I had a fantastic time traveling throughout the whole country and would like to bring you the “All Norway from North to South” series. It took me a month to go through the whole country. I was able to see most the main sights, northern and southern nature, small villages and large cities. I hope these posts would help you plan your holidays in Norway. Check the proposed trip plan below, or scroll to the end of the page for detailed information about destinations.
1. Tromsø
If you travel to Northern Norway – I would highly recommend visiting Tromsø. It is one of the largest cities in the Arctic Circle and has a very unusual atmosphere. Located on the far north, it has a huge amount of well-preserved old wooden architecture, it is a center of Saami culture and Arctic exploration. In Norway, trains don’t go far to the north, but there are often good deals for the flights in winter. Alternatively, you can reach it on a bus from Rovaniemi in Finland – which I did. It works only in summer.
2. Cruise through Northern Norway
I traveled through Northern Norway on cruise ships, making stops in a few small towns and villages. On a cruise ship, if you travel less than 24 hours – you don’t need to buy a cabin, which reduces the price quite a lot. Northern Norway looks fantastic from the seaside, but I wouldn’t recommend staying on the ship all the time. Small coastal towns are what makes northern Norway charming. Other than coastal towns, the main points of interest are famous Lofoten islands and Trollfjord.
3. Bodø
Bodø is called the gateway to the North. Railway starts there. It is famous for beautiful coastal roads, closeby, there are a glazier and large maelstrom. Also, in Bodø, there is one of the best aviation museums.
4. Trondheim
There aren’t many views along the shoreline from Bodo to Trondheim, so I have chosen to go on a train and reached Trondheim. Trondheim is many things. Similar to Tromsø, it has some really pretty, old wooden architecture. But most of all, I loved the farmland on an island nearby. It was probably the best Airbnb stay I had.
5. Ålesund, Geiranger, Trollstigen
Now we get to the world famous fjords! Cruise ship makes a stop in Ålesund is a very cute town. After a big fire, it was redone in stone, in an unusual architectural style. It has bus connections to famous Geirangerfjord – the most beautiful place I have seen! Other notable spots are Åndalsens and Trollstigen, which are also nearby.
6. Bergen and Trolls Tongue
Bergen is considered by many the best city to visit in Norway. Among many things, you would find great seafood restaurants, beautiful views from the mountains, a large variety of architecture and Norwegian marine industry. Bergen is also called a gateway to the fjords, many famous ones are around. Out of them, I have chosen the famous Troll’s tongue. It is quite a challenging hike, but really worth the effort.
More info
If you want to see how Northern Norway compares to other countries in the Arctic circle – see Europe in the Arctic circle post Read this, if you want to know common travel mistakes in Norway