- In Your Pocket
2014
NORWAY
North Cape
Lofoten
The Fjords
One zone:
€
Two zones:
The Explore Norway Ticket Using Widerøe’s Explore Norway Ticket, you can visit as many exciting places as you like. You have unlimited flights for two weeks within the zones you select, and you can set up whatever itinerary you prefer.
375 455 535
€
All of Norway:
r i
€
The Explore Norway Ticket applies to travel during the period from June 19 to August 27 2014.
Read more about it and book tickets at: wideroe.no/explorenorway
WELCOME TO NORWAY Expectations are half the fun! The pleasure of looking forward to days when you are your own boss and can do what you want, when you want! Of looking forward to recharging your batteries! The anticipation that you will soon be experiencing something different, something beautiful and unknown! Hurtigruten
The North Cape
Hammerfest
SVALBARD
Kirkenes UN ES CO
The Lyngen Alps
Alta
Tromsø
Andenes Ve ste rå le
Longyearbyen
n
NORTHERN NORWAY
Lo fot
en
Visit Norway online Bodø
Arctic Circle
Mo I Rana the Vistenfjord
UN ES CO
Vega
Helgeland
CENTRAL NORWAY Trøndelag
Hurtigruten
Trondheim
Kristiansund Molde Ålesund
Møre & Romsdal
UN ES CO
Røros
the Geirangerfjord UN ES CO
the Nordfjord
EASTERN NORWAY
FJORD NORWAY
Fjell Norway Urnes Stave Church
Lillehammer
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Nærøyfjord
Hemsedal
Flåm
Gol
Gjøvik
the Ha rd an ge rfj or d
U N E S C O Bergen
Gardermoen
Oslo Telemark
Haugesund Setesdal
Oslofjord
nefjord the Sog
UN ES CO
The award-winning website Visitnorway is Innovation Norway’s most important channel for marketing Norway as a holiday destination, both in Norway and abroad. Visitnorway gives you reliable and extensive information about the whole of Norway and what the tourism industry has to offer – all in one place. This makes it easy to explore Norway as a travel destination, to search for products and destinations and book holidays to Norway.
Østfold Rygge
Torp
Stavanger Langesund SOUTHERN NORWAY Arendal Kristiansand
Larvik
Hirtshals Frederikshavn
DENMARK
Strømstad
For more infomation: www.visitnorway.com or scan the barcode.
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BE INSPIRED BY NORWAY The fjord landscape was formed thousands of years ago during Norway’s many Ice Ages by meltwater and ice gouging out deep valleys that the sea then filled up. Thousands of lakes and waterfalls were also created, and, more than 9,000 years ago, farmers and fishermen settled in this magnificent landscape. Today Norway enjoys a high standard of living, and Norwegians no longer need to struggle with the forces of nature to survive. Many people like to spend their free time exploring nature on foot, on skis, by bike, canoe, kayak or 2
sailing boat. There is also still a strong tradition of harvesting nature’s bounty, both by hunting and fishing, but also by picking berries and mushrooms. Norway cannot boast that it is a cheap country to holiday in, but we can offer some fantastic experiences in amazing scenery - free for everyone to enjoy. You can challenge it, live off it and in it, enjoy it slowly while travelling in comfort on sea or land, or feel close to it in one of our small, pleasant towns and cities, while you explore everything else Norway has to offer.
GO NORTH
FLAKSTAD, LOFOTEN ISLANDS Š CH/ - VISITNORWAY.COM
CONTENT Getting around 4 Where to stay 10 Activities in Norway 14 Winter Lights 32 Norway's National Tourist Routes 36 Southern Norway 51 Fjord Norway 52 Eastern Norway 71 Central Norway 76 Northern Norway 84 Get to know Norway 94 Norway on a Budget 100 Map inside back cover Norway A-Z backside of the map
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GETTING AROUND
VIEW OVER FINNMARK © JOHAN WILDHAGEN / INNOVASJON NORGE
TRAIN TRAVEL
One of the most relaxing ways of seeing the wild Norwegian countryside is by train. Norwegian State Railways (NSB) covers the entire country as far north as Bodø. The Bergen Railway is an experience in a class of its own, crossing “the roof of Norway” between Oslo and Bergen in a rail link between east and west through beautiful and varied landscape. Most of the long distance train lines are scenic, including the Rauma Line between Dombås and Åndalsnes, which presents the tallest rock face in 4
Europe, Trollveggen. The Nordland Railway between Trondheim and Bodø is one of the few railways in the world that crosses the Arctic Circle. For low-cost travel, book Minipris (miniprice) at www.nsb.no! Minipris costs from NOK 249 to 499 for one way – unlimited distance. www.nsb.no For more information visit www.nsb.no www.interrail.eu www.eurail.com NSB customer hotline: Tel.: +47 815 00 888 (dial 4 for an English speaking operator).
Europe’s most spectacular Train Journeys Discover Norway by train for an unforgettable holiday experience. Norway has many scenic railways, of which the four most spectacular are the Rauma, Bergen, Nordland and Dovre Railways. From your window you will see mighty mountain ranges, river valleys, waterords. You will travel through authentic and charming rural communities. From the variation in altitude, in a single trip you might experience both snow and glaciers and the green fields of summer. The trains in Norway are comfortable as well as environmentally friendly. Just take your seat, relax and enjoy the scenery. The www.nsb.no/travel_inspiration site contains infomercials presenting the routes and the unique travel experiences that await you. Welcome on board!
For more information and bookings: www.nsb.no www.scandinavianrail.com www.interrail.eu
The Nordland Railway - The train to the midnight sun The Dovre Railway - The trail of the trolls The Rauma Railway - The most beautiful train journey The Bergen railway -
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ORGANIZED ROUND TRIPS
Contact your local travel agency or book round trips directly in Norway from Fjord Tours. Tel.: +47 815 68 222 www.fjordtours.com For information about combined train/bus/boat packages, see www.fjordtours.com
TRY THE FLÅM RAILWAY
One of the most beautiful railway lines in the world from the mountain station at Myrdal on the Bergen Railway, down to Flåm station nestled in the innermost corner of the Aurlandfjord. www.visitflam.com
BUS TRAVEL
Where the rail network stops, the bus goes further. You can get to practically any little village you want to by bus. NOR-WAY Bussekspress Tel.: +47 815 44 444 www.nor-way.no
AIR TRAVEL
Considering its size, Norway is exceptionally well served by its domestic airlines. There are about fifty airports and airfields, making even the far north seem a quick jaunt away. The domestic airlines are SAS, Norwegian, Widerøe and Danish Air Transport. 6
Prices are generally low provided if you book well in advance. SAS www.flysas.com Norwegian www.norwegian.com Widerøe www.wideroe.no Danish Air Transport www.flydot.no
FERRIES AND BOATS
Ferries and express boats operate from early morning until late at night. Ask at the local tourist offices for schedules. In the summer season, sightseeing boats offer several departures per day from Oslo and Bergen, and also from other cities along the coast.
HURTIGRUTEN
Hurtigruten’s coastal steamers sail up the coast of Norway, all the way from Bergen right up beyond the Arctic Circle to Kirkenes. The ships are regular service vessels built to carry freight, mail and passengers along the 2,500 nautical miles of coastline. Calling at 34 ports en route, it takes 11 days if you do the entire round trip. www.hurtigruten.com
MOTORING HOLIDAYS
Norway is a great place to spend a motoring holiday and is easily accessible from most European countries. Regular car ferry services
run from Denmark, Sweden and Germany. The bridge over Öresund between Sweden and Denmark enables you to drive from the Continent to Norway without taking any ferries. www.oresundsbron.com www.colorline.com www.dfdsseaways.com www.fjordline.com www.stenaline.com
MOTORCYCLING HOLIDAYS
One of the best ways of seeing the stunning landscape in Norway is by motorcycle, especially when you want to visit some of the more remote places not serviced by public transport.
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For information, consult the site of the Norwegian Motorcycle Union, www.nmcu.org
NATIONAL TOURIST ROUTES
Scenic roads for exploring Norway’s breathtaking landscapes - comprises 18 selected stretches from north to south. Mountains, fjords and coastline form the core of the travel experience. Bold architecture placed in magnificent natural scenery gives the attraction its special character. More about the National Tourist Routes on page 36-45.
TROMS © CH/VISITNORWAY.COM
FROM THE CREATORS OF “TANGLED” AND “WRECK-IT RALPH”
IN CINEMAS IN 3D NOW
© 2013 Disney
WHERE TO STAY CAMPING IN BODØ © NADIA NORSKOTT, WWW.NORDNORGE.COM
HOTELS
Hotels in Norway come in all shapes and sizes – with something for most budgets. Choose a cosy wooden hotel in the mountains, a spa hotel by the coast, or a modern design hotel in Oslo, Bergen or Stavanger. You can find a list of the largest hotel chains on www.visitnorway.com
HOTEL PASSES
In Norway you will find several passes, discount schemes and cheque systems in operation which are valid at hotels and offer reduced prices. The Norway Fjord Pass® offers substantial discounts on accommodation at 150 hotels, guest houses, cottages and apartments all over Norway, and also offers reductions on activities and rental cars.
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For more information: Fjord Tours AS Tel.: +47 815 68 222 (then press 2) www.fjordpass.no For further information on discount schemes and cheque systems, check with the hotels directly or contact your local travel agency.
RORBU HOLIDAYS
In the Lofoten islands in Northern Norway, you can rent a traditional fisherman’s cabin, called a «rorbu». Fishermen used to come to Lofoten from other parts of the coast for the winter cod fishing season, and would make these cabins their temporary homes. Most have now been modernized. Although most Rorbus are in the Lofoten islands, you can rent these cabins all along the coast from north to south.
Photo: Einar Engdal
THE START OF A FAIRY TALE Once upon a time, there was a small hotel in Hammerfest that welcomed Rica Hotels’ very first guests in 1975. Since then, Rica has opened many more hotels in Norway. As a nationwide hotel chain, you will find as many as 70 welcoming Rica hotels throughout our extensive country, from Svalbard and North Cape in the far north to Kristiansand in the south, as well as seven hotels in Sweden. The hotels are situated near the most exciting attractions and the award-winning fjords, mountains and beautiful towns and cities of our kingdom. We at Rica Hotels want to play a part in fulfilling the dreams of our many guests and creating valuable memories and magical experiences for them. We hope that we can make a small but big difference to your hotel stay. Welcome to Rica Hotels!
rica.no • rica.se • rica-hotels.com
Prices range between NOK 600 and NOK 1 800 per night pr. rorbu. www.visitnorway.com (Where to stay/Fishermen’s cabin)
LIGHTHOUSE HOLIDAYS
Several lighthouses along the Norwegian coast offer accommodation at various standards. Search for “lighthouse” on www.visitnorway.com or contact the local tourist offices.
YOUTH AND FAMILY HOSTELS
Hostelling International Norway has around 80 youth hostels in Norway. Each hostel is unique but all offer the usual informal, welcoming homey atmosphere. The majority of rooms contain 2-4 beds, but many hostels now offer single rooms and family rooms (2 adults and 2 kids). Breakfast is often included but not all hostels serve food. All hostels have a kitchen that guests can share. Bedding linen may be hired. Hostelling International Norway Tel.: +47 23 12 45 10 www.hihostels.no www.vipbackpackers.com
PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION
Bed & breakfast is developing in Norway – all of a high 12
standard. Rooms are generally booked through the local tourist office on the day. You may find accommodation signs displayed along roads or directly outside houses (Rom or Husrom). In larger towns, private rooms are priced from approximately NOK 350-500 for a single to NOK 450- 800 for a double, breakfast included.
COUNTRY OR FARM HOLIDAYS
Farm holidays in Norway are many and varied and farms all over the country offer accommodation. Guests usually stay in their own comfortable cabin or house, complete with kitchen facilities, in or near the farmyard. Some farms also provide bed & breakfast. Many offer the opportunity to participate in various activities and aspects of daily life on a farm. Farm holidays provide an excellent base for activities and experiences in a particular area. More information available on www.visitnorway.com (Where to stay / Farm Holiday) or from HANEN - Rural tourism and traditional food in Norway, www.hanen.no
CABINS/CHALETS
Called «hytte» in Norwegian. Chalets come in various sizes and with various level of comfort. They normally house four to six people and
are priced between NOK 2000 and NOK 10 000 per week. If you want to spend just one night in a cabin and then move on, the solution is to rent a cabin on a campsite. www.norgesbooking.com www.novasol.com www.dancenter.no www.dansommer.com
CAMPING
Norway has more than a thousand campsites, so you are bound to find somewhere to stay in the area you want. The sites are classified 1–5 stars, depending on the quality, facilities and activities available. There is no standard price and rates vary.
Many campsites have simple style cabins that can be booked in advance. Most cabins have electricity and heating, but note that you may need to bring bedding. Please check when making your booking. For information about campsites, classification, the Norwegian Camping Guide and Camping Key Europe, take a look at the site: www.camping.no More details about other campsites and useful information about camping are available on www.nafcamp.com
STOREFJELL RESORT HOTEL – a visitor center for the whole family.
© STOREFJELL RESORT HOTEL
Golsfjellet in Hallingdal, standing 1001 m above sea level, is situated between Oslo and Bergen in the mountain between Rd7 and E16, on Rd51. The hotel features a mini water park, wellness center, restaurant, horse riding center, play area for children, walking paths and cycling trails.
NO-3550 GOL GPS Position: N60 48 227 E 8 57 267 Tel.: +47 32 07 80 00 booking@storefjell.no www.storefjell.com
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HIKING AT FLØYA. SVOLVÆRSGEITA IN THE BACKGROUND. LOFOTEN ISLANDS, NORDLAND © CH - VISITNORWAY.COM
BE INSPIRED BY NORWAY TO HAVE AN ACTIVE HOLIDAY
Walking from cabin to cabin in the mountains or going on a glacier walk is perhaps the best way to explore Norway. If you like cycling, there are lots of great routes to choose from, whether you prefer flat terrain or more challenging routes. There are lots of package trips including food and accommodation to choose from. There are also plenty of options for people who enjoy fishing. Try your hand at deepsea fishing, salmon fishing or freshwater fishing and you will have a good chance of landing a big fish. On a safari, you can see wild animals and birds at close range, including musk oxen,
moose, eagles, whales and king crabs. Or how about a challenge like rafting down rapids, climbing or snowkiting? There are many customised trips to choose from in Norway – on foot, by bike, boat or car. They enable you to get the most out of your holiday. In winter, Norway has a wide range of alpine ski centres, both for beginners and more experienced skiers. Naturally, there are also opportunities for cross-country skiing trips on prepared, marked tracks. Winter is also the season for killer whale safaris, iceclimbing, dog sledding and reindeer sledding. 15
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PREIEKSTOLEN/THE PULPIT ROCK © TERJE RAKKE ,NORDIC LIFE REGION STAVANGER
TOP 10 ICONIC MOUNTAIN HIKES BESSEGGEN IN JOTUNHEIMEN Š TERJE KARLUNG
The country’s expansive mountain ranges and high plains make ideal hiking terrain. You can choose to carry your own tent, stay in hotels or family hostels, or ramble from cabin to cabin. The Norwegian Trekking Association presents 10 favourite iconic mountain hikes in Norway. Besseggen and Preikestolen are among their recommendations. More info: www.turistforeningen.no 1. Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), the Lysefjord
Preikestolen is a mountain formed like a huge pulpit towering over the Lysefjord in Rogaland, Fjord Norway. There is a well prepared track to the top of the 604-metrehigh mountain plateau.
