Norway: Fjords, Northern Lights & Midnight Sun
Epic fjords, Arctic wilderness, and cities that punch way above their weight. Your complete guide to Norway.
Norway is what happens when nature decides to show off. The fjords are so deep they’d swallow most skyscrapers. The Northern Lights are real and they’re better than any photo you’ve seen. And in summer, the sun literally doesn’t set.
But Norway isn’t just wilderness. Oslo is a quietly cool capital with world-class museums and a waterfront that keeps getting better. Bergen feels like a fairy tale someone forgot to finish. And then there’s the food — fresh salmon, brown cheese, cinnamon buns the size of your head.
Yes, it’s expensive. We’ll get to that. But if you plan smart, Norway is one of the most rewarding trips you’ll ever take. This guide covers everything you need to know.
2.5–3 hrs
From the UK
Jun–Aug / Dec–Mar
Best time
Norwegian
Main language
NOK (kr)
Currency
Best Time To Visit
During the months of June, July, and August, the days are long and the nights short, even no darkness in north of the Arctic Circle, where you get the midnight sun. The Norwegian summer weather is often quite stable, and the temperatures are pleasant both on land and at sea.
The best time to visit Norway depends on what you want to do. Jun-Aug promise long days and the fabled midnight sun ideal for hiking, cycling or cruising – but no guarantee of heat, even if it won’t be cold!
May and Sep offer mild temperatures, fewer crowds and gorgeous natural colours. May is also blossom time, while Aug is berry picking season.
Winter can be bitterly cold, but dress properly! Norway is a snowy place, from snow shoeing to cross country skiing. The Northern Lights sparkle from Sep on, peaking Dec-Feb.
With 195 rainy days per year and 2.250 mm of the annual rainfall, Bergen in western Norway is considered to be the wettest place in Europe!
For a month by month look click here
What To Expect
13°C
- Temperature
Capital: Oslo
Language: Norwegian and Sami. Norwegian is by far the language spoken by most people. Like Swedish, Danish and Icelandic, Norwegian is a Germanic language derived from Old Norse. “Hello” is, “Hallo” and “goodbye” is, “ha det”
Currency: The official currency of Norway is Norwegian Krone (NOK). $1 USD is 8.30 NOK. £1 GBP is equivalent to 11.53 NOK. Check the latest rates here
Credit Cards & ATMs: Norway has gone almost cashless, you are sure to come across an ATM machine everywhere during your trip. Yes, you got it right, everywhere. Even in most rural areas of the country, there should be at least one point available, for instance, a petrol station, where you will be able to withdraw money. Always have cash on hand for tips or purchases from a market.
Plugs: In Norway there are two associated plug types, types C and F. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type F is the plug which has two round pins with two earth clips on the side. Norway operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.. I recommend buying a universal adapter
Safety: Norway is a Safe Country to Visit. It is known to be one of the safest countries in the world. Crime rates are extremely low even in major cities such as Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, and Stavanger.
Useful tip: If you want to save money, cook for yourself. Norway is notoriously expensive.
Never ever: Complain about prices. While it might be expensive to you, these are normal prices for Norwegian’s.
Norway Travel Guides
From the fjords of the west coast to the Arctic north. Everything you need to plan your trip.
City Guides
Itineraries + Maps
Best Places to Visit & Things to Do
Best Time to Visit
Travel Tips
Everything Else
How Much Does Norway Cost?
Norway is expensive. There’s no sugarcoating it. But it’s also one of those places where every krone feels worth it. Here’s what to actually expect.
