Discovering the Beauty of Norway: Fjords, History, and Culture
- Wanderlust Mike
- 2 minutes ago
- 9 min read
There are many things that inspired us to travel to Norway. We wanted to witness the beautiful fjords and islands, and learn more about the classic Viking culture.
There are over 1000 fjords in Norway, amongst 62,000 miles (100,000 km) of coastline. That's one of the longest coastlines in the world! And their Viking culture spans from approximately 793 to 1066 AD. The Vikings were seafaring people from Scandinavia who engaged in raiding, trading, and exploration. Great craftsmen, they built long ships which allowed them to travel vast distances at sea.
Today, we can still see the influence of the Viking culture in areas such as the naming and symbol of our Bluetooth technology, and in our days of the week such as Thursday (Thors-Day) and Friday (Frigg-Day).
Norway is currently known for its stunning landscapes, the Northern Lights, the high quality of life, and exports such as oil and natural gas. Come discover how you can take advantage of the best Norway has to offer!
NORWAY 4K UHD | a cinematic travel video
Our 19 day itinerary in May:
Day 1 & 2 - fly from Los Angeles (LAX) to Oslo, Norway (OSL)
Day 3 & 4 - Olso, Norway
Day 5 - take a train from Oslo to Flam (via Myrdal)
Day 6 - Flam
Day 7 - take a train to Bergen
Day 8 & 9 - Bergen
Day 10 - drive to Geiranger
Day 11 & 12 - Geiranger
Day 13 - drive to Alesund
Day 14 - fly from Alesund (AES) to Harstad-Narvik (EVE), drive to Sandtorg (Lofoten Islands, Arctic Circle)
Day 15 - drive to Svolvaer
Day 16 - drive to Reine
Day 17 - return to Svolvaer
Day 18 - fly from Harstad-Narvik (EVE) to Oslo (OSL)
Day 19 - return home from Olso (OSL) to Los Angeles (LAX)
OSLO
Oslo is the capital of Norway. With the greater Oslo region holding a population of over 1.5 million, it is the administrative, economic, and cultural hub of the country.
Our first full day in Oslo was filled with Vigelandsparken (Vigeland Park) and its nude granite sculptures, the Norsk Folkemuseum (Norwegian Museum of Cultural History) where we saw our first stave church, and witnessing the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace in Slottsparken!
We also celebrated Constitution Day in Oslo! May 17th is their greatest national holiday, and we enjoyed the school parade in front of the Royal Palace. Many people wear traditional bunad dress for the holiday. Each bunad represents a different region of Norway. There are over 500 in total! Those who don't own a bunad wear formal dresses and suits out of respect for their country.
In Oslo, we lodged at the Olso Guldsmeden hotel, which had a great breakfast buffet and was conveniently located between Slottsparken, the Norsk Folkemuseum, and the waterfront. There was also a grocery store nearby, and since restaurants are quite expensive in Norway, we found ourselves dining in quite often. Nearby restaurants we did enjoy included Hummus & Wine with great Syrian cuisine, and Gamle Raadhus Restaurant for traditional Norwegian dining.
Transportation tips: use the Ruter app for Oslo public transportation. You must use a guest account if you have a foreign phone number. The QR code you receive is only needed if someone comes to check your ticket. They use the honor system for public transportation, and you are not required to scan anything upon boarding. They have a 24 hour pass, or a 7 day pass for about $34.
Use the express rail line, Flytoget, to travel to and from the airport. We do not recommend taking a taxi, as it cost us over $100 to travel to downtown Oslo from the airport. Yikes!
FLAM
We ventured to Flam primarily to enjoy a day cruise through beautiful Naeroyfjord, and to visit Viking Valley, a living museum and historical tribute to the viking era!
We took a train from Oslo, up through snowy Myrdal, down to Flåm at the base of Aurlandsfjord! Once we arrived in Flåm we explored a little, and enjoyed a delicious buffet dinner at our lodging, the Fretheim Hotel.
Train seating tip: Myrdal to Flåm - the left side of the train has the best views. Flåm to Myrdal - right hand side. This train ride is generally open seating.
The following day we took a gorgeous fjord cruise through Aurlandsfjord and Naeroyfjord, and explored Viking Village of Njardarheimr!
Food tip: There is a food kiosk area just past the train platform on the other side of the Mall of Norway. Food there is delicious! And so much cheaper than any restaurant in town.
BERGEN
Bergen is Norway's second largest city with a population approaching 300,000. It is known as the Gateway to the Fjords, famous for its stunning natural beauty, and surrounded by seven mountains.
We thoroughly enjoyed the train ride from Flåm to Bergen! Stopping at the famous Kjosfossen Falls, Huldra, a mythical forest spirit from Scandinavian folklore, appeared and hypnotically danced for us.
Once we arrived in Bergen, we enjoyed a delicious salmon dinner at Bryggeriet Restaurant with spectacular harbor views! We also perused the fish market, where you can purchase a great meal, and shopped at Bryggen, the historic old wharf of Bergen. The German-based Hanseatic League first established a trading port at Bryggen in 1350 AD.
While in Bergen, we enjoyed exploring Bergenhus fortress, Fantoft Stave Church, and took the Floibanen funicular for exceptional views above town! We also perused the streets, shops, and restaurants. Bergen is an awesome city!
Public transporation tip: We utilized the Bybanen (Bergen light rail) to get from the Byparken terminus in downtown to Fantoft church, and to the airport where we later rented a car. Purchase your ticket at an automated ticket kiosk by scanning your credit card or smartphone. You can then scan a QR code and enter your credit card information to view your tickets. The tickets are valid for one hour.
We stayed at The Hanseatic Hotel in Bergen, which was actually part of the historic Bryggen waterfront district! It's within walking distance of everything we saw and did in Bergen.