2. Besseggen, Jotunheimen
Besseggen is located in Eastern Norway. This is perhaps the most popular of
all mountain hikes amongst Norwegians. Steep paths and airy surroundings, with views of the Jotunheimen National Park, give you a feeling of mastering the mountains. Please note that the hiking season starts mid June and lasts till the end of September, depending on the weather and the location. 17
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Iconic mountain hikes in Norway - watch movie!
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3. Gaustatoppen, Telemark
On a clear day, you can see one sixth of Norway from the top of Gaustatoppen. Located in the county of Telemark in Southern Norway.
4. Galdhøpiggen, Jotunheimen
Norway’s highest mountain, 2,469 metres above sea level. The view of the Jotunheimen National Park does not get better. Easily accessible from the Spiterstulen and Juvasshytta mountain lodges.
5. The Aurlandsdalen Valley, Fjord Norway The inland mountains meet Fjord Norway in the Aurlandsdalen Valley. The terrain is varied, from rocky peaks to lush valleys and rumbling waterfalls.
6. Slogen, Fjord Norway Perhaps the most scenic and dramatic hike in the Sunnmøre Alps in the northern part of Fjord Norway. The hike to the top is steep, and the last part requires some easy climbing.
8. Romsdalseggen, Fjord Norway
Romsdalseggen is located near Molde, in the northern parts of Fjord Norway. The hike takes you over mountains, overlooking fjords, summits and waterfalls.
9. Dronningruta, the Vesterålen Islands
North of the Lofoten Islands lie the lesser known Vesterålen Islands. One of the most popular hikes here is the Dronningruta, named after the current Norwegian Queen, Queen Sonja.
10. The Reisadalen Valley, Finnmark
The valley stretches from Kautokeino in Finnmark to Saraelv in Troms, in Northern Norway. The Finnmarksvidda Mountain Plateau is mostly flat, but this part is a lush canyon-like landscape with steep mountain sides in parts of the valley.
7. The Triangle Route, Rondane
The classic triangle hike in the Rondane National Park takes four to five days. The hike, which is a good choice for beginners, will take you around the largest mountains in Rondane.
GALDHØPIGGEN, NORWAY'S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN © WWW.FJELLETIBILDER.NO
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BICYCLING IN REINE, LOFOTEN ISLANDS © CH, VISITNORWAY.COM
TOP 10 CYCLING ROUTES RALLARVEGEN
Cycle on a remote island in the midnight sun, try a path beneath a mountain plunging into a fjord, or get your adrenalin pumping going downhill. Cycling tourism is expanding rapidly in Norway. There are numerous well-marked cycle routes along the coast, in the mountains and around the fjords. These routes can also be combined. Fully organized cykling-holidays, maps and guide books relating to the various routes are available via www.cyclingnorway.no/en
Top 10 cycling routes in Norway
A Norwegian travel magazine and the Norwegian Biking Association have ranked Norway’s top 10 biking routes.
1. Rallarvegen, from Geilo to Voss
Norway’s most popular biking route. The 210 km long road is a must for enthusiasts. It takes you from Geilo, through the Hardangervidda mountain plateau down to either Voss, or Flåm by the Aurlandsfjord.
2. Coastal route in Nordland
This route goes from Brønnøysund to Sandnessjøen and back again. The coast of Helgeland in Nordland offers beautiful mountains, beaches, skerries and islands. 21
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The incredible Atlantic Road - watch movie!
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3. Mjølkeveien in Oppland
This is either a round-trip on Stølsvidda mountain plateau, or a one-way route from Golsfjellet to Fagernes in Valdres. At the mountain plateau between Valdres and Hallingdal, there is a large area with mountain pastures where you can bike for several miles.
4. Dovrefjell and Rondane, from Hjerkinn to Dovre
On this route you have a good view of the mountains in Dovre and Rondane national parks. Take a short detour on the Snøheimveien road towards Snøhetta, where you can see the rare musk ox.
5. The Oslofjord
A good starting point is Sonsveien station in Østfold, where you can bike through Son and Moss and Jeløya. From here you can take a ferry across the fjord.
6. Mjøstråkk, from Lillehammer via Hamar to Gjøvik
The old paddle steamer Skibladner ties together the towns around the Mjøsa lake. The same goes for Mjøstråkk, a signposted biking route that starts off in the Olympic town of Lillehammer.
7. Jæren, from Egersund to Stavanger The area around Brusand is known for its flat, coastal landscape and special light, and you will find Norway’s longest beach at Orresanden.
8. The Telemark Canal, from Skien to Dalen
From this suggestion in Telemark, you can choose a hard long route, or an easy short one. The canal boat will take you from Skien in the south all the way up to the Bandaksjøen lake.
9. Numedal, from Geilo to Kongsberg
This route starts in the mountain village of Geilo. Bring warm clothes, as the route goes through three mountain passes. If you want an easier version, try to arrange a lift to Ånevatn. From there you will have only downhill in front of you.
10. The Atlantic Road
The Atlantic Road in Fjord Norway, famed for its many bridges, follows a particularly scenic stretch of the Norwegian west coast.
For more information on different types of cycling holidays in Norway, go to www.visitnorway.com 23
CANOEING AND KAYAKING
KAJAK LOFOTEN © CH / VISITNORWAY.COM
Sea paddling, river paddling and paddling on a lake are three different experiences, but each one offers a special closeness to nature and the chance to observe birds and wildlife that the noise of an engine would render impossible.
‘The ultimate experience is the Lofoten Islands. This is a mountainous archipelago with deep blue shimmering seas where kayaking trips can be combined with climbing and mountaineering. Wilderness is just around the corner yet civilisation is reassuringly close at hand. The fjords and island groups close to Bergen are more accessible 24
for the first timer.’ (The Guardian). The rest of Norway also offers great opportunities for canoeing and kayaking. Paddling along the Telemark Canal and on Lake Femunden in the wilderness of Hedmark is especially popular.
RAFTING RAFTING IN SJOJA © WWW.HEIDALRAFTING.NO
Rafting is exciting and fun both for the most adventurous among us and for the more cautious. From family rafting on the Otta river to Norway's most challenging trip on the Sjoa river. You can choose between family rafting down calm rivers and trips that will really make your blood rush. Several rafting companies offer trips. The trips are of varying degrees of difficulty and make different requirements of the participants' age and fitness level. Safety is paramount for these organisers, and they
therefore offer the necessary equipment such as helmets, wet suits and life jackets. Participants have to bring warm woollen underwear, a woollen jumper and woollen socks. WATCH MOVIE
Six popular rafting rivers
• Driva in Sør-Trøndelag county • Sjoa in Oppland county • Trysilelva in Hedmark county • Jølstra in Sogn og Fjordane county • The rivers in Setesdalen • Voss: Raundalselva, Strandaelva and Vosso • Jostedalselva in the Sognefjord area 25
NORWEGIAN ADRENALINE KICKS
ICE CLIMBING IN TELEMARK Š ANDERS GJENGEDAL - VISITNORWAY.COM
Norway has much to tempt adrenaline junkies. Surfing, ice climbing, snow-kiting are just a few of the activities on offer. Snowkiting
Reach speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour on Hardangervidda. Snowkiting, or skikiting as it is also known, is the latest craze in adrenaline soaked sports in Norway. A pair of skis or a snowboard, a helmet, harness, kite, some windproof clothes and some practice are what you need to reach speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour. 26
Instead of riding a chairlift to the top, snowkiters can use the wind to power them up a mountain and deep in to the untouched powder. And there is no better place for fun activity than Norway’s breathtaking mountain plateaus. You can try snowkiting in many different places in Norway.
Surfing
From Jæren in the south to the Lofoten Islands in the north, Norway is an exciting, relatively undiscovered surf destination. Not for long. Norway is an increasingly popular ‘cold water’ surf destination. Consistent swell, fantastic scenery and pristine waters mean Norway is attracting more and more surfers, many of whom coming here in the hope of finding undiscovered waves and breaks along Norway’s notoriously long coastline. Advances in wetsuit technology mean that it is now possible to surf in Norway year round, although the lack of light in winter, especially in the northern regions, cuts surfing down to a few hours a day – attracting only the most hardened surfers. For the rest, the season lasts from February to November: summer is most welcoming for beginners, while the late autumn and winter have more exciting conditions.
Ice climbing
Climbing up a frozen waterfall is an exceptional experience. There is climbable ice in the Rjukan area in Telemark from the end of October through to early April. However, the best and most reliable time to visit is midJanuary to mid-March. At this time, there are more daylight hours and ice will be in abundance. Other good places for ice climbing are the Hydnefossen Waterfall in Hemsedal and the waterfalls around Lærdal at the head of the Sognefjord. The Norwegian Climbing Federation can give you more information about ice climbing in Norway. You can contact The Norwegian Climbing Federation by email: klatring@klatring.no
Did you know that: There is an annual ice climbing festival in Rjukan in February?
KITING AT SPANSTINDEN IN TROMS © TOISNIEMI.COM - VISITNORWAY.COM
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FISHING SPIN FISHING IN HEMSEDAL Š ANDERS GJENGEDAL - VISITNORWAY.COM
Big fish, magnificent scenery and superb facilities. Outstanding freshwater and deep sea fishing makes Norway a special destination for anglers. Here, you will find everything needed for a great fishing holiday: a wide range of well stocked waters, a pristine environment offering plenty of opportunities to escape from the crowd, somewhere comfortable to relax at the end of the day and a ready supply of good guides. But if one thing makes Norway exceptional it is a reputation for producing big fish. Everyone over the age of 18 who wishes to fish for salmon, sea trout and sea char in watercourses must buy a fishing licence. The licence is valid for one year and is available online, at local banks or post offices in Norway. For 2013, the licence fee was NOK 240 for one 28
person and NOK 383 for a family. In addition you must buy a local fishing permit. Local permits are sold at sports shops, newsagents, tourist offices or campsites. For most rivers, the fishing season starts in June and runs until the end of August. Sports fishing in the sea is free of charge. A maximum of 15 kg of saltwater fish per person can be taken out of Norway. For more information about sports fishing and fishing regulations, please see information on www.visitnorway.com/fishing www.dirnat.no (Outdoor recreation) or contact the local tourist office in the area you wish to fish.
Disinfecting fishing equipment and other equipment
If you have already used fishing equipment, boats or other equipment in watercourses abroad or in watercourses where there are suspected or proven cases of infectious diseases, you must clean and disinfect the equipment before using it in Norwegian rivers. In many watercourses there are disinfection stations, see www.mattilsynet.no (search for Disinfecting your fishing equipment).
FISHING OUTSIDE TROMSØ © CH - VISITNORWAY.COM
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OTHER ACTIVITIES RIDING IN VENABU © CH/VISITNORWAY.COM
AERO SPORTS
Norges Luftsportforbund (Norwegian Air Sports Federation) deals with every conceivable form of aero sport such as flying light aircraft, gliding, parachuting, tandem parachuting with an experienced instructor, hanggliding and paragliding, ballooning or flying model aircraft. For more information about various classes or tandem parachuting contact: Norges Luftsportforbund Tel.: +47 23 01 04 50 www.nlf.no
CAVING
The county of Nordland offers great opportunities for exciting caving adventures. For information on the various caves and guided tours, search for “caving” at www.northernnorway.com 30
CULTURAL HERITAGE
For information on cultural heritage adventures and accomodation in Norway, see www.olavsrosa.no
DIVING
The Norwegian coast offers extremely good opportunities for divers. Diving centers with excellent facilities are situated all along the coast. Information about rules and regulations is available at www.ndf.no (NDF – Norwegian Diving Association). In case of emergencies call 113, or contact +47 55 36 45 50 for medical questions regarding diving.
GOLF
Golf in Norway is a fantastic outdoor experience with many interesting and highly challenging courses. Norway
has a wide range of courses (approximately 170) where green fee players are welcome. Most are located around the Oslo fjord and the main cities of Bergen, Stavanger and Trondheim, but there are also many fine facilities elsewhere in the country, even north of the Arctic Circle. Green fees vary from NOK 150-800. For a list of local courses, see www.norskgolf.no/club www.golfforbundet.no
PILGRIMAGE
It is now possible to make a pilgrimage along signposted trails from Oslo to Trondheim/Nidaros. For information about this and other pilgrim trails in Norway and for information about accommodation, see http://pilegrimsleden.no/en
RIDING
Horse trekking and riding holidays are very popular in Norway. There are a number of riding schools and farms offering riding lessons and summer camps for families, individuals and groups. For more information, search for Horse riding on www.visitnorway.com
SWIMMING
south. In the north, temperatures may also be high enough to make swimming possible. Alternatively, visit one of the many indoor water worlds, which offer activities for both children and adults: www.badelandene.no/en
WHALE SAFARI / NATURE SAFARI
Whale safaris by boat are organized in NorthernNorway. In Vesterålen you can see sperm whales, killer whales and other species from the end of May until mid-September. In Tysfjorden, you can join a nature safari/killer whale safari from the end of October until January. From November until March, you can join a nature safari in Lofoten and learn about marine life in the areas surrounding Svolvær. There is a good chance you will see sea-eagles and perhaps even seals and killer whales as well. For more information about these exciting adventures, see: www.whalesafari.com www.arcticwhaletours.com www.orca-tysfjord.no www.lofoten-opplevelser.no www.lofoten.info/en
You will find many attractive swimming areas. Water temperature can reach + 20° C, especially in the 31
WINTER LIGHT IN NORTHERN NORWAY
MOSKENES Š CHRISTIAN BOTHNER, WWW.NORDNORGE.COM
The far north of Norway is located above the Arctic Circle. Unlike other places in the world at the same latitude, however, the whole of this area is populated, thanks to the Gulf Stream. Most visitors are surprised to discover that it is not as cold as they perhaps imagined. In winter, the sun goes down and does not reappear above the horizon for many weeks. This polar night is also referred to as the 'season of colour'. The few hours of daylight in the middle of the day gradually give way to a fantastic array of beautiful blue tones as the light fades. Towards the end of this period the hours of dusk often have a pink hue. 32
This is also when you can discover another spectacular phenomenon – the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis in Latin, which means 'the red of morning in the north'. During their most spectacular performances, the Northern Lights dance across the sky in different colours, flitting to and fro at great speed. Good conditions
for observing the Northern Lights are forecast in the years ahead, so there should be many opportunities to see them all over Northern Norway. The winters are mild in the southern part of Northern Norway, and the coastal waters are ice-free. Here, you can ski down the mountainsides while enjoying great views of the ocean. Deep-sea fishing, scuba diving and surfing are activities that are on offer all year round. You can head for the wide open expanses and fjords in the north if you want to experience lots of snow, walking on snowshoes, dog sledding and Sami culture. Or perhaps you would like to sleep on a reindeer hide in a hotel built of ice and snow. The towns of Alta, Kirkenes and Tromsø all offer a broad range of scheduled activities.
In the very far north, the Svalbard islands lure visitors with their wild mountains and glaciers – so far away, yet so accessible by air, with direct flights to Longyearbyen, a tiny ‘city’ on the top of world. The best thing about winter in Northern Norway is perhaps the feeling of coming indoors after spending hours out in the clear, fresh winter air, sitting down to a piping hot meal made from local ingredients, chatting about the weather or the activities you have lined up for tomorrow with the people at the next table, and just soaking up how good it is to experience Northern Norway.
