Do you love boundless landscapes and wilderness? If the answer is yes, Norway is the perfect destination for you! Let’s discover together the 5 things not to miss during a trip to discover this fairy-tale country.
1 – Exploring the fjords Whether you decide to discover them aboard a cruise ship or drive along their beautiful scenic roads Norway’s fjords will leave you breathless. For a long stretch of the coastline the sea creeps inland from the mountains, providing breathtaking vistas in an alternation of headlands, valleys, waterfalls and crystal-clear bodies of water. Fjords are a geological phenomenon generated over millions of years by retreating glaciers and coastal erosion and are typical of Norway. The Geraingerfjiord wins the gold medal among the most spectacular fjords, so much so that it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its characteristic feature is that it is surrounded by very high emerald-green peaks; the steepest wall exceeds 1,400 meters and the fjord is dotted with beautiful waterfalls of the strangest shapes and names, including “The Seven Sisters” and “The Bridal Veil.” If you decide to discover this area, don’t miss the “Trollstingen,” 106 kilometers of mountain road through the most spectacular section of the fjords. Our advice? Discover at least part of the Norwegian coastline aboard the Hurtigruten, the legendary fjord mail boat that will give you unique emotions.
2 – Be enchanted by the Aurora Borealis. Brave tourists who don’t mind the harsh weather and decide to explore Norway in winter will be rewarded by one of the world’s most incredible spectacles: the dance of lights of the Aurora Borealis. Visible throughout the countries of the North, the Northern Lights find their natural habitat among the pristine spaces of Norway, and occur most frequently during the periods between February/March and September/October each year, coinciding with the equinoxes. In order to admire the boreal lights, which change from green to yellow to red in an incredible kaleidoscope of colors, we suggest some valuable tips. First, choose to stay in a remote location, as far away as possible from the lights of towns and cities: the northern lights are in fact visible in all their splendor when the sky is darkest and therefore in the absence of light pollution. The second piece of advice is to rely on a local excursion agency, which specializes in taking travelers on a “hunt” for this unique atmospheric phenomenon: the aurora can be discovered aboard a snowmobile, on a snowmobile, in the warmth inside a luxurious glass igloo, or aboard a ship. But the solution we like best, because it adds magic to magic, is to go in search of Arctic lights aboard a dog sled, traveling through the wild forests of Norway. Our last suggestion, perhaps the most important, is to arm yourself with patience: the northern lights are a real diva and like all stars love to be desired! In order to enjoy its beauty, it is often necessary to wait days for the right weather conditions: once the moment arrives, the spectacle before your eyes will fully repay this wait and will remain forever engraved in your eyes and heart.
3 – Amaze yourself at the Midnight Sun. Another weather phenomenon worth making a trip to Norway for is the Midnight Sun: the feeling of being in broad daylight even when the clock actually strikes midnight is one of the experiences to be had, at least once in a lifetime! For those who are not used to these latitudes, the effect is very strange and can have consequences on the sleep-wake rhythm as well as on normal daily activities. Of course, we are talking about a pleasant sensation, which will transport you to a unique dimension that can only be appreciated in locations above the line of the Arctic Circle. The period to witness this phenomenon is from May to July, and our advice is to enjoy the spectacle at the northernmost point of Norway, the legendary North Cape. In this corner in the far north of the Scandinavian peninsula, the midnight sun is visible until the last days of July and gives a truly breathtaking view: the Arctic Ocean Sea merges with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, giving postcard-perfect sunsets. Sit on the sheer cliff more than 300 meters high and be seduced by the enchantment of the wilderness. A tip for the intrepid: reach the North Cape sphere by motorcycle, it will be the trip of a lifetime!
4 – Enjoy Norwegian salmon in Bergen If you love salmon you will never want to leave Norway again! Here you can taste the best quality in the world at incredibly low prices. Our advice is to combine the pleasures of the palate with those of the eye by aiming straight for Fiskertorget, Bergen’s fish market. Located a short distance from Bryggen, the merchants’ quarter made up of colorful wooden cottages, Fiskertorget is a ‘must-see attraction: colorful, picturesque and enlivened by the voices of fishermen selling the freshest fish, shellfish and crustaceans the market will win you over at first glance. Sit and watch Norwegian housewives buying fish while enjoying a fresh salmon sandwich – your senses will thank you!
5 -Discovering a majestic glacier Another reason to travel to Norway is to discover its majestic glaciers, where the power of nature is unleashed. There are dozens of them in this part of the world, from the smallest to the most imposing, which can be explored safely even by non-mountaineers. If you are short on time and have to choose which glacier to visit, we would undoubtedly advise you to head in the direction of Jostedalsbreen, the largest glacier in continental Europe with its 487 square kilometers of ice, which also reaches 600 meters in thickness. In the arm called Nigardsbreen you can have a unique and incredible experience, namely visiting a real ice cathedral! Formed as a result of melting ice, it was discovered by accident in 2007 and is now one of the top 5 things not to miss on a trip to Norway.
