Fun Norway Facts You’ll Love

1.) Vikings are Norwegian

One of my favorite Norway facts is this one. Partially, anyway. Vikings were a formidable force of not just Norwegians, but Danes and Swedes, too. The Vikings went on fierce raids and conquered lands around Northern Europe, even as far as the Volga River in Russia.

Why all the hate? Possibly because of Christian missionaries getting up in their business and “holy” wars in the south of their lands for the Norsemen not becoming Christian. 

2.) Vikings discovered Iceland by accident

A happy accident – that’s all discovering Iceland was. On a routine voyage to the Faroe Islands, a Viking longship rocked up at Iceland by mistake. Now we have all the awesome music and Game of Thrones shooting locations to enjoy.

3.) Norway has a royal family

Well, we bet you never knew that. It dates back to the 12th century. Currently sitting on the Norwegian throne are King Harold V and Queen Sonja.

Much like the Queen of England, King Harold has no official power but comprises the country’s constitutional monarchy. They live in the 19th-century Royal Palace in Oslo.

4.) It’s a great spot for the aurora borealis

What now? We mean the Northern Lights, of course. This astounding light show happens when charged particles from the sun meet atoms in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, releasing photons (light particles). Regardless of its science, the aurora borealis is beautiful, like green, red, and blue ribbons in the sky. Best seen further north.

5.) A Norwegian discovered Greenland

This is a very interesting Norway fact. Specifically, it was explorer Erik the Red (named after his beard, it’s thought), whose father was banished to Iceland from Norway for multiple murders.

Greenland is part of Denmark today, but with more indigenous people than settlers, it may be moving towards independence.

6.) Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish are mutually intelligible

So, if you don’t speak Norwegian but Danish, then you can have a conversation. Likewise, if you’re in Sweden and you speak Swedish and happen to meet a Norwegian person, you’ll probably be able to understand each other. That’s a Nordic language for you.

7.) Norway has celebrated independence twice

Yes, twice. An unequal partnership between a greedy Denmark in 1523 led to the union of Denmark-Norway. There was a glimmer of independence in the early 19th century, but then it became part of another bum deal as Sweden-Norway from 1814 to 1905. So it’s a relatively new country, which is (we’re guessing) a little-known fact about Norway.

8.) There are 400,000 lakes in Norway

This is one of my favorite Norway facts! Solely because when you think about what an insane amount of water that is. One of these lakes, Hornindalsvatnet, is the deepest lake in the whole of Europe. It’s 1,512 feet deep, to be exact.

9.) Norway is famous for its fjords

In fact, fjord is a Norwegian word. There are 1,190 fjords in Norway, the highest density in the world, each of which is incredibly beautiful. It also boasts the second-deepest and longest fjord – the uber dramatic Sognefjord, which is 127 miles long and its depth is 4,291 feet. It’s known as the “King of the Fjords,” naturally. 

10.) Norway is LGBT-friendly

In 1993, it was the first country in the entire world to enact a law punishing discrimination against gay and lesbian citizens. It was also the second nation in the world to legalize civil partnerships for same-sex couples. Today, there is full marriage equality

11.) Vikings discovered America

A third-generation “Icelander,” Norwegian, was the first European to set foot on continental America. We’re talking way before Chris Columbus here. Leif Erikson, son of Erik the Red (founder of Greenland, remember?), was the man with the plan who made it all happen.

Determined to explore the region to the west of Greenland, around 1000 AD, Erikson landed at what came to be known as Vinland. Though mentioned in Norse sagas, actual archaeological evidence came in the 1960s at the southern tip of Newfoundland.

12.) The oldest humans in Norway are really old

Well, according to archaeological evidence, they are. Along a massive former ice shelf from the last ice age that melted between 11000 and 8000 BC, evidence of human existence way back when has been found.

We’re talking stone tools and other implements that date to around 9500-6000 BC. That’s pretty old.

13.) The sun never sets in Norway

Well, in Norwegian summers, it doesn’t. And not all of Norway, but anywhere north of the Arctic Circle – which is a lot of Norway – the sun will never set in the summertime. The rest of the country sees around 20 hours of daylight. Get ready with those black-out blinds.

14.) The sun never rises in Norway

Just like in summer when the sun never sets, in Norway in the winter, it’s perpetually dark. North of the Arctic Circle, the sun literally never rises. If you’re a sufferer of Seasonal Affective Disorder, this probably isn’t a good time to visit.

15.) Norway still practices whaling

Japan gets a lot of hate for whaling, but Norway is just as guilty. The hunting of minke whales for commercial gain actually resumed in 1993, following the international moratorium on whaling.

The government-set quota is not only for human and animal food in Norway but for export to other countries, like (you guessed it) Japan.

16.) Norway introduced salmon sashimi to Japan

To offload their salmon onto Japan as part of the Norwegian marketing campaign called Project Japan in the 1980s, the raw fish market in the Land of the Rising Sun was targeted because the markup of sashimi and sushi was high and attractive for buyers. The result? Raw salmon is very popular in Japan.

17.) Every Christmas, Norway gives the United Kingdom a Christmas tree

As thanks for helping them out during WWII, Norway gifts the UK a huge (really huge) Norwegian pine as their Christmas tree. It goes up in Trafalgar Square, London, each Christmas, and a big ceremony takes place at the time. Isn’t that a fun fact about Norway?

18.) Svalbard was the place where the last German troops surrendered in WWII.

Never heard of it? This far-flung northern outpost was never taken over by the Nazis, but they did have a secret meteorological station there.

After the surrender in May 1945, they were stuck on the island until September, when they surrendered to a seal hunter and became the last German soldiers to surrender in WWII.

19.) Norway is home to some BIG animals

You can see basking sharks and the gargantuan, giant-squid-eating sperm whales in the surrounding seas. On land, however, you can find massive polar bears, brown bears, and huge elks. This is a land of true wilderness.

20.) Norway had a queen called the Lady King

Apparently the first “great” ruling queen of any European country. Queen Margaret I ruled not only Norway but also Sweden and Denmark during the 14th century. She was a fierce queen that formed unions across Scandinavia.

