The most beautiful places in Norway are well-worth seeing at least once in your lifetime. Norway is regularly rated one of the happiest places on Earth, and its natural splendor makes it easy to imagine why. Its wondrous fjords, glaciers, towering waterfalls, and historic towns make you lose your sense of time, transporting you to centuries past.
Cities like Bergen and Oslo captivate with their brightly-painted wooden homes and sweeping mountainscapes, while tiny fishing villages like Skjolden and Flåm act as gateways to Norway’s vast fjords and national parks.
Here are some of the most stunning places to visit in Norway during your next vacation.
Historic Bryggen
Bryggen, Bergen
Not only is Bryggen a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it’s also the iconic town center of Bergen. As far back as the Middle Ages, Bergen held important status as a trading and shipping town thanks to its coastal location. After a 1955 fire devastated the city, Bergen came back better than ever.
Now, Bryggen’s rows of trading houses along the harbor are postcard-perfect. Walking along the wharf facing the sea and exploring the local boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries that have brought new life to the city are some of the best things to do in Norway.
Trollstigen
Trollstigen
Though the Troll’s Road sounds practically mythical, you can take this winding road for yourself just outside of Alesund. The path is marked by sharp turns, also called “hairpin turns,” which zigzag along the mountainside.
Read: An Insider’s Guide to Alesund, Norway
According to local legend, the beautiful and menacing mountains of Trollstigen were the home of trolls. At night, the trolls explored, but if they didn’t return by morning, they’d turn to stone.
Stigfoss Waterfall
During a ride along the Troll’s Road, one of the best places to visit in Norway, you’ll watch as the landscape of the Trollstigen dramatically changes from rivers and valleys to deep gorges. Stop at the Stodal Church, an ornately painted place of worship that’s been in use since the 12th century. Cross the Stigfoss Waterfall and snap pictures of the Troll Wall in Romsdalen Valley, which is part of the highest smattering of vertical cliffs in all of Europe.
Steinsdalsfossen Waterfall
Steinsdalsfossen Waterfall
Norway is home to over 300 waterfalls, each stunning in their own unique way. After you’ve spent a while enjoying the Hanseatic Wharf in Bergen, head outside of town to discover one of Norway’s best-loved waterfalls, Steinsdalsfossen.
The falls measure over 150 feet tall, and a lone pathway runs behind the falls to keep passersby comfortably dry. Walk behind the falls, admiring the way light dancing through the cascading water.
Stop for a photo opportunity at the foot of the falls, or head to the lookout point and soak in the panorama of quaint Norwegian architecture and farm houses below.
Geirangerfjord
Geirangerfjord
Geirangerfjord is well known as one of the most beautiful places in Norway. Take a boat ride along the fjord, or drive the Troll’s Road to explore the fjord on foot.
Geirangerfjord stretches over 60 stunning miles, beginning in Alesund and ending in Geiranger. People love Geirangerfjord because it has everything quintessentially Norwegian: serpentine mountain roads, majestic waterfalls like the famous Seven Sisters Waterfall, lush vegetation, and spectacular cliffs cut away by ancient glaciers.
Mount Fløyen
Bergen is nicknamed “the Gateway to the Fjords” for good reason: it’s a jumping-off point to the most beautiful vistas and views that Norway is known for. Mount Fløyen is one of them.
Floibanen Funicular, Bergen
Mount Fløyen is just beyond the city center of Bergen, easily accessible on a ride up Norway’s only funicular. Take to the skies on the Floibanen Funicular, a less than 10-minute ride spanning over 1,000 feet. Watch the wharf and the cityscape fade behind you as the cable car makes its way up the steep mountain.
At the top, you can spend a while taking in the view of Bergen, the fjords, forests, and distant mountains. Some of the best hiking in Norway for all skill levels is also available from the summit of Mount Fløyen, or let the kids loose at the playground.
Some take the funicular in both directions, but others save a solo trek for the way down. If you’re not much of a hiker, unwind for a bit at the mountaintop cafe, or savor a traditional lunch with panoramic views.
Read: Best Things to Do in Bergen
Strandafjell Mountain
Strandafjell Mountain
Nature lovers flock to Strandafjell Mountain for the breathtaking views, but the attractions at the top of the mountain are well worth a visit, too. Take the Stranda Ski Center gondola up to the mountain’s summit, then spend a while soaking in the views of the fjord.
