Travel to Norway

Walking amongst Norway's fjords offers visitors some of the most unique and beautiful scenery in the world, from steep mountainsides to immense waterfalls. We take a look at some of the best places to go hiking in Norway for fantastic views of the fjords.

Bergen

Cruise ships often start their journey of Norway's fjords from this bustling ferry port. Huddled amongst towering mountains, the town is famous for its Fish Market which not only sells raw oysters but also holiday souvenirs and vegetables. Next to the Fish Market you will see Dyvekegangen which is the narrowest street in Norway at just 99cm wide. Walking in Norway's narrowest street may not seem a particularly enjoyable prospect, especially for the claustrophobic amongst you. However the Dyvekegangen is home to the popular Dyveke's wine cellar a Victorianesque building which is definitely worth the stroll.

Also located in the centre of Bergen is the Witch Stone, where 350 suspected witches were burnt at the stake from 1550 to 1700. Equally gruesome is the dungeon at the Rosencrantz Tower which was used from 1400 to 1800.

Voss

The town of Voss is one of the best locations for hiking in Norway, with an abundance of lakes and mountains. It is also the gateway to the breathtaking Sognefjord, which makes it one of the best places to spend a couple of days before continuing on to visit this natural wonder. Whilst the town of Voss may be incredibly scenic for walking in Norway it is also the ideal place to take part in a number of adventure sports. Skiing, waters ports and paragliding are all common in this area and the extreme sports festival, Ekstremsportveko, takes places every year in June.

When all the sports that the region has to offer have worn you out, it's time to take a break from walking in Norway and board the scenic railway which stretches from Bergen to Flam. The railway cuts into the side to the mountain and descends 865m in 13 miles to the shores of Aurlandsfjord. Aurlandsfjord can be experienced from boat and kayak and the mountains are the perfect place for walking in Norway's scenic landscapes.

Sognefjord

Sognefjord is Norway's most dramatic fjord and the area is sure to be the highlight of your hiking holiday in Norway. The fjord is not only the largest in Norway, but also the second largest in the world, extending more than 200km inland to the national parks of Jotenheimen and Jostedalsbreen. Both parks are equally attractive, and both merit a visit whilst on your walking holiday in Norway. Jotunheimen, 'the Home of the Giants', contains Norway's highest mountain, Galdhøpiggen, and all the country's peaks above 2300m.

Meanwhile Jostedalsbreen's craggy mountain peaks and verdant grass make the park ideal for hiking but the area is equally attractive by boat as it boasts the largest glacier within mainland Europe. If the glaciers are something that particularly fascinate you whilst on your walking holiday in Norway then you may even want to join a glacier walking tour and enjoy a thrilling walk with an experienced guide on the blue glacier ice.

When you are walking in the forest and along the river at night, remember you are not alone. There are little elves in the forest, and people in Norway call them the trolls. Every nation has its own tradition legends about spirits. And for Norway, it is the troll. The trolls have long red nose, massive hair, and somewhat ugly. They are said to be the spirit of trees and the earliest conquer of Norway. The trolls are in charge of the night and the Norwegians are in charge of the day.

The first day I stepped into the earth of Norway, the sculptures of the trolls started to grab my eyes. They were really every where. They are at the doors of shops, in the train stations, by the street of the city and at the door of someone's house. The bigger ones can be 2 meters tall and the smaller ones can be put into the pockets. But don't try to make troubles with those little demons. I took a lot of photos of them as a sign of friendliness. At last I even brought a troll with a long braid back home.

The troll is the mascot of Norway. Many Norwegian grow up listening to the stories of the trolls. In those stories, the trolls are the earliest habitants in this land. They had families and people were divided into different tribes and they had their own kings. For example beside the lakes in the forests, there lived a kind of trolls named Nakens. They lived in the water. And besides the waterfalls and mills lived a kind of trolls named Falthergramenn, who were pretty good at playing violin. In one of those stories a famous violinist was once the student of the trolls.

The most interesting story about the trolls is that they sleep during the day and start doing thing at night. But once they play so happily and forget to hide themselves before the sun comes out, they will be turned into stones. In the stories, the trolls like to have porridge and it is said that their long noses are used to blend the porridge. So during Christmas the local people will put a bowl of porridge at the door of their houses for the trolls to enjoy their time of Christmas. The trolls are becoming more and more friendly.

Speaking of Norway, people can naturally bring the world famous novel "The Forest in Norway" to mind. There are many mountains in Norway. All kinds of villages are seated among the mountains. Between the villages are just the forests which are far away or nearby as if they are waiting for something. The forests of birches and firs which are both thin and thick are neither secretive like the virgin forest in image nor profound like the description by the authors.