21.) Christmas is big news in Norway

It’s winter. It’s almost always dark. Christmas, with all the lights, festivities, and seasonal good cheer, is a welcome break when it arrives.

There are many Christmas markets, making it an amazing winter place to visit in Europe if you’re planning on a festive break during the holiday season.

22.) The Sami people are the indigenous people of Norway

This is one of those Norway facts I love! These folks are the original inhabitants of Norway, with evidence pointing back to more than 10,000 years of Sami people living in the country.

They have their own language (around a third of the Norwegian population speak it), their own capital called Karasjok, complete with its own parliament, and many still live off the land as reindeer herders.

23.) Norway celebrates National Day on May 17

Everyone’s got to have a National Day, right? Norway’s is on May 17, which is the day in 1814 on which Norway got its own constitution (even if it wasn’t actually independent). Children put on parades through town, there are general festivities, and many people dress up in traditional costumes known as bunad. They’re just enjoying being Norwegian.

24.) The Laerdal Tunnel is the longest road tunnel in the world

If you’re a fan of tunnels and totally geeky facts about Norway, sit tight; the Laerdal Tunnel, connecting Oslo and Bergen, is exactly 15.23 miles long (that’s 24.51 kilometers). This massive feat of engineering slices through an impassable mountain range and was opened in 2000.

25.) Mountains make up two-thirds of Norway’s landscape

These massively uninhabited landscapes comprise 300 peaks that soar more than 6,500 feet above sea level. Mountaineers, hikers, and adventurers will love the sheer wilderness of this rugged country. It’s pretty epic!

26.) There are more bears in Svalbard than people

The Norwegian island of Svalbard, close to the North Pole (the one with the German soldiers who surrendered to a seal hunter), is remote and wild. Think glaciers, tundra, and yes – a lot of bears.

Around 2,000 people live there, which is relatively high for a nowhere sort of place; we think that’s because you don’t actually need a visa to live in Svalbard!

27.) Norwegian passports are really cool

Trust us, they really are. Put a genuine, 100% authentic Norwegian passport under a UV light, and boom – you can see the Northern Lights!

Not the actual aurora borealis, but a picture of one that makes these passports probably the coolest in the world, if you ask us. And it’s one of the coolest fun facts about Norway, too.

28.) Norway has won the most medals at the Winter Olympics

Like, ever. Winter Sports are Norway’s forte. We mean, there’s a lot of snow in this country. And winter lasts for about half the year.

No wonder they’ve got so many medals. To be precise, the total number of medals they’ve won is 368 (132 gold, 125 silver, 111 bronze). They’re winners, alright. 

29.) The Nobel Peace Prize is decided by a committee in Norway

Though the Nobel Prizes are named after the Swedish inventor of dynamite Alfred Nobel, the Nobel Prize is the only accolade on the Nobel roster that isn’t handed out in Stockholm. A committee in admittedly very peaceful Norway decides on who should get it, and the event is put on in Oslo Town Hall.

30.) Norway has no official religion

But it does have a state religion. This means it joins just a handful of countries worldwide as those with governments intertwined with religion. For example, in England, the Queen is the head of the English Church.

31.) It’s illegal to advertise to children in Norway

Well, children under 12 years old. Remember all those action figure commercials and stuff when you were up early watching morning cartoons at the weekend?

Well, they don’t have any of that in Norway, which is one of the most interesting facts about Norway! Bad news for capitalism, good news for childhood innocence.

32.) Reoffenders almost don’t exist in Norway

With more progressive tactics in terms of incarceration, Norway’s recidivism (reoffending) rate is one of the lowest in the world at 20%, compared with the US rate of more than 60%.

Norway’s jails are some of the best and most humane in the world, focusing on rehabilitation rather than punishment.

33.) Police brutality also doesn’t exist (almost)

Whereas police can be pretty trigger-happy in other countries, Norway is not that sort of place. At all. In fact, the last time anyone was shot and killed by Norwegian police was in 2006.

In 2007, no shots were fired by police at all. Only ten police officers have been killed in Norway since WWII. By comparison, an analysis in 2015 found that US police kill more people in one day than Norway has in the last nine years.

34.) Norway is home to the Tallest waterfall in Europe

This is one of the most crazy Norway facts. The highest waterfall in Europe is Vinnufossen, at 2,280 feet tall, making it the eigth-highest waterfall in the world. Norway is nuts when it comes to nature.

For such a modern city you never seem to be too far away from nature – the city features a marvelous amount of green space and it’s spread out across a series of islands in the Baltic Sea.

Then you add the cities delicious restaurants and Finn’s clear affinity for having a good time. They even have a word in Finnish, “kalsarikannit,” a word to describe sitting at home in your underwear drinking with no intention of going out.

15 Reasons To Visit Helsinki

Coffee Is A Way of Life

Cafe culture in Finland is massive, so much so that it’s considered a fundamental part of life. Even Finnish employers are required by law to provide their employees with coffee breaks. During the day you’ll find locals enjoying a fresh-baked pastry and coffee while on break. With all that great demand that means Helsinki has tons of delectable cafes and coffee shops that serve up some amazing coffee and food.

That cafe culture extends to all of Finland. Finns are obsessed with the brew and consume more coffee than just about any other country. In fact, they were number one for coffee consumption until 2020 when the Netherlands just passed them — either way, it’s still a heck of a lot of coffee.

We’re coffee fiends so we set out to enjoy a few cups of coffee ourselves and explore the burgeoning café scene. It seemed as if there was at least one café to pop into every block, which made another great retreat from the cold. Café Regatta is a small café in Töölö that is every bit as charming as it looks.

Café Regatta doesn’t serve up specialty coffee like cappuccinos or espressos, but they are great for filtered coffee or hot chocolate. Our favorite spot in the center of the city would have to be the beautiful Kappeli. Try to stake out a window seat! Another must is Cafe Ekberg, it is the oldest cafe in Helsinki. They’re well known for their tantalizing pastries and creating classics such as the “Alexander” cake.

