What to See in Norway

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Not counting the Struve Geodetic Arc, Norway has 8 sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list:

In the south of the country

Bryggen Wharf in Bergen ★★★ (1979)
This is the most famous district in Bergen, known for its colorful old wooden houses built along the waterfront. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Geirangerfjord ★★★★ (2005)
Though not very long, it is one of Norway’s most beautiful fjords, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and one of the country’s main attractions. You can explore it by car, on foot, or even by cruise ship or ferry.

Nærøyfjord ★★★★ (2005)
This narrow fjord (sometimes less than 500 m wide), a branch of the Sognefjord, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, just like the Geiranger. It also offers stunning landscapes.

Rjukan-Notodden ★ (2015)
For industrial tourism enthusiasts, this is a complex of hydroelectric power plants, factories, transport networks, and workers' towns nestled in the heart of the mountains. The entire site has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015.

Røros ★★ (1980)
Not far from the Swedish border, this historic mining town with its wooden houses is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Urnes Stave Church ★★ (1979)
In the village of Luster, on the shores of the Lustrafjord, this magnificent UNESCO-listed wooden church is one of Norway’s 28 stave churches and the oldest of them all.

In the north of the country

Alta Rock Art Site ★ (1985)
In Finnmark, the large town of Alta is home to an important prehistoric rock art site listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Vega Archipelago ★★ (2004)
This is an archipelago of several thousand islands (only three of which are inhabited) located north of Trondheim. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site for traces of human presence dating back to the Stone Age.

Oslo and Southern Norway

Ålesund ★
This is a port city north of Bergen known for its beautiful Art Nouveau architecture.

Balestrand ★
This charming village nestled in the Sognefjord boasts a beautiful wooden church and one of Norway’s most renowned "historic" hotels. The neighbouring municipality of Balestrand is a key ferry crossing point on the Sognefjord.

Bergen ★★★
This North Sea port city, the country's second-largest, boasts a charming old centre partly listed as a UNESCO site, with many wooden houses and several interesting museums. It's also—and above all—a great starting point for exploring the nearby fjord region or hiking in the surrounding area.

Urnes Stave Church ★★
In the village of Luster, on the shores of the Lustrafjord, this magnificent UNESCO-listed wooden church is one of Norway’s 28 stave churches and the oldest of them all.

Coastal Express ★★★★
A true Norwegian institution for over a century, this boat continuously connects 34 ports from Bergen to Kirkenes (2,700 km) on an 11-day round trip. Every year, over 500,000 passengers discover the stunning Norwegian coasts this way.

Flåm ★★
This village (unremarkable in itself) at the end of the Aurlandsfjord is one of Norway’s most tourist-heavy spots, even welcoming cruise ships. It’s the starting point for the scenic little tourist train that covers the twenty-kilometre route between Flåm and Myrdal (whose station lies on the Oslo-Bergen line). The journey can also be done on foot as a hike.

Fredrikstad ★
A port city south of the capital, at the mouth of the Glomma River, with an old town and a fortress.

Geilo ★
It's a popular ski resort between Oslo and Bergen and especially a prime area for all kinds of outdoor sports in summer (hiking, mountain biking, rafting, fishing).

Heddal ★★
This municipality in Telemark is home to one of Norway’s most beautiful stave churches (13th century). Right next door is an open-air museum showcasing rural life in the region from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century.

Hemsedal ★★
Between Oslo and Bergen, it is the country’s second-largest winter sports resort. In season, you can hike, mountain bike, fish, and enjoy various outdoor activities amid beautiful mountain and waterfall landscapes.

Kragerø ★★
It’s a small port in Telemark that’s extremely popular in summer for its landscapes, the sea, and the opportunities for boat trips.

Kristiansand ★
An entry port for ferries from Denmark at the southernmost tip of Norway. As a tourist destination, the city mainly attracts Norwegians who come to enjoy the sea or go boating along the coast and among the small nearby islands.

Kristiansund ★
This is a port city north of Ålesund with "typical" Norwegian architecture.

Lillehammer ★★
This is where the 1994 Winter Olympics were held. You can still see many of the facilities (and a museum dedicated to the event), as well as ski in winter and hike in summer. Lillehammer is also home to one of Europe’s largest open-air museums, housing 200 traditional Norwegian buildings.

Mandal ★
The southernmost town in Norway, known for its beaches and mild climate, making it a popular summer destination for many tourists.

Molde ★
This port city between Ålesund and Kristiansund is a stop on the Coastal Express. You can hike, ski, and even go diving in the surrounding area.

