Norway’s the sort of place you travel with your eyes wide and mouth open. Around every turn is another breathtaking sight. There are mighty waterfalls, mountains, inlets, valleys, lakes, and, of course, its world-famous fjords.
It’s so beautiful you can’t help but gawp in amazement, cursing at the fact you don’t have longer to explore. Throw in a long list of age-old Viking attractions and lively Nordic cities, and you have a true bucket list destination.
Want to see some of its best bits? Here are 15 of the most spectacular places in Norway.
1. Trolltunga
Arguably Norway’s most iconic viewing point, Trolltunga is a dramatic overhanging rock ledge that stands 700 meters above the Ringedalsvatnet lake below.
It means the “troll’s tongue,” which is an apt description of this flat-topped rock formation. The hike to the top is one of the country’s best, and the views are hard to beat.
2. Alesund
Alesund is Norway’s answer to Venice. Located on a row of islands on the country’s western coast, this beautiful fishing town has tall, colorful Art Nouveau houses that line an atmospheric waterfront.
It’s incredibly picturesque, surrounded by mountains and ocean, and offers great access to some of Norway’s most famous fjords.
3. Lofoten Islands
This archipelago off the northwestern coast is quintessential Norway. Traditional fishing villages with rows of red stilted buildings line dark and swirling waters, with mountain peaks towering above them. The scenery is otherworldly. To top the Lofoten Islands off, it’s also one of the best places in the country to see the Northern Lights.
4. Oslo
Oslo is the capital of Norway. While it isn’t as jaw-droppingly picturesque as the country’s natural wonders, the city remains a worthwhile place to explore. It’s clean, relaxed, and full of things to do.
If you’re looking for culture, then this is the place to go. Alongside the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, Oslo has world-class museums, including the notorious Viking Ship Museum.
5. Jotunheimen National Park
Welcome to one of Norway’s most popular national parks. Known as the Home of the Giants, Jotunheimen has more than 250 mountains that are 2,000 meters high. Another awe-inspiring landscape with waterfalls, rivers, glaciers, and lakes, visit to experience some of the country’s best hiking and outdoor opportunities.
6. Flam
Flam is drop-dead gorgeous. Nestled among fjords in southwest Norway, it’s surrounded by towering cliffs that have waterfalls streaming down them into the frigid waters below.
One of the town’s most famous attractions is the Flam Railway. This scenic train ride travels over 12 miles between Flam and Myrdal, passing through some of the country’s most impressive landscapes.
7. Femundsmarka National Park
Located close to the Swedish border in east-central Norway, Femundsmarka National Park is famous for being one of the largest continuous and unspoiled areas of wilderness in Scandinavia.
It’s a diverse landscape with glassy waters, forests, and mountains galore. If you want to immerse yourself in nature, it won’t disappoint.
8. Bergen
You won’t find many cities as vibrant, picturesque, and well-located as Bergen. Norway’s second-largest city is nestled amongst the infamous Western Fjords. It serves as a convenient gateway to these epic waterways while also boasting its own appeal.
With Bryggen (its medieval harbor district), beautiful mountains and water everywhere you look, a lively atmosphere, and a rich maritime history, Bergen is not to be missed.
9. Svalbard
Svalbard is one of the most unique landscapes on the planet, let alone in Norway. An untouched wilderness between the coast of northern Norway and the North Pole, this snow-strewn archipelago is one of the northernmost permanent settlements on earth.
It’s an incredible place to see wildlife, including reindeer, walruses, seas, and even polar bears. It’s also another hotspot for witnessing the Northern Lights.
10. Geirangerfjord
Although Norway has over 1,000 fjords, a small handful of them tend to attract the most attention. Geirangerfjord is one of them.
Located in the southwest, it’s such a dazzling display of nature that UNESCO awarded it World Heritage status in 2005. Expect a 9.3-mile-long, 260-meter-deep fjord with verdant, waterfall-covered cliff faces tumbling into pristine waters below.
11. Pulpit Rock
If you’ve ever seen Mission Impossible: Fallout (the one with Henry Cavill), you’ll know about Pulpit Rock already. This is where they filmed the big fight scene at the end.
A national treasure, Pulpit Rock (known locally as Preikestolen) is a 604-meter-tall, perfectly flat-topped platform that seems to have been chiseled from the mountain. It’s a spectacular, hair-raising place that involves a memorable hike to the top.
12. Træna
Located 38 miles from the mainland, Træna is a stunning and remote archipelago comprising roughly 500 islands and islets.
It’s one of Norway’s smallest municipalities, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in history and natural wonders. Expect tranquil coastal landscapes with wild open spaces, wildlife, and mountain views.
On the island of Sanna, you’ll find a cave nicknamed “Nature’s Cathedral.” It’s 32 meters high, has a natural altar (a boulder) in the middle, and has been a gathering place for at least 10 millennia.
13. The Atlantic Road
Norway is a country tailor-made for road trips. The roads wind through breathtaking valleys, past waterways, and through incredible tunnels bored through mountains and beneath the ocean.
The Atlantic Road is known as one of the world’s most picturesque drives. This five-mile road snakes over bridges and islets in the Atlantic Ocean, connecting Averøy with the Norwegian mainland.
14. Briksdal Glacier
Located in southwest Norway, Jostedal Glacier National Park is home to the largest glacier in mainland Europe.
One arm of it is called the Briksdal Glacier, which cascades down into the Briksdalen valley. Accessible via a short hike (or a special car ride called the Troll Shuttle), it’s yet another epic view in Norway.
15. Senja Island
Norway’s second-largest island is a microcosm of everything this magnificent country has to offer. You’ll find it in the far north, far above the Arctic Circle. Expect endless outdoor opportunities, with mountains and beaches galore, plus some of the world’s best fishing waters.
Other Senja highlights include the Midnight Sun, the Northern Lights, and a Polar Park full of wolves, wolverines, bears, and lynxes.
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