NORTHERN LIGHTS EXPERIENCES © OLE CHRISITAN SALOMONSEN
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NORWAY IN A ® NUTSHELL - Norway’s most popular round trip!
© PAAL AUDESTAD/WWW
Calm descended across the inky black waters of Norway’s Nærøyfjord as the fjordcruise boat skimmed the surface. The silence was a symphony, occasionally augmented by the heady cascade of waterfalls near to shore or the pumping of seabirds’ wings as they rode higher on the thermals. Wooden homes were scattered along the edge, the only sign of habitation in this uniquely peaceful and unspoiled terrain. 34
© PAAL AUDESTAD/WWW.FJORDTOURS.COM
W.FJORDTOURS.COM
© PAAL AUDESTAD/WWW.FJORDTOURS.COM
The fjords of Western Norway, world famous for their unique and stunning scenery, are popular with visitor from all over the world. The Norway in a nutshell® tour is a trip offered yearround. You can take it as a seven-hour round trip, or take your time and spend a few days on it. During the trip you will experience the breathtaking Flåm Railway, the narrow Nærøyfjord included in UNESCOs World Heritage List!, Stalheimskleiva
as northern Europe’s steepest road and the beautiful mountain plateau on the Bergen Railway. What make our round trips unique is that you can easily buy a flexible trip. All trips can easily be combined with overnight stays either in Oslo or Bergen or at smaller places along the route. We also offer activities as part of our packages.” For details, please visit: www.fjordtours.com 35
NORWAY'S NATIONAL TOURIST ROUTES - 18 selected drives
through the most scenic areas in Norway. The National Tourist Routes offer motoring experiences through varied and beautiful Norwegian scenery. Each of the 18 routes is distinctive and has its own stories to tell. If you choose one of the routes, you will see Norwegian scenery and architecture at its breathtaking best. The views from your car window and specially designed picnic areas, which feature exciting architecture and art, make for fantastic nature experiences and will tempt motorists to stay longer and visit again. The routes are detours that offer a stress-free 36
alternative to the main roads. They have been carefully selected by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration on the basis of strict quality criteria. Special picnic areas and viewpoints have been built that further enhance the experience. The routes therefore have wide-ranging and unique qualities and offer a variety of high-standard services. On most of the routes, activities, experiences, and food and accommodation are available to tourists on a scale that is sure to meet people's expectations of Norway as a destination.
Architecture and art
The architecture along the routes has a clear profile – whether in the form of large, monumental platforms and viewpoints or in simpler, more modest forms such as a concrete bench or a path up to the nearest mountain. Everything is in harmony with or in contrast to the landscape. More than 50 artists and architects are engaged in designing these exciting and functional picnic areas and viewpoints. They are innovative but robust solutions that will age with dignity. www.nasjonaleturistveger.no Havøysund
Varanger
Tromsø
Senja Andøya
Lofoten
Bodø
Helgelandskysten
Trondheim
Atlanterhavsvegen Geiranger - Trollstigen Gamle Strynefjellsvegen
Rondane
Sognefjellet Gaularfjellet Aurlandsfjellet Bergen
Hardanger
Valdresflye
Hardangervidda Oslo
Ryfylke Larvik
Stavanger
Jæren
Kristiansand
Experience the 18 National Tourist Routes in Norway on YouTube. 37
JÆREN
RYFYLKE
ORRESTRANDEN, ONE OF NORWAY'S FINEST SANDY BEACHES. EASY ACCESS FROM THE ROAD © HELGE STIKBAKKE / NORWEGIAN PUBLIC ROADS ADMINISTRATION
Jæren
This route runs through a wide and open cultural landscape along the edge of the North Sea. The Jæren area is dominated by agriculture. Short detours to the area's pebble beaches and long sandy beaches are exciting ways of experiencing the coast and the sea close up, especially in
THE HÖSE BRIDGE, SAND IN RYFYLKE. ARCHITECT: RINTALA EGGERTSON ARKITEKTER © JARLE LUNDE / SULDALFOTO.NO / NORWEGIAN PUBLIC ROADS ADMINISTRATION
Ryfylke
Ryfylke is an area with a highly varied landscape. The drive takes in fjords, valleys, mountains and moorland between the Lysefjord and Sauda, and across the mountain to Røldal. The Ryfylke area lies north-east of Stavanger and east of Haugesund. The road, 183
'I look out the window at the changing cultural landscape, plains dotted with small farms, before the road starts climbing up into the mountains, towards a vast, slower-moving world. I, who am always stressed, always thinking about the next thing I have to do, all that disappears here. The road, the landscape, the scenery do something to me.' stormy weather. The Jæren coast has no skerries and many ships have been shipwrecked there. Jæren Friluftsråd, the local outdoor recreation board, has made sure there are many signposted access routes down to the beaches of Jæren, as well as car parks, information boards and toilets. 38
kilometres long, runs from Oanes by the Lysefjord to Håra in Røldal in the county of Rogaland.
Hardanger
The National Tourist Route Hardanger invites motorists to take a journey through a national-romantic landscape famous for its fjords,
HARDANGER
HERE YOU CAN SEE A WATERFALL FROM BEHIND! STEINSDALSFOSSEN NEAR NORHEIMSUND IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF KVAM © JØRN HAGEN / NORWEGIAN PUBLIC ROADS ADMINISTRATION
R
mountains and, not least, beautiful fruit trees in blossom. The road passes through several areas that have long been popular tourist destinations. Tourists have visited the mountains, waterfalls and glaciers around the Hardangerfjord for more than a century.
Hardangervidda
The route passes through the Hardangervidda National Park, crossing Northern Europe's largest mountain plateau. The weather up on the plateau is shifting and varied, the kind of weather the Norwegian mountains are famous for. The National Park is also an important habitat for Europe's biggest herd of wild reindeer. The Måbødalen valley and Vøringsfossen waterfall have
been a tourist magnet since tourism's infancy, and their lure remains strong.
Aurlandsfjellet
This drive goes from fjord to fjord across a high mountain road. There are breathtaking views of the dramatic landscape of the Aurlandsfjord as you drive over the mountain from the Lærdalsfjord. The prizewinning Stegastein viewing platform provides visitors with new impressions and experiences. Made from laminated wood and steel, and jutting 30 metres into the air 650 metres above the fjord, it adds a new dimension to experiencing Norway's fjords and mountains. The old village of Lærdalsøyri, the Flåm Railway, the Aurlandsdalen
HARDANGERVIDDA
VØRINGSFOSSEN WATERFALL, ONE OF NORWAY'S BEST KNOWN NATURAL ATTRACTIONS, SEEN FROM THE FLOOR OF THE MÅBØDALEN VALLEY © BJØRN ANDRESEN / NORWEGIAN PUBLIC ROADS ADMINISTRATION
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AURLANDSFJELLET
GAULARFJELLET
THE STEGASTEIN VIEWING PLATFORM AT AURLANDSFJELLET. ARCHITECT: TODD SAUNDERS / SAUNDERS - WILHELMSEN © PER KOLLSTAD / NORWEGIAN PUBLIC ROADS ADMINISTRATION
valley and the Nærøyfjord are all on UNESCO's World Heritage List and are attractions that are well worth visiting.
Gaularfjellet
On the drive over Gaularfjellet, tourists will see lots of magnificent scenery and be able to see the Gaularvassdraget river system close up. The road is a peaceful alternative to the main roads from Sunnfjord to Sogn. The route passes untouched rivers and lakes, many waterfalls and a peaceful arm of the fjord. Here, adults and children can try trout fishing at its best and walk on good paths beside waterfalls and rapids. Boat hire is also available and there are great opportunities for mountain walks.
Valdresflye
The drive across Valdresflye offers panoramic views of the peaks and mountain expanses of Jotunheimen National Park. The drive takes you through an old cultural landscape of mountain pasture farms and across a high mountain pass where many traditional enterprises cater for tourists. The highest point on the route is 1,389 metres. Several of the most popular walks in the Norwegian mountains start at Valdresflye.
Sognefjellet
At 1,434 metres, the Sognefjellsvegen road is the highest mountain road in Norway. This important gateway to the Jotunheimen mountains
SOGNEFJELLET
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IN THE BEGINNING OF MAY UP TO 10 M HIGH WALLS OF SNOW ARE NOT UNCOMMON © JARLE WÆHLER / NORWEGIAN PUBLIC ROADS ADMINISTRATION
VALDRESFLYE
FOOTBRIDGE ACROSS LIKHOLEFOSSEN WATERFALL. ARCHITECT: NORDPLAN - ARILD WAAGE © BJØRN ANDRESEN / NORWEGIAN PUBLIC ROADS ADMINISTRATION
AN ART INSTALLATION MADE FROM LOCAL STONE. 'ROCK ON TOP OF ANOTHER ROCK' WAS MADE BY THE SWISS ARTISTS FISCHLI AND WEISS © WERNER HARSTAD / NORWEGIAN PUBLIC ROADS ADMINISTRATION
has a long history as a thoroughfare. From the east, the drive across the mountains starts in the fertile cultural landscape of the Bøverdalen valley, passing through more marginal farmland until reaching the summer pasture farms around Bøvertun. From there, the road winds up the narrow, magical Breidseterdalen valley up to Krossbu, the final 'station' before the road climbs up to the high mountain plateau. Here, motorists have panoramic views of glaciers and majestic mountains. On the western side, motorists have a more dramatic encounter with the fjord and valley landscape, as the road virtually plunges down via Oscarshaug and Turtagrø to the small quiet villages in the innermost reaches of the Sognefjord.
bridges, and it is a historic alternative to the new road across the Strynefjellet mountains. With its hand-built walls made from meticulously dressed stone, long rows of guard stones and the old Jøl Bridge, the road is truly impressive. The road stands as a monument to the hard toil of the local villagers and Swedish navvies who built it and to the pride they took in their work.
ØVSTEFOSSEN WATERFALL IN HJELLEDALEN. ACCESS TO THE WATERFALL FROM THE CAR PARK. THE WATERFALL IS PARTICULARLY IMPRESSIVE WHEN THE RIVER IS IN SPATE © JARLE WÆHLER / NORWEGIAN PUBLIC ROADS ADMINISTRATION
Gamle Strynefjellsvegen
This more than 100-year-old museum road between east and west is an experience in itself. The road is preserved as part of the national preservation plan for roads and GAMLE STRYNEFJELLSVEGEN
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RONDANE
SOHLBERGPLASSEN, VIEW TOWARDS THE RONDANE MOUNTAINS AND ATNSJØEN LAKE. ARCHITECT: CARL-VIGGO HØLMEBAKK © JØRN HAGEN / NORWEGIAN PUBLIC ROADS ADMINISTRATION
Rondane
Together with Valdresflye, Rondane is the most accessible of the National Tourist Routes from Eastern Norway. Situated between the Gudbrandsdalen and Østerdalen valleys, National Tourist Route Rondane is an alternative to the main E6 and RV 3 roads between the north and south of Eastern Norway. Rondane is the second most famous and popular mountain area in Norway. Rondane is associated with a mountain massif with untouched and beautiful scenery. Writers and artists have helped to foster this image and have enhanced people's experience of these mountains.
Geiranger-Trollstigen
The tourist route between Geiranger and Trollstigen is steeped in tradition. It offers unique motoring experiences through a landscape of high mountains and deep fjords. The tourist industry has for generations made the most of this dramatic Western Norwegian scenery and spectacular road. Living 42
GEIRANGER-TROLLSTIGEN
THE VIEWS OF THE WORLD-FAMOUS ROAD FROM THE TROLLSTIGEN VIEWING PLATFORM ARE SIMPLY FANTASTIC. ARCHITECT: REIULF RAMSTAD ARKITEKTER AS © PER KOLLSTAD / NORWEGIAN PUBLIC ROADS ADMINISTRATION
conditions on small fjord-side farms and on farms perched on narrow mountain ledges provide the material for many exciting tales from past and present in one of the world's most beautiful fjord regions. The Geirangerfjord is included on UNESCO's list of the world's natural and cultural heritage. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration wished to develop this route in a way that emphasises its qualities as a nature experience, while preserving the historical value of the roads in the area.
Atlanterhavsvegen
The National Tourist Route runs from the village of Bud in the municipality of Fræna, passing the treacherous waters of Hustadvika and through the small villages of Hustad and Farstad, via Vevang in Eide municipality before reaching the Atlantic Road itself. The road zigzags over landfills and seven bridges between small islands and skerries out at the ocean's edge, before ending at Kårvåg in the municipality of Averøy.
ATLANTERHAVSVEGEN
Helgelandskysten
FISHING BRIDGES AT MYRBÆRHOLMEN. ARCHITECT: MANTHEY KULA AS © ROGER ELLINGSEN / NORWEGIAN PUBLIC ROADS ADMINISTRATION
The Helgelandskysten coast is famous for its unique archipelago of thousands of large and small islands. The coastline is interrupted by long fjord arms, the innermost reaches of which are home to small industrial towns with industry based on hydroelectric power. Fishing and farming have long been practised along the coast and out on the islands. The Coastal Highway (Kystriksvegen) offers varied motoring experiences featuring lush farmland, coastal scenery, jagged peaks, glaciers and ocean currents. The road is joined together by six ferry crossings, the longest of which is like a mini cruise. Many ferry services run between the Coastal Highway
and some of the bigger islands, from the World Heritage Area of Vega in the south to Sørarnøy in Gildeskål in the north. A network of express boats also connects the many islands with the mainland. This means that there are great opportunities for island hopping – on foot, by bicycle or by car. There are many unique natural phenomena along this route, from Torghatten, the mountain with the hole through it, and the Seven Sisters mountains in the south to the Svartisen glacier and the Saltstraumen maelstrom in the north.
HELGELANDSKYSTEN
STEPS AT HELLÅGA PICNIC AREA LEADING DOWN TO THE FJORD SJONA. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: LANDSKAPSFABRIKKEN - INGE DAHLMAN © JARLE WÆHLER/ NORWEGIAN PUBLIC ROADS ADMINISTRATION
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LOFOTEN
ANDØYA
AMPHITHEATRE WITH GABION WALL AROUND THE SERVICE BUILDING AT EGGUM IN LOFOTEN. ARCHITECT: SNØHETTA AS © JARLE WÆHLER / NORWEGIAN PUBLIC ROADS ADMINISTRATION
Lofoten
Lofoten is a famous tourist destination with magnificent scenery and a thriving coastal culture. The landscape ranges from dramatic open sea and jagged alpine peaks to sheltered harbours, fishing villages and thriving agricultural communities. It is easy to get around Lofoten both by car and by bike. A boat runs from Bodø and Moskenes to the island communities of Værøy and Røst right out at the ocean's edge. Huge numbers of seabirds nest on the bird islands south of Røst. Whales, seals and orcas can also be spotted in this area.
Andøya
On the island of Andøya, you have the mighty ocean on one side of the road and steep mountains, moorland and
lakes on the other. After driving through an exposed landscape that offers no shelter from the Norwegian Sea, you arrive at the fishing village of Bleik, a very evocative image of the meeting between man and nature. Together with Senja, Andøya is an alternative to the main E6 road and the Hurtigruten coastal express.
