Fjords that make your jaw drop, cities that ooze Scandi cool and some of the most dramatic scenery in Europe. Norway is the kind of destination that makes you feel like you've stepped into a nature documentary, except you're actually there, standing on the edge of it, with a coffee in hand and your phone in the other, your thumb getting tired from trying to take so many photos of the landscape that will never do it justice. Anyway, don't mind that, you have to see it for yourself so get booking!
Holidays to Norway 2026/2027 Highlights
🏔️ Fjords that defy belief with Bergen as your gateway to the most spectacular natural scenery in Scandinavia
🌌 Northern Lights visible from Tromso between September and March, one of the genuine bucket-list experiences of a lifetime
🏛️ Oslo's world-class culture from the Munch Museum (home of The Scream) to the waterfront Opera House you can literally walk on top of
🐟 Seafood straight from the source with fish markets, harbour restaurants and some of the freshest catches in Europe
Good to Know
☀️ Summers are surprisingly pleasant at 18-23°C with incredibly long days (the midnight sun means it barely gets dark in June and July up north). Winters are cold at around -2 to 3°C in the cities, colder in the north, but atmospheric and brilliant for northern lights
💷 Norway uses the Norwegian Krone (NOK), not the euro. A pint of beer costs around 90-130 NOK (roughly £7-10), a main course at a mid-range restaurant about 200-350 NOK (£15-27) and a coffee around 40-55 NOK (£3-4). Yes, it's expensive, but almost everywhere takes card and the quality is consistently high
🏔️ Norway has over 1,000 fjords, and the western coastline from Bergen northwards is one of the most dramatic stretches of scenery anywhere on the planet. You don't need to go far from the cities to see it
🏨 Top Hotels for Norway Holidays 2026/2027
💑 Couples
🏨 Bergen Harbour Hotel - right in the centre of Bergen with Bryggen's colourful wharf a five-minute walk and the Floibanen funicular just two minutes away. Restaurant and bar on site, with the fish market three minutes from your door.
🏨 Scandic Ishavshotel - a modern quayside hotel in Tromso with stunning harbour views, superior suites with private balconies, a restaurant and bar. The Hurtigruten ferry terminal is 50 metres away and northern lights tours depart right from the doorstep.
👨👩👧👦 Families
🏨 Scandic Solli - a 226-room hotel in central Oslo with a children's playground, gym, sauna, summer terrace dining and extra beds/cots available. Well connected by public transport to all the main family attractions.
🏨 Hotel Norge by Scandic - a massive 415-room hotel in the heart of Bergen, designed by a Bocuse d'Or champion chef. Three floors of restaurants and bars, a private pool, gym and nightclub. Bryggen and the funicular are right around the corner.
✨ Luxury
🏨 Grand Hotel Oslo by Scandic - the iconic 283-room grand hotel on Karl Johans Gate, Oslo's main boulevard. Spa with sauna and treatments, fine dining restaurant, and the Parliament building is 100 metres away. Norway's most prestigious hotel address.
🏨 Scandic Torget Bergen - 173 stylish rooms across seven floors, right next to Bergen's fish market and Bryggen. Restaurant, bar, pub and a breakfast buffet with a view. Walking distance to everything in the city centre.
🎉 Groups
🏨 Scandic Byporten - 239 rooms right next to Oslo Central Station, six minutes' walk from the Opera House and on Karl Johann Street for shops and restaurants. Bar, restaurant and excellent transport links for getting the group around the city.
🏨 Anker Hotel - a recently refurbished 222-room hotel between Karl Johan Street and trendy Grunerlokka. Good value for Oslo, with a bar and easy access to the city's best nightlife district. The bus and train station is 700 metres away.
💰 Value
🏨 Quality Hotel Hasle Linie - a modern 211-room hotel in Oslo with a fitness centre, restaurant, bar and complimentary full breakfast every morning. Slightly outside the absolute centre, which keeps the price down, with good transport links into town.
🏨 Quality Hotel Leangkollen - a 98-room retreat in Asker, just outside Oslo, with an outdoor pool, gym, restaurant and bar. Set in green surroundings with parking and a quieter atmosphere, but connected to the city by train.
🏔️ Must-Dos on your Norway Holidays
Norway's scenery is the main event, but the cities bring serious culture and food to the table too.
