One of the reasons we travel is to experience firsthand some of the most spectacular sights that Mother Nature and man have created.
If your Instagram account has been unremarkable of late, then it’s time to take a trip to Norway. Make sure to bring your best phone camera, DSLR, or perhaps even a drone with you, because you won’t get enough of the staggering photo opportunities that the country once called “Europe’s most beautiful” has to offer.
Here are some of the remarkable reasons why you’ll go home with gigabytes’ worth of photos and videos after visiting Norway.
The fishermen’s cabins of Lofoten
Off the northern coast of Norway is the Lofoten Archipelago, a group of islands with natural scenery that is a photographer’s dream. But some of its more famous attractions are actually man-made.
Traditional Scandinavian red wooden houses in Lofoten Islands, Norway
Check out the traditional fishermen’s cabins built right on the water’s edge. Called rorbu (or rorbuer, plural), most of these wooden cabins were painted red because it was the cheapest paint in the old days; in turn, their bright color made them easy to spot from the sea.
Constructed half on land and half on stilts to allow for easy access to boats, rorbuer were built by fishermen who sustained Norway’s cod fishing industry for years. But as tourism started to contribute more to the country’s economy, many of these cabins have been converted to tourist accommodations. You won’t be able to resist spending a night or two in such a historic and picturesque setting.
The wooden stave churches
Most large European churches are made of stone, but not in Norway. This country has numerous grand churches made entirely from wood. Called stave (from the Norwegian “staver” or poles), these churches were more widespread in Northwestern Europe back in the Middle Ages.
Of more than 1,000 stave churches, only 30 remain, and all but two of these are found in Norway. The oldest is Urnes Stave Church in Luster, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, while the largest and most impressive is the Heddal Stave Church, built in the early 13th century.
Lights, camera...aurora!
The northern lights, or aurora borealis, happen when solar particles from the sun collide with gas molecules in Earth’s atmosphere. These collisions produce a multitude of little bursts of light, creating a spectacular light show that’s more noticeable in the skies closest to Earth’s magnetic poles.
The best time of the year to see the northern lights (and snap a selfie, too!) is from September to October. The increase in solar activity during those months will give you more chances to see the lights, even if the sky isn’t completely dark. You can also catch a glimpse from November to February; they have the longest dark hours, though it can be quite cloudy in November.
Experts recommend the following places in Norway to see the aurora borealis:
- Lofoten – Home of the rorbuer, these islands also have the best Norwegian landscapes to frame the northern lights.
- Tromso – It’s famous for its well-developed aurora tourism, which means you’ll find plenty of great tour options.
- Alta – Being another fairly accessible place to see the northern lights, it has a variety of resorts dedicated to aurora tourism.
- Senja – Here’s your chance to see the northern lights dancing over the Norwegian fjords.
Chasing waterfalls
For some adventurers, visiting waterfalls (or “waterfalling,” as they fondly coined it) is as much a goal as climbing the top of a mountain. Why visit them? Because they’re there. Because they’re spectacular to behold. And because they’re too magnificent to be ignored.
Seven sisters waterfall in Norway
If you’re into waterfalling, then you’ll fall for Norway. The country is blessed with so many glaciers, and with them, an abundance of waterfalls. Many of them are huge and powerful; in fact, 9 out of the 20 highest waterfalls in the world are found in Norway. You won’t go wrong checking out any of the following waterfalls; they consistently appear in “top Norwegian waterfalls” lists:
- Kjosfossen (Flåmdalen, Sogn og Fjordane) – If you take the scenic ride on the Flåm Railway, this waterfall is the highlight of that trip. The train stops so you can go down and approach the thundering water’s edge for an epic view.
- Langfoss (Etne, Hordaland) – Towering impressively over the Akrafjord, this more than 600-meter high behemoth tumbles down in an uninhibited flow into the fjord below. Because of its wide flow, it’s an impressive sight to behold from many angles.
- Seven Sisters (Geirangerfjorden, Møre og Romsdal) – Located in what’s considered one of the most beautiful fjords in Norway, this magnificent bunch of segmented waterfalls changes its appearance, depending on the weather and the time of the year.
- Vøringsfossen (Eidfjord, Hordaland) – Considered as Norway’s most famous falls, its water flow is now regulated since it’s tapped for hydroelectric power. But in summer, authorities allow this breathtaking waterfall to flow freely during the tourist months.
The fjords of Norway
When a glacier retreats, it creates a long, narrow, U-shaped valley, usually flanked by steep cliffs on its sides. The sea rushes in to fill it with water, and there you have a fjord.
The Sognefjord, the largest and deepest fjord in Norway.
One of the most picturesque ways to experience Norway is by taking a cruise along its many gorgeous fjords. Here are just four of them, each offering their own unique thrills:
- Geirangerfjord – Best known for its gorgeous waterfalls, Geirangerfjord was nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. Aside from the Seven Sisters, it is also home to several other impressive falls like Friaren, Ljosurfossen, and Bringefossen. View them from the comforts of your ship’s deck, or get up close on a kayak tour.
- Hjørundfjord – One of Norway’s best-kept secrets, this fjord is off the tourist track because large cruise ships rarely venture into its calm waters. But on a smaller boat, you can marvel at the steep cliffs, meadows, mountain farms, and rural communities that dot its shoreline.
- Sognefjord – The longest and deepest fjord in all of Europe, the Sognefjord is where five of the oldest Norwegian stave churches are located, including the oldest, the UNESCO-recognized Urnes.
- Aurlandsfjord – Take in the dramatic fjord scenery from the water as you sail to the village of Flåm, located at the edge of the Aurlandsfjord. From there you can hop on to one of the steepest and most beautiful train rides in the world. The Flåm Railway twists and turns through stunning sceneries and stops at the Kjosfossen waterfall.
Hankering for a tour of fjords and falls? Then join us at Wheel & Anchor for our Norwegian adventure from April until May 2022. For 19 days and 18 nights, we will travel on land and on sea as we take in one of the world’s most astonishing coastlines. Join our ever-growing community of like-minded adventurers — sign up and be a member now!
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