Oslo ★★★
Norway’s capital boasts a wealth of must-see museums (Vigeland, Munch, Kon-Tiki, Viking ships), parks, and various buildings and landmarks worth visiting.

Rjukan-Notodden ★
For industrial tourism enthusiasts, this is a complex of hydroelectric power plants, factories, transport networks, and workers' towns nestled in the heart of the mountains. The entire site has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015.

Røros ★★
Not far from the Swedish border, this historic mining town with its wooden houses is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Stavanger ★★
By the sea, Norway’s fourth-largest urban area thrives primarily on oil. Yet it still boasts medieval old quarters, various traces of its past, and also serves as a cruise-ship stop.

Tønsberg ★
Located in the Oslo Fjord, Tønsberg is Norway’s oldest town, with remnants of its Viking past still visible.

Trondheim ★★
La troisième ville du pays est située au centre du pays, nichée au coeur d'un vaste fjord. Elle est connue pour sa belle cathédrale et ses maisons de bois.

Voss ★
The main stop on the Oslo-Bergen train line. It’s also—and above all—a great base for exploring the surrounding mountains, forests, and lakes, and for enjoying the full range of outdoor sports (skiing, hiking, rafting, canoeing, etc.).

Natural Heritage

Langfossen Waterfall ★★
This is one of the most impressive and beautiful waterfalls in Norway. It flows into the Akrafjorden fjord near the village of Etne.

Latefossen Waterfall ★★
This is a beautiful 165-meter-high waterfall above a stone bridge. It’s located near the small town of Odda.

Mardalsfossen Waterfall ★★
This multi-tiered waterfall is one of Europe’s tallest, with a 700 m drop.

Rjukan Waterfall ★
It's a 104-metre drop and, above all, a certain reputation among ice-climbers in winter.

Steinsdalsfossen Waterfall ★★
One of Scandinavia’s most visited waterfalls, located near the town of Norheimsund.

Vøringsfossen Waterfall ★★
A 183 m drop makes this one of the most visited waterfalls.

Dovrefjell ★★
This vast mountain range in central Norway is divided into two national parks (Dovre and Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella). It is popular for its landscapes as well as its skiing and hiking opportunities.

Geirangerfjord ★★★★
Though not very long, it is one of Norway’s most beautiful fjords, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and one of the country’s main attractions. You can explore it by car, on foot, or even by cruise ship or ferry.

Hardanger Fjord ★★★
This is the second-longest fjord in the country, southeast of Bergen. Like many others, it is quite touristy and appreciated for its landscapes.

Lysefjord ★★★★
In the southwest of the country, this is one of the most spectacular fjords, with cliffs rising up to 1,000 m above the water. It’s also where the famous "rocks" of Preikestolen and Kjeragbolten are located.

Nærøyfjord ★★★★
This narrow fjord (sometimes less than 500 m wide), a branch of the Sognefjord, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, just like the Geiranger. It also offers stunning landscapes.

Nordfjord Fjord ★★
In total, about a hundred kilometres for this fjord that stretches to the foot of the Jostedalsbreen glacier.

Sognefjord Fjord ★★★★
Located north of Bergen, this is the longest fjord in Europe and the second longest in the world. With its stunning landscapes and small coastal villages, it is also one of the country's most visited natural sites.

Kjeragbolten ★★
This is a massive boulder wedged between two cliffs overlooking the Lysefjord (much like the nearby Preikestolen). Highly impressive and photogenic, it’s a popular hiking destination for many trekkers.

Folgefonna National Park ★★
A lovely park encompassing three glaciers southeast of Bergen. You can hike here.

Hardangervidda National Park ★★★
Norway’s largest national park, located between Bergen and Oslo. It offers stunning landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities (cross-country skiing, hiking, climbing, fishing). You’ll also see large herds of reindeer here.

Jostedalsbreen National Park ★★★
This park in the heart of the southern part of the country is home to the largest glacier in continental Europe, the Jostedalsbreen, as well as others like the more accessible Briksdalsbreen. Hiking is possible here.

Jotunheimen National Park ★★★★
A stunning mountain, glacier, and valley park between Oslo and Ålesund. It’s one of Norwegians’ favorite spots for fishing, trekking, and other outdoor activities.

Preikestolen ★★★★
This cliff near Stavanger overlooking the Lysefjord by over 600 m has become one of the country’s main tourist sites thanks to its extraordinary panorama. You can also hike in the surrounding area. Other equally impressive promontories in the region include Kjeragbolten (with its boulder wedged between two cliffs) and Trolltunga.

