Norway Travel Guide

Norway is the westernmost of the three Scandinavian countries, located in Northern Europe west of Sweden. Best known for the complex and deep fjords along its west coast, it stretches from the North Sea near Denmark and Scotland into the Arctic Ocean.

Quick Facts
Capital	Oslo
Government	Constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy
Currency	Kroner (NOK)
Area	324,220 km 2
Population	4,593,041 (July 2005 est.)
Language	Norwegian (Bokmål and Nynorsk) and Sami
Religion	Protestant state church
Electricity	230V/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code	+47
Internet TLD	.no
Time Zone	UTC +1

Regions

• East Norway - actually southeast, the region surrounding the capital Oslo, where the largest number of people live
• South Norway
• West Norway - with the famous fjords
• Middle Norway
• Northern Norway Svalbard - Arctic islands near the polar ice

Cities

• Oslo - the capital and largest city of Norway, with museums of national importance, a beautiful setting and lively nightlife and cultural scene . Not the most coveted of capitals, but nevertheless enjoyable.
• Bergen - old Hanseatic trading center with a rich culture and dramatic scenery, second largest city. Wonderfully cute wooden buildings, a magnificent mountain setting and tons of nightlife and atmosphere make Bergen the most enjoyable city in Norway (when it's not raining, as it is 230 days a year).
• Trondheim - Once the capital of Norway, famous for its stunning cathedral (Nidarosdomen). Wonderful riverside wharfs, wooden buildings and the best student nightlife in Norway give beautiful, leafy Trondheim its charm.
• Stavanger - The fourth largest city of Norway, commercially important. The wooden, cobbled central area is one of the most atmospheric places in Norway.
• Kristiansand - The jolly capital of the South, famous forits international music festival every summer.
• Fredrikstad - A magnificent old town stands out from the rest of the rather nondescript city. Brilliant as a day trip from Oslo.
• Skien - The capital of Telemark county, and the birth place of Henrik Ibsen.
• Drammen - Known as industrial and grimy, but recent refurbishing has made Drammen an enjoyable side trip from Oslo.
• Tromsø - City with the northernmost university in the world, a magnificent, modern cathedral and absolutely no polar bears roaming the streets.
• Sandnes - Stavanger's twin city has less going for it, but still holds attractions worthy of a side trip from Stavanger.
  
• Haugesund - Between Bergen and Stavanger lies Haugesund, a city with old traditions from the Viking age. Excellent hub for those who want to discover the fjords. In August SildaJazzen is very popular.

  

Others

• Aalesund (Ålesund) - a splendid Art Nouveau centre in the very western outskirts of Norway? Yes! Ålesund is one of the most unique towns in Norway
• Alta - "The Aurora Borealis City", and the largest city in Finnmark
• Bodø - the gateway to the magnificent Lofoten islands the place of Saltstraumen
• Hammerfest - the northernmost city in the world
• Kirkenes - the gateway to Russia is further east than Istanbul or Kiev
• Lillehammer - picturesque former Winter Olympics site
• Molde - jazz festival in July, Atlanterhavsveien a short drive away
• Tønsberg - seaside location with a lot going for it

Other destinations

• Geiranger fjord is a part of the Storfjorden, with perhaps the most stunning fjord landscape in western Norway.
• Jotunheimen - A majestic landscape and home of Norway's highest mountains.
• Lofoten - Experience the midnight sun in this traditional fishing district in the northern province with islands and mountains.
• Nordkapp - The northernmost point of continental Europe.
• Sognefjorden - Glaciers, mountains and picturesque towns are but a few of the sights on the Sognefjord.
• Svalbard - Islands far to the north of Norway, the northernmost permanently inhabited place in the world.
• Svartisen - Glacier in Nordland
• Sørlandet - The picturesque string of cities between Kragerø and Flekkefjord is one of the favourite destinations for Norwegians.
• Hessdalen Valley