Norway
Norway draws visitors for its fjords, the Lofoten islands and the midnight sun north of the Arctic Circle.
Norway is a country in Northern Europe, on the western side of the Scandinavian Peninsula. It shares borders with Sweden, Finland and Russia. Its western coast is indented by fjords, narrow inlets of the sea walled in by mountains, and its islands run well north of the Arctic Circle. Oslo is the capital. Bergen and Stavanger sit on the southwest coast, and Trondheim lies in the central part of the country.
The country is easiest to plan in three parts: the south around Oslo and Stavanger, the fjords from Bergen to Ålesund, and the Arctic north with Lofoten, Tromsø and Svalbard. Distances are long, so you cover them by train, coastal ferry, domestic flight or car. Summer is best for hiking and the midnight sun in the north. Northern lights are seen in the far north during the dark months, from autumn to early spring. A week covers one region well, and two weeks or more lets you link two.
Five things to know before Norway
- Pay by card, but carry a little cash
Visit Norway says almost all places take cards or phone payments, but a little cash helps for small purchases and foreign currency is rarely accepted.
- Book the Oslo to Bergen train ahead
The Bergen Line runs direct from Oslo S to Bergen, and Vy single tickets include a free seat reservation. Check the Vy timetable for the journey time and your date. Bergen
- Go north for the lights or the midnight sun
Visit Norway puts the northern lights between September and April on clear, dark nights. The midnight sun runs 20 May to 22 July in Tromsø and 28 May to 14 July in Lofoten. Tromsø
- Buy strong alcohol at Vinmonopolet
Wine, spirits and strong beer are sold only in state Vinmonopolet shops. Supermarket beer is sold only before 8 pm on weekdays and 6 pm on Saturdays, per Visit Norway.
- Register under EES at your first Schengen border
Non-EU visitors give fingerprints and a face photo at their first Schengen entry, and passports are not stamped. ETIAS is not yet in operation. Days count toward one 90 in 180 limit. Visa checker
Norway travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
Museums, the opera roof and where to stay.
Read the guideBergenThe fjord gateway, the Bergen Line and day trips.
Read the guideStavangerOld Stavanger, Preikestolen and the Lysefjord.
Read the guideÅlesundArt Nouveau streets and the way to Geirangerfjord.
Read the guideTrondheimNidaros Cathedral, the riverside and the road to Røros.
Read the guideLofotenPeaks, fishing villages and getting around the islands.
Read the guideTromsøNorthern lights, polar nights and the midnight sun.
Read the guideVisa checkerCheck the entry rule for your passport.
Read the guide
Destinations in Norway
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- NOK 450
- Food
- NOK 250
- Transport
- NOK 80
- Sights
- Free
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- NOK 1,100
- Food
- NOK 700
- Transport
- NOK 250
- Sights
- NOK 250
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- NOK 2,000
- Food
- NOK 1,400
- Transport
- NOK 700
- Sights
- NOK 1,000
When to go
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh-1°Low-6°Snow, darkJanuaryPartly cloudy
- High
- -1°
- Low
- -6°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, dark
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh1°Low-5°SnowFebruaryPartly cloudy
- High
- 1°
- Low
- -5°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow
- MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low-2°ThawMarchPartly cloudy
- High
- 5°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 53 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Thaw
- AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh11°Low2°SpringAprilPartly cloudy
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 50 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring
- MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh17°Low6°Long daysMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh21°Low11°Light eveningsJuneRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Light evenings
- JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh22°Low12°WarmestJulyRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 110 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warmest
- AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°WarmAugustRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 98 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Cooling offSeptemberPartly cloudy
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 93 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cooling off
- OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh10°Low4°AutumnOctoberPartly cloudy
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 97 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn
- NovemberRain12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh4°Low0°Dark, wetNovemberRain
- High
- 4°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, wet
- DecemberSnow13 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh1°Low-3°Dark, lightsDecemberSnow
- High
- 1°
- Low
- -3°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, lights
Average daily high and low in Oslo, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Norway
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
1
- Feels like
- -1°
- Humidity
- 78%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Norway
09:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today6°1°0%Monday: Clear. High 6°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue7°1°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 7°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed7°0°0%Wednesday: Fog. High 7°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu5°1°0%Thursday: Fog. High 5°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri3°-1°0%Friday: Fog. High 3°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat4°-1°0%Saturday: Fog. High 4°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun2°-1°0%Sunday: Fog. High 2°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 05:55 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 9.213 NOK
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
NovemberSalzburg Christkindlmarkt
NovemberNuremberg Christkindlesmarkt
NovemberStrasbourg Christmas marketFestivals by month
- Jan
- Feb
- MarInferno Metal FestivalOslo
- Apr
- MayBergen International FestivalBergen
- JunTons of RockOslo
- JulBukta Tromsø Open Air FestivalTromsøMárkomeannuNarvik
- AugØyafestivalenOslo
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
On tour in Norway: Westlife 25: The Anniversary World Tour Oslo, Nov 21, 2026 · Rush Fifty Something Tour Oslo, Apr 6, 2027 · Rod Stewart The Final Encore Trondheim, Bergen, Jun 13 – 15, 2027 · Nickelback Everything Under the Sun Tour 2027 Oslo, Jul 9, 2027
Before you go to Norway
Norway FAQ
Is Norway in the EU or Schengen?
Norway is not in the EU but is in Schengen. Most non-EU visitors register under EES, and days count toward the shared 90 days in 180. Svalbard is outside Schengen.
When can I see the northern lights in Norway?
Between September and April on clear, dark nights, says Visit Norway. Tromsø and Lofoten are the easiest bases; cloud is the main reason trips miss them.
Is Norway very expensive?
Yes, especially eating out and alcohol. Supermarkets, bakeries and self-catering cabins keep costs down.
How many days do I need in Norway?
A week covers Oslo, the Bergen Line and a fjord. Add four or five days to fly north to Lofoten or Tromsø.
Do I need a car in Norway?
Not for Oslo, Bergen and the main fjords, which trains, buses and ferries cover. A car helps most in Lofoten, where buses are infrequent.