Norway

Places in Norway

• Ålesund

  Ålesund is the gateway to Norway's most iconic northwestern fjords, including Geirangerfjord and Hjørundfjord, with the dramatic Sunnmøre Alps as backdrop. The city stands out for its uniform Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) architecture, rebuilt after a catastrophic 1904 fire that destroyed the wooden town.

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• Alta

  Alta is the largest town in Finnmark county, Northern Norway, with about 21,000 inhabitants and serves as the regional hub for the municipality. The town sits at the inner end of Altafjorden and marks the entry point to the vast Finnmarksvidda plateau.

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• Averøy

  Averøy is often described as a "miniature of Norway" because it contains virtually every type of Norwegian landscape within a single island: fjords, mountains, coastal rocks, and open sea. The island's fame rests primarily on The Atlantic Road (Atlanterhavsveien), an 8-km engineering marvel of eight bridges connecting Averøy to the mainland, which was voted Norway's construction of the century in 2005.

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• Barentsburg

  Barentsburg is a living relic of the Cold War: a Russian settlement on Norwegian-administered Svalbard where about 300 coal miners continue working in one of the northernmost inhabited places on Earth. The town feels frozen in time with Soviet-era slogans painted on hillsides, a massive Lenin statue, and apartment blocks marked with communist symbols.

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• Bergen

  Bergen combines a compact, walkable centre with a setting of mountains, fjords and sea. Its cultural life includes an underground and indie music scene.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$167

  Best months

  May–Aug

• Bodø

  Bodø is Northern Norway's second-largest city and the gateway to the Arctic, serving as the northern terminus of Norway's rail network. The city was rebuilt after devastating WWII bombing, giving it a surprisingly modern appearance, but retains cultural depth through its Viking heritage and 19th-century fishing industry roots.

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• Drammen

  Drammen is a city in Viken (formerly Buskerud county), 40 km southwest of Oslo, where the Drammen River meets the Drammensfjord. Once known as a grim industrial town dubbed 'the biggest road intersection in Norway,' the city has reinvented itself with cleaned-up industry and traffic rerouted to highways.

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• Drøbak

  Drøbak is a picturesque small town in Frogn municipality along the Oslofjord, about 50 km southeast of Oslo. The town is famous for Oscarsborg Fortress, which famously sank the German cruiser Blücher on April 9, 1940, delaying the Nazi invasion of Norway.

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• Eidfjord

  Eidfjord is the innermost village at the far end of Hardangerfjord, sitting at the intersection of Europe's largest mountain plateau Hardangervidda and Norway's great western fjords. Wild canyons cut deep into the bedrock where tall waterfalls plunge to the valley floor below.

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• Eidsvoll

  Eidsvoll holds deep significance for every Norwegian as the place where the modern Norwegian constitution was signed in 1814, marking a crucial step toward independence from neighboring powers. The Eidsvollsbygningen building is both a museum of democracy and a monument to national identity.

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• Finse

  Finse is Norway's highest railway station at 1,222 metres above sea level, sitting on the Hardangervidda mountain plateau between Oslo and Bergen. This tiny village (population under 50 year-round) draws outdoor enthusiasts for Hardangerjøkulen, the mainland's 6th largest glacier and the filming location for Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back's Hoth exterior shots.

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• Fjærland

  Fjærland is a tiny settlement at the end of the Fjærlandsfjord, an arm of the Sognefjord, serving as the gateway to Jostedalsbreen National Park. The town is famous as Norway's "bokbyen" (book town), with nearly every shop selling new and used books, including an honesty book shop near the ferry stop.

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• Flåm

  Flåm is a tiny village at the innermost point of the Aurlandsfjord, one of the most spectacular branches of the great Sognefjord. This former farming community has become one of Norway's busiest cruise ports, attracting visitors with iconic fjords, towering waterfalls visible from the deck of the Flåm railway, and the engineering marvel of the Flåmsbana itself.

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• Geilo

  Geilo is one of Scandinavia's most popular ski resorts, conveniently located between Oslo and Bergen along the Bergen railway. The resort sits at 794m elevation in the Ustedalen valley, offering reliable snow coverage for approximately 150 days each winter with slopes remaining open until late April or early May.

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• Hamar

  Hamar is a compact Norwegian city of 31,000 people on the shores of Lake Mjøsa, the largest lake in Scandinavia. The city was first established in the 11th century, destroyed by Swedish forces in 1567, and re-established in 1849.

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• Hammerfest

  Hammerfest claims to be the northernmost town in the world, with over 9,000 inhabitants sitting at a latitude above 70° N. The town is one of the capitals of Sami culture, offering a gateway to Arctic experiences without the extreme isolation of Svalbard.

