World Guide

Norway

Country · Europe, Northern Europe

Storting
Pictured: Storting · Photo: gcardinal from Norway, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Norway is a country in Northern Europe, bordering Sweden, Finland, and Russia. With a population of about 5.6 million people and an area of 385,200 square kilometers, it offers travelers access to both urban centers and significant natural landmarks.

Highlights

This guide covers 27 sights across the country. In the capital, Oslo, travelers can visit the Royal Palace, the Munch Museum, the Oslo Opera House, and the Storting. The city also features public spaces like Frogner Park and historical sites such as Akershus Fortress and Oslo Cathedral. Beyond the capital, the country is home to notable stave churches, including Borgund, Fantoft, and the UNESCO-listed Urnes Stave Church. Natural and geographical landmarks are prominent, ranging from the UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord and the high peak of Galdhøpiggen to the North Cape and Saltstraumen. Other points of interest include the Nidaros Cathedral in Bergen and the Oscarsborg Fortress.

Food and drink

Traditional Norwegian food includes fish dishes such as lutefisk and rakfisk, as well as meat options like fårikål, smalahove, and sautéed reindeer. Dairy and grain products are also common, with items like brunost, gamalost, rømmegrøt, raspeball, lefse, krumkake, and flatbrød.

When to go

Based on the weather in Oslo, the warmest time to visit is from June to August, when daily highs range from 19 °C to 22 °C. These months also see the highest rainfall, with up to 101 mm of rain. Spring, particularly May, offers milder temperatures with highs of 16 °C. Winters are cold, with temperatures often dropping below freezing between December and February, which see high temperatures between -2 °C and -1 °C.

Practical notes

The currency is the Norwegian krone. The official languages are Norwegian, Bokmål, Nynorsk, and Sámi. The country uses plug types C and F with a voltage of 230 V. Traffic moves on the right side of the road, and the time zone is UTC+01:00.

Cities

Food and drink to try in Norway

  • Lutefisk
  • Brunost
  • Krumkake
  • Lefse
  • Fårikål
  • Gamalost
  • Rakfisk
  • Smalahove
  • Flatbrød
  • Sautéed reindeer
  • Rømmegrøt
  • Raspeball

Top sights in Norway

  1. StortingStortingOslo
  2. Nidaros CathedralNidaros CathedralTrondheim
  3. Borgund Stave ChurchBorgund Stave ChurchLærdal
  4. Akershus FortressAkershus FortressOslo
  5. Royal Palace, OsloRoyal Palace, OsloOslo
  6. GaldhøpiggenGaldhøpiggen
  7. North CapeNorth Cape
  8. Fantoft Stave ChurchFantoft Stave ChurchBergen
  9. Oscarsborg FortressOscarsborg FortressDrøbak
  10. Frogner ParkFrogner ParkOslo
  11. GeirangerfjordUNESCOGeirangerfjordGeiranger
  12. Munch MuseumMunch MuseumOslo
  1. Saltstraumen
  2. Oslo Cathedral · Oslo
  3. Oslo Opera House · Oslo
  4. Holmenkollen Chapel · Oslo
  5. Beerenberg
  6. Urnes Stave ChurchUNESCO
  7. Regjeringskvartalet · Oslo
  8. 40.6 cm SK C/34 gun · Harstad Municipality
  9. Bryggen · BergenUNESCO
  10. Oslo City Hall · Oslo
  11. Jotunheimen
  12. Arctic Cathedral · Tromsø Municipality
  13. Heddal Stave Church · Notodden
  14. Flåm Line · Flåm
  15. Bergenhus Fortress · Bergen
  16. Nærøyfjord · FlåmUNESCO
  17. Stavanger Cathedral · Stavanger
  18. Dora I · Trondheim
  19. Rock carvings at Alta · AltaUNESCO
  20. Tromsø Cathedral · Tromsø Municipality
  21. Munkholmen · Trondheim
  22. Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park · Kristiansand Municipality
  23. Cathedral of Our Lady, Tromsø · Tromsø Municipality
  24. Trondenes Church · Harstad Municipality
  25. Gamle Stavanger · Stavanger
  26. Kristiansand Cathedral · Kristiansand Municipality

UNESCO sites in Norway →

Weather by month

The warmest month is July, with an average high of 22 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high, °C-2-149161922201593-1
Average low, °C-8-7-416111413940-6
Rainfall, mm684960536077911018910710066
Rainy days15131291314161614141415

Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Oslo (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.

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