At the top, you’ll find another hiking route that also promises panoramic views at its end. After, cozy up in the mountaintop restaurant serving traditional Norwegian food as well as brunch favorites like pancakes and coffee.
Royal Palace
Royal Palace, Oslo
No trip to Oslo is complete without visiting its opulent Royal Palace, an ode to neoclassical architecture and home to many royals since its completion in 1849. Today, you can leisurely stroll the grounds, stopping in the gardens and the peaceful Palace Park.
During the summer, you can roam inside the Norwegian castle on a guided tour, where you’ll explore its suites, ballrooms, parlors, balconies, and banquet halls. Watch the changing of the guard in the early afternoon, and end the afternoon with a picnic lunch on the green.
Tvinde Waterfall
Tvinde Waterfall
The magnificent Tvindefossen flows just an hour outside of Flåm, north of the village of Vossevangen. Flanked by evergreen treetops and towering cliffs of the Naerøy Valley, you can see Tvindefossen up close from a simple roadside lookout point. Local legend has it that the waters of Tvindefossen are an elixir for youth.
Thousands flock to Tvindefossen for photo ops, but others stay for the peaceful feeling they get in nature. Listen to the falls as they powerfully cascade and watch the pristine waters flow from a drop of nearly 500 feet.
Briksdal Glacier
Briksdal Glacier
Briksdal Glacier, or Briksdalbreen in Norwegian, is one of the legendary arms of Europe’s largest glacier, the Jostedalsbreen.
Briksdalbreen is one of the most beautiful places in Norway. Its dramatic, crystalline ice mimics the shape of a giant, frozen waterfall from the summit all the way down to Briksdalsbrevatnet, the small lake it leads into.
A hike to the best views of the Briksdalbreen is less than four miles round-trip, and you’ll pass the Kleivafossen Waterfall on the way. You can also hop on a “Trollcar” for a ride to the top of the glacier.
Lysefjord
Pulpit Rock
“Lysefjord” means “fjord of light,” named for the color of its rock formations. It stretches for over 25 miles of dramatic, jagged cliffs, and it’s the home of Pulpit Rock, one of the best places to visit in Norway. Travelers from all over the world journey to Pulpit Rock, or Preikestolen, a massive square-shaped structure that juts out from the fjord for once-in-a-lifetime views.
The attractions near Lyseford are impressive, one-of-a-kind adventures for nature buffs and thrill-seekers alike. Make the unforgettable climb up the world’s longest wooden staircase or go skyward in a helicopter to see Preikestolen from above. Take to the sea on a boat ride through the waters of the Stavanger archipelago, where you’ll cruise beneath the shadow of Pulpit Rock.
Breheimen National Park
Breheimen National Park
Brenheimen was established in 2009, so while its nature is as old as time, it’s a newer attraction for those who want to go a little off-the-beaten-path on their Norway vacation. Once you’ve seen your share of fossen and fjords, spend a while on the trails in Breheimen National Park.
Norway’s stunning mountains and lush greenery collide in one breathtaking vista as animals like reindeer, sheep, and goats roam freely. Animal lovers, bring a set of binoculars to look out for precious, endangered birds like falcons and eagles.
Storsæterfossen
Storsæterfossen
You’ll find Storsæterfossen nestled in the peaceful countryside of Geiranger, a rustic village that’s gained global fame for its landmark fjord, Geirangerfjord, and an ample collection of waterfalls.
It’s best known for the hidden trail that snakes behind the waterfall. The trail includes a guardrail that you can balance on as you watch the falls cascade, though the route can be slippery.
University Botanical Garden, Oslo
University Botanical Garden, Oslo
Oslo Botanical Garden is a haven of tranquility in the center of the city. Established in 1814, it’s Norway’s oldest botanical garden, home to a staggering 4,500 plant and flower species from around the world, with whimsical woven sculptures by British artist Tom Hare adorning the green space.
This open-air museum is also home to two-time capsule greenhouses, The Palm House and The Victoria House, built in the late 1800s. Wander among the canopy of tropical plant life, with orchids, ferns, cacti, and other succulent plants.