Senja
The drive along the seaward side of the island of Senja is a journey through a changing landscape of fjords, mountains and vibrant fishing villages. The rugged peaks of the Okshornan mountains, which rise straight up from the sea, dominate the landscape. Sandy beaches and small rocky islands help
HAVØYSUND
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ADMIRE THE VIEW FROM A SEAT IN ONE OF THE CUBES AT THE PICNIC AREA IN SNEFJORD. THEY PROVIDE SHELTER NO MATTER WHICH WAY THE WIND IS BLOWING. ARCHITECT: PUSHAK ARKITEKTER © ANNE OLSEN-RYUM FOR THE NORWEGIAN PUBLIC ROADS ADMINISTRATION
SENJA
KLEIVODDEN OFFERS AN IMPRESSIVE VIEW OF THE OPEN SEA, BLEIK AND THE BIRD CLIFFS OF BLEIKSØYA © STEINAR SKAAR/ NORWEGIAN PUBLIC ROADS ADMINISTRATION
TUNGENESET VIEWPOINT ON SENJA. VIEW OF THE ERSFJORD AND THE OKSHORNAN PEAKS. ARCHITECT: CODE ARKITEKTUR AS © JARLE WÆHLER / NORWEGIAN PUBLIC ROADS ADMINISTRATION
to enhance the overall experience.
bird cliffs, is also worth a visit.
Havøysund
Varanger
The drive from Kokelv to Havøysund passes through an impressive landscape of rugged cliffs that dominate the view. Here, the mountainous terrain extends all the way down to the rocky shore. The road is a good alternative to North Cape, and Havøysund, where it ends, is a vibrant community that comes as a surprise out here on the coast of Finnmark. From Havøysund, travellers can take a boat to the islands of Rolvsøy and Ingøya, and to Fruholmen lighthouse further out in the Arctic Ocean. Hjelmsøystauren, one of Northern Europe's biggest
Far north and furthest east in Norway, a tourist route runs along the coast of the icy waters of the Barents Sea. In the Arctic landscape, there is no distance between the sea and the mountains. In the short Arctic summer, warm Siberian air can suddenly replace icy-cold sea mist, here where the hours of daylight are never-ending. Fishing, immigration and trading have made Varanger an Arctic melting pot of different peoples and cultures. Its proximity to Russia and the Pomor trade, Finnish immigration and Sami traditions have resulted in great cultural diversity and an exciting cultural history.
VARANGER
THE STEILNESET MEMORIAL IN VARDØ WAS ERECTED IN MEMORY OF THE 91 VICTIMS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN FINNMARK DURING THE 17TH CENTURY WITCH TRIALS. THE STORY IS TOLD THROUGH ART AND ARCHITECTURE THAT IS THE RESULT OF A UNIQUE COLLABORATION BETWEEN VISUAL ARTIST LOUISE BOURGEOIS AND THE ARCHITECT PETER ZUMTHOR © HEGE LYSHOLM / NORWEGIAN PUBLIC ROADS ADMINISTRATION 45
THE ‘WORLD’S MOST BEAUTIFUL VOYAGE’ IN ANY SEASON
HURTIGRUTEN
Hurtigruten’s seasonal programmes are centred around Norway’s culture and spectacular nature.
Each season reveals its own charm and offers a unique experience on a Hurtigruten coastal voyage. Versatile on-board and shore excursion programmes introduce the Norwegian culture and nature. Hurtigruten guests can delight in Norwegian traditions as well as delicious food made mainly of local produce, with outstanding freshness, taste and quality. 46
The Arctic Awakening:
In spring (season: 1.4. to 31.5.) nature awakens from its winter slumber. Along the coast, migrating birds return and young birds hatch. A new attraction this spring is the sailings to Lyngenfjord in Troms. Guests can look forward to “The Arctic Awakening” on board programme and shore excursions. The theme of the activities on board is “Secrets of the sea”, while the shore excursion programme includes encounters with Norway’s birdlife.
The Midnight Sun:
A summer (season: 1.6. to 31.8.) voyage with Hurtigruten focuses a lot on the fascinating midnight sun, giving 24 hours of daylight and a very energetic atmosphere north of the Arctic Circle. Glowing sunlight bathes the coast, fjords, mountains and bays in a fiery red, gentle pink or golden tone, creating a striking contrast to the soft deep green of the pine and hardwood forests. The fjords – especially Geirangerfjord and Trollfjord – with their bright blue and green tones are particularly beautiful in summer.
Autumn Gold:
Autumn (season: 1.9. to 30.10.) infatuates passengers with a particularly colourful landscape: The coast presents itself in tones of gold, red, orange and yellow in countless variations. The air is fresh and clean, and with a bit of luck the first Northern Lights will appear in the night sky. As part of the “Autumn Gold” seasonal programme, Hurtigruten visit the unique Hjørundfjord. Autumnal shore excursions and on board activities, informative presentations and seasonal delicacies complete this seasonal programme.
Hunting the Light:
Winter (season: 01.11. to 31.03.) is a special experience thanks to the wonderful snowy landscape and the cosy atmosphere on board. The range of excursions includes dog sledging and snowmobile safaris. The Hurtigruten ships boast the best conditions for watching the spectacular Northern Lights as they travel away from interfering light sources. Hurtigruten's winter programme “Hunting the Light”, with theme-specific presentations, excursion programmes and tastings on all ships round off the winter season.
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NORWAY
- exciting destinations NORDKAPP PANORAMA © TRYM IVAR BERGSMO
NORTHERN NORWAY
If you really want to experience Northern Norway, you need to get out into the great outdoors. There are many wilderness safaris to choose from in Northern Norway on which you can see whales, eagles, sea birds and king crabs. The North Cape is mainland Norway's northernmost point – and the main destination for many people who visit this part of Norway. Here, you can really feel the breeze from the North Pole. Combine a trip to the North Cape with a voyage on the Hurtigruten coastal express, which calls at many harbors in Northern Norway.
GEIRANGER © SVEINUNG MYRILD / WWW.VISITNORWAY.COM
FJORD NORWAY
Fjord Norway is famous for its easily accessible fjords and mountains, and it is perfect for activities such as hiking, glacier hikes, fishing, and cycling. We definitely recommend an organized fjord cruise, on which you can see steep cliffs and waterfalls up close in many places along Norway's 16,490 miles coastline. There are also many places where you can hire a boat or a kayak and explore the fjords on your own.
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HIKING IN FJELLNORWAY © TERJE RAKKE / NORDIC LIFE / WWW.VISITNORWAY.COM
EASTERN NORWAY
Jotunheimen and Rondane national parks are popular destinations for mountain hiking and skiing, and for extreme sports. There are marked trails, more than 20 summits higher than 6,560 feet and many cabins where you can stay overnight. You can go on a musk oxen safari, a moose safari, try whitewater rafting, or take a guided walking tour of Oslo, capital of Norway. The Navvies' Road, which runs through a breathtaking high-mountain landscape between east and west, is Norway's most popular cycling trip.
CENTRAL NORWAY
Stay in a traditional fisherman's style rorbu at the coast and spend your vacation deep sea fishing or fishing for salmon in one of the many rivers. Visit Røros, a whole town of wooden houses and one of the few mining towns in the world to be included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Trondheim has a varied, welldeveloped network of hiking trails in the Bymarka nature area right outside the city.
NIDAROS CATHEDRAL TRONDHEIM © MARIUS RUA
SOUTHERN NORWAY
The coast of Southern Norway is perfect for recreation, fishing, and boat trips for the whole family. Further inland, you can go hiking or canoeing, and the
STANGHOLMEN, RISØR © TERJE RAKKE / NORDIC LIFE / WWW. VISITNORWAY.COM
mountains offer many opportunities for climbing. The area also has stave churches, farms, and folk museums featuring Norwegian architecture, art and crafts, music and dance. 49
© 1XPERT - FOTOLIA.COM Hurtigruten
The North Cape
Hammerfest
SVALBARD
Kirkenes UN ES CO
The Lyngen Alps
Alta
Tromsø
Andenes Ve ste rå le
Longyearbyen
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NORTHERN NORWAY
Lo fot
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Bodø
Arctic Circle
Mo I Rana the Vistenfjord
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Helgeland
CENTRAL NORWAY Trøndelag
Hurtigruten
Trondheim
Kristiansund Molde Ålesund
Møre & Romsdal
UN ES CO
Røros
the Geirangerfjord UN ES CO
the Nordfjord
EASTERN NORWAY
FJORD NORWAY UN ES CO
Fjell Norway Urnes Stave Church
Lillehammer
UN ES CO
Nærøyfjord
Hemsedal
Flåm
Gol
Gjøvik
the Ha rd an ge rfj or d
U N E S C O Bergen
Gardermoen
Oslo Telemark
Haugesund Setesdal
Oslofjord
nefjord the Sog
Østfold Rygge
Torp
Stavanger Langesund SOUTHERN NORWAY Arendal Kristiansand
Larvik
Hirtshals Frederikshavn
DENMARK
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Strømstad
Something new. Something different. Norway is like a breath of fresh air, untamed and full of hidden surpises!
NORWAY
SOUTHERN SVALBARD
NORDNORWEGE
STANGHOLMEN, RISØR © TERJE RAKKE / NORDIC LIFE / WWW.VISITNORWAY.COM VESTERÅLEN HARSTAD
NARV
LOFOTEN
This is the realm of the Nordic summer. The region’s picturesque idyll can evoke strong emotions. Imagine the whitest, greenest and bluest colours in the colour scale and the sun shining on old wooden wharves. Welcome to a coastline with idyllic small islands and a bustling boating scene. The inner part of the region is also known for its historic canals that run through a veritable cultural treasure trove.
NORDLAND
BODØ
POLARKREI MO I RANIA
VEGA
BRØNNØYSUND
KYSTRIKSVEIEN RV. 17
TRØNDELAG
feeling KRISTIANSUND that you are still living For Norwegians, Sørlandet, MITTELTRONDHEIM MOLDE NORWEGEN of Sail. The areas Southern Norway, is Norway’s in the Age RØROS around the Oslofjord also offer Riviera. It gets more hours fantastic nature experiences, of sun than anywhere else in addition to historical forts in the country. The region and relics from the Viking Age. has a beautiful coastline with myriad small islands, BERGEN FLÅM GEILO where you can go crab OSLO fishing and enjoy authentic HARDANGERFJORD maritime experiences – with VESTFOLD the sweet scent of woodland HOVDEN and heather as a backdrop. LYSEFJORD SVINESUND SETESDAL LANGESUND SWEDEN Throughout the year, the small EVJE STAVANGER ARENDAL FARSUND picturesque houses of the GÖTEBORG coastal towns shine brightly LINDESNES HIRTSHALS against the blue ocean. The SOUTHERN NORWAY FREDERIKSHAVN maritime environment in the DENMARK south is unique, and in the ‘white towns’, you get the 51
NORWAY
FJORD
The Norwegian fjords are famed as one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. Along parts of Norway’s extensive coastline, the sea cuts far into the mountainous interior. Where the mountain plateaus end, the mountains plunge hundreds of metres down into the water, and the contrasts with the surrounding mountain landscape create a wild harmony. The views are never dull – there are awe-inspiring sights around every bend. The drama and beauty of Fjord Norway are as impressive as they are legendary. The fjords extend up to 200 kilometres inland, where they surrounded by 52
the mountains of the interior. Small mountain farms perch on narrow mountain ledges and bear witness to the hard life of those who once eked out a living there. Fjord Norway has a welldeveloped network of tunnels
SVALBARD
NORDNORWEG VESTERÅLEN HARSTAD
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LOFOTEN
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BODØ
GEIRANGER © SVEINUNG MYRILD / WWW.VISITNORWAY.COM
POLARK MO I RANIA
VEGA
and many examples of audacious road building. Many spectacular stretches of road have been developed as National Tourist Routes, and the biggest cities are famed for their long history. The Hansa city of Bergen is best known for its Hanseatic wharf, Bryggen, and the Fløibanen Funicular. Stavanger is a modern, cultural metropolis, and the coastal towns of Kristiansund and Ålesund are known for klipfish and
herring. Ålesund is also famous for its Art Nouveau KYSTRIKSVEIEN RV. 17 architecture, while Molde is known far and wide for its international jazz festival. BRØNNØYSUND
TRØNDELAG
TRONDHEIM
KRISTIANSUND MOLDE
RØROS MØRE OG ROMSDAL GEIRANGERFJORD NORDFJORD
SOGN OG FJORDANE
SOGNEFJORD FLÅM
BERGEN
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FJORD NORWAY
OSLO
HARDANGERFJORD HAUGESUND
RYFYLKE
LANGESUND
STAVANGER GÖTEBORG LINDESNES
HIRTSHALS DENMARK
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BERGEN
The Gateway to the Fjords of Norway
Year after year, we hear visitors from all over the world comment as they’re leaving “the City of the Seven Mountains”: I wish I could have stayed longer. Our city may be modest in size, but it is packed with attractions that fascinate visitors. Lively traditions live side by side with a vibrant cultural scene. Our Hanseatic heritage is one of many reasons for Bergen’s status as a European City of Culture. . Bergen will enchant you regardless of the season. Spring and autumn each have their beautiful palette, summer is teeming with joyous activities, and in winter you can combine your stay with snow-filled 54
adventure at a nearby ski resort. Year round you can experience the Norway in a nutshell® excursion. Set aside three days to explore the World Heritage City Bergen, and we guarantee you unforgettable memories and experiences. Day I Start your day with a stroll through the Fish Market and along the mediaeval Hanseatic wharf, Bryggen. Visit some of the city’s many museums and art galleries, before exploring Bergen’s charming shops.
BRYGGEN, BERGEN © BERGEN TOURIST BOARD / ROBIN STRAND
Day II Head out to Edvard Grieg’s home, Troldhaugen, for a lunch concert in idyllic surroundings. Visit the recreated Old Bergen, before taking the Fløibanen funi cular or the Ulriken cable car up to the top for a magnificent panorama of the city and surrounding fjords. The trails may well lure you to a mountain hike. Day III Spend the morning at the Aquarium or the science exploratorium VilVite. Go on a fjord sightseeing trip in the afternoon. Have dinner at one the city’s seafood restaurants – and round off your evening with a concert at one of Bergen’s many cultural venues.
FJORD CITY
The Bergen Card gives you free or discounted admission to museums, attractions, sightseeing and cultural events, free bus and Bybane (Bergen lightrail) travel and discounts on meals and parking. The card can be purchased at the Tourist Information.
NORWAY IN A NUTSHELL® © PAAL AUDESTAD – www.fjordtours.com
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WHAT'S ON IN BERGEN, THE CITY OF CULTURE 26.04. Fjordkraft Bergen City Marathon Fjordkraft Bergen City Marathon will be held for the third time in Bergen. Big crowds are expected to throng the city's streets this year as well. Runners can compete in the following categories: Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay (10 legs) and Thon Run. 21.05. – 04.06. Bergen International Festival Bergen International Festival is the biggest music and theater festival in the Nordic countries. 22.05. – 31.05. Night Jazz – Jazz Festival NATTJAZZ is Northern Europe's longest jazz festival. 25.05. The 4-mountain and 7-mountain hikes The 4- and 7-mountain hikes will be held for the 60th time in 2014. This event has become a big attraction with thousands of participants – enjoy magnificent views of the city from most parts of the route. 04.06. – 30.09. Lunch concerts at Troldhaugen, daily Half-hour concerts in Troldsalen provide an introduction to Edvard Grieg's music. 11.06. – 14.06. Bergenfest – music festival An all-round music festival with a profile that embraces many genres and styles. 24.07. – 27.07. The Tall Ships Races 2014 Bergen Bergen is host for The Tall Ships Races 2014. Around 100 of the most beautiful tall ships in the world will sail in to the harbor with more than 3,000 crew members from over 30 nationalities onboard. Free entertainment, marketplace, celebration of our Constitution and more than 500.000 visitors over four days - this will be the biggest event in the region in 2014. 12.09. – 14.09. Bergen Food Festival - Bønder i by'n Bergen Food Festival is Norway's biggest local food festival. The aim is to bring producers and consumers closer together. The result is a fantastic marketplace with a huge diversity of Norwegian products and producers.
