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The best time to visit Norway: winter vs summer

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If there’s one thing that characterizes Norway, it is its astounding natural beauty. Stretching 1,752 km from the southern Skagerrak (Skager Strait) to the Arctic Circle and with a population of less than six million, Norway has plenty of space for nature, but when is the best time to visit? Travel in Norway is a very different experience depending on the time of year you visit. As you can imagine, winter this far north is a serious business, with icy Arctic flurries and the promise of seeing the dance of the northern lights. In summer, flower meadows bloom and the phenomenon of the midnight sun means that clear blue skies are mirrored in glassy fjords late into the night. To give you a taste of what this gorgeous Scandinavian country has to offer, here are our Norway travel highlights for both summer and winter.

Visiting Norway in winter

Norway offers a real winter wonderland experience, especially if you head north. One of the most magical sights has to be the psychedelic colors and patterns of the northern lights dancing above the snow-dusted landscape. Winter is the best time to visit Norway if you’re planning a trip in the hope of seeing the aurora borealis – with the peak season being November to February.

Stay in the far-flung northerly outpost of Tromsø; within the Arctic Circle, it is Norway’s gateway to the frozen north and is surrounded by snowy peaks and icy fjords. The historic old center is made up of colorfully painted wooden houses, and it’s a lively little city with a large student population. In winter, the surrounding fjords are busy with orcas and humpback whales, so it’s a great base for whale-watching boat trips. Also on the agenda are wintry snowshoe hikes and zooming off on a snowmobile. 

How’s the weather? Temperatures fall to an average of 25 degrees Fahrenheit in both the capital and the north. By the coast, however, which enjoys a more temperate climate, it stays around 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

The best places to visit

One of the key draws of a winter trip to Norway is of course the northern lights – and the best location to spot them is northern Norway. In fact, there is a zone called the Northern Lights Belt, situated from 65 to 72 degrees north. It’s known for having the highest auroral frequency and intensity. The closer you are to it, the better your odds are!

Both the city of Tromsø and the Lofoten archipelago fall directly within this area. Norway’s striking Lofoten islands jut out into the Norwegian Sea, their jagged, teethlike peaks reaching skyward. Tucked around the shoreline are colorful little fishing villages with brightly painted houses and fishing huts. Life here revolves around fishing, and you’ll often see fish-drying frames set up along the shore.

The islands can be visited year-round, and summer hiking in Lofoten is stunning. But in winter, when the sun stays low and the peaks are dusted in white, the place glows with a whole other beauty. Visitors can look forward to bracing walks, starkly beautiful beaches, frozen lakes, stories of Vikings, and, when the sun dips, the chance to see the mesmerizing play of the aurora.

Northern lights in Norway: winter is the best time is visit to see them

Our favorite winter activities

Experiencing the thrill of dog sledding: nothing beats racing across the snowy tundra, the wind whipping around you and the excited yap of the husky dogs up ahead. For animal lovers, meeting these Arctic beauties on a dog sledding adventure in northern Norway is also a real pleasure.

Meeting the Sami reindeer herders: the Sami are one of the few remaining indigenous communities in Europe, and much of the population live in the vast snowfields of northern Norway. For thousands of years the Sami people have lived a semi-nomadic lifestyle based around their reindeer herds. Getting to meet them and find out about their lifestyle is a fascinating and illuminating experience. 

Searching for whales: every year, whales migrate to the Norwegian coast, offering the chance to witness orcas and humpback whales gathering in the fjords of northern Norway during winter. Some say the best time to see them is from November to January as during this time, herring congregate in the Arctic, attracting whales to the Norwegian coast to feed.

humpback whale in Norway

Visiting Norway in summer

Visiting Norway in summer is a journey into a land where natural beauty and endless daylight create a truly magical experience. The season of the midnight sun bathes the country in golden light, allowing for extended days of exploration across its stunning landscapes. From the dramatic fjords of the west coast to the serene archipelagos in the north, if you’re looking for ample outdoor adventures, summer is the best time to visit Norway!

How’s the weather? While temperatures in the north (for example in Tromsø) stay low at around 52 degrees Fahrenheit, temperatures in the south climb to 68 degrees Fahrenheit and above.

The best places to visit

Summer in the cool Scandi capital of Oslo is great fun. It may be small, with a population of just half a million, but this is where the urban action is at in Norway. Spend a few days perusing cutting-edge galleries and design shops, and soaking up the salubrious atmosphere at hip bars and restaurants.

The drama and beauty of the Westfjords cannot be overstated. So striking are these glorious, glacier-gauged marvels that several of them have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list – namely the Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord. Explore them on foot and hike to vertiginous lookout points, hit the asphalt for an epic road trip, or cruise through by boat.

Lake Lodal Valley Norway: summer is the best time to visit the fjords of Norway

The small and jovial city of Bergen lies to the west and is surrounded by seven mountains and seven fjords. This means that there are natural glories at every turn. The city itself is attractive and lively, with a student population that brings dynamism and a venerable history as the former capital of Norway. Hike or catch the cable car to the peak of Ulriken mountain (the highest of the seven, at 643 m) and marvel at the dizzying views.

In the summer months, many Norwegians head south to the coast. You might not associate Norway with a sun-soaked beach vacation, but it’s actually very possible to kick back on warm sands and enjoy the ease of a coastal break here. The little southern town of Mandal is the perfect place to do so: pretty, white-painted wooden houses line its scenic streets, and its forest-backed golden beaches are some of the best in the country.

Our favorite summer activities

Hiking in Hardangervidda National Park: inland from Bergen, the Hardangervidda National Park encompasses a vast mountain plateau interspersed with rushing rivers and serene lakes. This is prime hiking country and there are many glorious trails to follow. One of the most popular, if somewhat challenging, is the seven- to 10-hour Trolltunga hike. The name translates as “Troll’s Tongue”, and the route winds up steep ravines to the spectacular Trolltunga rock formation. Jutting out over a thrillingly vertiginous drop some 700 m above a gleaming lake, arriving at this incredible spot is well worth the effort. 

Looking down from atop Pulpit Rock:  the jutting granite block of Pulpit Rock soars up over 600 m above the deep blue Lysefjord. Turn your gaze to the horizon, and you’ll see the silky ribbon of the fjord winding its way through steep rocky ravines. This stirring view isn’t as hard-won as some of Norway’s other vertiginous lookout points. It’s an eight-kilometer round-trip that should take about four hours to complete.

Riding the rails on an epic train journey: it will probably come as no surprise that Norway has a highly efficient rail network. It also has some of the most scenic train routes imaginable. One of the loveliest is the journey between Oslo and Bergen, which cuts a line through high mountain terrain and along glittering fjords. Another showstopper is Norway’s Flam Railway, one of the steepest standard-gauge railway lines the world over. The route covers just 20 km but took 20 years to construct. It was worth it though, as the sublime views are unmatched. 

Norway's Flamsbana Railway

Make it happen

The best time to visit Norway depends on what style of vacation you want! Whether you choose to explore Norway in the vibrant summer or the enchanting winter, each season offers its own unique and unforgettable experiences. With our experts located in the destination, they can help tailor the perfect trip no matter the time of year. Get in touch today and start planning your Scandinavian adventure.

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