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Fjords
Norway’s epic landscapes rank among Europe’s most varied and beautiful, but the sheer drama of the fjords alone is worth the effort of coming to this remarkable country.
Geirangerfjorden Iconic Norwegian fjord that inspires even when viewed alongside crowds and cruise ships.
Nærøyfjord Unesco World Heritage–listed fjord region of extraordinary beauty.
Lysefjord A near-perfect fjord watched over by the world-famous Pulpit Rock.
Magdalenefjord, Svalbard Quite simply one of the most beautiful places on earth and worth the considerable effort to reach.
Hardangerfjord Stunning network of fjords with lovely fjord-side villages.
Lofoten Islands Trollfjord and Vestfjorden are high points of these islands’ stirring natural beauty.
Hiking
From central Norway’s high country to sweeping panoramas in the Arctic North, Norway is a dream destination for those eager to explore the wilderness step by step.
Jotunheimen National Park Stunning network of trails amid glaciers and Norway’s highest peaks.
Rondane National Park Shapely peaks and plenty of trails to escape the crowds.
Hardangervidda National Park A vast upland plateau with reindeer and glacier hikes a possibility.
Saltfjellet-Svartisen National Park One of the best places for glacier hikes just inside the Arctic Circle.
Aurlandsdalen Classic four-day trek from source to sea.
Lysefjord Hike to some of Norway’s most spectacular lookouts.
Femundsmarka National Park Fine, often overlooked hikes through lake, forest and tundra.
Lyngen Alps One of northern Norway's most rugged and most beautiful hiking challenges.
Øvre Dividal National Park An eight-day traverse of this Arctic wilderness will live long in the memory.
Wildlife
Polar bears, whales, reindeer, musk oxen, Arctic foxes, elk (moose), epic bird colonies…Norway is home to some of Europe’s most charismatic wildlife and most are accessible even to casual wildlife-watchers.
Svalbard Home to a checklist of Arctic wildlife, including polar bears, walruses, Arctic foxes, reindeer and birdlife.
Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park ( GOOGLE MAP ; www.nasjonalparker.org) Track down birdlife and musk oxen on safari from Oppdal or Dombås.
Hardangervidda National Park Home to around 7000 wild reindeer, Norway’s largest herd.
Gjesvær Remote and rewarding with millions of seabirds.
Andenes Whale-watching expeditions with puffins and seals thrown in.
Tromsø Whale-watching in November and December.
Evje Set out on the trail of elk in the southern Norwegian interior.
Femundsmarka National Park Rich birdlife and musk oxen close to Røros and the Swedish border.
Runde One of the best places in northern Europe for migrating seabirds.
Winter Activities
The alter ego to Norway’s world-famous summer attractions is its extraordinary range of winter activities. Many take place in the Arctic North, with dog-sledding, snowmobiling and skiing the marquee attractions.
Snowmobiling, Svalbard Head off into Norway’s most beautiful frozen wilderness.
Dog-sledding, Karasjok Get a lesson from a husky master just outside the Sami capital.
Dog-sledding, Øvre Dividal National Park A wonderful wilderness experience in the far north.
Reindeer- and dog-sledding, Tromsø Arctic trails close to the Swedish border.
Snowmobiling, Kirkenes Explore the Pasvik Valley by day or moonlight alongside the Russian border.
Skiing, Lillehammer Ski the downhill runs used during the 1994 Winter Olympics.
King crab safaris, Kirkenes (
GOOGLE MAP
; 
%901 90 594; www.barentssafari.no; Fjellveien 28) Arguably Norway’s strangest (and most delicious) winter ‘sport’.
Extreme skiing, Åndalsnes Fabulous ski-up, ski-down experience in Romsdalen.
Scenic Drives
Norway has some extraordinarily beautiful roads. Eighteen are designated as National Tourist Routes, but even these only scratch the surface.
