NORWAY

An enchanting mix of cities and villages, of fjords and breathtakingly beautiful seas, Norway is one of Europe’s few countries where you can be in a busy city in the morning and out in the countryside, without a soul around for miles, by the evening. The country’s main cities- Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger and the like- are as swinging and modern as many in continental Europe, but out in the countryside, life is still as quiet as it was a century ago.

Norway means many things to many people. `The Land of the Midnight Sun’, this is the country where during the summer, the sun does not go down even at night (not a phenomenon all over Norway, though- it happens only in the Lofoten Islands). This is the land of famous explorers like Amundsen and Thor Heyerdahl and the greatest of all, the legendary Vikings; of literary and artistic giants like Edvard Munch and Henrik Ibsen. And, in contrast, it’s also the land of people like the Sami Lapps, who even today still live by herding reindeer.

An unusual country that has virtually everything you could want: natural beauty, adventure, beautiful medieval cities, and more.

Capital: Oslo

Best time to Visit:

  1. Norway’s a cold country, so unless you’re very keen on skiing or on getting a glimpse of the elusive Aurora Borealis, visiting the country in the winter is really not recommended.
  2. The best time to tour Norway is during the summer, starting May and extending up to September. This is the time when the weather’s pleasant and all the tourist attractions are open.
  3. Late spring, when the fruit trees are in full bloom, is a good time too, especially if you want to see the country at its scenic best, but some sights may not be open at this time.

Min Days Required: 5 days

Places of Interest:

  1. Oslo –Oslo Opera House,  Oslofjord, Akershus Fortress, Frogner Park, Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology, Vigeland Sculpture Park, The Viking Ship Museum
  2. Bergen –  Floyen, Ulriken,  Bergen Aquarium, Bryggen, Bergenhus fortress, Bergen Museum, Troldhaugen
  3. Trondheim – Nidaros Cathedral , Munkholmen , Kristiansten Fortress, Tyholttarnet , Grakallen

Climate:

  1. Barring southern coastal areas, which get pleasantly warm because of the passage of the warm Gulf Stream, most of Norway is downright chilly through much of the year.
  2. Temperatures reach their highest between May and September, but even during this time, a sweater is often necessary; and in winters, particularly between November and March, subzero temperatures are the norm.
  3. The extreme north of the country, which falls within the Arctic Circle, is biting cold all through the year.
  4. One of the most interesting features of Norway’s climate is the ‘midnight sun’. In the Lofoten Islands, at the height of summer, the sun never sets and even in southern Norway, nights at this time are usually only five hours long.
  5. At the other extreme, in the far north of the country, the winter sun never rises- which means 24 hours of darkness for about two months in the year.

Currency:  Kroner

Things to carry:

  1. Almost everything you’re likely to need- medicines, toiletries, and camera film included- are easily available in Norway, although you might be wise to stock up on extra supplies if you’re headed for the remoter parts of the country.
  2. Some brands may not be the same as what you’re used to at home, so if you’re choosy about what you use, you should bring along additional supplies, even if you’re going to be staying in large cities.
  3. Remember that Norway’s a cold country, and even in the summers it can get pretty chilly outdoors. Pack your bags well with woolens and a mackintosh, and if you’re going to be camping, take along mosquito repellant, sunscreen and sunglasses- especially if you’re going north.

How to get there:

Air:

  1. Norway’s main gateway- as far as air travel is concerned- is Oslo’s international airport, which is linked by various airlines to other countries.
  2. Most destinations from which you can get direct flights to Oslo lie within Europe, so if you want to fly to Norway from outside the continent, you’ll need to get to a major European airport first.
  3. There are smaller international airports at a few other Norwegian cities, including Trondheim, Stavanger and Bergen, but flights to these are fewer.