🏛️ Munch Museum, Oslo - the striking angular building on the waterfront houses the world's largest collection of Edvard Munch's work, including The Scream. One of the best art museums in Scandinavia.
🎭 Oslo Opera House - walk right up to the roof of this angular marble building for panoramic views over the Oslofjord. The architecture alone is worth the visit, and there are regular performances inside.
🏘️ Bryggen, Bergen - the colourful wooden wharf buildings are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most photographed spot in Norway. Narrow alleyways lead to craft shops, galleries and cafes.
🚠 Floibanen funicular, Bergen - ride up Mount Floyen in minutes for panoramic views over the city, the fjords and the surrounding mountains. There's a network of walking trails at the top and a brilliant playground for kids.
🌌 Northern Lights from Tromso - between September and March, Tromso is one of the best places on earth to see the aurora borealis. Guided tours run nightly and chase the lights across the Arctic landscape.
🐋 Whale watching from Tromso - between November and January, humpback and orca whales feed in the fjords near Tromso. Boat tours head out from the harbour and the experience is genuinely unforgettable.
🏘️ Where to Stay on your Norway Holidays
👨👩👧👦 Families
Oslo The best all-round base for families. Flat, walkable and packed with kid-friendly attractions: Tusenfryd theme park, the Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology, Vigeland sculpture park and the Viking Ship Museum. Brilliant public transport with the Oslo Pass covering buses, trams, ferries and museum entry.
Bergen Compact and easy to manage with children. The Floibanen funicular ride up the mountain is a hit with kids, Bergen Aquarium has penguins and sea lions, and VilVite Science Centre keeps curious minds busy. The fish market is a fun lunch stop too.
💑 Couples
Bergen The most romantic of the three cities. Stroll hand-in-hand through Bryggen's colourful streets, take the funicular at sunset, share a seafood platter at the harbour and use the city as a base for fjord day trips. The Haga district has charming cafes and boutiques.
Tromso For couples after something truly special. Chase the northern lights together, take a fjord cruise, visit the striking Arctic Cathedral and enjoy cosy candlelit dinners in the world's northernmost city centre.
🎉 Groups
Oslo The biggest nightlife scene, with bars and restaurants around Aker Brygge and the Grunerlokka district. Kayaking on the Oslofjord, food halls like Mathallen, rooftop bars and plenty of museums make it easy to keep everyone happy.
Bergen A brilliant group destination with the Bryggen quarter for daytime exploring, the fish market for shared seafood platters, and a compact bar scene that's easy to navigate without losing half the group.
🗣️ Local Lingo
🇳🇴 Hello - Hei (hey)
🙏 Please - Vaer sa snill (vair so snill)
😊 Thank you - Takk (tahk)
🍺 Cheers! - Skal! (skoal)
🍽️ The bill, please - Regningen, takk (RYE-ning-en, tahk)
😋 Delicious! - Deilig! (DAY-lee)
☀️ Good morning - God morgen (goo MOR-en)
🗺️ Where is...? - Hvor er...? (vor air)
👋 Excuse me - Unnskyld (OON-shuld)
👀 Norway Travel Guide 2026/2027
👨👩👧👦 Families
🎡 Tusenfryd, Oslo - Norway's biggest theme park with rollercoasters and rides for all ages, plus a water park in summer. About 20 minutes south of the city by shuttle bus
🏛️ Viking Ship Museum, Oslo - see actual Viking longships pulled from burial mounds over 1,000 years ago. Kids find the scale of them properly impressive and it's a great educational stop
🐧 Bergen Aquarium - penguins, sea lions, crocodiles and tropical fish in a harbourside location. Combine it with a ride on the Floibanen and the fish market for a brilliant family day out
🔬 VilVite Science Centre, Bergen - hands-on interactive exhibits covering everything from weather to the human body. Kids can spend hours here without getting bored
🌊 Fjord boat trip from Bergen - take the family out on the water to see the dramatic scenery up close. Several operators run half-day and full-day trips from Bergen harbour, and kids love the boat ride
💑 Couples
🌅 Oslofjord sunset cruise - float past islands, beaches and the city skyline as the sun goes down. Some cruises include food and drinks, making it a properly romantic evening
🏛️ Munch Museum and waterfront walk - spend a few hours with The Scream and Munch's extraordinary collection, then walk along the waterfront to Aker Brygge for dinner by the harbour