Laundry tip: We used Clean Kokos in the town center to wash our laundry. You need to download an app to use it. Wash was 790K ($7.90).
Restaurant tip: Skostredet street in Bergen was quite picturesque and had some beautiful, delicious restaurants!
GEIRANGER
Geirangerfjord is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is often called the "jewel in the crown" of the Norwegian fjords!
We rented an EV from Bergen airport and took an 8 hour drive from Bergen, Norway, to Geiranger. The drive was such a feast for the eyes! I tried to describe it as Lake Como meets Yosemite National Park, but those locations pale in comparison. Around every turn, out of every tunnel, the western fjords spectacle was never-ending!
Once in Geiranger it was all about waterfalls, forest hikes, and scenic vistas! And our room at the Hotell Utsikten had one of the most spectacular views we've ever seen!
The Norwegian Fjord Center is a must visit destination, with a great stair path, or Fossevandringen, along side Storfossen waterfall! Another spot not to be missed is the Flydalsjuvet viewpoint, which was close to our hotel. Best view of the fjord down below!
As you head down into town from the hotel, you'll pass by picturesque Holebroa Waterfall. Once in town, I highly recommend visiting the Geiranger Sjokolade Fjordnær chocolate cafe, and stopping for a sip or a bite at CaféOlé.
Note on waterfalls: Peak waterfall season in Norway is between May and June. We were there mid-May and some waterfalls still had a lot of snow above them and were not yet as full or large as they could be.
ALESUND
A 1904 fire left much of Ålesund in ashes. The coastal fjord town was rebuilt in an art nouveau architecture, and is considered the gateway to Geirangerfjord.
Staying at the historic Hotel Brosundet, we perused the old town, enjoyed dinner with a view at XL Diner, and climbed over 400 steps to the stunning Aksla Viewpoint!
SANDTORG (LOFOTEN ISLANDS, ARCTIC CIRCLE)
The Lofoten Islands form an archipelago in Norway, inside of the Arctic Circle. Known for its dramatic scenery, peaks rise up from sea level to 1161 meters (3809 ft) into the sky!
We flew from Alesund to the Lofoten Islands (Harstad-Narvik EVE). We spent the night at the Sandtorgholmen Hotel along the beautiful shoreline in Sandtorg.
SVOLVAER
The largest town in the Lofoten Islands, Svolvær is the gateway to the archipelago's towering peaks!
We drove from Sandtorg to Svolvaer in the gorgeous Lofoten Islands! While in Svolvaer we visited Magic Ice, an ice sculpture bar. It was really cool! Like, really, REALLY cool! Magic Ice is located in Bergen, Tromso, and Svolvaer, Norway. And in Reykjavik, Iceland. We highly recommend a visit!
We also enjoyed a scenic cruise of Trollfjord near Svolvaer, Norway, where we spotted white-tailed eagles!
We stayed at Scandic Svolvaer, which offered a nice buffet breakfast and room views over the water or the mountains. We recommend the mountains. For dining, we recommend Nordis Restaurant at the town's waterfront plaza.
REINE
We drove further along the Lofoten Islands to iconic Reine, stopping along the way at the Lofotr Viking Museum. We lodged in Eliassen Rorbuer on iconic Hamnoy Island. The fishing village of Reine is as far along the Lofoten archipelago as we ventured.
Norway is a wonderful country to explore! I would call it the land of a thousand waterfalls! From the gorgeous green fjords, to the majestic mountains, beautiful seaside towns, to the warm and welcoming people. You must visit this incredible land of the midnight sun!
TRAVEL TIPS
Transportation
We recommend taking public transportation in Olso and Bergen.
For Oslo, use the Ruter app. You must use a guest account if you have a foreign phone number. The QR code you receive is only needed if someone comes to check your ticket. They use the honor system for public transportation, and you are not required to scan anything upon boarding. They have a 24 hour pass, or a 7 day pass for about $34.
Use the express rail line, Flytoget, to travel to and from the airport. We do not recommend taking a taxi, as it cost us over $100 to travel to downtown Oslo from the airport.
For Bergen, we utilized the Bybanen (Bergen light rail) to get from the Byparken terminus in downtown to Fantoft church, and to the airport where we later rented a car. Purchase your ticket at an automated ticket kiosk by scanning your credit card or smartphone. You can then scan a QR code and enter your credit card information to view your tickets. The tickets are valid for one hour.
For a train between Oslo and Bergen, also known as "Norway in a nutshell," use Vy. Trains are quick, comfortable, and convenient. When utilized this service, but made a connecting stop at Myrdal to Flam. We recommend you do the same if you have the time.
If you need to rent a car, I feel a gasoline engine would be much easier. Filling up at a gas station is quick and easy. Charging an electric vehicle requires downloading an app, finding a charging station with high enough voltage to charge you right away (they can take up to 6 hours), and sometimes even using a kiosk with a lot of crazy steps to try and turn the charging unit on. Super frustrating, and I won't be renting an EV any time in the near future. They're just not good for road trips.
SAFETY, WEATHER, and FLOORS
Norway is safer and cleaner than practically anywhere in the United States. No garbage on the streets or sidewalks, and nobody bothers you.
You can absolutely drink the tap water. It's safe and delicious! And so much healthier than plastic bottled water.
The Western fjords are seemingly cold, cloudy and wet all year around. You may get glimpses of sunlight and blue sky, but it does not persist. Oslo, on the other hand, has many partly cloudy sunshine days.
The floors in Norway are European. So the 1st floor is the ground floor. US 2nd floor is Norwegian 1st floor, etc. So if your room is on the 2nd floor, go up to the 3rd.
Norway > US
Ground > 1st
1st > 2nd
2nd > 3rd
etc.
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