Revel in Sauna Culture

We’re probably all familiar with one of Finland’s most popular exports and that is the sauna. It’s a source of national identity and pride as Finns and residents of Helsinki view it as an important part of life that is vital for your health.

The city is littered with saunas for public use and the private saunas are in abundance as they make appearances in apartment buildings, homes, hotels, and even offices.

We visited the traditional, Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall in the city center for a traditional experience. The historic swimming hall opened in 1928 and is the oldest and first indoor public pool in Finland. It’s interior features a 28-meter tile pool with brass finishings and multiple saunas and steam rooms.

Most notable is that saunas here are all done in the nude — genders are separated by designated days. That nude policy extends to almost all saunas in Finland as it’s considered unhygienic to wear swim trunks in the heat. It’s part of a larger part of Finn culture that encourages

For design fiends and a more touristic spot try out the Allas Sea Pool that is located in the harbor.

English Speakers Welcome

If you can’t speak Finnish there is no reason to stress as English is pervasive throughout Helsinki. Almost all bars, cafes, and restaurants have English menus or even default to English menus. We never ran into any issues when visiting the city and found it easy to navigate.

The world-class universities in Helsinki even offer classes in English and English majors. It all makes for inviting space for visitors who are less experienced travelers or those seeking a new place to call home.

Safe For All Travelers

All are welcome in Finland and it makes for a great destination. Single female travelers, members of the LGBTQ community, and minorities will all find Helsinki a welcoming place. Beyond that Finland is considered one of the safest countries in the world with Helsinki being one of the safest cities in the world.

It’s why we recommend Finland and most Nordic countries as a tremendous place for first-time travelers or solo female travelers. It’s not just the community that is accepting, but governance too with a slew of laws that help ensure equality.

Tremendous Access To Nature

What’s tremendous about Finnish culture and Helsinki is the easy access to nature. The city itself maintains 40% of the land with green spaces. That means there’s plenty of spots to escape the city buzz and catch a breath of fresh air.

We visited the city in the winter and loved the Helsinki Winter Garden. It’s a botanical garden at the bottom of Central Park that visitors and locals alike can come to enjoy exotic plants and beautiful gardens. Although they are called “Winter Gardens” they are actually open year-round for people to enjoy.

However, during the winter you’ll find lovely Christmas decorations and that winter cheer in the air. It’s a great cheap thing to do in Helsinki as it is free to enjoy. It’s the perfect spot to spend an hour relaxing, bring a book! A perfect fit that is indicative of Finnish culture and their way of life.

Breathe Easy

Speaking of that fresh air Helsinki has some of the cleanest city air in the world. It all plays back to a tremendous quality of life. Few capital cities have a refuge from city life. This is not the case in Helsinki where you can easily escape to their Central Park for a day.

The park runs south to north for almost 10 kilometers covering thousands of hectares. Throughout the park, you can take part in outdoor sports, jog, enjoy the gardens, and search for wildlife.

The park plays home to various species including the muskrat, raccoon dog, brown and arctic hare, the elk, and the fox. Bird lovers can also enjoy a day here looking for the Eurasian jay and garden warbler, among various others. We know how hard it is to get in your precious nature time while in a city from our New York days, and highly recommend checking out the park at least once no matter the season.

Be Inspired To Learn More

The University of Helsinki operates an amazing library that is well worth checking out. The Kaisa House is the library of Helsinki University. It’s a cool stop to relax, have a coffee, read a book, and explore innovative architectural design.

Design and education for that matter are important aspects in Finnish life. The country’s education systems scores amongst the highest in the world and the four universities in Helsinki are exceptional.

Many even offer the opportunity to study in English so if you’re seeking out a place to study abroad it might be worth considering Helsinki! At the very least, we can not recommend a study abroad program enough. It’s a life-changing event!

The Helsinki Peninsula Begs To Be Explored

Off the coast of Helsinki lies a cluster of islands that make for wonderful spots to explore and recreate. UNESCO World Heritage Suomenlinna is one of those islands that is easily accessible from the city. Suomenlinna is a fortress built in the 18^th century when Finland was still part of Sweden. It’s an interesting sight to see when visiting Finland.

To get here you must take a ferry or waterbus and it takes about 20 minutes from Market Square. Once there you can explore by yourself or hop on a guided tour. There are also plenty of restaurants, cafes, and museums to duck into while visiting the fortress of Suomenlinna.

Culinary Scene

Helsinki has a thriving food scene with hundreds of restaurants to tantalize the taste buds. You can find cafes, traditional haunts, and even a few Michelin star restaurants in the city. It all follows the trend in Nordic countries moving towards fresh and locally produced food with close ties to the surrounding environment.

There are over 1200 restaurants in Helsinki and they account for about 4% of Finland’s GDP! You will have no trouble finding a good restaurant and need to spend at least one night to delve into the food scene.

If you’re interested in some classic foods try Hernekeitto, herring, lingonberry pie, reindeer, moose, ruisleipä, and mämmi. A few of our favorite eats were at Savotta, where we found traditional Finnish food in a charming and cozy interior where the servers are dressed in olf Finnish logging wear.

We also sampled Finland’s modern-day food scene at The Holiday, a contemporary neighborhood restaurant on Katajanokka island, and Juuri in the design district. If you’re after a romantic thing to do in Helsinki we found the most intimate experience at Savotta.

Walk or Bike

Helsinki’s public transportation is amazing! You can get just about anywhere on the buses, trams, and trains. You can also get to Estonia, Russia, and Sweden via ferry. Or you can always use your own two feet or a bicycle like many of the locals!

Nearly a third of all journeys in Helsinki are done by foot! There are 1,200 km of maintained cycle lanes in Helsinki and since the city is a manageable size it’s a great way to get around. So you can forget about sitting in traffic when your out exploring the city.

Everyman’s Right

One thing to know when you travel to Finland is there is no such thing as trespassing — to an extent. Everyman’s Right refers to the public’s right to access public or privately owned land for recreation. So once you’ve had your fill of Helsinki’s public parks head out into the Finnish Countryside for some exploration.

