Traveling around the country is simple, and the country’s top-notch transit systems, whether by rail or aboard the fantastic coastal steamers, provide some of the best sightseeing opportunities.
One of the world’s wealthiest countries, Norway appears to have a fascinating museum dedicated to almost every aspect of its rich cultural and social history. If you do your homework, you can find fascinating attractions ranging from Vikings to seafaring and fishing, as well as art and entertainment.
Norway is also known for its breathtaking scenery. You’ll find some of the best places to visit in Europe for exciting adventures, from its stunning fjords to its spectacular mountains and glaciers, many of which are easily accessible to tourists.
Our list of the top tourist attractions in Norway will help you plan your sightseeing excursions.
1. Sognefjord
Sognefjord, Norway’s largest fjord, stretches 204 kilometers inland from Skjolden’s coastal village, branching off into countless smaller inlets and fjords along the way. This King of the Fjords is almost five kilometers across, and the top of the cliff to the bottom can rise as high as 1,307 meters, giving it a breathtaking sight.
Boat cruises and tours of the fjord are popular activities. Hordes of tours depart from the attractive city of Bergen depart (be sure to allow a full day for your adventure).
Fugal exploration may also enjoy slender branches like Naerjoro, where the cliffs are spaced at 250-meter intervals and stand over 1,700 meters above the surface of the water.
Fjæland is a popular vacation spot for sightseeing as well. This gorgeous location is home to Europe’s most imposing glacier, Josted Glacier, and the Norwegian Glacier Museum.
2. Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen)
Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen), despite being a tourist attraction best suited for active travelers due to the difficult journey required to get there, is one of Norway’s most popular sights. The destination, which is near Stavanger, requires a two-hour uphill hike to reach the almost perfectly flat-topped cliff that looks over Lysefjord and is more than 600 meters above the water.
The surprisingly fascinating Norwegian Canning Museum will interest anyone visiting Stavanger. The Stavanger Cathedral is another popular tourist attraction in the city. This structure of the 12th century is characterized by several styles, including a Roman basilica, a Baroque pulpit, and a Gothic font.
3. Tromsø
Tromsø, situated just north of the Arctic Circle, is famous for having supported several key exploration projects since the middle of the 1800s. The Troms is a fishing village, and the industry has been an important feature of the area ever since.
This is another reason why Tromsø is a great destination for those who want to see the Aurora Borealis, the aurora boreal lights. Tourists will discover a variety of fun facts and sites in the city that relate to the phenomenon, such as Polaria as the Polar Museum.
The Tromsø Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden is an unexpected tourist destination for an area deep in the frozen north with a host of flowering plants. The most prominent of these are hardy rhododendrons, which can be found throughout the country, and Tibetan blue poppy, which has been set aside to pay tribute to the local flora.
4. Lofoten Islands
The Lofoten Islands are a national attraction for both Norwegians and foreign visitors alike. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, we have mild weather despite being located so close to the Arctic Circle.
Tourists visit to go to enjoy the scenery, to visit traditional fishing villages, to take a canoe trip on the lake, and to go birdwatching. You will also enjoy getting a glimpse of the northern lights from these islands. Besides, the fact that the town of Svolvaer is the largest on the southern Austvåøya island, there are plenty of attractions and interesting things to do there.
Here you will discover a unique exhibition featuring ice sculptures of Norwegian life during World War II life in the middle of the nation during WWII.
The Lofoten Museum (Lofotakvariet), which explores the island’s fishing history, and the Lofoten Aquarium (Lofotakvariet), which features Arctic sea life, are both located on Austvgy.
The Norwegian Fishing Village Museum and the Lofoten Stockfish Museum, both located in the town of, provide additional information about the importance of fishing.
5. Viking Ship Museum in Oslo
The Viking Ship Museum (Vikingskipshuset på Bygdøy) in Oslo is the largest of Norway’s museums dedicated to their seafaring ancestors. It houses three 9th-century Viking ships, each of which served as burial chambers for prominent Vikings.
The 70-foot Oseberg Ship, the largest of these, was built around AD 800. It included a chieftain’s wife and two other women and numerous items that shed light on Viking life.
The Gokstad Ship, which is 23 meters long, and the Tune Ship are also on display at the museum. Several exhibits and films focusing on the importance of maritime life for that culture are also available to visitors.
The Museum of Cultural History runs the Viking Ships Museum, as does Oslo’s Historical Museum, which houses artifacts from all over the world and throughout history, from Egyptian mummies to gold coin history. One of Oslo’s most popular attractions also houses a growing Viking Age exhibit, which includes a rare and well-preserved Viking helmet.
6. Bygdoy Peninsula
Bygdoy Peninsula is a suburb of Oslo, located four miles west of the city and easily accessible by car or public transportation. It is known for its many natural spaces, including beaches, parks, and forests, and is home to several of Oslo’s top tourist attractions.
The Center for Studies of Holocaust and Religious Minorities in Norway, located in Villa Grande, is one of the many museums on the Bygdoy Peninsula. Another excellent museum is the Fram Museum, which houses the ships Fram and Gja, both of which are famous for their Polar voyages (the latter famous for being the first ship to navigate the Northwest Passage). Next door is the popular Kon-Tiki Museum.
