Viking Kingdom: TOP-20 attractions in Norway

Royal Palace of Oslo

The Royal Palace in Oslo, built in neoclassical style in the mid-19th century, is the residence of the current King of Norway, Harald V. An interesting fact: if the king is in the building, the royal flag adorned with gold flies over the roof; if not, the flag of Crown Prince Haakon is displayed.

The palace has 173 elegantly decorated rooms. It took 24 years to build this beauty that still adorns Oslo to this day. Every day at 13:30, Oslo residents and tourists can witness the solemn changing of the guard ceremony.

Visiting the inside of the palace is not allowed, however, tourists will have the opportunity to walk around the beautiful surrounding grounds and admire the majestic architecture.

The Town of Røros

A UNESCO World Heritage site also attracts a lot of tourist attention. In the past, this was a town where copper ore miners lived; now the settlement has turned into an open-air museum.

From the history of this monument, it is known that the town was designed and built by King Christian IV, who was an architect. During the period 1678-1718, the settlement was attacked by the Swedes, causing irreparable damage to the buildings. However, even then, the life of the town did not end. Subsequently, it was restored, and today, after many years, every tourist can appreciate the magnificence of this restored living open-air museum.

Geirangerfjord

Geirangerfjord is one of the most picturesque and popular fjords in Norway, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The fjord owes its name to the village of the same name located on its shore.

Here, one's eyes are treated to the extraordinary beauty of coniferous forests, vast water bodies, and whimsical cliffs. This is where the best photos from a trip to Norway are taken. Numerous hiking trails are laid along the entire shore, from which visitors have the opportunity to see fantastic views of the fjord.

Troll's Tongue

Photos of tourists posing on a giant rock hanging over an abyss have long spread around the world. This is the famous Trolltunga (Troll's Tongue) – another tourist landmark of Norway.

This wonder is located near the town of Odda, on Mount Skjeggedal, offering a view of the lake and valley. Daredevils wishing to challenge fate take photos at the very edge of the cliff.

To see all the surrounding beauty while standing on the Troll's Tongue, one must overcome a challenging journey – a long and beautiful ascent among mountain streams, waterfalls, forests, snow, crystal lakes, etc.

Besseggen Ridge

The Besseggen mountain trail is a favorite trek for Norwegians, a very picturesque route that will forever remain in your memory. The hiking trail passes between two lakes, Gjende and Bessvatnet, with a height difference of 400 meters between them. The lakes are located at a short distance from each other, so the color contrast between them is clearly visible: the blue Gjende is filled with melting glacier water, while the dark blue Bessvatnet is fed by rain and melting snow. Throughout the day, the shade of the lakes changes, creating a real feast for the eyes.

Just keep in mind that walking the Besseggen trail will take you 6-8 hours and will go along a mountain ridge, which requires appropriate skills and equipment.

North Cape (Nordkapp)

In this place, you can fulfill the dream of all persistent romantics - to see the ocean from the top of a giant cliff.

The cape got its name due to its location - at the northernmost point of Europe. This area has attracted many scientists and notable people, including even King Oscar II of Norway and King Chulalongkorn of Thailand who visited here. Today, North Cape is a popular tourist spot that offers an incredible view of the Arctic Ocean.

Mount Dalsnibba

Mount Dalsnibba offers an opportunity to observe Geirangerfjord with its landscapes, which look more like sophisticated computer graphics than a creation of nature.

The mountain reaches a height of 1500 m. At its peak, there is an observation deck, a souvenir shop, and a parking lot. We recommend you visit this place to enjoy the fairy-tale views of Geirangerfjord with its glaciers, waterfalls, lakes, and mountain ranges.

Akershus Fortress

In the country's capital is located the ancient Akershus Fortress, built in the 14th century by order of King Haakon V. The fortress was constructed as a reliable defensive structure designed to protect the capital of Norway.

In 1624, the fortress was rebuilt. After reconstruction, it began to resemble more of a luxurious castle with large halls and gloomy cellars where prisoners were held.