🌌 Northern Lights chase, Tromso - guided tours head out from the city between September and March, driving to the clearest skies. Watching the aurora with your other half is a genuine once-in-a-lifetime moment
🏔️ Floibanen and dinner in Bergen - ride the funicular at sunset for panoramic views, then head down to one of Bergen's harbourside restaurants for fresh seafood and local wine
☕ Coffee culture in Grunerlokka, Oslo - Oslo's hippest neighbourhood is packed with independent coffee shops, vintage stores and buzzing brunch spots. Perfect for a lazy couples morning
🎉 Groups
🍺 Mathallen food hall, Oslo - a brilliant group activity with stalls selling everything from smoked salmon and reindeer to artisan cheese and craft beer. Everyone can try something different and compare notes
🚣 Kayaking on the Oslofjord - rent kayaks from the harbour and paddle around the islands. A brilliant way to bond and get a different perspective on the city
🐟 Bergen fish market - grab a big shared platter of prawns, crab and smoked salmon and eat it harbourside. One of those group experiences that everyone remembers
🎿 Holmenkollen Ski Jump, Oslo - even outside winter, the views from the top of the jump tower are sensational. There's a museum inside and a zipline for anyone brave enough
🍻 Aker Brygge bar crawl, Oslo - the waterfront district has a good concentration of bars and restaurants, making it easy to hop between spots without covering too much ground
🌍 More Destinations
Norwegian Cities
Oslo Fjords, world-class museums, a thriving waterfront food scene and the Munch Museum
Bergen Gateway to the fjords, with a UNESCO-listed wharf, brilliant seafood and the Floibanen funicular
Tromso The Arctic capital, famous for northern lights, whale watching and midnight sun
More Scandinavian Destinations
Stockholm Spread across 14 islands with a medieval old town, world-class museums and 30,000 archipelago islands
Copenhagen Colourful Nyhavn, Tivoli Gardens, New Nordic cuisine and the most bike-friendly city in the world
Helsinki Saunas, design, island-hopping and the gateway to Finnish Lapland
Lapland Northern Lights, Santa Claus Village, husky safaris and glass igloos under the Arctic sky
Popular Norway hotels
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FAQs
What currency does Norway use?
What currency does Norway use?
Norwegian Krone (NOK). The exchange rate sits at roughly 14 NOK to £1. Like Sweden, Norway is essentially cashless and you can pay by card almost everywhere. You might not need to withdraw any cash at all.
Is Norway expensive?
Is Norway expensive?
Honestly, it's one of the more expensive countries in Europe. Basically expect to pay anywhere what you'd pay at a really fancy place back home. A pint of beer in a normal bar costs around 90-130 NOK (roughly £7-10), a main course at a basic restaurant about 200-350 NOK (£15-27) and a coffee around 40-55 NOK (£3-4). The upside is that quality is consistently high, portions are generous and tips aren't expected (service is included). But the scenery is incredible and the culture is fantastic. And if you're on a budget, you can keep costs down by eating at food halls, making the most of hotel breakfasts and grabbing lunch from bakeries and supermarkets.
What's the best time to visit Norway?
What's the best time to visit Norway?
It depends what you're after. Summer (June to August) is the most popular season: long, bright days with temperatures around 18-23°C and the midnight sun in the north. It's ideal for fjord cruises, hiking and city exploring. For northern lights, visit Tromso between September and March, with peak season around December to February. Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) are quieter and often cheaper, with beautiful light and fewer crowds.
Can I see the northern lights from Oslo or Bergen?
Can I see the northern lights from Oslo or Bergen?
Occasionally, but your best bet by far is Tromso, which sits inside the Arctic Circle and has prime aurora conditions from September to March. Oslo and Bergen are too far south for reliable sightings, though a particularly strong solar storm can produce displays visible across the whole country. If northern lights are a priority, head north.
Do I need to speak Norwegian?
Do I need to speak Norwegian?
Not at all. Norway consistently ranks among the best English-speaking countries in the world. You'll have no trouble communicating in hotels, restaurants, shops or on public transport anywhere in the country. A "hei" (hello) and "takk" (thanks) will earn you a smile, though.