Norway is a beautiful country full of fjords and unique activities!
Norway Tips:
Traveling across Norway is not as convenient as the rest of Europe: There are trains between some destinations but they can be quite slow. You can rent a car to drive around the country but everything is quite spread out and there are not many roads. Between most spots I would recommend flying.
This area of Europe is incredibly expensive. Lodging is pretty affordable but food, drinks, activities, and transportation are all very, very pricey.
Himkok
Oslo, Norway
Oslo gives off big city vibes while still being tiny and very walkable. It is more industrial and not quite as exciting as other parts of Norway.
You can take the Flytoget express train into the city from airport or the local train for half the price and only 3 minutes longer. Google Maps won’t tell you this but the Ruter app will and you can purchase tickets on the app.
Himkok: A hidden distillery and cocktail bar that is quite a vibe. The drinks are expensive but it is a fun experience and they are delicious.
Koie Ramen Torggata: A ramen restaurant that is popular, extremely delicious, and well-priced.
Mad Goat: A nice beer bar with patio and indoor seating with a great selection and a ton of taps.
Stay at Comfort Hotel Xpress Central Station: This is a cheap and conveniently located hotel that is still clean and nice.
Brewgata: Solid little beer bar with a good amount of taps.
Oslo Opera House: Walk up onto the roof for a nice view of the city and wharf.
Spor av Nord: This is a cute little café with cozy vibes.
Akershus Fortress: This is a national monument of a medieval castle. Norway’s Resistance Museum is inside the fortress. This is a very informative museum with quite a bit of reading but overall quite interesting.
Aker Brygge: The wharf neighborhood is a nice area by the water with a lot of bars and restaurants.
Viking Ship Museum: This highly rated museum is closed until 2027, so if you are visiting after that be sure to check it out.
Henry and Sally’s: Mikkeller’s Norway beer bar.
Tromsø, Norway
Tromsø is a small, touristy town north of the Arctic Circle. It is very small and walkable, and if you rent a car expect to pay for parking everywhere. I found the area to be beautiful and the food and drink to be very underwhelming.
There are some epic views if you are flying up on a clear day—try to get a window seat on the left side of the plane for the best vantage point.
Chasing Lights Aurora Tour: This minibus tour to see the northern lights is a great experience. They are visible on clear nights if you are lucky from mid-September to early-April. The guide was knowledgeable and I was very impressed with how determined he was for us to see the aurora. Expect a late night and a unique adventure! We also saw reindeer and fjords on our tour.
Fjellheisen: Take the cable car up to stunning views of the entire region. The ticket prices for the cable car are pricey so you can also save money (and get some steps in) by taking the Sherpa Stairs up or down, but be forewarned it’s 1,203 stairs though beautiful through Aspen trees in the fall!
Explore the island of Sommerøy:
Hillesøya-Nordkollen Trail: This trail is 1.6 miles long and climbs 600ft of elevation gain in half of a mile. There is a rope to help guide you because it is incredibly steep, so know your limits—AllTrails says this is moderate and that is a boldfaced lie, this is basically rock climbing. The views are insane—the water around the island looks like the Caribbean. It takes about an hour to complete.
Sommarøy Arctic Hotel: This is a great spot to stay or to stop for lunch. The views from the patio are beautiful and the food is incredibly delicious.
Check out the Kattfjordeidet viewpoint on your way to/from the island.
Ersfjord viewpoint: A beautiful fjord view on the way to Sommerøy.
Stay at Æra Panoramic Glass Lodge: This is a very unique stay about 30 minutes from town on the Barents Sea. It is a nice and very cool stay, but it is expensive for what you get.
Risø Kaffebar: A nice spot for coffee and snacks. Everything is quite good and surprisingly affordable.
Arctic Cathedral: A super unique and beautiful church. The price to enter is a bit steep but it is pretty neat to see.
Tromsø Mikrobryggeri & Balthazar Vinbar: A beer and wine bar with a nice atmosphere.
Cafe Sånn: Cozy little spot for food and drink.
Northern Yachting Catamaran Fjordcruise: I wouldn’t fully recommend this, but it is an option! I found the tour to be a bit boring and the guide to be underwhelming. The are some nice views and you get to see Ramfjord, but it’s mostly the same view the entire journey.