In Norway, you can see the forest everywhere. The Norwegian like the forest very much. It is ruled by law that people must plant a young tree in the time limit after felling a tree no matter it is public-owned or privately owned. The Norwegian go to the forest is like our going to the square in weekends. People go to the forest to have a walk, go fishing deep in the forest and pick the mushrooms and wild fruit or only to do mountain climbing. I hear that there is usually a small log cabin deep in the forest. Beside the doorway is a mail box. People can live here for nights only after putting the money into the box. People would tidy the room and put some wild flowers in the drawing room for welcoming the next guest when they leave.

Whether the music of the Beatles or the word of Haruki Murakami, both make people the forest in Norway mysterious and beautiful which is beyond description. The forest in the novel of Haruki Murakami is mysterious, endless and is filled with the atmosphere of lost and coldness. In the true world, seventy-five percentage of the land are forest and greenbelt in the capital city of Oslo which is only with a population of five hundred thousand. Here is a typical place where the Nordic get along very well with the nature.

It is said that the original meaning of Oslo is "the valley of God" while another meaning is” plain of the foot of mountain". Oslo leans close to the circuitous firth of Oslo. Being viewed from a high place, it is surrounded tightly by the sea and the forest. The forest is endless. You can not see an end. Only one third of the entire city land is developed for construction. Most of the area remains in the nature status. For more information about traveling; please have a look at http://www.affordablecruisestours.com.

Bergen was founded by Olav Kyrre in 1070 under the name Bjørgvin. It was the largest city in Scandinavia until the 16th century and Norway's largest city until the 18th century. He built a wooden Christian church on the ground that later should be called Bergen Hus and at the same time he also started building a larger church building in stone. After this he singled out Bergen as the Bishop's headquarters for Western Norway. The city's second founder King Øystein (1103-28) built a fortress of wood near the two churches.

From the mid 12th century the wooden buildings of the king was replaced with stone halls, among them the Haakon Hall. In the area around it there were built walls with towers and in one of these the king created a chancery. The reason for the king’s association to Bergen was due to the city’s fast growing trading with fish from the north and grain, clothing and wine from foreign trade countries. German merchants established in Bergen from the mid 13th century as a resident colony attached to the German (Hanseatic) office. 

In the 13th and 14th century Bergen suffered from financial crises and misery and it was not until the 15thcentury that things were getting better. In the end of 15thcentury immigration from Denmark, Germany, Scottland, Netherlands increased and gave the shipping industry new impulses and built new relations with Arkhangelsk in the north to Sicily in the south. In the centuries that followed Bergen can be characterized by many ups and downs. In the first half of each century the city was marked by economic recessions. 

Then came the golden times, often accompanied by a new immigration wave. The same pattern repeated itself in each century until the 1850’s. Here we reached the industrial age and Bergen became the leading city in Norwegian shipping with fast transition from sail to steam. Export goods had until the 1900's mainly been fish products and lumber, but new technology and industry like textiles and clothing, mechanical workshops, merchant mills and new businesses like banks, insurance companies and new stock exchange building had made its way. This became the basis for further growth until 1914. 

After the first World War Bergen was once again hit by financial crises, closed industrial facilities and bankruptcies. And then came the great fire in 1916 that nearly burned down the entire Bergen city center. It was not until 1935 that the business sector experienced a definite improvement. Then came World War II and the damages that Bergen suffered from were bigger and more expensive than in any other city in Norway. Buildings on Bergen Hus, Nykirken and Tollboden had also been destroyed and it took several years before the buildings were rebuilt. Although it is a long time since the Hanseatic times, Bergen is still a commerce city and appear today as an important, modern hub in Norway.

Norway is located in the west part of the North Europe. The capital of Norway is the city of Oslo, which is the governmental, scientific, economic and cultural center of Norway.

The most interesting recreational area in the city of Oslo is Vigeland Sculpture Park. This extraordinary park area is a park that demonstrates the life work of Gustav Vigeland (died in 1943) who was a legendary sculptor. There can be discover more than two hundred different sculptures that are in cast bronze, granite and iron. The most important sections in this magnificent recreational area are the fountain, the wheel of life, the monolith plateau, the children's playground, the bridge and the main gate. Vigeland Sculpture Park is open throughout the year, so join in and see the monumental artistic design.

About the late 1290's, the first work on the Akershus Fortress was built by King Hakon V. Akershus Fortress was celebrated during its time and successfully survived a number of serious sieges, primarily by the Swedish navy forces. Akershus Fortress was remodeled and renovated throughout the 17th century; that is when it achieved the look as being a renaissance fortress.