Read more about what’s on in Bergen, the City of Culture at www.visitBergen.com/events
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TRØNDELAG
FACTS
KRISTIANSUND MOLDE RØROS
Transport: Bergen – easy to get to regardless of how you choose to travel.
LILLEHAMMER / HAFJELL
SOGNEFJORD
BERGEN
Bergen Airport Flesland has good domestic and international connections. You can fly there direct from more than 30 destinations in Europe.
Ferry from Denmark to Bergen with Fjord Line. Bergen is a turnaround port for the world-famous Hurtigruten coastal e just one complaint express.when they
of Norway
The Railway ed with attractions for theBergen interested traveller. impossible to categorise. between Oslo and Bergen
has been one of ral scene. The legacy of theranked Hanseatic period the-world's greatest train ean City of Culture both of which are highly journeys.
ent location and world famous surroundings: Several departures he backdrop to an international, yet distinctive
daily to/from the fjord
region, and Oslo.memories n, and we guarantee unforgettable
seven hours Spend the morning at theApprox. Aquarium. Go on a fjord eing trip in the afternoon. dinner at one the from Have Oslo by car. sh restaurants and end the evening at one of the city’s cultural venues.
an 2 hours away Choose between direct flights ng from major airports in Great Britain. om gian.com om e.co.uk nairways.com
The composer Edvard Grieg
OSLO
HARDANGERFJORD HOVDEN
SCHW
LARVIK STAVANGER
GÖTEBORG HIRTSHALS FREDERIKSHAVN
Distances: DÄNEMARK Oslo 515 km The– Hanseatic wharf Bryggen in Bergen Stavanger – 210 km Ålesund – 385 km Contact us: Bergen Tourist Board Information TheTourist Bergen Card entitles you to freeStrandkaien or discounted admission 3 to museums, attractions, sightseeing +47 55 free 55 bus 20travel 00 andTel. cultural events, andinfo@visitBergen.com discounts on meals and parking. Buy your Bergen Card at the www.visitBergen.com Tourist Information.
KIEL
Follow visitBergen on Bergen Tourist Board Tourist Information Vågsallmenning 1 +47 55 55 20 00 info@visitBergen.com Brochures: www.visitBergen.com/brochures
The Gateway Fjords to the Fjords of Norway
Sunset over Vågen 57harbour
WWW.FOLGEFONNIBREFORARLAG.NO © DÉSIRÉ WESTSTRATE KAYAKING IN EIDFJORD © WWW. FLATEARTH.NO
TROLLTUNGA ROCK IN ODDA, WITH THE FOLGEFONNA GLACIER BEHIND © STIG TRONVOLD
THE HARDANGERFJORD – a paradise for adults and children alike The Hardangerfjord region is close to Bergen and is known as one of the most beautiful areas in Norway. Great options for hiking and outdoor adventures. Nice museums and visitor centres for the whole family. Accommodation for every budget. www.hardangerfjord.com
Enjoy the true Bergen view ... perfekte Augenblicke www.floibanen.no
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Basic Hotels Basic Hotels are centrally located hotels in Bergen that have all you need for a good night’s sleep “Luxury where it matters, Budget where it counts” from NOK 448 per person www.basichotels.no
Marken Gjestehus Enjoy budget accommodation in the heart of Bergen. From NOK 210 per person www.marken-gjestehus.com 59
THE STAVANGER REGION
Everything within easy reach STAVANGER / PREIKESTOLEN © TERJE RAKKE / NORDIC LIFE
Magnificent scenery, a vibrant cultural scene and great culinary experiences. Welcome to a region you can’t help being enthusiastic about! Stavanger offers a multitude of unforgettable scenic experiences. And everything is within easy reach – whether you want to experience majestic mountains, beautiful fjords or endless sandy beaches. A boat trip on the famous Lysefjord is a must when you are in the Stavanger region. Here, you can see the Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen), which towers 604 metres above the Lysefjord, and Mount Kjerag, whose summit is 1,000 metres above the fjord. If you are looking for an active holiday, you can go walking, cycling, kayaking or surfing, or try kiting on the beaches. The region also has a lively cultural scene and lots of exciting culture to offer, whether you are interested in 60
history museums, innovative architecture or colourful festivals. Come and find out why the Stavanger region was chosen as European Capital of Culture in 2008. The Stavanger region also offers lots of great culinary experiences. A good climate and an active industry have made the region one of Norway’s leading foodproducing regions. You can visit small producers and taste some terrific food. You can also visit the biggest food festival in the Nordic countries, Gladmat. Welcome to an exciting and action-packed region!
NORDLAND
BODØ
POLARKREIS MO I RANIA VEGA BRØNNØYSUND
KYSTRIKSVEIEN RV. 17
TRØNDELAG
KRISTIANSUND MOLDE
FJORD CITY
RØROS MØRE OG ROMSDAL
SOGNEFJORD GEIRANGERFJORD
FLÅM GEILO
NORDFJORD
FACTS Transport It is easy to get to the Stavanger region – by bus, train, boat and plane.
NASJONALPARKRIKET
SOGN OG FJORDANE
VALDRES
HARDANGERVIDDA HARDANGERFJORD HOVDEN HAUGESUND RYFYLKE
LYSEFJORD
TELEMARK SETESDAL
STAVANGER
Several daily departures from/to Oslo, Bergen and Kristiansand. Several daily departures from/to Kristiansand and Oslo. Car ferry from Hirtshals, Denmark with Fjord Line. Rv 13 northen, Rv 13 eastern, E39 from the north and south. Sola Airport, Stavanger has good connections to e.g.: Oslo - up to 27 arrivals daily Frankfurt - 3 return flights daily Berlin - 2 flights a week Amsterdam - 5 return flights daily
LILLEHAMMER / HAFJELL VILLMARKSRIKET TRYSIL HAMAR
BESSEGGEN
SØRLANDET
FLEKKEFJORD
SANDEFJORD SVINESUND
LANGESUND ARENDAL
GÖTEBORG
MANDAL LINDESNES
HIRTSHALS
London - 5 return DÄNEMARK flights daily. Copenhagen - 4 return flights daily. Stockholm - 6 flights a week Aberdeen up to 9 arrivals daily. Newcastle - 10 flights weekly
KIEL
Welcome to an exciting region! Region Stavanger BA Tel.: +47 51 85 92 00 info@regionstavanger.com www.regionstavanger.com
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HAUGESUND AND HAUGALANDET LANGFOSS © ESPEN MILLS
The Haugesund area is rich in history
- particularly from the Viking Age and the period when Norway was unified as a kingdom. We also offer a wide range of scenic experiences, everything from our rocky coastline and heathlands to mountains, fjords and waterfalls. The area also plays host to festivals and cultural
© TOVE V. BRÅTHEN
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events, and is excellent for boating and bathing, golf, extreme sports, urban life and shopping.
© ØRJAN B. IVERSEN
© El in Thors en
SKUDENSHAVN © TERJE RAKKE
We recommend: Avaldsnes - Norway’s birthplace Skudeneshavn - A white haven by the north sea Island hopping – to Utsira and Røvær Akrafjord & Langfoss – one of the world’s most beautiful waterfalls Haugesund – seaport and culture town
© GEIR ØYVIND GISMERVIK
Trondheim
Ålesund
Oslo
Bergen
Haugesund
Stavanger
Destination Haugesund & Haugalandet AS Smedasundet 77 NO - 5525 Haugesund Tel.: +47 52 01 08 30 post@visithaugesund.no www.visithaugesund.no
© ØRJAN B. IVERSEN
www.visithaugalandet.no www.visithaugesund.no 63
WELCOME TO FLÅM FLÅMSBANA © VISIT FLÅM/MORTEN RAKKKE
© VISIT FLÅM/MORTEN RAKKE
© VISIT FLÅM/PER EIDE
Wild and dramatic nature, the world’s best reason to visit Flåm. Enjoy a wealth of exciting and magnificent experiences. The fjords of Western Norway have been voted the world's best fjord destination by National Geographic Traveler magazine. Flåm is located innermost in the world's longest fjord, the Sognefjord. The contrasts between snow-capped mountain peaks, cascading waterfalls and a beautiful flowering landscape offer magical moments that make a trip to Flåm well worthwhile.
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Holiday memorieseasy to reach
Over several generations, Flåm has developed into one of Norway's most popular tourist destinations. Easy to get to whether you come by car, boat, train or bus. Bergen is only 3 hours away, and Oslo 5 1/2.
The Flåm Railway
The Flåm Railway offers a spectacular train journey between Flåm by the Aurlandsfjord and the mountain station Myrdal. The Flåm Railway is open all year
and connects with most of the trains on the Bergen Railway between Bergen and Oslo. The railway is 20 km long, and has an hight difference of 865 metres. The Flåm Railway has been voted one of Europe's most beautiful train journeys by the National Geographic Traveler magazine.
UNESCO World Heritage area
UNESCO World Heritage park The Nærøyfjord, a famous arm of the Sognefjord, is on UNESCO's World Heritage List. This narrow, beautiful fjord has some of the wildest and most dramatic scenery in Norway. Guided fjord cruises are
available all year between Flåm and Gudvangen.
Historic hotel
Fretheim Hotel is one of the most unique hotels in Fjord Norway. The hotel is situated in the heart of Flåm, has 121 rooms, and offers great local food. Fretheim Hotel is a member of De Historiske hotel og spisesteder (Historic Hotels and Restaurants in Norway).
The Aurland Shoe
Visit the Aurland Shoe factory, where you can see the art of shoemaking and buy a pair of locally-produced shoes.
FACTS The Flåm Railway connects with most of the trains between Bergen and Oslo. Several daily departures between Flåm and Gudvangen during summer. One daily departure in winter. Express boat between Flåm and Bergen from May to September. Bergen Airport Flesland, Oslo Airport and Sogndal Airport. Daily express bus departures to Voss, Bergen, Sogndal, Lillehammer and Oslo.
Oslo-Flåm 350 km, 5hrs 30 min. - Bergen-Flåm 165 km, 2hrs 30min. - VossFlåm 65 km, 50 min. Hemsedal-Flåm 115 km, 1h 45 min. - Geilo-Flåm 115 km, 1h 45 min. - StavangerFlåm 350 km, 7 hrs. Contact us: www.visitflam.com post@visitflam.com +47 57 63 14 00
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ÅLESUND & SUNNMØRE ÅLESUND © TERJE RAKKE/NORDIC LIFE
THE GEIRANGERFJORD
THE GEIRANGERFJORD © TERJE RAKKE/NORDIC LIFE
The world famous fjord landscape and the unique Art Nouveau town – an almost unbeatable combination of nature and culture. The Geirangerfjord
The Geirangerfjord is so unique that it has been included on UNESCO's World Heritage List and has been a visitor attraction ever since the middle of the 19th century. See 'the Seven Sisters' waterfall as it cascades down towards the fjord, surrounded by the many mountain farms that cling to the steep mountainsides.
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Ålesund - The Art Nouveau town
Ålesund has been voted Norway's most beautiful town, and it has many experiences to offer! Lift your gaze as you wander around the Art Nouveau town and you will discover myriad spires, towers and beautiful ornamentation adorning the facades of buildings. Walk up the 418 steps to the top of mount Aksla and you will be rewarded with a panoramic view of the coast, fjords and mountains.
Close to nature
Experience teeming bird life on the bird island of Runde and be captivated by picturesque Alnes lighthouse. Sail up the magnificent Hjørundfjord, or experience the seasons at first hand on a walk in the Tafjordfjellene mountains, the Sunnmøre Alps and the mountains in the Geirangerfjord area. In winter, even the biggest skiing enthusiasts will find a favourite spot here, maybe at
Stranda Ski Resort, which has VESTERÅLEN HARSTAD been voted Norway's best ski centre for powder snow skiing. Recharge your batteries onLOFOTEN a NORDL cycling or kayaking trip, and try BODØ your luck fishing in waters that abound in fish. Get your adrenaline POLAR going on a whitewater rafting trip MO I RANIA or a sea safari, or explore the VEGA Geiranger to Trollstigen National BRØNNØYSUND Tourist Route, perhaps Norway's most breathtaking road. KYSTRIKSVEIEN RV. 17
FACTS Transport By car from Oslo Ålesund 547 km Geiranger 435 km The Hurtigruten coastal express Calls twice daily year around at Torvik and Ålesund, and once a day Geiranger between June and August and Hjørundfjord (Øye) Sept.-Oct. To Åndalsnes, then by bus to Geiranger and Ålesund, and other places in the region. Several daily arrivals from Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim. Ålesund Airport Vigra has good domestic connections and direct services to Amsterdam, London, Copenhagen, Riga, Gdansk, Vilnius, Las Palmas, Alicante. Ørsta/Volda Hovden Airport to - from Oslo Gardermoen.
TRØNDELAG
KRISTIANSUND MOLDE RØROS MØRE OG ROMSDAL GEIRANGERFJORD NORDFJORD
SOGN OG FJORDANE SOGNEFJORD
HARDANGERVIDDA HARDANGERFJORD TELEMARK
ØSTFOLD
RYFYLKE SVINESUND
LYSEFJORD STAVANGER JÆREN
Destination Ålesund & LINDESNES Sunnmøre Tel. +47 70 15 76 00 DÄNEMARK www.visitalesund.com
GÖTE
FREDERIKSHAVN
KIEL
Destination Geirangerfjord Tel. +47 70 26 30 99 www.visitgeirangerfjord.com
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MOLDE & ROMSDAL KRISTIANSUND & NORDMØRE ATLANTIC ROAD© ØIVIND LEHREN
Experience the world's most beautiful car journey: the Atlantic Road and the Trollstigen Road. Our National Tourist Routes, the Atlantic Road and the Trollstigen Road
The Atlantic Road, which runs between Molde and Kristiansund, winds its way over bridges and causeways from islet to islet right out at the ocean's edge. The Atlantic Road topped The Guardian's list of the world's most beautiful road trips. You can fish from fishing bridges or a boat and are almost guaranteed to catch something. Norway's most visited National Tourist Route, Trollstigen, winds its way from the floor of Isterdalen valley up to Stigøra (858 metres). You cross Stigfossen waterfall on an impressive stone bridge. It is also possible to walk up Trollstigen on the old Kløvstien bridle path.
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The coastal towns of Molde and Kristiansund
The opera and klipfish town of Kristiansund is located in a beautiful setting on four islands connected by bridges at the ocean's edge. Take a trip on the Sundbåten boat, the world's oldest mode of public transport still in operation. Molde is known for its jazz, roses and panoramic view. Take the trip up to the Varden viewpoint (407 metres) and admire the magical Molde panorama with its 222 summits.