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• Hardangervidda

  Hardangervidda is Northern Europe's largest highland plateau, a vast wilderness of 8,500 km² where Europe's largest wild reindeer herds roam freely. The park offers an unparalleled backcountry experience: endless rolling moors, over a thousand lakes and rivers, and a network of DNT (Norwegian Trekking Association) mountain cabins connecting hikers across the treeless expanse.

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• Hemsedal

  Hemsedal is a dramatic Norwegian valley town with about 2000 inhabitants, often called the 'Alps of Norway' for its high, snow-capped peaks. It offers the country's second-largest alpine ski area plus excellent summer hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and horseback riding.

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• Jostedalsbreen

  Jostedalsbreen is the largest glacier on the European mainland, covering about 500 km² with a national park spanning over 1300 km². The glacier's many arms descend into surrounding valleys, creating dramatic turquoise glacial lakes and rivers in summer.

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• Karasjok

  Karasjok is the cultural and political heart of Norway's Sami people, hosting the Sámediggi (Sami Parliament) and the Sámi center for contemporary art. The town sits in Finnmark's vast interior, one of Europe's driest areas with extreme temperature swings—summer averages a pleasant 13.4°C while winter plunges far below -40°C.

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• Kautokeino

  Kautokeino is the heart of Sámi culture in Norway, hosting the Sámi University College, Nordic Sámi Institute, and Beaivváš Sámi Theatre. With only about 1,500 inhabitants in the town and 90% Sámi population, it offers an authentic window into indigenous life far from tourist crowds.

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• Kirkenes

  Kirkenes sits at Norway's far eastern edge, 2,500 km from Oslo, where mainland Norway practically touches Russia. This mining town of 3,500 people offers Arctic experiences without resort pricing: Aurora Borealis hunting in winter, midnight sun hikes in summer, and access to the remarkable Pasvik valley where Russian taiga stretches unbroken toward Siberia.

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• Kongsberg

  Kongsberg is a compact Norwegian town built around rich silver mines discovered in the 1600s. Today it offers a unique blend of industrial heritage, with parts of the historic silver mines open to the public, and modern amenities including a nearby ski resort.

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• Kristiansand

  Kristiansand is Southern Norway's cultural capital and largest city, nicknamed 'Norway's flower town' for its planted flowers downtown. The city sits on the Skagerrak coast with easy access to the stunning archipelago (Skjærgården), making it a favorite summer holiday spot for Norwegians.

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• Kristiansund

  Kristiansund stands out for its extraordinary reconstruction story: after 80% of the city was destroyed in World War II bombings, it was rebuilt with distinctive Art Nouveau architecture found nowhere else in Norway. The city occupies five islands in the Atlantic, creating a natural harbor that is both scenic and functional.

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• Lærdal

  Lærdal is a historic stop between Oslo and Bergen, best known for Borgund stave church—one of Norway's best-preserved wooden churches from the Viking era. The village sits at the mouth of the Lærdal river on a sandbank, a landscape feature that made it a major trading center for centuries.

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• Lakselv

  Lakselv sits at the southern end of Porsangerfjorden where the Salmon River meets the Barents Sea, offering a genuine taste of Norwegian Arctic life without tourist crowds. The town serves as the administrative centre of Porsanger municipality, giving it real purpose beyond tourism.

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• Lillehammer

  Lillehammer is a compact winter sports hub where the 1994 Winter Olympics left world-class ski jumping and alpine facilities. Beyond the slopes, the town preserves late 19th-century wooden houses along Storgata, making it a charming off-season destination with hiking trails along the Mesna river and boat trips on Lake Mjøsa.

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• Lillesand

  Lillesand is a sleepy but charming small town on Norway's south coast, offering a quieter alternative to nearby Kristiansand. The town preserves its maritime heritage and provides access to Blindleia, a protected salt water fjord passage winding through an archipelago of skerries.

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• Lofoten

  Lofoten is a spectacular archipelago of rugged mountains, deep fjords, and picturesque fishing villages perched directly on the ocean. Located well above the Arctic Circle at 68°N, this destination offers dramatic反差 between harsh latitude and mild climate thanks to the Gulf Stream.

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• Longyearbyen

  Longyearbyen is the northernmost permanent settlement in the world and the most accessible gateway to the high Arctic. With approximately 2,500 inhabitants from 40 countries, it offers a surprisingly vibrant international community despite its remote location.

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• Lyngen

  Lyngen is a remote Norwegian municipality where the Lyngen Alps rise 1833 metres directly from the Arctic Ocean, among the most alpine peaks in Norway. The area is tricultural, with Sami, Finnish, and Norwegian heritage, though today Norwegian is universally spoken.