Today, the fortress houses the Ministry of Defense, the Norwegian Armed Forces Headquarters, the Norwegian Resistance Museum, and the Armed Forces Museum. During national holidays, celebrations are held here.

Oslo Botanical Garden

The Oslo Botanical Garden is considered a favorite spot for walks among the capital's residents and visitors. Beautiful views, a variety of diverse plants, and meticulous European maintenance make this place cozy and attractive.

This unique park is considered an iconic place for both tourists and Oslo residents themselves. It houses over two hundred sculptures by the national Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland. Thus, this park can be called one of the largest sculpture parks in the world featuring works by only one artist.

Some sculptures in the park are quite strange (like the man fighting off babies), but these are the ones that attract increased interest from visitors.

Urnes Stave Church

The attractions of Norway are all, without exception, beautiful, original, and stunning. A vivid example is the stave church, in the decor of which both Christian and pagan motifs can be seen.

This 13th-century structure has become a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was with such churches that the introduction of a new form of wooden architecture began. Also, in addition to exploring the cultural and religious monument, you can take many beautiful photos here against the backdrop of mountains, sea, and the structure itself.

Viking Ship Museum

Describing the attractions of Norway, we'd like to draw your attention to a museum built in 1913. It houses boats raised from the seabed. Scientific research has shown that they were constructed in the 9th century, but thanks to the clay bottom, they have been well preserved, even after lying for 1000 years.

Tour guides draw special attention of tourists to the ship located in the eastern wing of the building, which is believed to have been intended for long-distance voyages. The smallest third vessel, of which only some fragments have been preserved.

Holmenkollen Resort

Holmenkollen is one of the most famous ski resorts and the highest point in Norway. It is home to world-renowned ski slopes where sports competitions are held annually.

Holmenkollen is extremely popular due to its developed infrastructure with numerous recreation facilities and well-equipped ski slopes of varying difficulty levels for both beginners and professionals.

Flåm Railway

The Flåm Railway is located in western Norway and connects to the Sognefjord. It has 10 stations, and its elevation difference is 863 meters. Currently, the Flåm Railway is most often used by tourists, as during the journey it offers views of Norwegian mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and gorges.

Therefore, its main feature is the landscape that unfolds while traveling along the route, which stretches along the steep mountain slope.

Fram Museum

There are many interesting places in Norway that are worth visiting, and we strongly recommend that you do not miss this location.

The Fram Museum, located in Oslo, is entirely dedicated to Norwegian polar expeditions, or more precisely, their history. From the outside, the museum resembles a glass tent, and it exhibits the ship on which expeditions were made and new lands were discovered in its time.

When the ship made its last voyage in 1914, it was placed in Horten. To prevent it from completely deteriorating, it was restored 15 years later and placed under a roof.

Henie Onstad Art Center

This cultural center shows that modern Norway is known for more than just its antiquity. The popular museum houses unique masterpieces by contemporary artists. Works by artists and sculptors such as Picasso, Moore, Léger, Miró, Matisse, and many others are displayed here.

Northern Lights

If the main dream of your entire life has been to see a colorful glow in the night sky, then you should head to the northern latitudes of Norway. This country is famous for locations where the chance of seeing the aurora is one of the highest in the world.

The Northern Lights can be seen from any point in the country, but it's better if you have the opportunity to go to its northern part. There, you can see the desired phenomenon even in broad daylight. A favorable factor is being further from water, as the drier the air, the clearer the sky.

Northern Lights

If the main dream of your entire life has been to see a colorful glow in the night sky, then you should head to the northern latitudes of Norway. This country is famous for locations where the chance of seeing the aurora is one of the highest in the world.

The Northern Lights can be seen from any point in the country, but it's better if you have the opportunity to go to its northern part. There, you can see the desired phenomenon even in broad daylight. A favorable factor is being further from water, as the drier the air, the clearer the sky.