An action-packed round trip
Take a boat trip from Kristiansund to the little island of Grip, continue in the direction of the Atlantic Road and visit Kvernes stave church. Try kayaking or a cycling trip, learn about the history of the Viking longships at the fishing village of Håholmen and about local coastal and maritime history at the new Ergan visitor centre in
Bud. Take a round trip by bus from Molde to Geiranger and return on the Hurtigruten coastal express via Ålesund in the evening. There are spectacular walks in the area, such as the Fjord Route near Kristiansund and the Romsdalseggen ridge near Åndalsnes. Or you can drive the Aursjøvegen mountain road, which is possibly even more dramatic than the Trollstigen Road. Take your time and experience more!
TROLLSTIGEN ROAD © TERJE RAKKE / VN
FACTS Transport By car from Oslo Molde 500 km Kristiansund 570 km The Hurtigruten coastal express calls twice daily at Molde and Kristiansund. Express boat to/from Trondheim and Kristiansund. To/from Åndalsnes and Oppdal, with bus connections to Molde and Kristiansund. Several express buses daily to/from Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim. The Timekspressen bus service between Kristiansund-MoldeÅlesund-Ørsta. Kristiansund Airport Kvernberget and Molde
Airport Årø have daily domestic flights to/from Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim.
Destination Molde & Romsdal Tel. +47 71 20 10 00 www.visitmolde.com
Destination Kristiansund & Nordmøre Tel. +47 71 58 54 54 www.visitkristiansund.com 69
The Rauma Railway
-The most beautiful train journey Dombås - Åndalsnes A trip on the Rauma Railway is a unique opportunity to experience one of the most spectacular scenic areas in Norway. Once aboard the train, just sit back and gaze out of the train’s large windows and enjoy the journey through contrasting, wild and magnificent scenery. From June to late August the train has an electronic guiding system that provides information on the scenic sights along the route. The www.nsb.no/travel_inspiration site contains infomercial presenting the routes and the unique travel experience. For more information and to book tickets, see nsb.no/raumarailway, call +47 815 00 888 or contact a specialist on Scandinavia.
Europe’s most spectacular train journeys 70
NORWAY
EASTERN SVALBARD
ALTA
HIKING IN FJELLNORWAY © TERJE RAKKE / NORDIC LIFE / WWW.VISITNORWAY.COM
TROMS TROMSØ
NORDNORWEGEN
Turn your back on the bright city lights and set off on an adventure into one of the world’s last wildernesses, where wolves, bears and the gigantic musk oxen still roam free. This is the mythical realm ruled by the BODØ trolls, at least for those who believe in them. VESTERÅLEN
HARSTAD
NARVIK
LOFOTEN
NORDLAND
Eastern Norway is known for the wide expanses and mountains of its national parks, for stave churches and its lively and charming small towns. In the mountains, you are so high up that you can almost touch the blue sky with your fingertips. You discover dramatic landscapes and get to see untouched nature close up. The region has the highest summits in Northern Europe that are covered in snow all year round, GEIRANGERwith jagged peaks and beautiful FJORD undulating formations. Standing NORDFJORD on the top of Besseggen ridge with its 360-degree view makes SOGNEFJORD an impression you will never BERGEN forget. It opens your mind.
POLARKREIS
expanses, where thousands MO I RANIA of kilometres of waymarked VEGA trails await you and make the BRØNNØYSUND mountains easily accessible. There are lots of accommodation options. KYSTRIKSVEIEN RV. 17 You can camp practically anywhere, stay in wellequipped hotels in towns and cities, orTRØNDELAG try a traditional, rustic Norwegian cabin. RØROS
EASTERN NORWAY FJELLNORWAY DOVRE LILLEHAMMER
BESSEGGEN
TRYSIL
VALDRES HEMSEDAL
GJØVIK GOLSFJELLET
GOL GEILO HALLINGDAL
OSLO
HARDANGERFJORD
The wilderness can be as wild as you want it to be, LYSEFJORD but you can also go on gentle walks through STAVANGER wide
SVINESUND LANGESUND
STRØMSTAD
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GÖTEBORG LINDESNES HIRTSHALS
HEMSEDAL AND GOLSFJELLET - A mountain paradise in the heart of Hallingdal, halfway between Oslo and Bergen
Experience the fantastic scenery and varied range of activities on offer in Hemsedal and Golsfjellet. Enjoy walks in the mountains and cycling trips, life on real Norwegian summer pasture farms, fishing in rivers and mountain lakes and swimming in mountain lakes and water amusement parks. Just a stone's throw from the fjords – only an hour's drive to the world's longest fjord, the Sognefjord. Mountains walks in Scandinavia's alps
Whether you want to climb some of the highest summits south of the Jotunheimen mountains or just ramble around and enjoy the view – 72
you will find more than 50 waymarked, prepared paths in Hemsedal and Golsfjellet. Your options include the summits of Skogshorn, Veslehorn, Storefjelltoppen and Nystølvarden.
HEMSEDAL © NILS ERIK BJØRHOLT
Top 20 summits Hemsedal
Waymarked and graded walking paths to 20 great summits in Hemsedal – choose between walks that take an hour or the whole day. Each summit has its own badge, and children in particular enjoy collecting them. This is Hemsedal's most popular activity, with more than 20,000 visitors every year.
Top 11 summits Golsfjellet
The top 11 summits offer many lovely walks and an organised summit
programme for the whole family. If you register at six or more summits, you will be included in a draw where you can win great prizes.
Recreational cycling and mountain biking
More than 600 km waymarked and graded round trips on good mountain roads and paths offer great experiences for the whole family. Cross country and offroad enthusiasts can enjoy miles and miles of easily accessible, good mountain paths. Try the challenging and exciting routes at the Bike Park at Hemsedal Ski 73
Centre. The chair lift will take you and your bike to the top of the slope. The trips are well described in a special cycling brochure and map.
Hemsila – the river for fly fishermen
Try your luck fishing in Hemsila, known as one of Scandinavia's best trout rivers. In addition to Hemsila, there are many easily accessible mountain lakes and rivers that are suitable for anglers of all ages. There are boat hire options in both Hemsedal and Golsfjellet.
Experience life on a summer pasture farm
At Ulsåkstølen summer pasture farm in Hemsedal, you can pet the animals, try your hand at farm work and, not least, enjoy a hearty meal of authentic mountain farm
food. At Golsfjellet, you can see the tractor Gråtufs, feed the animals at the children's farm Barnas Bondegård or go on horse-riding trips of varying length.
Climbing and kayaking Bouldering on rocks in Hemsedal or climbing in the mountains with or without a guide. Climbing courses are available for all levels of ability. A Via Ferrata climbing path is an exciting and lofty experience! The climbing options are described in a separate climbing brochure and climbing book. You can go on great canoeing and kayaking trips on all the mountain lakes, and you can hire equipment.
Accommodation, cafés and restaurants, and shopping
Live and eat like a lord at a luxury hotel, or stay at a friendly campsite. Many different accommodation and dining options are available. The same applies to shopping. There are several shopping centres and specialist shops in both Hemsedal and in Gol town centre. Welcome to one of the most beautiful high mountain areas in Norway! CYCLING IN HEMSEDAL © PIA BRITTON
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GOLSFJELLET © CATHRINE DOKKEN-KREATIV STREK
FACTS Location: Fjell Norway - Region Hallingdal, halfway between Oslo and Bergen. How to get there: from Oslo 222 km From Bergen 276 km Oslo Airport, Bergen Airport, Fagernes Airport Several departures from Oslo and Bergen 3 hours from Oslo and 4 hours from Bergen Color Line, Stena Line, Fjord Line, DFDS
Contact information: Hemsedal Tourist Office Tel.: +47 32 05 50 30 info@hemsedal.com www.hemsedal.com
Gol Reisemål Tel.: +47 3202 9700 post@golsfjellet.com post@fjellferie.no www.golsfjellet.com
Accommodation: www.hemsedal.com www.golsfjellet.com
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Historical attractions in Trøndelag • Historical attractions in Trondheim: • Sverresborg Folk Museum has more than 80 historic buildings. • Ringve Music Museum has more than 2,000 instruments from around the world. • Munkholmen, an island just off the coast to Trondheim city centre, has served as a prison, a place of execution and monastery over the centuries. • Nidarosdomen Cathedral is the largest medieval church in the Nordic region, and it is a popular pilgrimage destination for pilgrims. www.visittrondheim.no • The coastal heritage museum ‘Kystens Arv’ in Rissa gives you an opportunity to learn about old boat-building traditions and hear exciting stories about fishermen from the area who were away fishing for cod for months at a time.www.kystensarv.no • In Christian Thams’s footsteps: From the manor Bårdshaug Herregård to Gammelgruva (the Old Mine). Thams was a pioneer in engineering and architecture. Thamshavnbanen - Norway’s first electric railway, and Gammelgruva (the Old Mine) at Løkken Verk. www.oi.no • The coastal museum ‘Kystmuseet Norveg’ in Rørvik where the Viknafisket fisheries are the starting point for an exhibition about ‘the land beside the ocean’, which tells the story of the coastal culture that emerged as a result of the fisheries. www.kystmuseetnorveg.no • A walk through the mining town and a local food safari in Røros where you will learn about the history that led to the town being founded. www.roros.no • Walking the Pilgrim’s Way from Kongsvold to Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim can be both a spiritual journey and a great nature experience. www.pilegrimsleden.no • From monastery to monastery: Two new Cistercian monasteries have been built at Tautra outside Frosta and Munkeby outside Levanger, right beside the old 13th century ruins. www.tautra.no, www.munkeby.net 76
TRØNDELAG
NIDAROS CATHEDRAL © MARIUS RUA SVALBARD
The city of Trondheim is the heart of Trøndelag, also known as Central Norway. Situated at the Trondheimsfjord, it is a historic gem with a youthful atmosphere, while the streets of Røros bear living testimony to the history of times gone by. NORDNORWEG VESTERÅLEN HARSTAD
Perhaps it is the fine balance between the north and south of Norway that makes Central Norway such an interesting and varied destination for tourists. The magnificent mountains in the south and east, the large, fertile expanses of agricultural land around the Trondheimsfjord, the thriving island communities off the coast and its extensive forests make the Trøndelag region a ‘Norway in miniature’. Trondheim also offers great MØRE OG ROMSDAL stretching variety, with a history back a thousand years, as Norway’s first capital city and a pilgrimage destination, and VALDRES BESSEGGEN HEMSEDAL
NA
nowadays also as the leading hub for research andLOFOTEN culture NORDLAN in Norway. Young people BODØ dominate city life in historical Trondheim, while time is happy to stand still in Røros. UNESCO POLARKREIS has recognised this living MO I RANIA memorial to mining history VEGA as a world heritage site. BRØNNØYSUND
KYSTRIKSVEIEN RV. 17 NAMSOS STEINKJER
FRØYA HITRA
STIKLESTAD
TRONDHEIM
KRISTIANSUND
CENTRAL NORWAY
RØROS
MOLDE
DOVREFJELL GEIRANGERFJORD
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SOGN OG FJORDANE SOGNEFJORD
FLÅM
FJELLNORWEGEN
HAMAR GJØVIK
TRØNDELAG - IN THE HISTORIC HEART OF NORWAY
Trondheim
Norway’s third biggest city, with a population of 180,000, is the ideal starting point for a visit to the Trøndelag region. Trondheim has an active cultural scene and hosts many concerts and festivals. The Nidelven river winds its way through the city centre, passing the magnificent Nidaros Cathedral, the old, charming district of Bakklandet and long, colourful rown of warehouses. www.visittrondheim.no
Vikings and pilgrims in historic Trøndelag
REINDEER SLEDGE IN RØROS © TOM GUSTAVSEN
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Many of the most important events in Norway’s history took place in the Trøndelag region. Stiklestad is known as the birthplace of Norway, and the impressive Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim (built
The Trøndelag region - also known as Central Norway - has many exciting historical attractions, and it offers activities for adults and children alike as well as locally produced food, and festivals.
"THE GOLDEN ROUTE" AT INDERØY © STEINAR JOHANSEN
1070-1300) is a national sanctuary. They both reflect the legacy of St Olav, who played a key role in the Christianisation of Norway. At Stiklestad, you can learn about the battle that took place there in 1030 and that ended with the death of the Viking King Olav Haraldsson. The Golden Route (Den Gyldne Omvei) on Inderøy in the Trondheimsfjord offer fantastic opportunities to sample the area’s culture, arts and crafts, beautiful scenery and delicious food. www.visitinnherred.com
The world heritage town of Røros and musk oxen
Built in connection with the copper works that opened in the mid-17th century. It is since 1982 included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. There are galleries, cafés and craft shops in the town's many charming old backyards. Røros is also known for its focus on sustainable tourism. www.roros.no Hiking is a popular recreational activity in Trøndelag, and the region’s nine national parks are all ideal for this purpose. In Oppdal, you can also go on a safari to the Dovrefjellet mountains to see Europe’s only herd of muskox.
Røros, with more than 100 listed wooden buildings, is a unique mountain town. 79
The coast
MAUSUND © MARIUS RUA
The coast of Trøndelag, with the islands of Hitra and Frøya to the south, and the Fosen peninsula and the coast of Namdal to the north, is famous for its fantastic deep-sea fishing. You can also go on an eagle and seal safari or try kayaking, island hopping or diving for scallops. There is a flourishing coastal culture in several of the old fishing villages, for example SørGjæslingan near Rørvik. www.coastalnorway.no
TRAVEL INFORMATION Location: Trøndelag is situated in the centre of Norway. It borders on Fjord Norway and Northern Norway. The E6 and E39 are the main roads to the region. • Oslo - Røros 380 km • Oslo - Trondheim 550 km • Oslo - Rørvik 770 km Transport: Good train and bus connections to the north, south and east. Trondheim Airport Værnes has daily connections to other Norwegian airports. There are direct flights from/to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Berlin, London, Riga, Tallinn, Gdańsk, Krakow 80
and Reykjavik, among other places. Røros, Namsos and Rørvik also have small airports. The Hurtigruten coastal express calls at Trondheim twice a day – one ship on the way north and the other on the way south. The express ferry service Kystekspressen connects Trondheim with Fosen, Hitra/Frøya and Kristiansund. Trøndelag Reiseliv AS Nordre Gate 11 NO-7011 Trondheim Tel.: +47 73 84 24 40 touristinfo@trondelag.com www.trondelag.com
WORLD HERITAGE TOWN RØROS - memorable experiences
© TERJE RAKKE
The mountain town of Røros is one of the oldest towns of wooden houses in Europe and one of the few mining towns in the world to be included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Experience the unique vibe of the old mining town and the surrounding area, with exciting shops and an authentic café culture, or enjoy one of our many cultural events. Surrounded by easily accessible nature, the destination is also a perfect starting point for walks, cycling and canoeing trips, and, not least, for unforgettable winter experiences. Winter in the Røros region is like something straight out of a Christmas card, with snowcovered trees and streets. Hire a kicksled and go exploring in the centre of Røros, or feel the snow in your face on a dog sled ride. Experience Sami culture
and reindeer sledding, or curl up under a hide on the horse sled accompanied of bell ringing. We are also proud to be able to welcome you to Norway’s foremost area for locally produced food and sustainable tourism.
