Find places in Norway

Must-Haves

• Oslo Opera House (Bjørvika)
  Walk up the sloping marble roof for free views over the fjord and city.
• MUNCH (Bjørvika)
  The largest collection of Edvard Munch's work, with versions of The Scream and a rooftop view.
• National Museum (Vika)
  Norway's biggest art, design and architecture museum, opened in 2022 by the waterfront.
• Akershus Fortress (Sentrum)
  Medieval fortress and castle guarding the harbour, with free grounds to wander.

Fun for Everyone

• Norwegian Museum of Cultural History (Bygdøy)
  Open air museum of old farmhouses, a stave church and folk costume, great for families.

Must-Haves

• Vigeland Park (Frogner)
  Free park with over two hundred sculptures by Gustav Vigeland, lovely for a stroll.

Fun for Everyone

• Holmenkollen Ski Museum and Tower (Holmenkollen)
  The famous ski jump, with a ski history museum and a viewing platform over the city.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Sørenga Seawater Pool (Sørenga)
  A free harbour bathing spot with lawns and piers in the middle of the city.

Fun for Everyone

• Oslofjord islands ferry (Aker Brygge)
  Hop on a public ferry to Hovedøya or Gressholmen for swimming and picnics in summer.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sognsvann (Nordmarka)
  A forest lake at the end of the metro with an easy loop trail and winter skiing.
• Akerselva river walk (Grünerløkka)
  A riverside path past waterfalls and old mills from the fjord up through the city.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mathallen Oslo (Vulkan)
  Food hall with Norwegian cheese, fish, cured meats and street food stalls.

Off the Beaten Path

• Grünerløkka vintage shops (Grünerløkka)
  Second hand and vintage shops for Scandinavian clothes and design.

Must-Haves

• Tim Wendelboe (Grünerløkka)
  A tiny, influential coffee roastery for some of the finest filter coffee anywhere.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Godt Brød (Grünerløkka)
  An organic bakery chain with excellent cinnamon and cardamom buns for an easy breakfast.

Off the Beaten Path

• Fuglen (St. Hanshaugen)
  A coffee bar by day and cocktail bar by night, filled with vintage Norwegian design.

Great for Date Night

• Maaemo (Bjørvika)
  Celebrated New Nordic tasting menu restaurant built on Norwegian produce.
• Engebret Café (Kvadraturen)
  One of Oslo's oldest restaurants, serving traditional Norwegian dishes in historic rooms.

Must-Haves

• Lofoten Fiskerestaurant (Aker Brygge)
  Classic seafood restaurant on the waterfront with fjord views.

Must-Haves

• Himkok (Sentrum)
  A celebrated cocktail bar using local spirits and its own distillery.

Must-Haves

• Norwegian Constitution Day, 17 May (Karl Johans gate)
  National day parades of children, brass bands and national costume up to the Royal Palace.

Fun for Everyone

• Øya Festival (Tøyen Park)
  Big August music festival with Norwegian and international acts.

Must-Haves

• The Thief (Tjuvholmen)
  A design hotel on the waterfront next to the Astrup Fearnley museum.

Great for Date Night

• Hotel Continental (Sentrum)
  A classic family run grand hotel opposite the National Theatre.

Must-Haves

• Bryggen (Bryggen)
  The UNESCO listed row of wooden Hanseatic wharf houses, with narrow passages to explore.
• Bryggens Museum (Bryggen)
  The story of medieval Bergen built over excavated foundations.
• KODE (Sentrum)
  Art museums by the city lake with Munch, Norwegian painters and composer homes.

Great for Date Night

• Troldhaugen (Hop)
  Edvard Grieg's lakeside villa, with summer lunchtime concerts in the concert hall.

Off the Beaten Path

• Old Bergen Museum (Sandviken)
  A reconstructed town of old wooden houses showing life in the 1800s.

Must-Haves

• Fløibanen Funicular (Sentrum)
  A quick ride up Mount Fløyen for city views, forest trails and a lake.
• Mostraumen fjord cruise (Strandkaien)
  A short cruise through the Osterfjord to a narrow tidal stream and waterfalls.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sandviken old town lanes (Sandviken)
  Quiet cobbled lanes of white wooden houses away from the crowds.