In Kon-Tiki Museum you'll discover original exhibitions and boats from Thor Heyerdahl's exploration in the world. Thor Heyerdahl was born in 1914 and passed on in 2002 and he was famous as being as one of the most celebrated scientist and adventurer in the past. You will find permanent expositions such as Tigris, Kon-Tiki, Ra  and even Easter Island. There is also an section in Kon-Tiki Museum that is for those short-term expositions.

Holmenkollen is a place in the Vestre Aker district of Oslo. Furthermore to being a dwelling area, the region has been a ski leisure center since the late nineteenth century, with its legendary ski jump sector hosting ski jump contests since 1892.

Karl Johans Gate is the main road of Oslo and it was named in honor of King Karl Johan. The avenue is linking the main railway station that is in the city with this palace. On this avenue, you will see some of the finest points of interest in Oslo, containing the Norwegian parliament house that was built in 1866. You'll as well discover the Royal Palace, which was constructed during the 19th century. This palace is the residence of the Norwegian monarch.

If you like listening the music of opera and you're on vacation in Oslo, then you should stop in at the Opera House of Oslo. The Oslo Opera House is popular for being the national opera and theatre in Norway. You can discover the Oslo Opera House situated in the center of the city of Oslo. The builder of this opera building is Statsbygg, whom was well-known for being a house holder that was government run. The designers of this opera building were the same engineers of the Bibliotheca Alexandria. Inside the opera house, you'll find a whole of place of 38500 m2. The opera building includes 1100 rooms.

For a healthy dose of Viking culture and a good smattering of art and history museums, go to Oslo, Norway. For Oslo, a small capital by most measures, with a mere 500,000 people, has a surprisingly large collection of good museums - most of them easily accessible from the city center and, with the Oslo Pass in hand, inexpensive to boot - as well as a wealth of Scandinavian architecture, both historic and modern.

For first-time visitors to Oslo, however, since it is easy to be overwhelmed by the city's offerings, here are Oslo's 'Top 10' tourist draws.

1. Oslo's Opera House

Oslo's new Opera House, inaugurated in April 2008, is absolutely, positively, a 'must-see'. It is Oslo's bold, New Millennium statement to the world, aptly made with granite and 36,000 slabs of white marble. Partly submerged in the sea, the $700-million architectural masterpiece rises from the fjord like a massive sheet of ice, with its angular slabs, like giant ski slopes, surprising at every level. The opera house is home to both the Norwegian National Opera and the Norwegian Ballet.

2. Holmenkollen

Holmenkollen is one of the world's most famous ski jump arenas and easily Oslo's foremost attraction. The arena was originally built at the end of the 19th century, and renovated extensively in 1952 for the Winter Olympic Games. Holmenkollen is situated 357 meters (1,000 feet) above sea level, and the ski jump tower, which is one of the principal attractions here, is another 60 meters (180 feet) higher, with spectacular all-around views from the top. There is also a ski museum here, the oldest in the world, devoted to the history of skiing which goes back some 4,000 years! Holmokollen is in the Marka region of Oslo, and open to the public year-round.

3. Vigeland Sculpture Park

Located within the larger Frogner Park in the western section of Oslo, Vigeland Park is noted for its wealth of granite and bronze sculptures by Gustav Vigeland, one of Norway's most famous sculptors, for whom the park is named. There are more than 200 Vigeland sculptures here, and there is also a museum with Vigeland's work located just across from the park, open to the public Tuesday to Sunday year-round. The park is open to the public 24 hours, all year.

4. Oseberg Viking Ship Museum

One of the most popular museums in the city, the Oseberg Viking Ship Museum houses three of the world's best-preserved Viking ships. The ships are more than 1,100 years old and were found nearly a century ago in Oseberg, which is near Oslo, in the county of Vestfold. The museum also has exhibits demonstrating fabric and weaving techniques from the Viking era, as well as an assortment of tools and weapons. The museum is open daily.

5. National Museum of Art

Oslo's National Museum of Art is home to the world's most recognized painting, Edvard Munch's Skrik, also known as The Scream. Besides this 1893 masterpiece, the museum houses extensive collections of both Norwegian and International art. The museum is located next to the Oslo University on Universtetsgaten, just a couple of blocks from Oslo's main thoroughfare, Karl Johan. Admission to the museum is free.