FACTS • 50-minute flight from Oslo International Airport • 2-hour drive from Trondheim Booking +47 72 41 00 00 www.roros.no 81
THE OLD TOWNBRIDGE © CH - VISITNORWAY.COM
Location: Trondheim is situated in the centre of Norway, and it is the capital of the Trøndelag region. According to the sagas, the city was founded by Olav Tryggvason in AD 997. It was Norway's historical capital from 1030 to 1217. The city celebrated its millennium in 1997.
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SOLSIDEN © CH - VISITNORWAY.COM
THE OLD WAREHOUSES ALONG NIDELVEN © CH - VISITNORWAY.COM
TRONDHEIM: A TOUCH OF THE COUNTRY SIDE - IN THE HEART OF THE CITY In Norway’s historical capital Trondheim, everything is easily accessible and most attractions are within walking distance of each other. This means that you don’t need to plan your day, but just take things as they come. You can sit in a café, go for a walk in the forest and still have time for a little shopping and perhaps an impromptu visit to a small gallery. You can fish for salmon in the city centre, cycle or kayak through the city, walk along idyllic riverside promenades and meet friendly people. Experience local theatre and treat yourself to a five-course meal that will be a culinary memory for life. Life is relaxed and easy going in Trondheim. Wake up in a city where your days don’t have to be planned, where you can just get up and see what’s happening! Trondheim is a city with a lively cultural scene, and it is
particularly famous for the high international standard of its classical, jazz and chamber musicians. We have museums and attractions for all tastes, and the Bymarka forest is just a tram ride away. More information: www.visittrondheim.no Welcome to Norway’s most charming city! Visit Trondheim Nordregt. 11 Tel.: +47 7380 7660
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NORWAY
NORTHERN
For many people, Northern Norway symbolises the promise of never-ending light in summer and dancing Northern lights in the deep, dark blue winter. The unspoiled nature and the spark and contagious sense of humour of the people who live in Northern Norway draw visitors to the area. In summer, night is merely a slightly dimmer version of the day. The light of the midnight sun gives the landscape a magical and romantic hue. Lots of superlatives can be used about the region – it is unique and slightly mysterious. Nowhere else in the world is the North Pole as close to the mainland as 84
at the North Cape. The areas bordering Sweden, Finland and Russia are still a natural and unspoiled paradise, and the breathtaking combination of sea and mountains you
NORDKAPP PANORAMA © TRYM IVAR BERGSMO
find in Lofoten, Vesterålen and the Lyngsalpene peaks is unparalleled in Europe. The people of Northern Norway enjoy freedom and living their lives to the rhythm of nature. The Sami, Norway’s indigenous people, have lived at one with nature and developed the Sami culture since settling in the Arctic areas of Norway more than 2,500 years ago. If you visit Tromsø, the biggest city in the region, in summer, you will be able to soak up the vibrant atmosphere of the city’s streets and squares,
which is reminiscent of more southerly climes.
THE NORTH CAPE SVALBARD VADSØ FINNMARK KIRKENES
ALTA
TROMS TROMSØ
VESTERÅLEN
KAUTOKEINO
NORVEGIA DEL NORD HARSTAD
NARVIK LOFOTEN NORDLAND
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POLARCIRKEL MO I RANA VEGA BRØNNØYSUND
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© BÅRD LØKEN/WWW.NORDNORGE.COM
NORTHERN NORWAY
Northern Norway promises endless bright summer nights and dancing Northern Lights in deep, dark blue winter. Untouched nature, mountains, fjords and mountain plateaus beckon – a beautiful sight to behold for the observer or a playground for more active types. North Cape is mainland Norway’s northernmost point – and the main destination for many people who visit this part of Norway. Combine a trip to North Cape with a trip on the Hurtigruten coastal express, which calls at many towns and villages along the coast. Every harbour and every town has its own story to tell about the fisheries industry and the cultural heritage, about lives lived and the new modern lifestyle. Despite the great distances, it’s easy to get around. Planes, buses and ferries connect towns and villages, and ensure that there are thriving communities from down at the coast to up on the high plateaus. 87
SOMMARØY IN TROMS © C.H. - VISITNORWAY.COM
As you pass the Arctic Circle, you cross over into the realm of the Midnight Sun. The light gives you extra energy to enjoy new experiences. You might forget to go to bed and find that you want to play golf in the middle of the night, feel the bracing wind in your face as you kayak from island to island, or keep lookout for whales on a nature safari as birds of prey circle overhead. Up in the mountains and further inland, you can walk for hours on ancient paths through a majestic landscape. This is in sharp contrast to the polar nights, with its blue light and the Northern Lights dancing across the night sky. Beautiful, mysterious and majestic. Northern Norway is the best place to go if you want to experience this phenomenon. Northern Norway is also about food culture. You will find restaurants along the 88
coast where you can enjoy the catch of the day straight from the sea. The further north you travel, the more freshwater fish and game you will find on the menu. Bon appétit and welcome to Northern Norway!
Helgeland Salten
In Helgeland, furthest south in Northern Norway, new adventures await you on more than a thousand islands. Island hopping by bike is a great way of experiencing the island archipelago. Kayaking between 6,500 small islands and skerries, you become part of the unique cultural landscape and the realm of the eider duck. If you look towards the mainland, you will see Torghatten and the Seven Sisters mountains reaching for the sky, and Norway’s second biggest glacier, Svartisen, is also nearby.
NORDLANDSHUS IN TORGHATTEN © BÅRD LØKEN/WWW.NORDNORGE.COM/BRØNNØY
In Salten, between precipitous peaks and the coastal archipelago, Bodø awaits you with its gourmet restaurants down on the quay and bohemian types at the next table. From Bodø, there are many transport options that make the town a great starting point for exploring the whole region. Saltstraumen is the world’s strongest maelstrom, where the water flows at a rate of more than 20 knots a second. Further north, in the realm of the writer Knut Hamsun, you can go on a sea eagle safari among fjords and mountains, and learn about the life and work of this winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature at the Hamsun Centre.
Lofoten and Ofoten
Lofoten is the name of a group of islands far to the west in the Norwegian Sea. People have lived from the cod fisheries for centuries here. If you stay in a traditional fisherman’s style
rorbu cabin, you can combine an old-fashioned atmosphere with modern comfort. Visit art galleries and museums, enjoy local delicacies at the restaurants and go kayaking or surfing in the wild nature of Northern Norway. In the Arctic landscape of the Vesterålen islands , which are lined by white sandy beaches, you will experience teeming wildlife both on and in the sea. The sperm whale is the most common type of whale in this area, and when one of them lifts its huge tail out of the sea beside your boat, you’re guaranteed an experience you’ll never forget. When the Hurtigruten coastal express calls at Vesterålen, the boat sails up the spectacular Trollfjord. The fjord is only 70 metres wide at its narrowest, and its dramatic cliffs do justice to its name. 89
NORTHERN LIGHTS OVER THE ERSFJORD IN TROMSØ © BJØRN JØRGENSEN / VN
There are plenty of dramatic experiences in Ofoten and Narvik. The Ofotbanen Railway between Narvik and the Swedish border runs through a wild and dramatic landscape of fjords and mountains. One of the first big battles of World War II was fought over this railway in 1940. The Nordland Red Cross War Memorial Museum tells the whole dramatic story. You can walk back on the Rallarveien construction road, which was built in untouched terrain more than a century ago in connection with the building of the railway. The ski slopes that run 1,000 metres down from Narvikfjellet mountain to Narvik town centre offer great views of jagged peaks. The golf course is equally beautiful. The prehistoric rock carvings in 90
Narvik town centre are 6,000 years old.
Troms and Tromsø
In the area around Harstad, you can explore the region’s history – from the Viking Age to the Middle Ages and up to World War II. Harstad is a lively town with good cafés and restaurants, and an art and cultural scene that has as much to offer as its green mountainsides. It is easy to get to the islands around Harstad by ferry and bike, including Senja, Norway’s second biggest island. If you take the National Tourist Route, the 90-km drive takes you from fjord to fjord through varied scenery. Back on the mainland, there are huge areas of wilderness and mountains near the Swedish border that are perfect for
walking, hunting and fishing. Rediscover your sense of adventure and explore nature on foot, on a bicycle, skiing down mountainsides or racing across the mountain plateau on a dog sled. It’s up to you. The Lyngen Alps, a favourite destination for off-piste skiers from all over the world, point the way to Tromsø, which has been called the Paris of the North since the 1800s. Summer is celebrated by the Midnight Sun Marathon, and national and international artists who perform at a various festivals add some musical colour in harmony with the midnight sun. During the polar nights, you can experience Tromsø as the Arctic capital it truly is through many different Northern Lights activities.
Finnmark and North Cape
On the long journey to the top of Europe, you will see green plateaus and small fishing
LUNCH IN A LAVVU © CH - VISITNORWAY.COM
villages. Look out for reindeer crossing the road! The Finnmark plateau is a part of Sápmi, the land of the Sami people. Here, you can learn about the culture, traditions and language of the indigenous people of the Nordic region. At 71º north, the North Cape plateau rises 300 metres straight up from the sea, and you can see all the way to the horizon. Go on a fishing trip for king crabs or a bird safari while you’re in the area – you won’t regret it! If you want to try your luck fishing, the small villages along the coast are a prefect destinations for deep-sea fishing enthusiasts from all over the world. In winter, you have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights, which bring most visitors to the area at this time of the year. You can also catch a good night’s sleep on warm reindeer skins at an ice hotel, race across
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the wide open expanses on a snowmobile or go walking on snowshoes finding tracks in the snow. Vardø is Norway’s easternmost point. The town is on the same degree of longitude as Istanbul. The areas on both sides of the Varangerfjord are among the best in the world for birdwatching. In Kirkenes, the last stop on the Hurtigruten coastal express and the end of the E6 road, you will often see Russian king crab on the menu and hear people speaking Russian, and you can go hiking that take you right to the Russian border. This is also a popular area for hunting and fishing.
Svalbard
Located just 1,000 kilometres from the North Pole, the
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Svalbard islands have a HighArctic climate. You are guaranteed to find Svalbard captivating! Both short and long excursions are available from Longyearbyen. There is a chance that you will run into a polar bear anywhere, however, so it is not advisable to venture outside built-up areas without carrying a weapon. The nature here can be harsh and merciless, but it is also home to vulnerable fossils and fauna. You will nonetheless find an active social scene, with shopping, museums and gourmet restaurants with exciting wine cellars in the town of Longyearbyen. What you experience can only be experienced here! It combines biting cold with luxury and majestic and merciless nature.
POLAR BEAR IN SVALBARD © ROY MANGERSNES / WILDPHOTO.NO - WWW.NORDNORGE.COM
FACTS: • Area: 112,946 square kilometres, 34% of Norway’s land mass – almost as big as the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland put together. • Counties: Finnmark (48,637 square kilometres, Troms (25,848 square kilometres), the Svalbard islands (62.700 square kilometres) and Nordland (38,327 square kilometres) • Northernmost point: North Cape, latitude 71° 10’ 21” (the same as the northern coast of Alaska) • Most of Northern Norway is above the Arctic Circle • Bodø enjoys the Midnight Sun from 3 June to 7 July • The Midnight Sun shines at the North Cape from 11 May to 31 July • Northern Norway is situated in the middle of the planet’s Northern lights belt, which means you have the best chance of seeing them here. Population: • Population: Around 470,000 (74,000 in Finnmark county, 159,000 in Troms county and 240,000 in Nordland county) • Cities and towns: Tromsø (66,000), Bodø (46,000), Mo i Rana (25,000), Harstad (23,000), Alta (18,500) • Languages: Norwegian. Sami is an official language in six municipalities, while the Kven language is an official language in one municipality. Travel information: Airports from south to north (flight time from Oslo in brackets): • Bodø (1 hour 25 min.) • Harstad / Narvik (1 hour 35 min.) • Bardufoss (1 hour 35 min.) • Tromsø (1 hour 40 min.) • Alta (1 hour 55 min.) • Kirkenes (2 hours 5 min.) Train, Trondheim - Mo i Rana - Bodø. Train connections from Narvik to Sweden The Hurtigruten coastal express from Bergen to Kirkenes calls at 25 ports in Northern Norway.
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GET TO KNOW NORWAY
© NANCY BUNDT / INNOVATION NORWAY
Life in Norway
Norway is a modern country that takes pride in its history, and in rural areas traditions are still very much alive. Life in the capital of Oslo, in the Hanseatic city of Bergen or in a small, northern coastal town can seem like completely separate worlds. You can visit them all in a matter of days – a good way to gain a deeper understanding of Norway and the Norwegians. History, culture and lifestyle, design and culinary traditions make life more interesting and 94
complement the spectacular scenery around the country. Charge your batteries at a relaxed pace with friendly people. If you have the opportunity, don’t miss Norway’s National Day, May 17. It is an impressive and colorful display of joy and solidarity, with flags furling and Norwegians of all ages parading in their national costumes. A great many Norwegians still prefer to live in and in tune with nature. Better watch out; it could happen to you.
Food – a fresh taste of Norway
Awe-inspiring, unspoilt nature forms the perfect basis for natural animal husbandry, and Norwegians know how to exploit these resources. Enjoy freshly caught cod from Lofoten, tender reindeer meet from Finnmark or juicy, sweet cherries from Hardanger – all with the fresh and slightly different taste of Norway. Norwegian cuisine has also become well known internationally. The success is based on products that thrive in pure waters and fresh, clean air: fish, shellfish and game, fruit, fungi and numerous tasty dairy products. Even traditional specialities such as cured meats, sour cream porridge and waffles with goat cheese tantalise the palate. Treat yourself to a taste of Norway!
A world of colour and music
Easily accessible fjords and mountains are a natural source of inspiration for music, art and the theatre. Ibsen, Hamsun and Munch are amongst those who have enthralled the world with their depictions of people and nature in this long country, and who hasn’t envisaged the mountains in Grieg’s music? Cultural life is still thriving, and a number of new talents have succeeded internationally. Visit one of the numerous music festivals, outdoor performances with the beautiful scenery as a backdrop. Or experience Norwegian and inter-national art in famous museums and small galleries.
NORSK FOLKEMUSEUM IN OSLO Experience Norwegian Culture!
Life, traditions and history Medieval Stave Church Folk dance and music Regional costumes
© MORTEN BRUN/ NORSK FOLKEMUSEUM
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Europe as traders and warriors. Travels started towards the end of the 9th century and reached as far as Greenland to the west and to the Caspian Sea to the east. Traces of the © TERJE RAKKE / NORDIC LIFE AS / FJORD Vikings’ first seat of NORWAY power may be found at Avaldsnes in Haugesund where this period History – in the footsteps of the Vikings is inspiringly documented. History made many marks The earliest indications of human settlement in Norway with e.g. the 6000 year-old rock carvings in Alta, now on go back to 9000 B.C., but the UNESCO’s world heritage list. country was only united as a The country’s 28 remaining kingdom around 900 A.D. stave churches. These are Despite the fact that Norway completely unique to Norway. for long periods was ruled by Church and coronation history both Denmark and Sweden, was written in Nidarosthe country had its own constitution, as early as 1814, domen Cathedral in Trondheim, the largest and in 1905 it once again religious structure in became an independent kingdom. The Vikings built the northern Europe. long boats and plundered
CHILDREN DANCING FOLK DANCE AT NORSK FOLKEMUSEUM © THERESA SØREIDE/NORSK FOKEMUSEUM - VISITNORWAY.COM
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Kystriksveien - Road 17 FOTO: BÅRD LØKEN
FV.17: Steinkjer Bodø
auey tiful Jobe urn
TRAVE L GUIDE 2014
The world’s most
KYSTRIKSVEIEN REISELIV AS www.kystriksveie n.no 165 166
The coastal road Fv17 stretches from Steinkjer to Bodø and has often been called the world’s most beautiful tourist route. A host of wonderful experiences for those who enjoy slow travel. Order our travel guide! www.kystriksveien.com
TRAVEL 1,000 YEARS BACK IN TIME.