University Botanical Garden, Oslo
There’s a cornucopia of greenery within the Botanical Garden arboretum, too—cherry trees, yellowwood, magnolia, dove, robinias, linden, catalpa, elder, and mock orange. The alpine-esque Rock Garden is a mood-lifting space containing a miniature mountain landscape, complete with grassy hillsides, rocky ridges, water displays that mimic waterfalls, and a pond with water lilies.
There’s more, including the Willow Garden, the Viking Garden, a wild meadow, and herb garden. Enjoy the therapeutic Great-Granny’s Garden, where a vibrant mix of primroses, cowslips, irises, peonies, and asters bloom. You can join free guided tours during summer and relax in a lovely café with outdoor seating.
Tromsø Cathedrals
Arctic Cathedral, Tromsø
Shining swan-white and pointing to the cool Arctic sky, Tromsdalen Church—also known as the Arctic Cathedral—is one of the places to visit in Norway when exploring Tromsø in the country’s remote north.
This modern concrete church was completed in 1965, designed by Norwegian architect Jan Inge Hovig in a series of dramatic triangular structures to mirror the surrounding serrated peaks.
Cross the imposing cantilevered Tromsø Bridge to witness the Arctic Cathedral’s towering cross and gleaming stained-glass windows. In fact, one of the best things to do in Tromsø is walk between the city’s two famous churches.
Across the bridge, in the center of Tromsø, Tromsø Cathedral is an eggshell-hued 19th-century church with a copper spire. Stop by Vervet Bakeri for a deliciously sweet cinnamon roll and hot coffee as you wander between these two landmark buildings.
Flåm
Flåm
Norway is a country of many unfathomably beautiful places, including the village of Flåm at the very end of the Aurlandsfjord, a branch of the sprawling Sognefjord.
Flåm is a poster child for the Norwegian fjords, surrounded by waterfalls and snow-capped mountains, with a 17th-century wooden church and pretty harbor set around the calm water. There’s a village bakery, a pub, and a couple of souvenir shops for travelers to enjoy a coffee, locally brewed ale, and fresh sandwiches and pastries.
Flåm Railway
One of the best places to visit in Norway is Flåm Railway. Europe’s second steepest railway and one of the world’s most breathtaking train journeys, Flåm Railway climbs the green valley to reach Myrdal station, over 9,000 feet above sea level.
You’ll want to pack your camera for this two-hour return journey, with vintage railway carriages cutting through mountains, following the teal-hued River Flåm, and stopping at the splashing Kjosfossen waterfall.
After returning to Flåm, visit the Railway Museum, which is set inside a buttercup-yellow waterfront building by the fjord. A detailed exhibition charts the railway line’s remarkable construction, which included digging through 20 mountain tunnels to build the 12-mile track.
Trollveggen
Trollveggen
Around 90 minutes southeast of Molde, a city on the Moldefjorden on Norway’s fjord-indented west coast, lies Trollveggen, or Troll Wall, nestled in glorious alpine scenery.
Part of the Trolltinden massif in the Romsdalen valley, within the dramatic Reinheimen National Park, Trollveggen is the tallest vertical rock face in Europe, soaring 3,600 feet into the sky, and is eye-wateringly steep. The region is also rich in wildlife, with golden eagles swooping to high nests, wild reindeer, and wolverines among the thick forests.
Trollveggen
Gaze up at Trollveggen’s rugged rock face and keep an eye out for plump ptarmigans and elegant gyrfalcons. There’s a picnic area, a souvenir shop, a café, and bathrooms near the foot of Trollveggen. At the visitor center, watch a film about the history of adrenaline-filled BASE jumping at Trollveggen.
BASE jumping—an acronym for buildings, antennas, spans, and earth—sees daredevils jump from tall cliffs and buildings, parachuting to the ground after a period of freefalling, though it is now illegal at Trollveggen.
The entire area is devastatingly beautiful, with rushing rapids of the Rauma River, thick forests, and often mist and snow cloaking the mountain’s summit.
Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim
Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim
Nidaros, named after the original name of the city of Trondheim, is the world’s northernmost medieval cathedral. What’s more significant about Nidaros Cathedral, however, is that it’s situated on the burial site of Viking King Olav II—also known as Saint Olaf and Olav the Holy—the patron saint of Norway.