The Norwegian Maritime Museum is also located in this area (Norsk Maritime Museum). The museum explores the role of fishing and other maritime activities in Norwegian life and is one of the best places to visit in Oslo for ship and history buffs.
7. Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf, Bergen
The Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf is one of Bergen’s most popular tourist attractions. The Hanseatic merchants dominated this vibrantly painted area, which was once the city’s trade center. Several historic buildings, as well as boutiques, restaurants, and the Bryggen Museum, are open to the public today, depicting life in the Middle Ages.
The Hanseatic Museum, which has been open since 1872, has even more information. Finnegård, a 1704 home once owned by one of the merchants, now houses this fascinating museum. Visitors to Bergen should also pay a visit to Troldhaugen, composer Edvard Grieg’s former home and workspace, as well as the Open Air Market.
8. Tromsø’s Arctic Museums
Troms is home to a wide range of fantastic museums, including two that focus on life in the far north. Polaria is the newest of these, with exhibits on the aurora borealis (northern lights), climate change’s effects on Arctic ecosystems, and Arctic wildlife, as well as an Arctic aquarium.
The museum focuses on the community’s long history of fishing and polar studies. The findings of more recent expeditions and scientific studies that delve into the world of the Arctic’s dark and cold deep sea are among the exhibits.
9. Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo
Norway’s number one of the country’s most popular attractions and home to 650 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland These iron, bronze, and granite sculptures are arranged in five themed groups.
These are the most famous in the fountain group that portrays the cycle of human life that culminates in a monolith of 16 meters. This sculpture garden is situated within Frogner Park, which houses the Vigeland Museum and the Oslo Museum. Also situated here is Norway’s largest playground, and a rose garden.
10. Akershus Fortress, Oslo
King Håkon V commissioned the Akershus fortress (Akershus Festning) to build in 1299 and later became King Christian IV’s royal renaissance residence in the early 17th century. It is a historic town hall. It is located on a headland overlooking the fjord, with spectacular views of the harbor located around it.
Guided tours are available in the summer, and it’s also possible to locate the Museum of the Norwegian Resistance (in the castle grounds).
History buffs may also want to see the weapons and exhibits from the Norwegian Military History Museum (Forsvarsmuse). The fortress grounds provide an excellent setting for many functions, including public festivities such as ceremonies, concerts, and performances.
11. Lillehammer
Located above Lake Mjøsa, Lillehammer is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Norway year-round, located on the southern end of the Gudbrandsdal valley. This summer season, the Malhaugen Park is a museum with over 100 historic buildings, including farm halls, workshops, and a stave church, which dates back to the 18th century.
Peer Gynt’s Cottage is another notable landmark. It is said to have been the home of Ibsen’s famous hero’s prototype from the early 1700s. But Lillehammer shines when the snow flies. The City’s winter activity lists include endless activities such as skating, curling, sleigh rides, over 480 kilometers of Nordic and alpine ski resorts, hosting the 1994 Olympic Winter Olympics.
12. Geirangerfjord
The Geirangerfjord region north of Lesund, which is part of the spectacular Fjord Norway network and regularly tops the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list, offers some of Norway’s most beautiful scenery. The Geirangerfjord, an eastward extension of the Sunnylvsfjord, offers some of Norway’s most breathtaking views.
The view from the top of Dalsnibba is one of the best. The views of the surrounding mountains and the Geirangerfjord far below are simply breathtaking from 1,495 meters. There are a variety of cruises and tours available, but if you’re driving, make sure to take the winding Eagles’ Road, which features 11 hairpin bends and spectacular views.
13. Scenic Rail Routes
The train is the best way to see Norway’s beautiful countryside. Surprisingly for such a mountainous country, Norway’s rail lines stretch over 3,218 kilometers, passing through 775 tunnels and over 3,000 bridges along the way.
Best ways to see the Norwegian countryside begin in Oslo, such as the Hardangervidda Railroad which follows. Other notable routes include the Dovre Railway, which runs from Oslo to Trondheim and includes a sideline, the Rauma Railway, which runs between Dombs and Ndalsnes, and the famous Flam Railway, which is the steepest in the world.
Other interesting diversions available on Norway’s rail network include classic steam trains, gourmet train excursions, and pedal-powered rail tricycles (draisines) for use on abandoned rail lines.
14. Atlantic Ocean Road
The Atlantic Ocean Road, an important to the road network for its many small islands and divers, has the additional benefit of being a public fishing resource for those who wish to get as close to the water as possible.
Even though it is about eight kilometers long, the section between Egne and Averøy Romsdal in Romsdal is known as the most scenic coastal highway in the world. not only will you get great views, whatever the weather, but you’ll also get the opportunity to visit attractive fishing villages and attractive wooden churches as well
Most businesses catering to visitors have emerged, including restaurants and recreational boat rentals.
15. Jotunheimen
This 3,499-square-kilometer area is home to Scandinavia’s most lofty summits. The scenery here is striking, with its numerous waterfalls, glaciers, lakes, and reindeer herds. The two mountains here, the highest of which is Galdhopiggen, rise over 2,438 m. Despite being nearly twelve kilometers high, the peak of Galdhopighal can be climbed in about four hours. Though a guide is required, the phenomenal views of rocky outcroppings and green meadows of ice from the summit are considered invaluable. The 1,349-meter Skagastlsbotn and the Skagastlsbre glacier are another four-hour climbs in the Hurrungane group.