This doesn’t include houses, gardens, or military bases, so don’t go squatting on someone’s porch, but it does allow people to enjoy the land and inland water for their own well being. The only stipulation is that you must do so responsibly and safely. It’s about respect and shared experiences within the community.

Bring Your Swimsuit

With all of those islands, saunas, and water space there are a plethora of swimming spots. City residents take full advantage of these and it’s a refreshing way to enjoy a summer day or even a winter one! The city has 27 public beaches along its 123 km of shoreline.

Of course, this is Finland so it’s not just a summer thing! Helsinki has 13 winter swimming spots are maintained throughout the winter and kept free of ice for some chilly swims.

Design District

Whether you’re into design, modern art, photography, natural history, or classical art there is no shortage of museums and exhibitions in Helsinki. Visiting the many museums makes for the perfect thing to do in Helsinki in the winter.

At the Helsinki Art Museum (HAM) you can find a rotation of exhibitions in a modern building.  While at the Ateneum Art Museum, the grand building next to the train station, you will find classical art pieces including one of the most famous in Finland, The Fighting Capercaillies. We also ventured into the Kiasma, a contemporary art museum with interactive art.

Finland feels very much about the new and the clear love of design can be found throughout Helsinki. In fact, Helsinki has been declared a UNESCO City of Design. So, any visitor to the city must explore some of the cities architecture.

Learn About the Moomins

The Moomins are celebrated and loved characters created by Tove Jansson, one of the most famous Finnish artists of all time. They are cartoon creatures resembling that of a cute hippo family. I’d say they are probably comparable to Winnie the Pooh or the Peanuts characters in the United States, but maybe even bigger among the Finnish.

Everyone knows and loves the Moomins, and you can get involved with that love too even as a guest. There are four Moomin cafes around the city as well as two Moomin shops. If you’re lucky you may even spot a few Moomins roaming around the streets of Helsinki.

Way Of Life

Above all Helsinki feels like a city about enjoying life whether that’s in art, nature, sports, education, or food. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that Finland has been ranked as the happiest country on earth by the UN’s World Happiness Report.

It’s not just the lifestyle that many Finns enjoy, but the way in which the government supports their lives too. Finns are now allowed to choose half of their working hours so they can adjust to a schedule that best suits their lives. All workers also receive 30 days of vacation time, rarely work overtime, and enjoy short commutes.

For parents those laws also ensure they can spend quality time with their children with long paid maternal/paternal leave, affordable childcare, and a great education system. It all adds up and whether you’re visiting for a weekend, a week, month, or more you’ll leave wondering if you should stay forever. You can read more about the way of life in Helsinki here.

Things to Know About Visiting Helsinki

• We really enjoyed living in the city like a local and got to stay in our own studio apartment, Aallonkoti.  The apartment was extremely comfortable, spacious, and had a full kitchen with a washer and dryer. Bonus!
• Helsinki’s public transportation is amazing! You can get just about anywhere on the buses, trams, and trains. You can also get to Estonia, Russia, and Sweden via ferry.
• We found the Finns to be very stylish in their capital city, especially around dinner time. Pack accordingly if you want to blend in. Remember to bring a warm jacket, winter hat, and gloves in the winter. Good snow boots wouldn’t hurt either!
• As mentioned, the Finns love their sauna (pronounced SOW-Nah). They are actually the ones who invented the concept of sauna over 2000 years ago! You should definitely experience one while you’re in Finland. Oh yea, and no one, and I mean no one cares that you are naked. Just make sure to always sit on a towel or sheet in a public sauna. No one really wants to sit where the other person’s bare bum just was. Most saunas will provide a sheet for you. If you’re still lost check out these beginner tips. 
• The Finns are known for being very quiet people. I actually enjoyed the quietness when sitting on the bus, tram, ferry, or in a cafe. That’s not to say that that you can’t easily start a chat with a Finn though! We never were met with any hostility in Finland and just about everyone can speak English well.
• Tipping is not really a thing in Finland.

Quick Facts on Finland

• ‘Hello’ and ‘Thank You’ in Finnish:”Hei” and “Kiitos”
• Capital: Helsinki
• Currency: Euro – (EUR) – €
• Visa: Schengen visa is 90 days in the European Union every 180 days. Many nationalities are granted this on arrival for free. Check with your embassy to see if that is you.
• What to Pack: It all depends on the season, but always have something warm to wear as summer nights can still be cold. We always throw a packable down jacket in our bags when we travel this far North.
• Good to know: About 270,000 people in mainland Finland are Swedish speaking.

Here’s Why You Must Visit Norway in Winter

1.) You Can Mush A Dog Sled

Our first winter experience in Norway was epic! Hopping on a tour across frozen lakes and mountains with a team of sled dogs leading the way is a fantastic way to ring in a trip. We raced around  Lake Vinstra with several teams of dogs from Beito Husky Tours just outside Jotunheimen National Park.

The possibilities are endless with tour operators like this as they have a plethora of options for a customized tour with many routes and options. They even do extended tours over several days into the national park and surrounding area. All of it wilderness with little cabins dotting the landscape and wild winter landscape views. More on those cabins later!

It was not our first time on a dog sled. However, this is the first time we drove our own dog sled. Our previous experiences were packaged day tours in which visitors led the dogs around a small loop for an hour with plenty of assistance.

Here we were given a brief overview of how to handle the dog sled team and we were off with our own team of dogs crossing a variety of terrain for a full day trip.

Our entire tour lasted about five hours of driving the dogsled team with an hour-long break for lunch. If you’d like to take a dog sled tour like ours you can travel to the small resort town of Beitostølen. They have a small ski hill, hiking trails, and book a tour directly with Beito Husky Tours. They also offer day trips from Oslo and can assist with your transportation or accommodation.

• Location: Beistōlen (Website)
• Operator: Beito Husky Tours (Website)

2.) You Can Find Your Dream Cabin

One of the best things to do in Norway in winter is enjoy the cabin feels. It’s not an official statistic, but something like one in every three Norwegian families has a cabin. As cabins are gaining popularity in North America, Norwegians have been in love with cabins for decades and it’s an important part of their culture.