6. Munch Museum

Here is a museum entirely devoted to Norway's most famous artist, Edvard Munch, one of the pioneers of Expressionism and painter of the renowned Skrik (The Scream). The museum has two versions of The Scream, one each in pastels and oil, the latter dating from 1910. The museum, which is probably a 10-minute walk from Karl Johan, has literally hundreds of Munch's paintings, donated by the artist to the city. The Munch Museum is open daily, except on Mondays.

7. Akershus Fortress

The Akershus Fortress, or Akershus Castle, situated in the southeastern part of the city center, is an integral part of Oslo's history. It was originally built as a royal residence in the 14th century by King Hakon V, when Oslo first became the capital of Norway, and rebuilt in the Renaissance style in the early 17th century by King Christian IV, following a fire that consumed the entire city. Today, you can tour both parts of Akershus: Akershus Slottet, which is the castle itself, and Akershus Festning, the area surrounding the castle. Akershus Festning is open all year between 6am and 9pm, while Akershus Slottet, the castle, is open to the public only during summer, unless you take a guided tour, which is available on Thursdays, even during off-peak season.

8. Oslo City Hall

Oslo's City Hall has a claim to fame. This is where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded every year on December 10, the only Nobel Prize to be presented outside Nobel's home country of Sweden. This is also the seat of Oslo's city council. The city hall building itself, which was inaugurated in 1950, is not terribly inspiring from the exterior, but has an impressive interior and a stunning view of the harbor. The city hall is located on Fridtjof Nansens Plass and is open on weekdays during business hours.

9. Oslo Parliament

Oslo's Parliament Building, Stortinget, is also worth seeing, especially if you are visiting Oslo for the first time. Uniquely 19th-century neo-Romanesque, the building dates from 1866 and was designed by Swedish architect Emil Victor Langle. Stortinget is located in the center of Karl Johansgate, just past the intersection of Akersgate. Admission is free, with scheduled guided tours available year-round.

10. Royal Palace

Although not as well known as British royalty, Norway still has its kings and queens and this is where they reside. The Royal Palace, or 'slottet', was originally built in 1824 as the residence of the Norwegian-cum-Swedish king, Charles III, and extensively renovated and restored to its former glory in the 1990s, at a significant cost, by King Harald V, the current monarch. The palace, situated on a small rise at the end of Karl Johansgate, Oslo's principal artery, is open for public tours during the summer months, June-August.

Occupying the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula can be a country of jagged coastline broken by enormous fjords and islands. The parliamentary democracy government of the Kingdom of Norway enables a strict enforcement of laws and judicial method, making Norway the nation with the lowest homicidal rate. The country's currency remains Norwegian krone as it has rejected twice the pacts of unification towards the European Union.

Norway is known for its Midnight Sun. Through the cold summer, the sunlight doesn't set in one particular whole day. The duration on the midnight sun depends on the location and how far north you're. It is in addition well known as a consequence of its a number of dazzling fjords. The Nærøyfjord is section of the UNESCO's Entire world Heritage List. It can be found on the southern part of the state together with Aurlandsfjord, that are both artistic and spectacular. Fjord cruise or safaris permits you to knowledge a exciting, insightful and unique journey along these fjords.

Above the Arctic Ocean lies a scenic national route, the Lofoten National Tourist Route. The panoramic sight of this fantastic island has drawn a great deal of inspiration from tourists and writers. The majestic crystal blue sea, white sands and verdant hills and mountains are the things to expect as you pass through this 166-kilometer path. One particular of the largest colonies of sea eagle in the world is discovered here in addition to a diverse fauna and flora habitat.

Northern Europe's biggest stock of reindeer inhabits the vast plateau Hardangervidda Mountains. There is plenty of outdoor activities that can be accomplished in the plateau like walking and cycling in its furrowed faces, and cross-country skiing. Numerous guided trips are available for a full Norwegian sensation. One of which is the four-day adventure inside the county of Hedmark. You'll experience camping by the lake, fishing and hiking in the wilds of Norway.

The salmon is migrating Northwards in Norway. High temperatures and less ice makes the Norwegian Salmon migrate northwards into Northern Norwegian rivers. High temperatures leads to salmon deaths as it is observed in Norway. During some few years the temperature in Norwegian rivers have increased, as in one of the most prolific salmon rivers in Northern Norway, Alta river were the temperature has become 0.4 degrees Celcius higher during the later years.

This leads to less ice in the rivers durinrg the winter, which the salmon do not like at all. The ice makes it possible for the salmon to stay in one place in the river and build up its storage of fat in the body. The amount of salmon that dies during the winter will increase as the lack of ice will lead to higher activities amongst the salmon which will burn more calories and contain less fat and eventually die of fatigue. The association which is concerned with the preservation and organizes fishing in the rivers in Noway is very concerned about this development.

