe in a relaxing getaway. The retreat is made up of twelve unique buildings where people get away from the hustle and bustle of modern life. The Arctic Hideaway has no cars or shops and is set on the northern island of Bodø. The island enjoys sweeping views of the Norwegian mainland with great views of other islands like Flugloya, Landegode, Lofoten, and many more mini uninhabited islets.
2 Pyramiden Ghost Town
Pyramiden is a Soviet ghost town on the aforementioned Svalbard Island. The ghost town is one of the most remarkable ghost towns in the world with exceptionally well-preserved Soviet mining apartments and infrastructure. This is a ghost town where polar bears roam and few venture. Visitors can see all the expected facilities of a planned communist Soviet town.
1 Bouvet Island
Bouvet Island is a special mention. To visit this far-flung Norwegian island, one will need to venture out south of South Africa partway to Antarctica. The island is the world's most remote island with a population completely made up of penguins. It is exceptionally difficult to visit Bouvet Island and is unlikely to be part of anyone's standard Norwegian trip.