Must-Haves

• Mount Ulriken (Haukeland)
  Cable car to the highest of Bergen's seven mountains and the start of the ridge hike.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Nordnes Park and Sea Bath (Nordnes)
  A peninsula park with an outdoor saltwater pool and sunset views.

Fun for Everyone

• Bergen Fish Market (Torget)
  Harbourside market with seafood stalls and an indoor hall open all year.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Godt Brød Bergen (Sentrum)
  A popular bakery for skillingsboller, Bergen's cinnamon buns.

Must-Haves

• Bryggeloftet and Stuene (Bryggen)
  Traditional Norwegian food in a historic wharf building, from fish soup to reindeer.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Pingvinen (Sentrum)
  A homely bar and restaurant serving Norwegian home cooking at fair prices.

Must-Haves

• Bergen International Festival (Sentrum)
  Late spring festival of music, theatre and dance across the city.

Must-Haves

• Det Hanseatiske Hotel (Bryggen)
  A characterful hotel inside old wharf buildings at Bryggen.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Citybox Bergen (Sentrum)
  A simple, self service hotel near the station that keeps costs down.

Must-Haves

• Aksla Viewpoint (Byparken)
  Climb the steps from the town park for the classic view over Ålesund's islands.
• Geirangerfjord cruise (Geiranger)
  Sail past the Seven Sisters and Suitor waterfalls on the UNESCO listed fjord.

Must-Haves

• Jugendstilsenteret (Sentrum)
  The Art Nouveau centre telling the story of the town's rebuild after the 1904 fire.

Fun for Everyone

• Atlanterhavsparken (Tueneset)
  A seaside aquarium of North Atlantic marine life and an outdoor pool.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sunnmøre Museum (Borgund)
  An open air museum of old boathouses, farmhouses and Viking boat replicas.

Must-Haves

• Dalsnibba viewpoint (Geiranger)
  A mountain platform high above the Geirangerfjord, reached by a toll road in season.
• Trollstigen (Romsdalen)
  The famous hairpin mountain road and viewing platform, open in the warmer months.

Fun for Everyone

• Romsdalen Gondola (Åndalsnes)
  A cable car to Nesaksla mountain with sweeping views of the Romsdalsfjord.

Off the Beaten Path

• Runde bird island (Herøy)
  A small island where puffins and seabirds nest on the cliffs in spring and summer.
• Hjørundfjord (Sunnmøre Alps)
  A quiet fjord ringed by sharp peaks and old farms, far from the crowds.

Fun for Everyone

• Molja Lighthouse (Sentrum)
  A tiny lighthouse on the harbour wall, now a hotel room and photo spot.

Great for Date Night

• Hotel Brosundet (Sentrum)
  A harbourside hotel in Art Nouveau warehouses, with a room in the lighthouse.

Must-Haves

• Hotel Union Øye (Hjørundfjord)
  A historic wooden hotel loved by royalty and writers, in a remote fjord village.

Off the Beaten Path

• Hotel Union Geiranger (Geiranger)
  A family run hotel above the fjord with a classic car museum.

Must-Haves

• Arctic Cathedral (Tromsdalen)
  The striking white triangle church with midnight sun and aurora concerts.
• Polar Museum (Sentrum)
  The story of Arctic trapping and the great polar expeditions in an old warehouse.

Fun for Everyone

• Polaria (Sentrum)
  An Arctic aquarium and experience centre with bearded seals.

Off the Beaten Path

• Tromsø Museum (Folkeparken)
  University museum with Sami culture and an aurora exhibition.

Must-Haves

• Fjellheisen cable car (Tromsdalen)
  Ride up Storsteinen for views over the city, best at midnight sun or aurora time.

Fun for Everyone

• Tromsø Villmarkssenter (Kvaløya)
  Husky kennels offering dog sledding in winter and puppy visits in summer.

Off the Beaten Path

• Prestvannet (Tromsøya)
  A lake on the island's hill that makes a free, dark spot to watch the aurora.
• Ersfjordbotn (Kvaløya)
  A fjord beach under steep peaks, popular for aurora and midnight sun photos.

