Norway’s second-busiest port, after Bergen, the Port of Oslo (Oslo Havn) is a popular destination on Scandinavian cruises, welcoming over a hundred annual cruise calls. Located at the head of the Oslo Fjord, cruise passengers at the Port of Oslo benefit from easy access to the Norwegian capital, with its many lakes, parks, and museums.
One of the highest points on the island of Tromso (Tromsoya) happens to be this small lake, a former reservoir near the center of Tromso town. Locals walk their dogs around the track and nature trails ringing the body of water, where travelers sometimes stop to view the northern lights. In the winter, the frozen-over pond becomes an ice-skating rink.
The “city between seven mountains,” Bergen has its fair share of fabulous scenery and aerial views. The Vidden Trail—a popular 8-mile (12-kilometer) trek between Mount Ulriken and Mount Floyen—offers some of the best vistas, from mountains to sea. And with cable cars on either end, this is one hike where you never really have to come back down.
The Fjellstua Viewpoint in Alesund is one of Norway’s most recognizable views. It’s 418 steps to the top of Mount Aksla, where phenomenal vistas of fjords, islands, and the Sunnmore Alps pop up in all directions. And there’s good news for the less stair-inclined: You can drive up to the top, too.
An impressively long 2-lane suspension bridge, the Hardanger Bridge (Hardangerbrua) spans 4,530 feet (1,380 meters) of Western Norway’s Hardangerfjord and offers sweeping views of the surrounding fjord scenery. The bridge’s viewpoints are well worth a stop when traveling around Hardanger.
The Arctic Circle doesn’t scream beach destination, but there’s an ideal (summer) swimming and picnicking spot on the water not far from Tromso. When the weather’s warm, this small, shallow beach gets crowded with locals looking to swim within view of Vengsøy Island and the open Norwegian Sea. Hiking and hunting for the views of the northern lights round out the activities here.
If ever a postcard-perfect Norwegian lighthouse exists, it's in the minuscule fishing village of Alnes on Godøya island, a short distance west of Alesund. Visit this picturesque 1876 lighthouse to view art exhibits dedicated to local and national artists in the old lightkeeper’s quarters and climb to the top to catch sweeping sea views.
Roald Amundsen, Norway’s favorite polar explorer, left Tromso for his last expedition in 1928 and never returned. This bronze memorial statue of Amundsen lies atop a stone pedestal in a small waterfront park near the explorer’s former home and Tromso’s old downtown. Stop by to take a walk in the park and pay tribute to Norway’s contributions to polar exploration.
Perspectives big and small (read: local and global) reign at this small museum. Visit to examine what it means to be from the far north—and to be a human at all. Permanent exhibits are dedicated to the life and works of writer and artist Cora Sandel, known for the Alberta Trilogy, and to Puutalo, a Finnish company that built prefabricated wooden homes for refugees.
Dubbed by some as the “miracle house,” the Waldehuset Museum showcases the only home that didn’t go up in flames in the Ålesund fire of 1904 (at least, in the eastern half of town). Showcasing what late 19th-century life was like in Western Norway, the Waldehuset Museum is a tiny slice of time travel just a few blocks from downtown.
Nestled on the east side of the Nidelva River in Trondheim, Norway, this historic neighborhood is known for its colorful houses, cobblestone streets, and an old-Europe scene of shops, cafés, and galleries. A short walk across the Old Town Bridge from the city center, it’s one of Trondheim’s most coveted locations, with the Kristiansten Fortress guarding over it.
Just a few blocks from the center of town, Alesund Church isn’t like Norway’s famous stave churches, but it’s an architectural gem of a different kind. Built in 1909, this stone church is covered in frescoes and stained glass. Gardens bloom outside the church in spring, making it a lovely stop on a sunny afternoon.
Built in Romanesque and Gothic styles, Borgund Church is a minor tourist attraction that showcases the long history of the craftsmanship of medieval Norway. While parts originate from a 12th century church, most of the building was constructed in 1904 after a fire destroyed the original structure.
Giske Church dates back to the 12th century and is known locally for its simple white facade, 18th-century art, and historic architecture. Although the church is modest and located outside of Alesund’s small urban center, it remains a significant cultural and historical landmark with connections to the Giske family, who were influential in medieval Norway.
To catch Alesund’s art scene and cultural history, look no further than this one-two punch: the Jugendstilsenteret and Kunstmuseet KUBE. Through art nouveau at Jugendstilsenteret and contemporary art at Kunstmuseet KUBE, these two world-class institutions walk visitors through the city’s style, one era at a time. And it’s a literal walk—the museums are just steps from each other.
Alesund’s Storhaugen—“Big hill” in Norwegian—is a little-known town park with a fabulous view over the city and across the fjord. Not far from Alesund Church, this small park makes for a nice evening stroll—or first stop on your Alesund trip to get your bearings. Those who wander here will find plenty of benches, well-maintained paths, and views that rarely disappoint.
Contemporary Norwegian aesthetics mix with Indigenous creations at the Northern Norway Art Museum (Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum), which is dedicated to the life and people of the far north. Step inside the museum’s yellow neoclassical building in the heart of Tromso, and you’ll find varied exhibits of Norwegian and international art, with an emphasis on Sami art and crafts.
