How to See and Stay in Norway

In a land known for fjords, Vikings and ancient architecture, Norway presents travelers with a plethora of sight seeing and cultural options. Located on the western side of the Norway-Sweden-Finland Scandinavian peninsula, Norway sits directly above Denmark. The economy is vibrant, the North Atlantic coastline is immense (more than 13,600 miles) and the waterfalls and glaciers are one-of-a-kind. Natural resources such as petroleum, fish, minerals and trees provide much of the country's economic stability.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A computer with Internet access for making reservations

What to See

1. Visit some of the world's last glaciers in the northern part of the country.

2. Explore one of Norway's many fjords, which are deep paths cut into the mountains by moving glaciers over time that have since filled with water. The largest is Sognefjord; other notables include Hardangerfjord and Trollfjorden.

3. Visit the west coast for dynamic fishing ports and stunning views, particularly around the city of Bergen.

4. See where Vikings used to thrive in Trondheim, the Viking Age Capital.

5. Visit the Gothic Cathedral in Trondheim that dates back to the Middle Ages.

Where to Stay

6. Find cheap accommodations in Flam Valley at the base of the local fjord. Community hotels run about $100 to $150 a night on average.

7. Expect fairly high hotel prices, especially in metropolitan cities like Oslo. Even three-star accommodations start with prices ranging from $150 to $500 a night.

8. One-star hotels here are still nice though not terribly cheap, averaging about $120 to $150 a night.

9. Choose "Hytter" accommodations. These are wood cabins in the country available to rent for small or large groups. They are cheap and widely available.

10. To book accommodations, contact Innovation Norway: The Official Travel Guide to Norway at [phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources, below).

Getting There and Getting Around

11. Take a train from Bergen or Oslo to Sognefjord to experience the world's longest fjord.

12. Rent a bike and navigate the fjords and waterfalls in the Flam Valley in Hordaland.

13. Ride the local express boat in and out of Bergen and other cities on the West Atlantic coastline.

14. Fly into Oslo Gardermoen Airport for most international flights. Regional airplanes also land in Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger and Kristiansand.

15. Take a ferry from Germany or Denmark over to the peninsula of Norway. There are daily trips to many cities throughout the country.

Tips & Warnings

• Enjoy the sun. In the summer, the days in Norway are very long, with sunlight shining for the entire day at times. The "Midnight Sun" phenomenon is almost unbelievable to most tourists.
• Norway has two official languages: Bokmål and Nynorsk. Sami and Finnish are also widely spoken here, as is English.