Many travelers consider Norway one of the most beautiful countries in the world. From picturesque fjords and breathtaking mountains to the Northern lights and midnight sun, this once-in-a-lifetime destination enchants everybody who crosses its borders. We guarantee that these 25 breathtaking photographs of Norway will make you want to visit or even move to this incredible land.
25
North Cape
www.visitnorway.com
A quarter of a million tourists visit the North Cape each summer, making it one of Norway’s top sights. Located in Nordkapp Municipality in Finnmark county, this astounding cape with over 1000 feet high flat cliff offers breathtaking views, unusual climatic conditions, and the extraordinary feeling of standing at Europe’s northernmost end.
24
Kirkenes snowhotel
www.theworldroamer.com
Have you ever wished to spend a night in a hotel made entirely out of snow and ice? You can have your wish come true in the town of Kirkenes. Opened in 2006, this snowhotel has given a unique and wonderful experience to numerous tourists from all over the world.
23
Trondheim
www.visitnorway.com
With a population of approximately 170,000 inhabitants, Trondheim is the third largest Norwegian city. It was founded in 997 as a trading post, and was the capital of Norway during the Viking Age until 1217. The Nidelva river that flows through several parts of the city, makes Trondheim look like Scandinavian Venezia.
22
Nordfjord
www.pbase.com
Located in western Norway, Nordfjord is favored for its perfect blend of incredible scenery, historic sites and wide range of fun activities. Since 2005, the Nordfjord has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In total, there are almost 1.200 fjords in Norway.
21
Hardangervidda National Park
www.dailymail.co.uk
Occupying an area of over 1.300 square miles, Hardangervidda is Norway’s largest national park. It also serves as a popular tourist destination for activities such as hiking, climbing, fishing, and cross-country skiing. Its wild reindeer herds are among the largest in the world.
20
Urnes stove church
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Situated in Urnes in the municipality of Luster in the Sogn og Fjordane county, this 12th century stove church was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979. Norway is the only country in Northern Europe with wooden churches from the Middle Ages still intact.
19
Midnight sun
www.hurtigruten.co.uk
Yes, you read it right. Midnight sun is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the summer months in places north of the Arctic Circle or south of the Antarctic Circle, when the sun remains visible at the local midnight. Around the summer solstice the sun is visible for the full 24 hours. To witness this incredible natural spectacle, you have to go to the northern part of Norway.
18
Kjeragbolten
www.kuriositas.com
To stand on this awesome boulder, you have to climb up the Kjerag mountain in the Rogaland county. The rock itself is a glacial deposit wedged in the mountain’s crevasse. It is a popular tourist destination and is accessible without any climbing equipment. However, it is suspended above a 3.300 feet deep abyss.
17
Austfonna
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Located on Nordaustlandet in the Svalbard archipelago, Austfonna is the largest and most famous Norwegian glacier. Covering an area of 3.300 square miles, it is the largest ice cap by area and second largest by volume in Europe. In total, Norway has around 1,600 glaciers.
16
Lofoten Islands
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Lying within the Arctic Circle, the Lofoten archipelago is known for its distinctive scenery with mountains and peaks, open sea and sheltered bays, beaches and untouched lands. Ideal place for nature safari, mountaineering , rock climbing, surfing and cycling.
15
Dog sledding
www.boston.com
There’s no finer way to explore the Arctic wilderness than on a sled pulled by a team of huskies. Tourists in Norway love it! They can choose from being a passenger on a one-day trip, or steering their own pack of dogs for several days.
14
Northern lights
www.smh.com.au
Norhern lights (or aurora borealis) are natural lights that display in the sky of high latitude regions and are caused by the collision of solar wind and magnetospheric charged particles within the high altitude atmosphere. You can enjoy the jaw-dropping spectacle all over Norway but the best spot is the northern part of the country and the Svalbard Islands.
13
Tromso
www.visitnorway.com
Located 220 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Tromso is northern Norway’s most significant city with, among other superlatives, the world’s northernmost cathedral, brewery and botanic garden. Tromso is also a great place for watching the Northern lights.
12
Alesund
www.boomsbeat.com
This coastal town and municipality in More og Romsdal county is noted for its unique concentration of Art Nouveau architecture. After a huge fire that destroyed the town a century ago, young Norwegian architects designed new buildings rich in ornamentation with turrets, spires, gargoyles and other fanciful elements based on local motifs.
11
Jotunheimen National Park
www.panoramio.com
Located in both Oppland and Sogn og Fjordane counties, this national park is recognized as one of the country’s premier hiking and fishing regions. Home to reindeer, elk, deer, wolverines and lynx, Jotunheimen can also boast of more than 250 peaks rising above 6000 feet.
10
Hornindalsvatnet
www.phantomsandmonsters.com
Hornindalsvatnet is Europe’s deepest lake with a depth of 1,686 feet and an area of 19 square miles. Located in the Sogn og Fjordane county, the lake is also the site of the popular Hornindalsvatnet Marathon, held annually in July.
9
Dalsnibba
500px.com
Located about 13 miles south of the villages of Geiranger and the Geirangerfjorden, this mountain offers ethereal views with the Geiranger valley stretching underneath it. Covered by snow even in the summer, Dalsnibba is another Norwegian top tourist spot.
8
Oslo
www.orangesmile.com
Olso is the capital and the most populous city of Norway. Situated deep in the picturesque fjord of the same name, Oslo is literally packed with tourist attractions, museums, galleries, historical buildings and many other interesting things that are definitely worth seeing.
7
Trolltunga
www.laboiteverte.fr
Trolltunga is a piece of rock hanging horizontally out of a mountain about 2,300 feet above the north side of the lake Ringedalsvatnet in the Hordaland county. The name translated to English is The Troll’s tongue. Needless to say it is a very popular photo spot.
6
Laerdal Tunnel
www.arquitecturaycasas.com
This more then 15 miles long road tunnel connects the municipalities of Laerdal and Aurland in the Sogn og Fjordane county. Being the longest road tunnel in the world, it is divided into four sections, separated by three large mountain caves at 3.7 miles intervals. While the main tunnel has white lights, the caves have blue lighting with yellow lights at the fringes to give an impression of sunrise.
5
Bergen
www.visitbergen.com
Established before 1070 AD, the historical city of Bergen is the administrative centre of the Hordaland county. The remains of its quays, Bryggen, is a World Heritage Site.
4
Svalbard
www.mikereyfman.com
Situated north of mainland Europe, this archipelago is about midway between continental Norway and the North Pole. With its arctic climate, Svalbard is a breeding ground for many seabirds, and also features polar bears, reindeer, and marine mammals.
3
Voringsfossen Waterfall
topyaps.com
Located in Eidfjord, Hordaland county, the Voringsfossen Waterfall was hardly known by anyone other than the locals until 1820´s. However, nowadays, it is Norway’s most famous waterfall with a fall of almost 600 feet (535 of which is a direct drop).
2
Fredrikstad Fortress
www.visitnorway.com
This impressive building complex claims to be one of the best preserved strongholds in Scandinavia. The remaining military installations in Fredrikstad were closed in 2002 and today the fortress with its mix of old buildings and art exhibitions is very popular for visitors.
1
Preacher´s Pulpit
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This steep cliff rises 1982 feet above Lysefjorden, opposite the Kjerag plateau. With an almost flat top of approximately 82 by 82 feet to stand on, this enthralling place has become one of the most visited natural tourist attractions in Norway.