As you explore the Norwegian countryside and mountains you’ll find a plethora of cute cabins that dot the landscape.

Many of them are simple wood cabins painted green, brown, or red as the idea is not to disrupt nature so that you and any neighbors can enjoy.

As you travel across the beautiful snow-covered landscapes of Norway you’ll see tons of cozy cabins with fires roaring, conjuring up all the warm feels of a perfect winter destination.

We spent the majority of our time in Norway hopping between rustic hotels, cabins, and even DNT Cabins. It’s not all cute family cabins that make you want to bundle up and drink a warm cup of cocoa.

Norwegians are passionate about their winter sports and DNT cabins are for the active. One of the best ways to enjoy the mountains and winter sports is through the use of DNT cabins that are managed and operated by the DNT, The Norwegian Trekking Association. Many of their cabins are open to winter visitors in Norway like ourselves providing a refuge in their cabins for mountains travelers enjoying who love to snowshoe, ski, or dog sled.

If you want to take advantage of the DNT Cabins of Norway you can become a member and book your access to the mountains as a foreigner. Or you can hire a mountain guide and tour company like Hvitserk who assisted us in the Norwegian mountains and provided us with a very knowledgeable guide, Laine.

• Norwegian Trekking Association: (Website)
• Tour Company: (Website)

3.) You Can Enjoy the Birthplace of Ski

While the Alps receive a lot of the glory when it comes to skiing in Europe, the sport has deep ties to Norway. It is the country with the highest number of Winter Olympic medals in the world. As some would joke Norwegians are “born with skis on their feet.”

It’s even the birthplace of skiing evidence of primitive skiing in Norway dating back 3500 years ago. AND the first ski competition took place in Trømso in 1843! Norwegians are passionate about cross-country skiing and tracks/routes can be found all across the country from small towns, national parks, and even the capital, Oslo.

Our first trip to Norway in the winter was more about sightseeing and checking out everything Norway has to offer. However, we still got some time to strap on a snowboard at Norway’s largest ski resort, Narvikfjellet.

We’ve seen some cold temperatures in the mountains, but it was our first time snowboarding in the Arctic Circle and we can’t wait to return. We’d been told the conditions were looking pretty rough; however, the night of our arrival to Narvik a winter storm blew in dropping over 30 cm of snow.

That meant we got a little taste of the glory of Narvikfjellet. With low visibility and a full Norway winter storm, we got to enjoy wide open powder runs and the chance to get off-piste. Off-piste riding is a major draw for Narvikfjellet as their brand new gondola provides access to some big terrain with views of the fjord down below. The low visibility kept us in the trees, but we know we’ll have to return for some of the legendary ski touring in Norway.

The mountain and much of Norway offer amazing ski touring opportunities for expert riders and we can’t wait to return. Of course, it’s not all for the bold. There are easy pistes and it’s possible for any skill level to enjoy a day on the slopes in Norway.

Key Details:

• Location: Narvik, Northern Norway
• Accommodation: Scandic Narvik
• Ski Resort: Narvikfjellet
• Lift Ticket: 345 NOK a day ($40 USD)

4.) You Can See the Northern Lights

It’s almost impossible to talk about visiting Norway and the Arctic without mentioning the Northern Lights. If you’d like to see the Northern Lights at least once in your life set your sights on Northern Norway. Some companies even guarantee you see the Northern Lights on one of their trips.

Our trip to the Northern city of Narvik and nearby islands was specifically around witnessing the Northern Lights. We were lucky enough to try out a number of amazing experiences and a few stand out in particular.

The first night of our tour outside of Narvik included a dog sled at night led by head torches and the Aurora Borealis above us. Our second night was followed up with the Northern Lights over the city of Narvik from atop the ski hill. Both experiences are ones to remember forever!

If you plan to see the Northern lights in Northern Norway I’d advise you to rent a car in order to guarantee your chances. Northern Norway is largely coastal and is comprised of a mix of mountains and islands. The result of the unique landscape and the sea create very localized weather and unpredictable weather.

You can check Aurora Forecast with this website and if looks like a high activity night you often can find clear skies even if you have cloud coverage in your area within a short drive. We went out to the Vesterålen Islands in search of the Northern Lights due to the lack of light pollution and incredible views.

Where to see the Northern Lights?

• Narvik
• Vesterålen Islands
• Trømso
• Lofoten Islands
• Svalbard
• Lyngenfjord

5.) You Don’t Have To Sweat Your Ass Off

The typical vacation might be to an exotic location somewhere warm, but that comes with one big downside, the heat. We love destinations like Costa Rica, Mozambique, and Indonesia, but they all get oppressively hot.

That means sweaty clothes, feeling dirty, mosquitos, and spending all your time in A/C or the pool. After a month in Costa Rica, I felt like my clothes were about to disintegrate by the time we left.

Personally, we love cold weather! It might sound crazy to some, but when you’re in the right destination there are a plethora of things to do in cold weather — like everything else in this blog post.

As a plus, your clothes stay fresh longer and cold cheeks feel great. The best part is sitting next to a cozy fire with hot cocoa and a big cinnamon roll after slogging through snow.

There’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes.

What you need to stay warm in Norway during the winter:

• Thermals
• Down Jacket
• Shell Jacket
• Arctic Jacket
• Wools Socks
• Hat
• Gloves

6.) You Can Witness Breathtaking Landscapes

This one is a no brainer, but you’ve probably seen dozens of breathtaking landscapes. Any traveler considering a trip to Norway in winter has likely seen the soul-stirring landscapes of the fjords, islands, mountains, and sea.

To see them in person really does take your breath away and it’s very clear Norwegians are aware of their beautiful country and take a lot of pride.

Our trip to Norway in the winter stretched across the central part of Norway starting in Jotunheimen National Park before making our way to Norway’s largest Fjord and the coastal town of Flåm. After this, we took a flight to the Northern City of Narvik. From Narvik, we explored the Vesterålen Islands in search of breathtaking fjords, islands, whales, and the Northern Lights.

