Hei Venner! (“Hello friends” in Norwegian) it’s me, your travel big sister! This article is filled with my list of the 9 must-have experiences in Norway.
Nothing makes me happier than recommending travel tips for friends and family and seeing them have an amazing experience. This is exactly the type of list I would curate for family and friends, and now I’m wanting to share it with you too!
There are countless lists online telling you what to do in Norway. Most of the time, it’s the same redundant suggestions and these lists can even be written by people that haven’t even stepped foot in the country! I want you to view this article as a checklist curated by your travel big sister wanting you to make the most of your time in Norway.
1. Indulge in the local seafooD
The nordic countries are famous for their seafood. Whether smoked salmon, fish and chips or oysters are your cup of tea you’ll be surely be satisfied here. The two spots that I think are superb are Fiskeriet Youngstorget in Oslo and Anita’s Seafood in Sakrisøy (Lofoten Islands).
Fiskeriet Youngstorget is a fantastic restaurant in Oslo that would be the restaurant I would recommend if you only had 24 hours in Oslo. Fresh oysters, from various beaches, and hefty portions of fish and chips paired with outrageously “lick-your-fingers-clean” caper and lemon remoulade and pickled vegetables are sure to please.
Anita’s Seafood is a quaint seafood market just off of the main E10 highway. Upon walking in, you’ll see the dried stockfish on display, and various types of smoked fish. We opted to purchase a piece of smoked salmon and WOW. We enjoyed this delicious fish every single morning before hikes and even sometimes as a snack with crackers. This wasn’t like any ordinary lox or smoked salmon. It was a thick cut with a smokey to salty ratio.
2. Try a Cardamom Cinnamon roll
In my family, cinnamon rolls are a very serious matter. My sister is currently crowned the queen of cinnamon rolls in our household and my father takes his judging job very seriously. Now, the Norwegian cinnamon roll is an entirely different beast and in my opinion should be treated as a different pastry.
The dough is a bit more substantial than your average cinnamon roll, and the frosting/icing (if there is any) is seemingly only for design. Instead, you’re more likely to find a sprinkling of pearl sugar.
For the most important part – the taste. The pastry’s filling is a combination of cinnamon and cardamom which gives the roll a warmer flavor. The cardamom provides a bit more of a deeper, earthy, peppery flavor. The combination of the two spices warms you up from the inside and pairs perfectly with a hot tea on a cold Norwegian day.
I don’t have a specific bakery or cafe to recommend, but they all are very similar and delicious. The Norwegian name for this special pastry is Kanelboller.
3. LEAVE OSLO (Get exploren!)
Norway is a large country with so much to see. Spending all of your time in Oslo would be a huge mistake. Whether you’re able to fly or rent a car and drive elsewhere within the country I can almost guarantee that you wont regret it.
Though I haven’t seen all of Norway by any means, the two areas I would highly recommend would be the Lofoten Islands (see #6), and driving west toward Stavanger. We hiked to a tiny home village near Stavanger and had such a special time.
The views we saw while driving the Norwegian countryside were truly the most breathtaking views I’ve ever experienced in my life, no matter the country. The stillness of the rivers and fjords, the grassy fields, the steep and commanding black mountains, and expansive natural beauty is something I will always dream about.
4. Hike and explore the wilderness
Norway attracts tons of outdoorsy travelers, and for good reason. The beauty of this country and its flora and fauna speaks for itself. In a fast-paced, social media driven world, a sense of stillness, peace and serenity is hard to find. Luckily, that is something you’ll easily find in Norway, and is incredibly special.
The number of hikes in Norway are endless. The top two hikes we enjoyed were the Reinbringen hike in Lofoten and the Vinddalen-Skåpet hike near Stavanger.