LOFOTR VIKINGMUSEUM© K.0. STORVIK
The world´s largest Viking Age longhouse. Crafts work, activities, exhibitions, film, Viking ship, food and feasts. A living Viking museum.
Lofotr Viking Museum Borg in Lofoten Www.lofotr.no Facecook.no/ lofotrvikingmuseum 97
FOOD AND DRINK YOU SHOULD TRY WHILST IN NORWAY © CH / WWW.VISITNORWAY.COM
Enjoy homemade food, Norwegian ingredients and food with a local identity. Norway has a rich culinary heritage where top quality local ingredients and unique regional specialties are often the recipe for success. Ask for tasty Norwegian salmon for dinner. Try freshly caught cod from the Lofoten Islands, tender reindeer meat from Finnmark or succulent sweet cherries from Hardanger. For breakfast you should try the sweet brown cheese. Here are some traditional Norwegian dishes Fenalår Cured and seasoned leg of a lamb. Pinnekjøtt Salted and dried, and 98
sometimes smoked, lamb’s ribs which are usually steamed over birch branches. A typical Christmas dish. Multekrem Dessert made of cloudberries and whipped cream.
Fårikål Lamb simmered with cabbage and whole peppercorns. A typical autumn dish. Smalahove Lamb’s head. The meat is salted, sometimes smoked, and dried. It is then boiled and served with mashed swedes and potatoes. A traditional feast from Western Norway served during autumn and Christmas. Tørrfisk (stockfish) Stockfish is unsalted, dried fish. Cod is the most common fish used in the production of stockfish, whilst other white fish, such as pollack, haddock and ling, are used to a lesser degree. Lutefisk Stockfish softened in water and lye, then cooked and sometimes grilled. Typical accompaniments are potatoes, bacon, mushy peas and mustard. A typical Christmas dish. Norwegian salmon The Norwegian salmon’s distinct and delicate flavour makes it an excellent basis for attractive and tasty dishes, whilst at the same time satisfying the rigorous demands of the best chefs in the world. Rømmegrøt Porridge made from natural sour cream. Served with butter, sugar and cinnamon.
Pølse i lompe Hot dog in a thin ”tortilla” made from flour and potatoes. Buy it from a kiosk, or buy them in a supermarket and have a barbeque. Kjøttkaker Minced beef rolled into balls and then fried. Served with gravy, mushy peas and boiled potatoes. A typical every-day dinner. Brunost Brown cheese with a sweet, yet somewhat sharp flavour with notes of caramel. It is traditionally cut into wafer thin slices with a cheeseslicer and eaten on bread, toast or crisp bread. Gravlaks Dry-cured salmon, marinated in salt, sugar and spices. The salmon is left to ferment. Reker Eat shrimps Norwegian style: Peel them yourself, pile them on white bread, squeeze fresh lemon juice and mayonnaise on top, and sprinkle with dill. Aquavit Norway’s national drink. It is a potato-based spirit flavoured with herbs such as caraway seeds, anise, dill, fennel and coriander. The preferred accompaniment to Christmas food.
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NORWAY ON A BUDGET
10 Budget Holiday Tips HODDEVIK, SOGN OG FJORDANE © CH / WWW.VISITNORWAY.COM
You can travel in Norway on a fairly tight budget. Here are ten tips for cheap accommodation, activities and means of transport
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CAMPING The cheapest way to stay in Norway is to bring a tent. Public right of access in Norway means you can put up your tent practically anywhere free of charge. There are also campsites for tents and caravans throughout the country, where you pay a small charge and can use the showers and kitchen. These campsites often have simple cabins for rent as well.
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CHEAP ROOMS If you are travelling by car in Norway, look for ‘Room for rent’ signs. Sometimes, they are only in Norwegian, i.e. ‘Rom til leie’. With a little planning, you can easily find budget accommodation. There is a wide range of reasonable accommodation available in Norway. 100
VIP Backpackers have cheap rooms in Norway. B&B Norway is an organisation that provides bed & breakfast throughout the country. Norwegian hostels are part of Hostelling International, and there are 75 hostels from the north to the south of Norway. They offer reasonablypriced accommodation and the chance to meet people from all over the world who are in Norway for the same reason as you. You can book single rooms, double rooms or family rooms at www.hihostels.no
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BUDGET-PRICED CABINS Norway is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. Vast areas with extensive networks of waymarked walking trails await you. Walking is free, and
there is a wide choice of cabins available for people who want to explore the mountains and wilderness. The Norwegian Trekking Association has 460 cabins of varying standard. The cheapest are the no-service cabins where you bring your own food. Read more at: www.turistforeningen.no You can also rent a budget-priced cabin for a week or longer at www.norgesbooking.no
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WALKING HOLIDAYS Bringing your own tent and walking in the
mountains is free. If you book a room at one of the Norwegian Trekking Association‘s no-service or self-service cabins (see above), you pay a reasonable amount that varies with the standard of the cabin. The self-service cabins are slightly more luxurious and a bit more expensive.
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SEA FISHING FROM SHORE Bring your fishing rod on a cycling or motoring holiday in Norway. Sea fishing from the shore is free.
© TERJE RAKKE / NORDIC LIFE / WWW.VISITNORWAY.COM
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OSLOMARKA © TERJE BORUD / WWW.VISITNORWAY.COM
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CYCLING HOLIDAYS A cycling holiday where you bring your own tent is a cheap way of exploring Norway. If you don’t like tents, you can book reasonablypriced cabins at Norway’s many campsites before you set off. If you don’t want to cycle on your own, you can book an organised cycling trip.
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BUY YOUR OWN FOOD AT A SUPERMARKET Buying food at a supermarket is the cheapest way of filling your stomach. The following are the cheapest of the many supermarket chains in Norway: Bunnpris, Prix, Rema 1000, Kiwi and Rimi. 102
You can’t buy wine or spirits in ordinary shops and supermarkets in Norway. You have to find a Vinmonopol wine and spirits store. Since it is a state-owned chain, it is not required to make a profit, and expensive wines are actually competitivelypriced in Norway.
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EAT AT SMALL ASIAN RESTAURANTS In cities and towns. you will often see small Asian restaurants. You can drink tap water, so it is unnecessary to order a bottle of water with your meal. Most restaurants will bring a jug of water and glasses to your table free of charge.
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GETTING AROUND By train The Norwegian State Railways (NSB) sell Minipris tickets from NOK 249, irrespective of the length of the journey. These tickets must be booked in advance at www.nsb.no Also check out ‘Norway in a Nutshell’, which is a reasonably-priced, wellorganised round trip. www.fjordtours.com By bus Travelling by bus can be a cheap option, and the bus company NOR-WAY Bussekspress covers most of the country and sometimes has good discounts. Book tickets online in advance to get the best deal. Discounts Many places offer good discounts for youth, students, seniors and families. If you qualify for any of the above, you must always mention it. Students must show their international student ID card (ISIC). Driving a car in Norway If you come in your own car or hire one when you get here, there are lots of reasonable accommodation options available to you, and there is a wide range of impressive National Tourist Routes throughout Norway.
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BUY AN 'EXPLORE NORWAY TICKET‘ The airline Widerøe has many good deals on round trips in Norway. Go for their ‘Explore Norway Ticket’, which offers unlimited air travel for two weeks during the period from 21 June to 27 August. www.wideroe.com
Buy a City Card or a Fjord Pass The Bergen Card gives you free or discounted admission to museums, attractions, sightseeing and cultural events, free bus travel and discounts on meals and parking. The card can be purchased at the Tourist Information. Valid for 24 or 48 hours. www.visitBergen.com Fjord Pass® - easy and affordable travel in Norway With a Fjord Pass® hotel pass you get a discount of up to 50% on hotels in Norway, up to 25% on various activities, a 15% discount on rental cars and a 15% discount on selected tourist boat routes with Fjord1. One Fjord Pass® is valid for the whole family – ALL YEAR! www.fjord-pass.com
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SUZANN PETTERSEN round of golf with him. However, this world-class golfer prefers holidaying in Norway, and she shares some of her favourite destinations in Norway with Visitnorway's readers below.
Four seasons in a day in Lofoten
SUZANN PETTERSEN © GETTY IMAGES
Suzann Pettersen's best Norwegian holiday tips
Following a visit to Lofoten, Suzann was captivated by these islands. 'I was fascinated by the changing light, the atmosphere and the breathtaking scenery where you can experience four seasons in one day. There are also lots of activities on offer – we went on summit trips and went out in a RIB boat on a flatcalm sea.’ The next time she visits Lofoten, she wants to go in winter so that she can ski.
Summer memories from Brekkestø
Norwegian summers are synonymous with Southern Norway for Suzann, who has Star golfer Suzann Pettersen spent many summers at the travels all over the world, but family's cabin at Brekkestø. 'No matter how white and believes few places can long the beaches are compare with Norway. Her favourites include the Lofoten elsewhere in the world, they can't beat peeling prawns on Islands, Oslo and Brekkestø. the wharf, ice cream and a dip in the sea.’ Tvedestrand, a Suzann 'Tutta' Pettersen is town with white wooden ranked as one of the world's top women golfers, and even houses, is another favourite destination on the coast of President Barack Obama Southern Norway. recently invited her to play a 104
Great skiing in Geilo
Suzann, who has always been a sporty type, practically grew up with skis on her feet. One of her strongest childhood memories is of skiing at Geilo, where she more or less lived on the slopes. ‘Norway has lots of great skiing resorts, but Geilo is still my favourite.’
Besseggen
The classic summit trip to Besseggen ridge in the Jotunheimen mountains was an experience that made a great impression on Suzann. The trip started, as it does for most people, with a boat trip from Gjendesheim to Memurubu. 'I’m actually afraid of heights, so Besseggen was a real challenge, but I clung on and it was really worth it.’
Some golf tips from a pro
During her childhood, Suzann virtually lived on the golf course at Bogstad, which has been voted Norway's best course, but she also has other courses on her list of favourites. Larvik Golf Course is a very good course that has challenges for players of all levels. And she naturally found time for a round at Lofoten Links when she visited Lofoten. 'The most fascinating thing was that the golf course seemed to blend naturally with the terrain, and that you can play golf under the Midnight Sun. In contrast to the “perfect”
courses in the US, this seaside golf course is really an experience in itself,' she says.
Nature shock on the island of Runde
A school trip in ninth grade opened the young Suzann's eyes to what her country really had to offer. 'We travelled to the island of Runde near Ålesund, which is known for its bird cliffs, and the Western Norwegian scenery really made an impression on me, a young girl from the capital who was interested in nature.’
Cycling
The bike Suzann has at home in Florida has hardly been used, but she cycles a lot in Oslomarka. 'I have also been recommended Hafjell Bike Park, and I think it's great that ski resorts like Vierli, Hemsedal, Vrådal and Hafjell are adapting their facilities so that cyclists can use them in summer as well.’
Sleep like Suzann
Although she has never slept there herself, she is proud to have her own room at Grand Hotel Rica in Oslo, where highprofile Norwegian women have been given the opportunity to decorate a room each on 'the Ladies Floor'. 'I like country chic style, and the room definitely reflects my personality,' says Suzann. The room also has one of her golf bags, and a putting mat, golf club and balls if you want to get some practice in. 105
WHEREVER YOUR DESTINATION IS, YOU WILL FIND US
RI
Rica Hotels have almost 80 hotels in Norway and Sweden. You will find our hotels all over Norway, from Farsund and Kristiansand in the south to Svalbard and The North Cape in the north. Fjords, mountains and forests or towns and cities – Rica Hotels are represented all over Norway. We want a stay with us to make a good and memorable impression. For example by starting the day with ‘Norway’s best breakfast’ or choose the pillow that suits you best. All our hotels offer free wireless internet access, whether you are staying over night or 106
attending a course, meeting or conference.
Price winning breakfast
A good, healthy and delicious breakfast is always included in the room rate. Did you know that our ‘Good morning’ breakfast has won prizes? Rica Nidelven Hotel, situated in Central Norway and in the very heart of Trondheim, has
BREAKFAST © TERJE BORUD
ICA HOTEL BERGEN © STURE NEPSTAD
won Twining’s Best Breakfast’s competition, “Norway’s best breakfast”, eight years in a row.
Choose your favourite pillow
Rica Hotels take sleep seriously and know the importance of a good night’s sleep. We offer a pillow menu, which means you can choose between five different types of pillows to find the one that suits you best. Soft or firm, big or small, down or synthetic fill – it is up to you. In collaboration with one of Norway’s foremost sleep experts, we give our guests sleeping tips. You will find the tips on your bedside table.
PILLOW MENU © TERJE BORUD
Earn points
If you register for Rica Points, our loyalty program, you will earn points every time you stay with us. The more you stay, the more points you will earn. You can use your earned points for free stays. During the summer months, we run campaigns where you earn even more points per stay – which makes it easier to get a free stay. We guarantee that you will always find our best rates on our website. Book your next stay at rica-hotels.com
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The best Norway has to offer - all in one place! On the award-winning website Visitnorway.com, Norway's largest travel and tourism portal, you will find inspiration and information about Norway and special offers from the travel and tourism industry. It is easy to explore Norway, search for products and destinations and book trips and accommodation. With Visitnorway on Facebook you can
Visitnorway - free App for your holiday in Norway
The whole of Norway in your pocket! Find accommodation, events, activities and restaurants where you are or where you are going.
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• Ask questions and find inspiration • Share photos, travel experiences and tips with other fans of Norway • Participate in competitions • Find videos, photos and the best travel links
ollow Visitnorway on F Twitter and receive tweets about
• Attractions and events • Articles and press releases about Norwegian travel and tourism • Competitions • Tips and ideas for new travel destinations in Norway
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PRODUCTION Design and layout: Legind as, Copenhagen Responsible: Innovation Norway Cover photo: © CH / www.visitnorway.com This book was printed in Feb. 2014 and the information compiled during the winter months of 2013. Information is based upon data collected from participating companies and organisations, official authorities and the Norwegian travel trade. Innovation Norway – Tourism can not accept responsibility for any omissions or inaccuracies, or for any consequences arising there from. Prices may be subject to change. Innovation Norway - Tourism brings to your attention that travelling in certain areas in Norway should be in the company of a qualified guide. Also please pay attention to official signs and applicable regulations.
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Explore the authentic Norway all year
WE TAKE YOU CLOSER THAN ANYONE ELSE
Experience the natural, enchanting and endless beauty of the Norwegian coastline on a Hurtigruten voyage. We take you to fjords, waterways and ports that other ships cannot reach, and offer a wide choice of memorable excursions. On our classic voyages we visit 34 ports of call, and every season comes with its own reasons to explore and take part in the changing scenery. Choose between 12-, 11-, 7- and 6-day options. Join us on a voyage through the calm, sheltered waters of Norway’s shores, closer to the landscape, wildlife and its inhabitants.
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