7.) You Can Find Peace and Quiet

With so many amazing landscapes you can find headspace any time of year. However, the quietest time of the year is in the winter. As snow falls across the country tourism numbers drop almost everywhere.

With fewer tourists, you can find cheaper prices in an expensive country and most importantly you can find solitude. A day spent on the King’s Highway crossing a field of snow we were the only ones to be seen all day.

8.) You Can Snowshoe Almost Anywhere

There are so many ways to enjoy the wilderness, but one of our favorites has to be snowshoeing. It’s an activity that anyone can enjoy and requires little skill for entry, unlike alpine or cross country skiing.

We loved snowshoeing along the higher reaches of the King’s Highway with the Mountains of Norway. It was a long day with the group in the beautiful snow that covered several kilometers. However, with a well-marked trail and plenty of resources, it was more than possible for anyone to enjoy this activity with or without a group.

If you’re wondering what to wear while snowshoeing or during any outdoor activities in Norway we suggest using a layer strategy. You can learn more about the products we recommend and what to wear in our post on what to wear hiking.

9.) You Can Spot Some Amazing Wildlife

If you’ve ever wanted to see some of the incredible animals of the Arctic you should consider Norway. On land, you can find the occasional arctic fox, reindeer, moose, musk ox, sea eagle, or even wolf.

Then if you’re feeling truly crazy you can experience the dark and wild Svalbard a place where seeing a polar bear is almost a given.

The real highlight of Norway lies in its rich seas with a plethora of whales and dolphins that call the coastline home. We journeyed to the Northern town of Andenes in search of whales.

From this small coastal town, you can spot orcas, sperm whales, humpback, and beluga whales. Then for the truly adventurous, it’s the one spot in the world where you can swim with Orcas! Just be warned the season operates from January to March so you’ll be swimming in the cold.

We had an amazing wolf encounter and an opportunity to learn about the wildlife of Norway at the Polar Park just outside of Narvik. In the experience, we were able to come face to face with wolves and have the opportunity to receive wolf kisses and touch the amazing hunters.

Key Details:

• Whale Watching Location: Andenes
• Operator: Whale Safari
• Whale Safari Price: 1095 NOK Adult ($125 USD)
• Wolf Experience Location: Polar Park
• Price: 3000 NOK per person ($350 USD)

10.) You Eat Amazing Comfort Food

While Norwegian cuisine is far from one of the world’s most famed cuisine that doesn’t mean you won’t eat well in Norway. For many centuries and up until the 1960s Norway was a very poor country and the vast number of dishes are meat, fish, hearty stews, bread, and potatoes. It’s not the most exciting thing in the world, but a hearty reindeer stew called Finnbiff.

If you’ve been following our blog for a while you’ll know we are vegan at home and eat very little meat in our travels. It’s an environmental and health decision for us, but when presented the dishes from locals, especially when they come from environmentally friendly sources we will eat meat.

So, when we were offered finnbiff in Northern Norway we were happy to try the iconic dish of the Nordic countries. It’s rich reindeer stew served on top of whipped potatoes and if you’re lucky lingonberry on the side. It’s the perfect dish to warm you up on a cold winter night with a beer.

11.) You Can Eat All The Waffles You Want

Natasha and I try to eat pretty healthy on an average day, but I do have one weak point, that is sweets. It’s next to impossible for me to turn down something as delicious as a waffle.

Winter time in Norway is time for plenty of winter sports that burn handfuls of calories so like any good loving sports fiends they reward themselves with high-calorie sweets. Nothing is better than a Norwegian waffle after a day out in the mountains.

The traditional waffle is made in a heart-shaped press than topped with cream, strawberry jam, and brown cheese. They are thin and soft – more like a crepe than a thick crispy Belgium waffle. Don’t ask me how many waffles I ate during my time in Norway because it definitely averaged more than one a day!

12.) You Can Find Hope for Our Planet

Norway is a massive oil producer and it’s clear that the world is still decades away from moving away from an oil-based economy. However, Norway also happens to be one of the greenest countries with electric car sales outpacing combustible engines and plenty of green initiatives aimed at reducing their carbon footprint and striving towards carbon neutrality.

On a positive note, we got to see one of the country’s most innovative creations, a fully electric-powered ferry. The “Future of the Fjords” is the first of its kind in the world and to ride on the electric boat is a wild sensation. The boat moves silently across the fjord with no engine shake and the sensation of standing on the front deck feels like flying through the Norwegian fjords.

Key Details:

• Route: Flåm, Aurland, Undredal, & Gudvangen
• Operator: Visit Flåm (Future of the Fjords)
• Price: From 405 NOK ($45 USD)

13.) You Won’t Actually Freeze Your Ass Off

Norway may be far North and stretch into the Arctic circle, but it’s not always that cold. Thanks to the Gulf Stream delivering warm water and a massive coastline the majority of the country is pretty temperate.

While in the South in mid-February I was comfortable in a sweater and thermals. It was perfect for exploring the charming coastal towns with their wood homes and ties to Vikings. In fact, many of the coastal towns only see a few days with temperatures lower than freezing.

14.) You Can Chat With Colorful Locals

It would be a lie to say Norwegians are the most open bunch of people in the world, but there are certainly plenty of colorful characters that come with a place as wild as Norway.

As a big bonus for English speakers, thanks to a great education system the majority of Norwegians can speak fluent English with around 90% reported speaking English as a second language.

15.) You can Experience Great Train Journeys

Some of the best train journeys in the world are reported to take place on Norway’s extensive train system. We were lucky enough to hop on the Flåmsbana and take it over 800m in elevation through twenty tunnels, past waterfalls, and under snow-covered peaks. It’s a breathtaking journey and on a classically styled train.

You can learn more about the train journey and book tickets on Visit Flam’s website. At the train line end, you can hop on the Bergen to Oslo express that crosses Norway’s largest wilderness section and is considered to be one the greatest train journies in the world.

