Norway
Norway Travel Guide — Northern Norway & beyond
If we're being completely honest — Norway is our favorite country in the world as far as landscapes are concerned. We've said it out loud, we've written it a hundred times, and no amount of travel has changed that.
We've driven Lofoten's roads in the pitch black of winter, stood at -25°C in Alta waiting for the aurora, enjoyed more waffles & brunost in Tromsø that we’d like to admit, hiked the crazy peaks of Senja, bobbed in a floating sauna in Bodø, and looked out over Svalbard wondering if we were still on the same planet.
Arctic Norway is where our heart is. And here's something worth knowing before you start planning: a big part of what's called "Northern Norway" — including Tromsø, Alta, and all of Finnmark — falls within Sápmi, the traditional homeland of the Sámi people, Europe's only recognized indigenous population. Their reindeer herding, joik music, and deep connection to the Arctic landscape are threaded through everything up here. It's not a footnote — it's part of what makes this region unlike anywhere else on Earth.
Further south, we also explored Ålesund, the Sunnmøre Alps, Jotunheim, and Oslo, among other regions and fjords.
Jump to: Tromsø · Senja · Lofoten · Bodø · Alta · Svalbard · Ålesund · Northern Lights Hub · Arctic Travel Hub
Tromsø Travel Guides
Senja Travel Guides
Lofoten Travel Guides
Alta Travel Guides
Svalbard Travel Guides
Ålesund Travel Guides
All Norway Articles
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Start by picking a region rather than trying to see the whole country — Norway is massive and the distances between regions are serious. A good Norway travel itinerary for 7 to 10 days focuses on one or two areas: Tromsø plus Senja, for example, or Lofoten with a stop in Bodø. We have region-specific guides that can help you build from there. And if you want someone to just tell you exactly what to do based on your dates, travel style, and budget, we offer personal 1-hour travel consultations — it's the fastest way to get a plan that actually makes sense for your trip and interests.
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Norway travel prices are among the highest in Europe. A mid-range budget traveler should expect to spend roughly $150 to $250 per day, covering accommodation, food, and transport — though this varies a lot depending on where you stay and how you eat. Norway travel costs drop noticeably if you self-cater and book accommodation early. That being said, it’s still way cheaper than Iceland.
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Arctic Norway refers to the part of the country above the Arctic Circle — roughly Bodø and everything north of it. This includes Tromsø, Senja, Alta, Lofoten, and Svalbard. It's where you go for the northern lights, the midnight sun, dog sledding, fjords, and some of the most dramatic landscapes in the world. It's the focus of most of the guides on this page.
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That's what we try to be. Most Norway travel guides online focus on the same handful of Instagram locations in Lofoten. We've spent time in Alta, Senja, Bodø, and Svalbard — places that don't get nearly the attention they deserve — and we write from actual experience, not aggregated research.
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Northern Norway is where you want to be — above the Arctic Circle, between late September and late March. Tromsø is the most popular base, Alta has statistically clearer skies, and Senja and Lofoten offer spectacular backdrops when conditions line up. We've put together a full northern lights Norway guide if you want the details.