How to plan the perfect trip to Norway, from budgeting tips to when to go

From its mountainous national parks to its scenic rail journeys, Norway has so many highlights, it’s hard to know how to begin planning an itinerary. Thankfully, though, this is a country where simple pleasures are available wherever you end up and whatever your budget, from bracing dips in the crystal-clear waters of a coastal fjord to overnight stays in a remote forest hut. Knowing how to get around and how best to make the most of your money are two essentials for unlocking all the country has to offer — read on to discover these and more tips for creating your perfect trip.

How do I get there?

Norway’s main international airport, Oslo Gardermoen, has direct flights from London, Manchester and Edinburgh on carriers including Norwegian, British Airways and SAS. You can also fly direct to Bergen and Stavanger from the UK.

Norway is connected to the rest of Europe by train, with overnight services between Oslo and Copenhagen, Stockholm and Gothenburg. You can also arrive by ferry, with ports in Denmark, Sweden and Germany connecting to Oslo, Kristiansand, Bergen, Larvik and Stavanger.

What’s the best way to get around?

If it’s flexibility you’re after — not to mention some seriously scenic drives — then a rental car is the way to go, with all the usual hire companies found here. Trains are another brilliant way to get around, with efficient service, comfortable carriages and enchanting scenery on routes like the Flåm line, which reaches the Aurlandsfjord in southern Norway. It’s one of the steepest rail journeys in the world. There’s a decent passenger ferry service along the coast, with ports at most coastal towns and islands; check routes on the official Vegvesen website. The iconic Hurtigruten Coastal Express was founded in 1893 to transport people and cargo along the coast and still operates today, with 34 stops between Bergen and Kirkenes.

How can I save money?

Norway is an expensive destination by global standards, but there are always ways to save a few kroner. The universal rule of travelling in off- and shoulder seasons applies here, as do Norway-specific tips, like staying in campsites and cabins. Most museums and cultural attractions charge entry, but outdoor activities like hiking, cycling and camping are free, and this is one of the best places in the world to enjoy them. Eating at restaurants tends to be pricey, but shopping at farm shops or supermarkets and cooking up a storm at a campsite kitchen is tasty, fun and fulfilling.

When should I go?

For warm days and hikes beneath the midnight sun, visit between June and August; average temperatures in the south in July are 15-22C; in the north 8-15C. For Northern Lights and cross-country skiing, come between October and April. Temperatures in the south in December are 0-3C; in the north between -15 and -5C. The shoulder months of May and September are mild, with highs of around 16C in the south and 10C in the north.

How can I get in the mood for my trip?

To whet your appetite for Oslo’s cultural life, watch Oscar-nominated Sentimental Value (2025), starring Stellan Skarsgård. For a fun mythological yomp through the Norwegian landscape, check out Troll (2022). Coming-of-age novel The Ice Palace (1963; Tarjei Vesaas) beautifully evokes wintry Norwegian landscapes, while Henrik Ibsen’s classic theatre piece, A Doll’s House (1879), is a must-read for literary travellers for its portrayal of a 19th-century marriage.

Who can help?

Audley Travel’s Highlights of Norway trip takes in Oslo, the Flåm Railway, boat tours on Unesco-listed Nærøyfjord, the historic waterfront of Bergen and more over seven days. It costs from £4,795 per person, including flights, activities and accommodation.