That Cool Travel Couple

A picture is worth a thousand words…and yet none of our pictures from Norway come close to describing the depth of the beauty of this country. But we gave it our best shot.

Practicalities

Currency: Norwegian Krone

Recommended Length of Stay: 1 – 3 weeks

Month of visit: May

Useful tips: Remember that Norway is not a part of the EU, so you can’t use your Euros here!

Norway is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis. These lights are always active but during daylight hours are extremely difficult to see, so many visitors try to plan their trip around the winter months for longer hours in the dark. Be careful, though, as it gets very cold!

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Packing List

You’re going to want to pack warm layers for Norway. In the sunshine, it can be quite pleasant, but at night or if you’re out on the water it gets chilly.

• 2-3 thick sweaters
• A packable down jacket
• Sturdy pants
• Base layers
• Study sneakers or hiking shoes
• Thick warm socks
• Sunscreen
• A day bag

How to Get There

We chose to fly into Oslo from LAX. This is a little over 10 hours and is offered on Norse Atlantic Airways. Try to get some sleep on the plane so you’re rested once you arrive.

Another way of getting to Oslo is to fly into whatever big city is the cheapest flight from your home town. Try to check London, Paris and Amsterdam. Then, you can take a cheap hopper flight (usually less than $60) from that city over to Norway. These types of connections are not usually advertised on big search engines, so you have to look for them specifically.

Oslo

Oslo is a modern waterfront city with lots to see and do. We were here for a few days and realized that Oslo is certainly very different from most of the other European capitals we have visited.

Where to Stay

Luxury: Grand Hotel Oslo. You’ll literally feel like you’re staying in a fairytale castle if you stay at this magnificent hotel. Check out the junior suite if you’d like to soak in the massive oversize tub – and the pool looks super luxe as well.

Midrange: Karl Johan Hotel. This hotel is conveniently located near Karl Johan Gate, the Grand Palace and park, and the National Theater.

Budget: Smarthotel Oslo. These brightly colored cozy rooms provide everything you need for a cost-conscious stay in Oslo.

There are also tons of great AirBnB and VRBO options in Oslo. Check out this amazing view from our VRBO.

What to Do

First things first, you simply must visit the Oslo Opera House for its iconic modern design. We weren’t lucky enough to see a show here, but enjoyed visiting the inside and had a coffee and pastry overlooking the fjord.

One of our favorite things to do in Oslo was visiting the Viking Ship Museum. This is a really unique place that gives you the very rare opportunity to see three genuine viking ships from the 9th century. Close to this is a Kon-Tiki museum that looks awesome as well, but we didn’t make it here. To get here you can take the ferry from Aker brygge across to the peninsula – we definitely recommend this for amazing views! By the way, the port is near a large and modern shopping center in case you want to shop for warm clothes.

You’ll definitely want to visit Vigeland Park which is home to multiple very famous sculptures. These include the Wheel of Life and Monolitten. It also houses several ponds and vast grounds, making for a lovely place to walk around during the afternoon. Grab a coffee at one of the cafes and stroll.

We also really liked Studenterlunden Park which is connected to the Royal Palace gardens. The fountains are beautiful and you can actually tour the inside of the 19th century palace. We enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea spread at the Theatercafeen just on the edge of the park.

Later on, we visited Akershus Fortress from medieval times on the waters edge. This is an old fortress and prison and also houses a church. It’s located really close to the port which is a lovely and bright area to walk around.

Finally, enjoy the Oslo Fjord. If you don’t have much time, you can skip it – there are plenty more fjords in your future if you keep reading!

Flam

Where to Stay

There aren’t too many hotels in the Flam area, but you can use this page to find them. However there are quite a few small cabins in the area that are also cute and cozy.

What to Do

Flam is located on the western side of Norway – basically across the country from Oslo. The Flam railway is often lauded as one of the most scenic railways in the world. To get to Flam, we used Norway Trains and definitely recommend taking a morning train to be able to take in all the views during daylight. The entire trip takes about five and a half hours so it’s a good thing the seats are comfy and you can buy food and drinks on board.

The hands-down best thing to do in Flam is to board a Fjord cruise through Nærøyfjord which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a little pricey but worth every penny. You’ll cruise through the beautiful fjord and see waterfalls on either side. The views are absolutely breathtaking and we have never seen anything like it. At the halfway point, you’ll stop at Gudvangen Fjordtell and have lunch in the beautiful airy atrium at large viking-style tables, before turning around. By the way, make sure you dress extremely warmly on this cruise as it gets very, very cold.

Exploring the town of Flam is lovely too, though it’s quite small. We picked up some delicious local bread and cheese in the supermarket, and strolled around the waterfront area.

Bergen

Where to Stay

Luxury: Opus XVI. These suites have different arrangements to suit your style. This luxe hotel is also located in the most vibrant area of the city and is close walking distance to most attractions.

Midrange: Radisson Blu Royal Hotel. This hotel is located really close to the Bryggen Hansa Quarter (those colorful houses with sloping roofs on the waterfront). The rooms have sleek Scandinavian design.

Budget: Barfot Apartments. These clean and bright apartments are located a short walk away from major attractions, but are not quite in the city center. The price is definitely right though.

What to Do

The coolest thing to do in Bergen is to take the cable car up the mountain to Fløibanen upper station. This funicular departs just two streets back from the waterfront and runs about $5USD for a one way. We suggest taking the tram up and walking down the beautiful and well maintained path down for a bit of exercise. You’ll want to work off that coffee and skillingsbolle you had a the top!

Stroll down the waterfront and check out the Bryggen Hansa Quarter. These are ICONIC Bergen and house a colorful collection of shops dating back to German Hansa immigrants from the 1300s. In modern times you’ll find a collection of shops and restaurants which are worth stopping into. Wander up and down the small ancient streets and get lost in history.

Check out the Norwegian fish market while you’re in Bergen. Norway is an amazing place to enjoy fresh and delicious seafood. We definitely suggest trying a variety while you’re here!

We really enjoyed the art collection at the KODE museum of Bergen. It houses the works of Edvard Munch – if you’re a fan, there is also a larger Munch museum in Oslo that we did not visit on this trip. KODE is a small museum is set on the edge of Lille Lungegardsvannet which is a beautiful body of water to stroll around after you’re done.

When the cold from the day is starting to seep into your bones, make sure to warm up with a hot stew. Pictured here is a soup trio from Wesselstuen, a traditional Norwegian dining establishment. From left to right, that’s reindeer, fish and goulash!

Check out our other posts in Europe here!