Must-Haves

• Sommarøy (Kvaløya)
  A fishing village with white beaches and turquoise water, a lovely drive or tour.

Must-Haves

• Tromsø International Film Festival (Sentrum)
  January film festival with an outdoor snow cinema in the polar night.

Must-Haves

• Ølhallen (Sentrum)
  The Mack brewery's historic beer hall with a long list of beers on tap.

Must-Haves

• Clarion Hotel The Edge (Sentrum)
  A waterfront hotel convenient for aurora tour pickups.

Must-Haves

• Reine (Moskenesøya)
  The classic view of red cabins beneath steep peaks.
• Hamnøy (Moskenesøya)
  A tiny fishing village on islets, famous for the view from the bridge.
• Reinebringen (Reine)
  Steep stone steps up to one of the finest viewpoints in Norway.

Fun for Everyone

• Haukland Beach (Vestvågøy)
  A white sand beach with turquoise water, easy to reach for all ages.

Off the Beaten Path

• Kvalvika Beach (Moskenesøya)
  A wild beach reached on foot over a mountain pass.

Must-Haves

• Henningsvær (Austvågøya)
  An island village with a famous football pitch, galleries and cafés.

Off the Beaten Path

• Nusfjord (Flakstadøya)
  One of the best preserved fishing villages in Norway.

Must-Haves

• Lofotr Viking Museum (Borg)
  A reconstructed Viking chieftain's longhouse with living history in summer.

Off the Beaten Path

• Norwegian Fishing Village Museum (Å)
  Old boathouses, a cod liver oil factory and a bakery at the end of the road.

Fun for Everyone

• Lofoten Aquarium (Kabelvåg)
  Seals, otters and Arctic fish in a small, friendly aquarium.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Bakeriet på Å (Å)
  An old bakery famous for its cinnamon buns.

Great for Date Night

• Børsen Spiseri (Svolvær)
  Traditional dishes in an old fish warehouse on the harbour.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Anitas Sjømat (Sakrisøy)
  A seafood shop and café famous for fish burgers and fish cakes.

Must-Haves

• Reine Rorbuer (Reine)
  Classic red fishermen's cabins on the water in the heart of Reine.

Great for Date Night

• Svinøya Rorbuer (Svolvær)
  Historic rorbu cabins on a small island in the harbour.

Off the Beaten Path

• Glasshytta Vikten (Flakstadøya)
  A glass blowing workshop and shop at a wild seaside spot.

Must-Haves

• Nidaros Cathedral (Midtbyen)
  Scandinavia's largest medieval building and the goal of the St Olav pilgrim routes.
• Archbishop's Palace (Midtbyen)
  Home of the Norwegian crown regalia and a medieval museum.

Fun for Everyone

• Rockheim (Brattøra)
  National museum of popular music with interactive exhibits.
• Sverresborg Trøndelag Folk Museum (Sverresborg)
  Old farm buildings, a stave church and an old town street.

Must-Haves

• Old Town Bridge (Bakklandet)
  The red gated bridge with the classic view of the coloured river wharves.
• Kristiansten Fortress (Bakklandet)
  A hilltop fortress with the best views over the city.

Fun for Everyone

• Bakklandet (Bakklandet)
  Wooden houses, cafés and the Trampe bicycle lift on a hillside lane.

Off the Beaten Path

• Munkholmen (Trondheimsfjord)
  A small island with a monastery ruin, fortress and swimming spot.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Bymarka (Gråkallen)
  The city forest, reached by tram, for walks and skiing.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Baklandet Skydsstation (Bakklandet)
  A cosy café in an old coaching inn, known for fish soup and aquavit.

Fun for Everyone

• Solsiden (Solsiden)
  A former shipyard district full of bars and restaurants by the water.

Must-Haves

• St Olav's Festival (Midtbyen)
  Late July festival with concerts, a medieval market and church services.

Must-Haves

• Britannia Hotel (Midtbyen)
  Trondheim's grand historic hotel, beautifully restored.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Scandic Nidelven (Brattøra)
  A large riverside hotel known for one of Norway's best hotel breakfasts.