Both hikes were challenging in their own way. Reinbringen was basically a staircase straight up a mountain, but if you take it at a comfortable pace and stop to look around it’s definitely doable. The Vinddalen-Skåpet hike was very wet, and we were very grateful to have waterproof hiking boots. There was lots of balance work while traversing across rivers on slippery wet rocks, but this was such a stunning hike. It even lead us to an overnight stay at a cabin – would highly recommend!
*SPECIAL TIP: I highly recommend downloading the AllTrails app to your phone and pre-downloading the hike map in advance. No matter what hike you’re doing it’s always smart to have access to the trail map even if you lose service.*
One of my favorite ways to enjoy nature, especially after a hike, is to find quaint a bay, sit in the open trunk of your rental car and enter a state of meditation observing nature.
5. Try a norwegian waffle with brown cheese
During our first day in Norway, we immediately set out to find Norwegian waffles with brown cheese (brunost). In Oslo, you’ll find Haralds Vaffel by its brightly painted shop. They offer many toppings for their waffles and even offer vegan ones.
The traditional way to eat it is with sour cream, jam and brown cheese. No, this may not sound incredible, right off the bat, but in fact the juxtaposition between flavors and textures is really quite delicious.
The waffle itself has a cinnamon undertone which makes for a sweeter rather than savory waffle experience. If you find yourself in Oslo, even if it’s only for a night, this is a must-have experience in Norway.
6. VISIT THE LOFOTEN ISLANDS
Travel writers and bloggers love to make big sweeping statements. The best country, the most delicious meal, the coolest experience. I personally, try to avoid terms like that because it’s too grandiose and dramatic. However, Norway’s Lofoten Islands are my exception.
As of, January 2024, I am proudly going to stand by my statement: the Lofoten Islands are the most beautiful and enchanting place that I have ever traveled to. Flying the quick 1.5 hours to Harstad/Narvik Airport (EVE) and renting a car is one of the best travel decisions I’ve ever made.
My comprehensive Guide to Norway’s Lofoten Islands has a more extensive list of recommendations.
The archipelago is connected by one main highway (the E10) that you can get on right at the airport and take to the end of the island chain. The entire drive would take 4.5 hours, but we did the road-trip over a span of 7 days and 6 nights.
7. RENT A CAR
This was actually my first time renting a car in a foreign country, so if you’re nervous have no fear! I grew up with a very capable mom who drove stick-shift sprinter vans around foreign countries with tiny streets. The idea of doing that on my own caused me a bit of trepidation.
Luckily, the driving here was great. The roads were also new and well maintained. I rented an automatic vehicle and there aren’t many turns to worry about since there’s only one major road throughout the entire archipelago.
We rented with Hertz at the EVE airport and absolutely loved the experience. I can’t imagine not having a car and being able to explore at our own pace in this beautiful area.
8. STAY IN A RORBU
A rorbu is a traditional seasonal fisherman home that hangs over the water. You’ll be sure to see their contrasting yellow or red paint against the Lofoten landscape. Though rorbuers aren’t used as commonly anymore, many have been converted into hotels allowing travelers to have a more authentic experience.
We stayed in the Sakrisøy Rorbuer which are family owned and have been in their family for 5 generations. These quaint woodsy cabins are equipped with a full kitchen, wood burning fireplace, lofted bedroom and full bathroom.
The experience of staying in a rorbu is incredibly romantic and unique. Imagine cuddling up with a book and glass of wine while listening to the crackling fire. Anyone traveling to this area should jump at the opportunity to take a step back in time and understand why this is one of the must-have experiences in Norway.
9. VISIT HENNINGSVÆR AND HAVE DINNER AT FISKEKROGEN
Of all of the cities in Norway, Henningsvær, was easily our favorite. Located approximately in the center of the Lofoten Islands you’ll find this charming village. The drive here was enchanting and the meal we had at Fiskekrogen was our favorite of the trip.
The freshly caught halibut with browned butter, hazelnuts and root vegetables was remarkable. The symphony of flavor combinations at this restaurant was astounding and be sure to try the unique halibut tartar.
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