Key Details:

• Trains in Norway: Vy (Formerly NSB)
• Scenic Train: Flåmsbana Railway
• Price: From 440 NOK ($50 USD)

16.) You Can Get Awesome Coastal Vibes

Norway has its roots deeply tied to the sea. From Vikings to fishermen Norwegians have spent millennia living by the sea. Along its massive coastline, you’ll find old fishing villages, cabins, and port towns. So find a cozy cabin and a cup of coffee and enjoy the sounds of the ocean or the views across a breathtaking Fjord.

Don’t worry about ice thanks to the Gulf Stream the majority of the ports remain ice-free throughout the year, just a few in the North freeze.

17.) You Will Test Your Spirit

The Northern reaches of Norway are known to experience some wild and violent weather. For some, this may be a deterrent, but it was an amazing ride for us. As the blizzard rolled across the island of Andoy North of the famed Lofoten Islands the sea swelled and winds whipped snow across the craggy coastline.

It was a blast literally and figuratively leaning hard into the wind and experiencing the power of mother nature.

To travel around Norway in the winter may seem like a crazy idea, but it can truly be an amazing experience.

How to Plan a Norway Winter Trip?

Norway in winter is just magical, and there are companies that will help you plan! Hvitserk and the Mountains of Norway were kind enough to plan our trip for us. Hvitserk specializes in adventure tours around Norway that include hiking, skiing, sailing, biking, and kayaking. Our specialty tour was a shortened version of their Seven Day Snowshoe and Dogsled expedition. Our experience with our guide, Laine, was terrific and she was very knowledgeable. Their passion for her job and the outdoors was contagious which helped with our group dynamics.

We love taking on an adventure around the world but have come to appreciate the need for a local guide when it comes to expeditions in foreign countries. A local who knows the mountains or coastline can make all the difference and allow for you to dive deep into a new destination or experience. If you’re interested in a similar experience head over to their website for booking information.

Key Details:

• Hvitserk Booking Website
• Seven Day Snowshoe and Dogsled Tour

How to Dress For Norway in the Winter

We recommend using a layering system for Norway in the winter. Temperatures are generally very mild, but if you head inland or to elevation, you can find very frigid temperatures around -20C. Here is how we layer our clothes when traveling or active in cold temperatures.

Base Layer

This is the layer that touches your skin. It’s also the most important layer as it’s responsible for moisture management. It’s what keeps you warm in cool temperatures. Do not wear cotton as your base layer! Cotton performs poorly at wicking away moisture (pulling and drying) and provides no warmth when wet. In the right conditions, it can even cause hypothermia.

Mid Layer

Most commonly, a fleece jacket or sweater provides warmth but not protection from the elements. On a temperate day on the coast, we love wearing a wool sweater for warmth, even if it’s not a technical piece of clothing.

Insulation

This layer is for insulation and is most commonly a down jacket. On most cool days or evenings, you can wear this with a base layer, and I’ve worn a combination of a base layer, mid-layer, and insulation instead of a winter jacket. Insulation or mid-layers are interchangeable.

Shell

This is the layer that offers protection from the elements. It’s not designed for insulation but for protection from rain, wind, or snow. I have two Goretex shell jackets, one designed specifically for alpine touring and the other a rain jacket. However, other than the cut, pocket layout, fit, and zippers,, the jackets are basically the same. This is super important if you’ll spend a lot of time along Norway’s coast, as they frequently see high winds in Northern Norway.

The coastline of Norway and its historic fishing villages is one of our favorite destinations in the world. Nature never feels far away, and with its robust EV infrastructure, Norway offers an endless amount of sustainable adventures.

The BMW iX

BMW’s brand new BMW iX is a head turner and their first electric SAV built from the ground up, perfect for road trips. It’s easy to understand the BMW iX xDRive40 road trip strengths with its impressive range (up to 425 km), a plethora of safety features, incredible performance, and an interior that is as comfortable as a living room.

The minimalist interior of the BMW iX is gorgeous and offers everything passengers could need. Its impressive feature set provides passengers with a tremendous wealth of tools for comfort and functionality. Spaciousness is the first thing you’ll notice with its roomy interior and glass roof.

Even the climate control offers passengers an effortlessly comfortable experience with sleek air vents, four-zone climate control, and radiant heat panels hidden throughout the interior. Everything about the vehicle feels designed for an excellent road trip.

Features We Love For A Road Trip

Performance

With any road trip vehicle, performance is naturally the most crucial characteristic. The BMW iX is a dream to drive for a multitude of reasons. You come to expect many features from BMW, such as excellent steering, suspension, and safety. It also packs a heck of a punch in horsepower, torque, four-wheel drive, and impressive acceleration.

However, what sets the BMW iX apart are the advantages that come from its innovative EV build. Regenerative braking is a fantastic feature with real-world benefits and allows for one-pedal driving. The vehicle’s regenerative braking activates and charges the batteries and decelerates the car upon releasing the accelerator.

Sensors along the car’s exterior provide excellent safety tools like Active Cruise Control and Brake Activation. When in cruise control, the vehicle can monitor the speed of vehicles in front and maintain a safe distance through braking and deceleration. Even if the Active Cruise Control is not engaged, should a car ahead brake abruptly, the vehicle can engage the brakes if needed.

Spacious Interior

A minimalist interior in an electric car makes for an incredibly spacious ride. There’s no transmission, and since the batteries are in the chassis, it leaves a considerable platform for passengers.

It all feels roomier in the BMW iX due to the glass roof that can switch to privacy mode with the touch of a button. You can do a lot with a simple button push, as even the rear seats drop with a button that opens a wealth of space for extra gear.

Impressive Audio

Every good road trip needs a soundtrack. Sound performance in the vehicle is incredible, thanks to the Bowers & Wilkens Diamond Surround Sound System with a whopping 30 speakers. Hidden speakers throughout the car, including the 4D tactile bass within the car seats, make for an immersive experience.

The interior of the BMW iX has superb soundproofing for a tranquil ride. As the electric engines produce almost no sound, the vehicle plays a subtle designed “engine” sound when you quickly accelerate.