Polar Museum: This is essentially a museum about how man hunted everything in Svalbard. Would not recommend unless you like hunting/gore.
I would not recommend staying at Clarion Collection Aurora: This hotel is a little dingy and outdated.
Pulpit Rock
Stavanger, Norway
Stavanger is a cute little touristy town on the coast. It is very compact and you can see everything by foot pretty quickly. Be forewarned that cruise ships dock here during the day, increasing the amount of tourists, but by the evening it is a quaint, charming town.
When traveling to/from the airport, Flybussen is far more affordable than a taxi.
Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) Trail: This trail is 5.9 miles long with 1,305ft of elevation gain and takes about 3 hours to complete. It is rated moderate, and most of that elevation comes in the first 1.5 miles with a very steep start. Your ascent takes you to Lysefjord with gorgeous views the entire way up to the dramatic cliffs. This is a very popular trail and the trailhead is built up as a little village because there is so much foot traffic.
To get here without a rental car you can book a tour or just a bus transfer, which is what I did with Pulpit Rock Tours. There are limited times, so be sure to plan out your day in advance. It is an expensive ride and about 45 minutes each way from Stavanger.
Fargegaten: A very cute neighborhood with lots of bars to hop around. It is nicknamed “the colorful street” because the bricks are painted beautifully. A great area to hang out at night with lots of patio seating.
Bøker og Børst is a nice beer bar here
Bella Rose is a cute pink spot for cocktails and wine here
Gamle Stavanger: Historic area with old wooden houses to meander around.
Byparken: A small, pretty park in the heart of the city.
Thon Hotel Stavanger: This hotel is in a great, central location. There is a bus stop right outside of the front door and everything is very walkable. You even have meals, water and ice included in your stay.
Sverd i Fjell: A famous spot with 3 swords at the beach. It is very touristy so I did not go out of the way to see this, but you can actually catch a peak on the bus from the airport on the left side.
Headed to Bergen? Fjord Line is a great way to travel between Stavanger and Bergen. It is quite cheap and has nice touches with beautiful views along the journey. It’s essentially a coastline tour + transport for the cost of your ticket. The only inconvenient thing is the port in Stavanger is not close to downtown.
Bergen, Norway
Bergen is a beautiful, touristy town surrounded by 7 mountains. It is very small and walkable.
Download the Skyss Billet app for public transit tickets.
Take the ferry into town—the Fjord Line port in Bergen is located in town and a quick walk to get anywhere you need.
Vidden Trail from Ulriken to Fløyen: This epic hike is a point to point trail taking you from the summit of Mt. Ulriken to the summit of Mt. Fløyen using the cable car and funicular. It is 10.2 miles long with 1,318ft of elevation gain and takes about 4 hours to complete. There are stunning views throughout the journey that change drastically—highly recommend!
Alternatively you could just take the cable car up Ulriken via Ulriken643 or the Fløibanen funicular up Fløyen, or you can also just hike the Floyen Trail or just hike the Ulriken Trail.
Bryggen: UNESCO World Heritage Site. Old buildings that are colorful and now house bars and restaurants. Madam Felle is a good one to check out.
Apollon: A great beer bar with 46 taps and a record shop.
Take a Fjord Cruise: There are numerous options, but I booked with Rodne through Osterfjord and the Mostraumen straits. It is a pretty ride with unique views and a good length of time.
Pinocchio Mat og Vinbar: The restaurant has immaculate cave-like vibes. Their tapas-style menu is full of delicious eats and they have a large selection of wine.
Pingvinen: Tasty little gastropub with 15 beers on tap and a full food menu.
Lucky: The Bergen taproom of Lervig Brewery. A solid spot with guest taps too.
Last Monkey: A fun little cocktail bar.
Løvetann Café & Bistro: A cute little spot for lunch or coffee away from the crowds.
Bergenhus Fortress: This historic attraction was previously part of the Norwegian Castle. It is home to the Rosenkrantz Tower.
Byparken: The city’s main park that occasionally hosts festivals and events.
Lysverket Kode: An art museum with 3 buildings that is nice and informative.
Nøstet/Nordnes neighborhood: Explore this old neighborhood with wooden houses—similar vibes to Gamle Stavanger just with less tourists.
USF Verftet: Unique venue on the water with a couple of bars. Good spot for sunset.
Gyro House: A solid spot for a casual, affordable lunch.