This lofty church was completed in 1300, following 220 years of construction, and is a masterstroke of gothic architecture, with exquisite stonework including thousands of soapstone sculptures, and a soaring glass rose window.
Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim
Nidaros Cathedral is the destination of one of Europe’s most important pilgrimage routes, known as St. Olav Way. There are nine routes across Norway in total, all leading to this beautiful cathedral.
Join a summertime tour of Nidaros Cathedral to learn about Nidaros’s checkered history, including its 150-year restoration, which is still ongoing. Climb the church tower’s 172 dark, coiling steps for breathtaking views of Trondheim.
After marveling at Nidaros Cathedral, wander to the neighboring Archbishop’s Palace. This grand stone castle and palace was built around the same time as the cathedral and has been the residence of 27 archbishops. View the King’s crown and other coronation objects of Norway’s monarchy, which have been on permanent display at the Archbishop’s Palace since 2006.
Geiranger Skywalk
Geiranger Skywalk
What makes the Geiranger Skywalk on Dalsnibba one of the most show-stopping places to visit in Norway? Opened in 2016, it is perched almost 5,000 feet in the sky and offers the highest view of a fjord in Europe.
You’ll feel as though you’re floating among the clouds when you reach Geiranger Skywalk, which involves a 40-minute drive from Geiranger via 11 hairpin bends. The Nibbevegen road is one of the most famous in Norway, with information boards at panoramic view points dotted along the way revealing information about the road’s construction, which was completed in 1939.
Geiranger Skywalk
Breathe in fresh mountain air as you soak in rousing views of peaks carpeted in snow, pine forests, the Blåbreen glacier, and the UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord in the distance.
With an iron-grid floor, a glass rail and a sheer drop of around 1,640 feet immediately below, Geiranger Skywalk is an unforgettable spine-tingling experience. On a clear day, you’ll be able to see the zigzagging Møllsbygda route weaving from the fjord up the mountainside and the faint glow of Geiranger.
Geiranger Skywalk’s Skycafé serves coffee, pastries, and lunch, and there’s a shop to pick up souvenirs. Enjoy a warm waffle or a smoked salmon sandwich as you take in more unrivaled mountain, fjord, and glacier views.
Odderøya, Kristiansand
Odderøya, Kristiansand
An island off Kristiansand, close to the southern tip of Norway, Odderøya is one of the best places to visit in Norway for its woodland walks and landmarks such as the Kilden Performing Arts Centre.
Odderøya is connected to the mainland by a short bridge and has a floating sauna, watersports such as kayaking, and a jetty where open-water swimmers can jump into the frigid water. As a former naval base, the island is dotted with bunkers, the remains of former forts, ramparts, and observation points with views of the city.
A signposted path leads from Kristiansand’s boat-lined harbor and the 17th-century Christiansholm Fortress to Odderøya. There’s a seasonal café on the southern tip of the island and, on a clear day, the pine-scented trail offers lovely views of Oksøy and Grønningen lighthouses on two small islets at the entrance to the fjord.
Circle the island to end up at Kunst Silo, a shiny new museum that has revitalized a former grain silo, built in 1935. This industrial building has undergone a dazzling transformation and now houses three permanent modern art collections, including the world’s largest collection of Nordic modernist art. Finish up at the chic rooftop Panorama Bar for delicious cocktails, including the Summer Suze, a gin-based libation with peach, lime, syrup, and egg white.
Naeroyfjord
Naeroyfjord
The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Naeroyfjord is among the best places to visit in Norway for its beguiling, wild beauty. Located near Flåm, and an arm of Sognefjord, Naeroyfjord is eclipsed by towering mountains that are dotted with farms that clutch the mountainsides.
Join a sightseeing boat trip from Flåm to Gudvangen, a village at the inner point of the skinny Naeroyfjord.
The two-hour trip runs year-round and takes in magnificent waterfalls that tumble into the fjord. Pack a sweater and waterproof jacket and head out onto the boat’s viewing deck.