Their experience has been that the salmon adapts to the changes in environment, however the speed of change is to rapid for the salmon to react and adapt, so it dies out in some rivers. There are several indications that the salmon migrates nortwards into colder rivers and more salmon than before is to be found on the Iceland called Svalbard in the northernmost parts of Norway. This could indicate that Svalbard could become a fisherman's paradise when it comes to catching salmon. Although it has not been uncommon with salmon that far north before, it is just a fact that there are more of it now than a decade ago.

If you've ever thought about taking a mini-cruise then you should seriously consider one of the excellent Fjord-land cruises from Newcastle to Norway. They run through the summer months until the Autumn and are usually between 6-9 nights long. These cruises travel from Newcastle to Norway taking in the beautiful scenery of the Fjords with stops in Bergen and also the Shetland Isles in the far north of the United Kingdom.

If you've haven't been there already then nothing can prepare you for the incredible natural beauty of the Fjords. The high snow capped mountains climb steeply above the deep blue water and are covered in lush green vegetation which is quite simply awe inspiring. The ships used are usually medium sized and make for a very intimate feeling. Trust me you wouldn't want to do such a cruise in a huge liner, it just wouldn't be as good. Don't worry though as these smaller ships have plenty of excellent facilities and entertainment on board for when you need it.

So what sights will you be seeing and how good will they be? Well, get ready to take in the magnificent Geiranger Fjord region which has snow on the mountains and beautiful waterfalls cascading into the deep blue waters of the Fjords. There's also the excellent Flam, Gudvangen areas and the great Sognefjord. This is the sight of Norway's steepest road which winds upwards from the Fjord into the mountains and offers breathtaking views at the top. Located on the Western coast of Norway is the beautiful and dramatic port of Bergen. You'll know this town from pictures I'm sure but seeing it in the flesh is a must. It dates back to the 14th century and there really isn't another place quite like it. Make sure you have your camera on this cruise and remember to take lots of film or an extra SD card!

Norway is the northernmost country of the world to have open waters. The reason behind this is the strong trade wind forced across Atlantic Ocean by the American continent. The second potential reason is the warm currents flowing towards north and the Norwegian Sea from the equator. The climate of Norway is full of surprises and differences can be experienced all around the year. These surprises are widely seen in the northern part of Norway because the northern part of Norway in located on the edge of global temperate zone. 

The lowest temperature recorded in northern Norway was minus 51o degrees and that was in Karasjohka-Karasjok. The average annual temperature ranges from around eight degrees in western coasts to below freezing point on the mountains. Months of January, February and March are the coldest months whereas time between June and August is considered the warmest time in inland areas. The coastal and the mountain areas get their warmest part of the year in later months.

The climate and the weather conditions of Norway are very unique from that of rest of Scandinavian countries. The mountains present in the mainland of Norway saves from precipitation to big areas of eastern inland of Norway. This is why; Norway has more of a continental type of climate than what is expected from it because of its immediacy to the coastline. As far as rainfall is concerned, it is also very unevenly distributed all over Norway. Some of the parts in the east of the mountain receive less than 300 millimeters annually. Most of the rain is filched by the west coast of Norway. 

Some areas in this part receive more than 3000 millimeters of annual rainfall. Most of the rainfall takes places between July and August. The most prominent agricultural areas receive rainfall between 500 and 1000 millimeters. There is a very interesting way to calculate rainy season in Norway. There are 100 rainy days in inland Norway and around 200 raining days in coastal parts.

The winds flowing in Norway are very strong and its direction is also very awkward. This force in wind also varies hugely from place to place mainly because of fast moving pressure fronts. The wind flowing along with mountains and the coasts is often very strong.

But despite of all this, Norway is worth seeing 365 days a year. Norway is one of the few countries of the world that has different attractions in different seasons. Whether you decide to visit Norway in summer, winter, autumn or spring, there is so much to do and so much to see. Norway is not bounded to a particular season for organizing outdoor activities. During summer, you can take shelter of sea in southern Norway and water areas for outdoor activities and can also enjoy skiing in some parts of the mountains.

Hiking on mountains while summer season is the experience one cannot forget. Autumn season comes and compels nature to showcase its sparkling colors and preserved beauty. Air tends to get even cleaner and everything looks refreshed in this time of the year. The period between the summer and the winter is the opportunity to take part in new and surprising outdoor activities. Such outdoor activities contain skiing combined with canoeing trip and much more.