🎒
Backpacker
~£50 / ~$63 / ~€59 / ~700 NOK/day
- Hostel dorms from £18/night ($22/€21)
- Supermarket meals and self-catering
- Public transport and walking
- Free hiking, parks, and coastal trails
🍜
Mid-Range
~£130 / ~$165 / ~€151 / ~1,800 NOK/day
- Private rooms or budget hotels
- Cafés, casual restaurants, local food
- Mix of public transport and car rental
- Fjord cruises, museums, guided walks
🏨
Upscale
~£250+ / ~$310+ / ~€294+ / ~3,500+ NOK/day
- Boutique hotels and fjord-side lodges
- Fine dining and fresh seafood
- Private tours and helicopter rides
- Northern Lights excursions, dog sledding
Detailed Cost Breakdown
Budget
- Hostel dorm: £18–36 / $22–44 / €21–42 / 250–500 NOK per night
- Campsite: £14–36 / $17–44 / €16–42 / 200–500 NOK per night
- Budget hotel: £72–129 / $87–157 / €84–151 / 1,000–1,800 NOK per night
Mid–Luxury
- Airbnb apartment: £108+ / $131+ / €126+ / 1,500+ NOK per night
- Boutique hotel: £145–220 / $175–270 / €168–260 / 2,000–3,000 NOK per night
- Luxury lodge: £290+ / $355+ / €340+ / 4,000+ NOK per night
City Travel
- Bus/tram/metro: £3–4.30 / $4–5.50 / €3.50–5 / 40–60 NOK
- Day pass: ~£8.50 / ~$10.50 / ~€10 / ~120 NOK
- Taxi short trip: £8–20 / $10–25 / €9–23 / 100–270 NOK
Long Distance
- Intercity train: £22–57 / $26–70 / €25–67 / 300–800 NOK
- Domestic flight: £40–110 / $50–135 / €47–130 / 550–1,500 NOK
- Car rental per day: £50–86 / $61–105 / €59–100 / 700–1,200 NOK
Eat Cheap
- Fast food / food court: £8.50–14 / $10–18 / €10–17 / 120–200 NOK
- Supermarket meal prep: £4–7 / $5–9 / €5–8 / 50–100 NOK
- Coffee: £3–4.30 / $4–5.50 / €3.50–5 / 40–60 NOK
Eating Out
- Mid-range restaurant: £18–36 / $22–44 / €21–42 / 250–500 NOK
- Seafood restaurant: £29–50 / $35–62 / €34–59 / 400–700 NOK
- Beer (0.5L in a bar): £6.50–8.50 / $8–11 / €8–10 / 90–120 NOK
Budget Fun
- Museum entry: £7–14 / $9–18 / €8–17 / 100–200 NOK
- Guided walking tour: £0 (tip-based) – £36 / $0–44 / €0–42 / 0–500 NOK
- National park hiking: Free
Big Experiences
- Fjord cruise: £43–108 / $52–131 / €50–126 / 600–1,500 NOK
- Northern Lights tour: £72–145 / $88–177 / €84–170 / 1,000–2,000 NOK
- Dog sledding: £108–180 / $131–220 / €126–212 / 1,500–2,500 NOK
Tips for Saving Money in Norway
🚰 Tap water is clean everywhere. Bring a reusable bottle and skip buying water entirely.
🛒 Shop at Rema 1000, Kiwi, and Coop. Self-catering cuts your food bill in half compared to eating out.
🍺 Buy alcohol duty-free at the airport. Bar prices in Norway will make your eyes water.
🏕️ Wild camping is legal under Allemannsretten. Pitch a tent for free at least 150m from private property.
🚌 Book train and bus tickets in advance. Last-minute prices on Vy trains can double or triple.
🎫 Grab a city pass in Oslo or Bergen. Free public transport plus discounted entry to 30+ attractions.
🥐 Eat at bakeries and supermarket cafés instead of sit-down restaurants. Budget-friendly and surprisingly good.
🚶 Walk everywhere you can. Norwegian cities are compact and best explored on foot anyway.
📅 Travel in May or September. Shoulder season means fewer crowds, cheaper rooms, and decent weather.
🚗 Split a car rental with travel companions. Solo rental is pricey but splitting 3–4 ways makes it reasonable.
🏔️ Prioritise free outdoor activities. Hiking Trolltunga, Preikestolen, or the Lofoten coast costs nothing but effort.
🎿 If skiing, bring your own gear or rent in town rather than at the resort. Resort rental prices are brutal.
Getting Around Norway
Norway is long. Like, ridiculously long. Driving from Oslo to Tromsø takes about 20 hours. Here’s how to move between places without losing your mind or your budget.
Domestic Flights
Best for long distances. Oslo to Tromsø is 2 hours by air, 20 hours by road. Enough said.
✅ Fast and frequent routes
✅ Budget airlines from £40/$50/€47
❌ Prices spike in summer if you don’t book early
Car & Campervan
Best for road trips and fjord routes. The Atlantic Road and Lofoten are worth every penny of fuel.
✅ Total freedom over your route
✅ Access to remote fjords and viewpoints
❌ Fuel, tolls, and ferries add up fast
Ferries
Best for the fjords and island hopping. Some routes double as sightseeing trips. Hurtigruten runs the full coast.
✅ Scenic and sometimes the only option
✅ Connects islands and coastal towns
❌ Schedules can be limited outside summer
Scenic Rail
Best for jaw-dropping scenery. The Bergen Line and Flåm Railway are two of Europe’s finest train journeys.
✅ Some of the world’s most scenic routes
✅ Comfortable and reliable
❌ Slow compared to flying. Oslo to Bergen is nearly 7 hours.
Intercity Bus
Best for budget travel between cities. Not glamorous, but cheap and they run to smaller towns trains don’t reach.
✅ Cheapest intercity option
✅ Reaches places the train network skips
❌ Oslo to Bergen by bus is 10+ hours
Cycling
Best within cities. Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim all have bike-share schemes and decent cycle lanes.
✅ Cheap with city bike programmes (~£3/$4/€3.50 per ride)
✅ Great way to explore compact city centres
❌ Not practical for long distances or winter
Which Is Right For You?
Sticking to one city
Walk + public transport card
Hitting multiple cities
Fly between them, train for scenic routes
Fjord road trip
Rent a car. No question.
