Pass The Passport

Places / Europe

Norway

Visited

At a glance

Region
Northern Europe
Capital
Oslo
Population
5.6 million (2024)
Area
323,802 km²
Languages
Norwegian Nynorsk, Norwegian Bokmål, Sami
Currency
Norwegian krone (NOK)
Drives on the
right
Calling code
+47
Visited: Norway

Country visited City visited Still to go Click a pin or country to read more. Zoom with + and −, a double-click or a pinch.

Before you go

Overview

The Kingdom of Norway is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. The mainland region consists of the northern and western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula, mainland Norway, the distant island of Jan Mayen and Svalbard. The Sub-Antarctic Bouvet Island of the Kingdom of Norway the most remote island in the world after Tristan da Cunha.

By 2020 the country recorded a population of 5.368 million and covers an area of 385,203 km2.

The capital and largest city is Oslo. Close to it is a Holmenkollbakken hill for ski-jumping where the Fjord is viewed from.

Other cities include Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger and Kristiansand.

The beautiful Norwegian Fjords

History

It was formed in 900. It was reliant on Denmark between 1536 and 1814 before uniting with Sweden until 1905 when it gained independence.

Food & culture

The culture of the country is based on its history and geography.

The main crops include barley, oats, berries and potatoes.

The popular dishes are whale steak, tutefisk, kumla, lefse, picked herring, krumkake and farikal.

Wildlife

The main wildlife animals include reindeer, moose, Eurasian lynx, birds and whales in the Ocean.

Festivals & events

The main celebrated events include Norway National Day on 17th May, Oya Festival, The Peer Gynt Festival, Ice Music Festival and Gladmat Festival.

Things to see

Oslo city has several museums to visit such as the Norwegian Maritime Museum, Viking Ship Museum, Fram Museum, Kon-Tiki Museum and Norwegian Maritime Museum.

Other must-visit places are the Geiranger Fjord, Lofoten, the Tromso, Bergen, the Stravanger and the Trondheim.

Interesting facts

It has the longest road tunnel called the Laerdal tunnel.

The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony is held in Oslo Norway.

The two official languages are Norwegian and Sami.

Majority of the population adhere to Lutheran Christianity.

City guides

Cities & towns I’ve visited

Famous hikes in Norway

Trolltunga

Distance
20 to 28 km return
Time
10 to 12 hours
Best time
June to September

How to do it: A long day hike from Skjeggedal near Odda to a rock ledge 700 metres above a lake. Outside the summer season, only go with a guide. Paid parking higher up cuts the distance.

See it on my bucket list

Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)

Distance
8 km return
Time
4 hours
Best time
April to October

How to do it: An easy-to-reach hike near Stavanger to a flat cliff top 604 metres above the Lysefjord. Go early or late to avoid the crowds.

My photos from Pulpit Rock, May 2023

Run a marathon in Norway

Midnight Sun Marathon

Tromsø · usually June

Run through the night under the midnight sun, 350 km north of the Arctic Circle, starting at the Arctic Cathedral. The Oslo Marathon in September is the big city race.

I ran it in June 2018

Dates move from year to year, so check the race website before you book.

Races I've run in Norway

All my races

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Norway

0 of 8 visited. See every site I've been to.

My photos from Norway

From 3 trips, newest first, so you can see which places each set of photos came from.

May 2023 Stavanger

Strand, Stavanger

Whole trip gallery
  • A man sitting on the edge of Pulpit Rock above a deep fjord.
  • A man crouching on the flat top of Pulpit Rock with the fjord far below.
  • A man in a red T-shirt standing on a cliff edge above a long fjord.
  • A smiling man taking a selfie above a long fjord under grey clouds.
  • A man with long curly windswept hair and sunglasses on a ferry deck with cliffs behind.
  • A green forested valley with granite hills and a small lake under a cloudy sky.
  • The flat-topped Pulpit Rock cliff above a fjord with a beam of sunlight cutting through cloud.
  • A long fjord winding between steep rocky mountains seen from a boulder-strewn summit.
  • A huge angular boulder balanced on small rocks atop a mountain under a grey sky.
  • A street of brightly painted buildings with bunting and café tables in Stavanger.
  • Steep grey rock cliffs with patches of green rising from dark fjord water under a cloudy sky.
  • Towering grey granite cliffs with green forest below under a bright blue sky.

June 2018 Norway Midnight Sun Marathon

Tromsø Villmarkssenter, Tromsø, Polar Night Half-Marathon

Whole trip gallery
  • Tromsø and its island spread across the fjord, with snowy mountains beyond
  • A man smiling as a black and white husky with pale blue eyes licks his cheek.
  • A smiling man sitting on the ground cuddling two fluffy husky puppies.
  • A smiling man holding two husky puppies inside a wooden kennel.
  • My Midnight Sun Marathon medal and race bib.
  • A smiling man holding two fluffy husky puppies in a kennel.
  • A man standing by the water in Tromsø with the bridge and mountains behind.

September 2015 Norway Toughest Race

Oslo

Whole trip gallery
  • A man in a green race top climbing a rope and grinning during an obstacle race.
  • A tall ship moored in the harbour in Oslo.
  • A man sitting on a bench beside a white figure-shaped cut-out against a brick wall.

Plan your trip to Norway

Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. More about this.

Neighbours

Bucket List goals in Norway