Atlantic Ocean Road ★★
Or the Atlanterhavsveien in Norwegian. This scenic route along the coast, south of Trondheim, offers stunning landscapes where the sea, mountains, and fjords blend together. It connects the villages of Eide and Averøy.

Trollstigen Road ★★
Or Trollstigen. This (very) touristy little road east of Ålesund connects Rauma to Valldal through stunning landscapes.

Trolltunga ★★
This is a cliff promontory overhanging a fjord (like Preikestolen). The spot is quite impressive and accessible by hiking.

Norwegian Lapland and the North

Alta Rock Art Site ★
In Finnmark, the large town of Alta is home to an important prehistoric rock art site listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Vega Archipelago ★★
This is an archipelago of several thousand islands (only three of which are inhabited) located north of Trondheim. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site for traces of human presence dating back to the Stone Age.

Bodø ★
The only major town between Trondheim and Tromsø, Bodø is primarily a stopover for the Coastal Express and a departure point for the Lofoten Islands. It is also the terminus of Norway’s railway lines.

North Cape ★★
This cliff in the municipality of Nordkapp is symbolically (though not geographically) considered the northernmost point of the European continent. Over 250,000 people visit each year to see the midnight sun.

Coastal Express ★★★★
A true Norwegian institution for over a century, this boat continuously connects 34 ports from Bergen to Kirkenes (2,700 km) on an 11-day round trip. Every year, over 500,000 passengers discover the stunning Norwegian coasts this way.

Hammerfest ★
The town is often referred to as the northernmost in the world. For tourists, it offers one of the markers of the Struve Geodetic Arc and, most notably, a nearby glacier.

Lofoten Islands ★★★★
A stunning archipelago roughly opposite Bodø. Here you’ll find breathtaking landscapes, charming fishing villages, and a range of outdoor activities like birdwatching, hiking, climbing, and diving.

Senja Island ★★
This very large island north of the Lofoten Islands offers, like its neighbours, stunning landscapes, particularly in Anderdalen Park, and great trekking opportunities.

Vesteralen Islands ★★★
North of the Lofoten, this slightly lesser-known archipelago also offers a beautiful environment ideal for eco-tourism.

Karasjok ★
This is a large village in Lapland at the heart of Sámi culture. It is home to the Sámi Parliament of Norway and is the coldest spot in the country, with a record low of -52°C in January 1999!

Kirkenes ★
Sixty kilometres from the Russian border, this small town is the terminus of the Coastal Express. It’s a great place to see the midnight sun and the northern lights. From Kirkenes, it’s possible to travel to Russia.

Norwegian Lapland ★★★
Spanning the Scandinavian countries and Russia, Lapland is the land of the Sámi... though in Norway (and Russia), the name isn’t officially recognized and is more of a tourist designation. It’s primarily a tundra region where you can see large reindeer herds and discover the local culture and traditions.

Mo i Rana ★
This small town primarily serves as a base for exploring the beautiful landscapes and caves of the surrounding area, especially the Svartisen, Norway’s second-largest glacier.

Narvik ★
Norway’s third-largest northern town with just under 20,000 inhabitants, Narvik is primarily a base for hiking, skiing, and even wreck diving in the surrounding area. While the town is connected by train to Sweden, it is not linked by rail to the rest of Norway.

Tromsø ★★
With a population of 75,000, it is the largest city north of the Arctic Circle. It is known for its "Arctic Cathedral", wooden houses, and Polar Museum. It is also a great place to admire the Northern Lights. Around the city, you can hike and enjoy various winter activities (skiing, sledding, etc.).

Natural Heritage

Svartisen Glacier ★★
Located near the town of Mo i Rana, in the vast Saltfjellet-Svartisen Park, this is the country's second-largest glacier. Hiking is possible in the park.

Svalbard Archipelago

Svalbard ★★★★
This is the main island of this Arctic archipelago near Greenland and home to almost all of its 3,000 inhabitants. The area offers extraordinary landscapes of glaciers, mountains, and rugged coastlines. Every year, a few hundred visitors come to hike—including by kayak—and observe the wildlife and the many polar bears that live here.

Jan Mayen ★★
This isolated volcanic island between the Arctic Ocean and the Atlantic is used for scientific purposes and can only be visited with great difficulty, for just a few hours on site. It is not truly part of the Svalbard archipelago, which lies further north, even though they are sometimes associated.