Tight budget, long haul
Bus or budget airline booked early
Quick Tips
📅
Book Flights Early
Summer prices spike fast. 6–8 weeks ahead is the sweet spot for domestic routes.
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Use Transport Apps
Ruter (Oslo), Skyss (Bergen), Entur (nationwide). Buy tickets digitally, it’s cheaper.
🌙
Travel Overnight
Overnight trains save a night’s accommodation. The Oslo–Trondheim sleeper is solid.
⚠️
Check Road Closures
Trollstigen and mountain passes close in winter. Always check before planning a driving route.
Book Tours & Tickets
Related Resources
Travel Problems
Missed flights, lost luggage, dodgy hotels. It happens. Here’s how to handle all of it without losing your mind.
Theft & Scams
Pickpockets, tourist traps, and cons you won’t see coming. We break down the most common ones and how to avoid every single one.
Travel Insurance
Don’t skip this one. Especially travelling solo. We compare the best policies and explain exactly what you actually need.
FAQs
Do I need a visa to visit Norway?
Not for short stays. UK, US, Canadian, and Australian passport holders can visit Norway visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Norway is part of the Schengen Area, so the same 90-day clock applies across all Schengen countries. From late 2026, visa-exempt travellers will also need ETIAS authorisation (about €7, valid for 3 years). It’s not live yet as of early 2026, but keep an eye on it if you’re planning a trip later this year. The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is already active, so expect a biometric check (fingerprint + photo) at the border on your first visit.
Is Norway safe for tourists?
Very. It consistently ranks among the safest countries on the planet. Violent crime against tourists is almost unheard of, and petty crime is low even in Oslo and Bergen. The main risks are environmental rather than human. Weather changes fast in the mountains, UV in summer is stronger than you’d expect at that latitude, and the sea can be rough along the coast. Follow local advice on hiking conditions and don’t underestimate distances.
How expensive is Norway really?
It’s one of the priciest countries in Europe. A coffee runs £3–4.30 / $4–5.50 / €3.50–5. A pint at a bar is £6.50–8.50 / $8–11 / €8–10. A mid-range restaurant meal is £18–36 / $22–44 / €21–42. Budget travellers who self-cater and stay in hostels can manage on around £50/day ($63/€59), but mid-range travellers should budget closer to £130/day ($165/€151). The trick is to lean into free stuff: hiking, wild camping, and tap water are all free, and they’re some of the best things about Norway.
When is the best time to visit Norway?
Depends what you’re after. June to August gives you long days, midnight sun in the north, and the best hiking weather. This is peak season and prices reflect it. May and September are shoulder months with fewer crowds, mild temperatures, and gorgeous light. For Northern Lights, aim for late September to March, ideally December to February when nights are longest. Winter also means skiing, dog sledding, and snow. Bergen will rain on you regardless of when you go.
How long do I need in Norway?
A week gives you Oslo and Bergen plus a fjord trip. Two weeks lets you add the Lofoten Islands or a proper road trip along the west coast. If you want the Arctic (Tromsø, Northern Lights, whale watching), you’ll need at least 10 days to do both the south and north without rushing. Norway rewards slow travel. The distances are big and the scenery demands you stop constantly.
What's the best way to get around Norway?
Fly between distant cities (Oslo to Tromsø, for example). Rent a car for fjord road trips and rural areas. Use trains for scenic routes like the Bergen Line or Flåm Railway. Buses fill the gaps and are the cheapest option. Ferries are essential along the coast and in the fjords. Within cities, public transport and walking cover everything. See the full Getting Around section above for costs and details.
Do I need travel insurance for Norway?
Yes. Norway is not part of the EU, and it has no reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK. Medical treatment will be billed at full price, and Norwegian hospitals are not cheap. A helicopter rescue from a mountain can cost tens of thousands of pounds. Good travel insurance is non-negotiable here. Compare policies in our Travel Insurance hub.
Is wild camping really legal in Norway?
Yes. Norway’s Allemannsretten (right to roam) lets you camp for free on uncultivated land, as long as you’re at least 150 metres from the nearest house or cabin and you leave no trace. It’s one of the best things about travelling in Norway. You can pitch a tent by a fjord, a lake, or on a mountainside, completely legally. Just respect the land and pack out everything you brought.
Can I drink the tap water?
Absolutely. Norwegian tap water is some of the cleanest in the world. Fill a reusable bottle and save yourself a fortune. Bottled water in Norway costs the same as a pint of milk in some countries.
Do I need vaccinations for Norway?
No specific vaccinations are required. Norway has no tropical disease risk and standard UK/US/EU vaccination schedules are sufficient. If you’re planning winter activities in remote areas, make sure your tetanus jab is up to date. There are no major health risks beyond the usual advice to pack sunscreen (yes, even in Norway) and to dress in layers for rapidly changing weather.
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