Norway Tours & Vacations

About Norway

Norway’s natural beauty is very impressive. The Arctic North is one of the few places where the sun shines at midnight during the summer and where the magnificent Northern Lights brighten the skies during the long winter nights. Further to the south, the picturesque cities of Oslo, Trondheim and Bergen are brim-full of buildings showing o Scandinavia’s age-old air for design in cosmopolitan surroundings. Oslo is the present-day capital and financial center, while the country’s second city, Bergen, is a picturesque former Hanseatic trading port and gateway to the fjords of Norway. Stavanger is the focal point of the Norwegian oil industry and the former capital, Trondheim, is a long-established center of Christian pilgrimage, and more recently, technical research. Though the weather can be a tad grim in Bergen, the UNESCO-listed waterfront adds a flash of color with its wooden warehouses and shimmering harbor.

Oslo’s waterfront is no less beautiful and has an ice-white Opera House that could give Sydney’s version a run for its money. Stunning though the cities are, the real wonders of Norway are to be found outdoors. In the far north, the glacier-covered sub-polar peninsular of Svalbard is one of the few areas where polar bears can be seen in the wild and Norway’s miles of Arctic tundra double up as a destination for skiing and spotting the Northern Lights. Elsewhere, a ferry trip along Geirangerfjord must rank among the world’s prettiest voyages with pine-topped cliffs giving way to icy green water, regularly topped up by the waterfalls that cascade down the fissured sides of the ravine. Indeed, you’d be hard-pushed to find a part of Norway’s northern fjord area that isn’t strikingly beautiful, with snow-capped peaks and looming forests almost everywhere you look.

Weather, Climate and Geography

Due to the temperate waters of the Gulf Stream, Norway has a much milder climate than other parts of the world at the same latitude, such as Alaska, Greenland, and Siberia. The areas that are often the coldest in winter are inland or far to the north.

The climate in Norway varies a lot from country part to country part, and there can be large variations within the separate regions of Norway as well.
But in general, the coastal areas usually have relatively mild winters (still with snow and great skiing conditions in the mountains, though), whilst the inland parts have cold winters with plenty of snow, and hot and relatively dry summers, especially in the eastern parts of the country.
People consider Southern Norway a summer island paradise. Tourists visit Fjord Norway throughout the year as it is a popular destination. In spring, the fruit trees are blossoming. During autumn, the mountain sides turn orange and yellow. To experience the silent and serene fjords, surrounded by snowcapped mountains, come during winter.
Northern Norway is also a great place to visit any time of year. While the coast enjoys a milder climate, it can get very cold in some of the inland areas during winter. This is also the best time to experience the northern lights. During summer, the sun is up all night long – the phenomenon is best known as the midnight sun.

Required clothing

Warmer clothing, hats, gloves, scarves are necessary during most of the year (especially during winter). Medium weight clothing will be good for summer season.

Did you know?

• Norway is a great spot for Northern Lights!
• Norway has the highest concentration of fjords in the world. The Geiranger Fjord and the Nærøy fjord, feature on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• Norway is the most successful country at Winter Olympics. They won more medals than any other participant nations.
• Vikings are Norwegian, and they discovered Iceland by accident.
• There are polar bears in Norway! You can see them in the wild.
• According to the research, Norway is the second happiest country in the world.
• The Norwegian Committee awards the Nobel Peace Prize every year at the venue of the capital city, Oslo.
• Norway’s coastline is truly amazing. It spans 3 sees, the Norwegian Sea, North Sea and Barents Sea.
• When it comes to Northern Lights, of course, Norway is a great spot for Aurora Borealis.
• In most regions of Norway, the sun never sets never rises.