Sognefjellet Road, Jotunheimen National Park Breathtaking route across the roof of Norway.
Kystriksveien coastal route Norway’s premier coastal road, especially between Stokkvågen and Storvik.
Trollstigen The ‘Troll’s Ladder’ is a dizzying succession of steep hairpin bends between fjords.
Aurlandsfjellet Short but nerve-wrackingly steep trail with unrivalled views over fjords.
E10, Lofoten Islands Takes you through the dramatic landscapes for which Lofoten is famous.
Gamle Strynefjellsvegen Among the loveliest drives in western Norway.
Ulvik to Odda, Hardangerfjord Hugs the fjord shoreline with some fine vistas.
Rondane National Park Stay within sight of the jaw-dropping Rondane massif.
Senja One of Norway's best-kept secrets, with Lofoten-esque scenery on the island's north side without the crowds.
Stave Churches
These fantastical structures evoke Norway’s medieval past with dark-wood walls rising to turrets and ornamental flourishes, at times suggesting seemingly mythical creatures, at others the prow of a Viking ship.
Heddal Stave Church, Notodden An astonishing flight of architectural fancy.
Urnes Stave Church Unesco World Heritage–listed church on the shores of a fjord.
Lom Stavkyrkje Perfectly sited structure where valleys meet.
Borgund Stave Church One of the best-preserved examples, with a medieval wooden bell tower.
Fantoft Stave Church, Bergen Poignantly reconstructed church that burned to the ground in 1992.
Ringebu Stave Church A lovely little church set on a wooded hillside.
Stordal Old Church Hybrid church unusual for being more spectacular on the inside.
Viking History
The coastal inlets along Norway’s southern and southwestern coast is where the Vikings launched their longships in their quest for world domination and then returned with the spoils of victory. But signposts to the Viking legacy are found across the country.
Vikingskipshuset Fab Oslo museum based around two Viking longships.
Kaupang Archaeological ruins with the traces of a 9th-century Viking town.
Karmøy Island A Viking festival and fine Viking-themed museums.
Stiklestad Scene of an epic 11th-century battle that forever changed Viking history.
Balestrand Intriguing Viking archaeology site in fjord country.
Eidfjord Easily accessible Viking grave mounds on a small plateau above the fjord.
Tønsberg Norway’s oldest town, with Viking-era grave mounds.
Lindesnes Viking canal, historical centre and rock paintings.
Lofotr Viking Museum Lofoten museum and archaeological site rich in Viking atmosphere.
Villages
Norway’s small, isolated settlements have, for centuries, been the lifeblood of Norwegian existence, from fishing villages and fjord-side hamlets to former mining settlements deep in the interior.
Røros Unesco World Heritage–listed former mining settlement with splendid wooden buildings.
Henningsvær A gloriously preserved Lofoten fishing village.
Sogndalstrand One of the prettiest wooden villages along Norway’s southern coast.
Nyksund Once-abandoned fishing village transformed into an artists' colony.
Utne Charming fjordside village with Norway’s oldest hotel.
Solvorn One of fjord country's loveliest villages, with fewer crowds than most.
Nusfjord An artsy Lofoten village that captures the islands’ spirit.
Reine Set against a dramatic backdrop of saw-toothed Lofoten peaks.
Aurland The fjordside setting has few rivals anywhere in the world.
Eidfjord Another fjordland beauty dwarfed by staggeringly high mountains.
City Life
Set for the most part against picturesque backdrops, Norway’s cities overflow with museums, architectural landmarks of distinction and large student populations who bring life and personality to often-pedestrianised streets.
Bergen Norway’s prettiest and most cosmopolitan city.
Trondheim A fine cathedral, culinary excellence and a buzzing student population.
Ålesund Art-nouveau architecture and a lovely coastal setting.
Tromsø Vibrant student town deep in the Arctic.
Stavanger Museum-rich port city with an engaging old quarter.
Oslo Norway’s cultural and political capital.