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• Molde

  Molde looks across the fjord toward alpine peaks, with Varden offering a broad mountain panorama. Maritime heritage, museums and a jazz festival add reasons to linger in town.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$166

  Best months

  May–Aug

• Moss

  Moss is a port town in Østfold county offering a quieter alternative to Norway's larger cities. The town sits on the Oslofjord with ferry connections to Horten and is adjacent to Jeløya island, known for nature reserves, hiking trails, and beaches.

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• Narvik

  Narvik is a compact Arctic city in northern Norway that punches above its weight as a destination. Founded in 1902 as an ice-free port for Swedish iron ore, it gained fame as the site of the Battle of Narvik in 1940—the first real engagement between Allied and German troops after months of phony war.

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• Oslo

  Oslo pairs modern architecture such as the Opera House with parks, islands and waterfront scenery. The compact city has extensive public transport and easy access to nature.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$172

  Best months

  May–Aug

• Porsgrunn

  Porsgrunn is a compact industrial town in Telemark county with a population of 35,000 (2010), forming part of a 87,000-person urban area with nearby Skien. The town is best known for Porsgrunds Porselænsfabrik, a porcelain factory established in 1885 that still operates today with tours, a riverside café, and factory outlets.

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• Røros

  Røros is a UNESCO World Heritage mining town established in the 1600s around copper mines that operated for over 300 years until 1977. The town sits at 630 metres above sea level on a high plateau, characterized by preserved log buildings and dominated by the iconic octagonal Røros church.

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• Sarpsborg

  Sarpsborg is the 11th largest city in Norway with 57,000 inhabitants in the municipality and 178,000 in seven neighboring municipalities within a 30-minute drive. It serves as the capital of Østfold county and the largest city along the E6 motorway between Oslo (1 hour north) and Gothenburg (2 hours south).

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• Sogndal

  Sogndal is the regional centre of Sognefjord area, Norway's longest and deepest fjord. The town serves as a gateway to dramatic mountain landscapes, with Route 55 running through Sognefjellet mountain pass and E16 through Filefjell.

  Atlas entry

• Sognefjorden

  Sognefjorden is the longest fjord in Europe and the second longest in the world, stretching over 200 km from the North Sea into Norway's central mountains. The fjord exceeds 1000 metres in depth and is flanked by mountains rising 1500-2500 metres above sea level, creating dramatic scenery comparable to Arizona's Grand Canyon.

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• Stavanger

  Stavanger combines an old town of wooden houses with a historic cathedral and a lively waterfront. It is a base for exploring Preikestolen and Kjerag as well as spending time in the city.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$169

  Best months

  May–Aug

• Stjørdalshalsen

  Stjørdalshalsen, commonly called Stjørdal, is a small Norwegian town of about 12,000 people that has gained unexpected fame among English-speaking tourists for its "Hell" railway station. The town serves as the practical gateway to Trondheim Airport (Værnes), Norway's third busiest, making it a useful transit hub for travelers heading to or from Trondheim.

  Atlas entry

• Tønsberg

  Tønsberg is Norway's oldest town, founded around 1000 AD, making it a living link to Viking-era Scandinavia. The town of 56,000 residents (2020) sits on the Oslofjord and serves as a base for exploring Vestfold county's archaeological sites and coastal fortifications.

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• Tromsø

  Tromsø combines Arctic adventures with art museums, dining and lively nightlife. Dog sledding, glacier walks and whale watching shape its outdoor appeal.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$201

  Best months

  Jun–Aug

• Trondheim

  Trondheim pairs Nidaros Cathedral with Kristiansten Fortress and museums of folk traditions and music. Munkholmen offers an island outing with monastery ruins and swimming.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$166

  Best months

  May–Aug

• Tynset

  Tynset is a small rural municipality in Hedmark county, Norway, known for its vast forest and mountain areas perfect for skiing, walking, cycling, hunting, and fishing. The area spans 1,880 km² with only 5,600 residents, offering a peaceful escape into Norwegian wilderness.

  Atlas entry

• Vardø

  Vardø is Norway's easternmost town and lies east of Istanbul, making it one of the most remote settlements on the European continent. The town sits on the Barents Sea coast with an Arctic climate averaging just 1.3°C annually and July highs of 9°C.

  Atlas entry

• Voss

  Voss is Norway's adventure capital, nestled between the Sognefjord and Hardangerfjord in Hordaland county. The village (Vossevangen) sits at 50 meters above sea level, surrounded by rivers, mountains, and lakes at the eastern end of Vangsvatnet.

  Atlas entry