Naeroyfjord
There’s also a bus service that operates between Flåm to Gudvangen that takes 20 minutes along the E16. With white and red traditional timber-clad houses and a backdrop of the majestic mountains, the scenery is cinematic. Book a canoe or kayak tour from Gudvangen or tour the true-to-life Viking Village Njardarheimr to discover what life was like here 1,000 years ago.
Joined a guided tour of the village and take part in interactive activities led by real Vikings, such as ax throwing and archery. Watch as authentic dishes are prepared over an open fire, just as they would have been during the Viking Age.
Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo
Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo
More than 200 bronze, granite, and wrought-iron sculptures adorn Oslo’s Frogner Park as a celebration of
Gustav Vigeland’s life’s work. Norway’s most famous sculptor lived and worked in Oslo and the 20th-century sculptor who also designed the Nobel Peace Prize medal was instrumental in designing the park.
To explore Vigeland Sculpture Park, begin at the Bridge, lined with 58 bronze sculptures of children, women, and men that were modeled between 1925 and 1933, including the iconic The Angry Boy, an infant child who appears to be having a tantrum.
Fountain of Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo
Continue via the rose garden to the Fountain and the park’s first sculpture that was intended to be positioned in front of the Norwegian Parliament building before the current sculpture park was planned. The Fountain depicts six giant men holding a large saucer-shaped vessel above their shoulders, with water tumbling over them from the top of the fountain.
You’ll also find yourself drawn to the main event, the 56-foot Monolith. The highest landmark in the park, The Monolith is carved out of a single stone block and depicts 121 entwined human figures, with children at the top.
Delve deeper into Vigeland’s work at the Vigeland Museum, including original plasters for the sculptures in the park, located on the southern edge of the park.
Read: Things to Do in Oslo
Bergen Fish Market
Bergen Fish Market
One of the best places to visit in Norway is Bergen Fish Market, where merchants have sold their fresh North Sea catch for centuries. This joyous market developed from the arrival of the German Hanseatic League in the Bryggen neighborhood and has been an integral part of life in this pretty waterfront city since the 13th century.
Over time, Bergen Fish Market has expanded and moved locations, including to its current position facing the harbor in 1556 and later, in 2012, opening the indoor market, Mathallen.
Bergen Fish Market
In addition to a cornucopia of seafood—salmon, lobster, shrimp, and caviar—Bergen Fish Market sells fresh fruits and vegetables and has an array of restaurants. Bergen Fish Market is open year-round, with stalls also outside from May through summer, with seating outside, facing the picturesque harbor.
Browse the fresh and pickled produce, such as herring, sardines, and mackerel, dine on freshly made sushi, and slurp oysters at Fish Me or Fjellskål.
Honningsvåg
Honningsvåg
Honningsvåg, in the Nordkapp region of Norway, lies on the southern bay of Magerøya, within the Arctic Circle. This pocket-size city—just 260 acres—is connected to the mainland by the North Cape and Honningsvåg tunnels.
Nordkapp, meaning North Cape, is the northernmost point of Europe and one of the best places to visit in Norway thanks to its magnificent nature and quaint, small-town feel.
Honningsvåg
Wander Honningsvåg’s attractive waterfront, lined with colorful fishing boats, and visit the traditional white church. There are galleries, restaurants, bakeries, and pubs. Outside of Honningsvåg, you’ll find some exhilarating hiking trails and remote beaches.
During summer, bird life is sensational, too. Puffins, kittiwakes, white-tailed eagles, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, and gannets among the species you’re likely to see swooping in the skies around Gjesværstappan Nature Reserve, just off the North Cape.
Holmenkollen Ski Museum and Ski Jump
Holmenkollen Ski Museum and Ski Jump
Look northwest from Oslo’s center and you might spot a hill rising in the distance. Holmenkollen Ski Museum and Ski Jump is an urban ski hill that mirrors a real slope, rising 1,400 feet, and home to the world’s oldest ski museum, which opened in 1923.
Revealing the 4,000-year backstory of skiing, Holmenkollen Ski Museum is a fascinating place to explore, featuring rock carvings dating from the Stone Age, Viking Age skis, and polar equipment used by famous explorers including Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen.
Take a taxi to explore Holmenkolle’s exhibition and marvel at the eye-popping slope. There’s a simulator within Ski Jump Tower that mimics racing down the slope at full throttle—62 miles per hour.
Lysefjord
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