Travel in Norway
We’ve chased the Northern Lights in Tromsø (and actually saw them), eaten reindeer hot dogs at the world’s smallest bar, wandered Oslo’s fjord in the snow and found the best hotel breakfast in Europe. Here’s everything we know.
Currency
Norwegian Krone (NOK)
Language
Norwegian
Best entry cities
Oslo, Tromso
Plug type
Type F
Best season
Sep - Mar
Visa (EU/US/UK)
Not required <90 days
Our coverage
9 articles
Honest guides from two people who've been there
Norway Travel Guides, as we lived them
We didn’t expect Norway to hit us this hard. Oslo surprised us completely — it’s compact, walkable, jaw-droppingly beautiful and somehow both futuristic and deeply cosy. Then there’s Tromsø. Standing outside in minus fifteen degrees watching green light ripple across the sky at 2am is one of the strangest, most extraordinary things we’ve ever done.
Norway is expensive — we won’t pretend otherwise. But it’s worth every krone. We’ve been building this guide since our first trip and we’re sharing everything: the itineraries, the food, where to stay and how to actually see the Northern Lights (not just hope for them). Use it however helps you most.
Where we've been
Norway destinations we cover
Two destinations, 9 honest guides. Click any card to explore all our articles for that place.
Oslo
Oslo hit us like a cold splash of water — in the best possible way. We went for a weekend and stayed three days longer than planned. The fjord, the food, the neighbourhoods. Our 4 guides cover everything from a 3-day itinerary to where to stay and the best day trips out of the city.
Tromso
Standing in -15 degrees watching the Northern Lights move across the sky at 2am is one of the most extraordinary things we’ve ever experienced. Tromsø is cold, dark & completely magical. Our 4 guides cover the Northern Lights, a 2-day itinerary, the Arctic food scene & what to know before you go.
All our Norway writing
Every Norway article
9 guides across Oslo and Tromsø. All written from real trips, updated for 2026.
Planning your trip
When to visit Norway
Norway is a completely different country depending on when you go. Our honest take — based on the specific places we cover.
The only time to see the Northern Lights. Tromsø is magical — dark, cosy, alive. Oslo is beautiful in snow. Pack seriously warm clothes. This is when Norway is at its most dramatic.
Best of both worlds — Northern Lights start appearing, colours are stunning, fewer tourists than summer. September in Oslo is genuinely beautiful. First aurora chances in Tromsø from late September.
Oslo is buzzing — the fjord, outdoor dining, long days. No Northern Lights but the Midnight Sun in Tromsø is extraordinary in its own way. Peak prices and peak tourists.
Last chance for Northern Lights in March. Snow still on the ground in Tromsø. Oslo starts waking up in April and May — fewer crowds, better prices, and the city feels genuinely fresh.
Where we've been
WHAT TOOLS WE USE
Book your Norway trip
MONEY & COSTS
Is Norway expensive? Here is the truth
Norway is the most expensive country we’ve ever travelled in — and also one of the most worth it. Here’s what to realistically budget depending on how you travel.
EXPERIENCES
Tours worth booking in Norway
We don’t recommend tours we haven’t taken or researched properly. These are the experiences across our two destinations that genuinely add something you can’t easily do alone.
TRAVEL IN Norway
What we wish we'd known before we went
Norway has its own unwritten rules — and a few expensive mistakes waiting to happen. We learned most of these the hard way, standing in the cold in Tromsø or staring at a restaurant bill in Oslo. Here’s what to know before you go
FOOD & DRINK
Must-try dishes in Norway
Norway’s food surprised us completely — reindeer stew eaten around a campfire, brown cheese on everything, the best hotel breakfast of our lives in Oslo. These are the 4 dishes we still think about.
Common questions
Norway travel FAQ
Answered based on our actual experience in these specific places — not generic Italy advice.
Is Norway worth the expense?
When is the best time to see the Northern Lights in Norway?
How many days do you need in Oslo?
Is Tromsø worth visiting in winter?
How expensive is Norway compared to other European countries?
Is Oslo safe?
We're Ru & Tiago — the two people behind The Nomadic Hearts. We stood outside in minus fifteen degrees in Tromsø at 2am watching the Northern Lights move across the sky and it was one of the most extraordinary things we've ever seen. We walked Oslo's fjord in the snow, ate reindeer hot dogs at the world's smallest bar, and had the best hotel breakfast of our lives somewhere in the city centre. Every article on this page comes from a trip we actually took — no filler, no places we haven't been. Just honest guides from two people who keep going back.
More about us →Our Norway memories