Range

For our test, we had the BMW iX xDrive40, which has a good range of 372-425km. While the xDrive50 offers an even more impressive range of 550-630km. Of course, the range, just like gas mileage, depends on driving style. It’s all more than enough to never think about the charge in your daily driving and many day trip options on a single charge.

Charging

With High Power Charging and DC fast charging, the vehicle can recharge from 10 percent to 80 percent in 35 minutes (BMW iX xDrive 40). BMW has partnered with EVgo for easy access to a public charging station network, but it can also charge on other networks.

With the 5G connectivity, it’s possible to monitor the vehicle’s charging status while you’re grabbing a coffee, running errands, or exploring your next stop. From the MyBMW App, you can also find the car’s location and check on the vehicle remotely through its cameras.

Control System

It’d be impossible not to mention the impressive suite of tools on the huge customizable curved dashboard display. The display stands out against the minimal interior and suede dashboard, and it’s little wonder why the interior has received universal praise.

It’s functional, too, as the display has a suite of tools such as climate control, Apple Car Play, drive performance settings, navigation, and a voice-activated assistant. For maneuvering the vehicle into tight spots, drives can take advantage of the surround-view cameras. A full 360 interactive model shows the car about its surroundings through the display.

Navigation

The navigation is the most valuable and impressive of all the tools the display offers. We love the heads-up display that offers the driver navigation directions on the windshield. Thanks to 5G and voice activation, it allows the driver to plan routes effortlessly. That includes one that will have stops for charging.

It’s a robust intelligent navigation system that’s functional in everyday life. Machine learning can learn the daily commute and provide warnings or alternative route selection in heavy traffic or delays.

Norway Road Trip

Norway has no shortage of scenic routes thanks to its sweeping fjords, craggy coastline, historic fishing villages, and forested interior. It’s a destination that begs to be explored by car. It’s hard to think of a better way to explore the country than by road.

That decision is easy now because we can do so with electric vehicles. On our last trip in Norway in the winter, we made it a point to take public transportation, hike between destinations, and even use dog sleds as a way to reduce our carbon footprint. However, an electric vehicle as effortless as the BMW iX xDrive40 undoubtedly makes a sustainable trip much more accessible.

Norway is even the safest country to drive as they have the road traffic deaths per capita globally. To test out the BMW iX, the team hit the road to explore some sites around Oslo and South to the town of Son, with a quick stop in Drøbak along the way.

As the roads are most along the Oslofjord, you pass through wonderful little villages and lovely countryside. Along the route are many stunning beaches and a bounty of fresh seafood. Son is a charming tiny hamlet, a 50-minute drive outside of Oslo, and we couldn’t think of a better escape from the city.

Its location on the “sunny” side of the Oslofjord means the town receives more sun than the city and surrounds. Visitors from Oslo get to trade in city streets with concrete buildings for wooden homes, narrow alleyways, and scenic beaches. It also has some beautiful boutiques and restaurants to explore.

Not only does a vehicle like the BMW iX allow you to retreat to new landscapes, but it enhances the trip thanks to smart features, lack of emissions, and comfort. It feels much easier to enjoy nature’s solitude with the knowledge of a more sustainable future.

Dream Worthy Road Trips in Norway

Norway’s abundance of picturesque roads and jaw-dropping landscapes means there’s no shortage of exploration. Of course, that goes for anywhere in the world. We’ll likely never finish exploring the Canadian Rockies. Here are some dream-worthy road trips in Norway.

 The Atlantic Ocean Road

Atlanterhavsvegen, or The Atlantic Ocean Road, is a landmark achievement in construction and design. Fifteen years after its construction, photos of the five-mile road that connects the island Averøy through a series of bridges and islands are iconic. It’s undeniably one of the most scenic drives and impressive roads in the world.

Hardanger

Hardanger is the definitive version of Norway many of us have in our heads. It’s the picture-perfect version of the country with rolling hills of fruit, waterfalls, and the fourth-longest fjord in the world, Hardangerfjord. The Hardanger route winds along the famed fjord as it moves through the mountainous landscape.

Lofoten

The islands of Northern Norway are some of the wildest landscapes in the world. At its most wild is the archipelago of Lofoten. Despite its location in the Arctic circle, it has a mild climate due to Gulf Stream. Mountains in the region are staggering and home to colonies of seabirds and colorful villages. Through all of the is the Lofoten road that leads across Lofoten and Vesterålen.

Ryfylke

The first road trip I ever took to a foreign country was to visit Natasha’s friend’s family cabin along the route. Many will take the way to reach the famed Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock). It’s a vast mountain plateau that sits 604 meters above the fjord below. Views from the top are spectacular, and its sheer cliffs are stomach-churning.

4 Tips to help you have an awesome road trip

Use the Navigation

Navigation systems are also helpful because they can provide alternative routes, should they be needed, and take you around congestion hotspots. Systems like the one in the BMW iX remove many of the stresses around driving down unknown roads. The head-up display ensures you never miss a turn while displaying the speed limit, so there is no need to worry about missing a sign.

Map Out The Stops

Electric vehicles like the BMW iX take a lot of the headache from planning your trip. However, it’s still a good idea to plan your stops and know where you can recharge the vehicle if need be. If you have plans to make a particular visit, it’s always a good idea to charge the car while you explore, eat, or grab a coffee.

The drive to Son from Oslo and back for our test, the BMW iX xDrive40  didn’t need a recharge (thanks to the range of up to 425km) . Keep in mind the type of charger, too, as not all charges are equal fast chargers that utilize DC power will quickly top the vehicle while level 2 chargers work they offer a much slower experience.

Enjoy The Ride

As the saying goes, it’s not about the destination but the journey. That’s most certainly the case with a road trip. Luckily, intelligent navigation has made it easy as the vehicle can always place you back on route.

The Right Soundtrack

If you’re taking any road trip, you’ll need some jams. When you have a sound system like the BMW iX, it calls for a great playlist. We’ve got you covered if you’re looking for an excellent travel playlist or music. Just make sure you download all your music to your phone (Spotify and Apple Music have this feature), as you may not always have a connection. Granted, it does help when the BMW iX has 5G!