country
NorwayNorge
First trip: Oslo 2 nights, the Oslo–Bergen railway to the fjords for 3–4 nights around Bergen, Flåm or Ålesund; go north to Tromsø or Lofoten as a separate flight, not by road, unless you have two weeks.
Norway is long and mountainous: Oslo to Bergen is a full day by scenic train, and the Arctic north (Tromsø, Lofoten, the North Cape) is best reached by air. The fjords reward slow days with ferries and short hikes, not long drives. The season sets the trip: summer for fjords and midnight sun in the north, winter for auroras and snow. The traps are underestimating travel times on winding roads and ferries, mountain passes that close in winter, and the Easter and July holiday peaks.
All regions, cities and parks in Norway (Atlas) →
Regions
Oslo base; museums, the fjord islands and Lillehammer by train
2–3 nights
Bergen, Flåm, the Sognefjord, the Geirangerfjord and Ålesund
3–6 nights
Tromsø, Lofoten and the North Cape: auroras in winter, midnight sun in summer
3–5 nights
Arrive
OSL
Oslo Gardermoen
Train to Oslo Central in about 20 minutes
BGO
Bergen Flesland
Light rail or bus to Bergen; gateway to the fjords
TOS
Tromsø
Gateway to Arctic Norway; short ride to town
Time math
- 4 days
- Oslo 1 + Bergen railway + Bergen 2 with a fjord cruise day
- 7 days
- Oslo 2 + train to Flåm 1 + Bergen 2 + fjord day + fly home from Bergen
- 10 days
- Oslo 2 + Flåm and Bergen 4 + fly to Tromsø or Lofoten 4
Country rules
- Norway is not in the EU but is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources.
- Wine and spirits are sold only at the state Vinmonopolet shops; supermarkets sell beer, and not in the evenings or on Sundays.
- The right to roam (allemannsretten) lets you hike and camp on most uncultivated land, keeping a distance from homes and leaving no trace.
Etiquette
- Take shoes off when entering a home.
- Be punctual, and queue with a ticket number at counters.
- Leave no trace in nature and do not disturb reindeer or sheep.
- Easter (Maundy Thursday to Easter Monday)
- Norwegians head to the mountains; shops close and cabins and trains fill.
- May 17 (Constitution Day)
- Parades everywhere; most shops closed and towns crowded.
- July (fellesferie)
- National holiday weeks: some offices and small businesses close, while the fjords and campsites are busiest.
- November–January
- Polar night in the north and short days in the south; some fjord roads and passes close.
Money & passes
Cash necessity: 1/5
- Currency is the Norwegian krone (NOK, kr); the euro is not used.
- Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere; some places no longer take cash.
- Norway is expensive: supermarkets and bakeries keep food costs down.
- Interrail and Eurail passes are valid on Norwegian trains, with seat reservations needed on long-distance routes.
Before you fly: eSIM before you fly · Visas and entry
Safety
- Mountain weather turns quickly, even in summer: carry layers, check the forecast, and turn back when conditions change.
- Popular cliff hikes (Preikestolen, Trolltunga, Kjeragbolten) are long and exposed; start early and do not attempt them in winter without a guide.
- Winter roads are icy and mountain passes close; hire cars have winter tyres, but drivers need experience.
- Emergency: 112 police, 113 ambulance, 110 fire.
Norway links to Sweden by train from Oslo and to Denmark by overnight ferry (planned).
Sources
- UK travel advice — Norway (official)
- Visit Norway (official tourism site) (official)
- Wikivoyage — Norway (secondary)