Top 17 Best Places to Visit in Norway for a Unique Experience

Summer is just around the corner, which in Norway means the height of summer crowds. But whenever someone asks me if it’s worth visiting Norway during the high season I always tell them that of course it is! Norway is a big country, and really only a few of the most popular places in Norway get too crowded over the summer. The rest of the country is as magical as ever.

So I thought today I could share what I think are some of the best places to visit in Norway if you want to experience something a bit more unique than Pulpit Rock and Bergen. I wouldn’t say all of these places are totally hidden gems – in fact, a few are quite popular – but none of them are overhyped either, and they’re a great place to start if you’re feeling overwhelmed about what to see in Norway.

When I sat down to come up with this list for Norway places to visit, I simply thought about each of the places in Norway I’ve been that has filled my heart with such joy I thought it would burst.

So like, they’re pretty nice, I think.

And if you’re looking for more ways to get off the beaten path in Norway, I’ve also put together a huge list of unique things to do in Norway, which I keep adding to as local Norwegians give me more Norway tips.

And if you want more in depth Norway advice, I’ve also gathered all my best tips for planning an incredible trip through both Southern and Northern Norway in two 95-page ebooks that cover everything you’ll need to know to plan a Norway trip that you will love. You can purchase my Norway travel guides here. 

Tips for visiting these unique places

You definitely want to rent a car for many of these places as often tours won’t go to them either. I usually use Sixt because they tend to be the cheapest and most reliable, but you can also  check the rates at a bunch of different companies here.

Lyngen Alps

The Lyngen Alps were my favorite getaway when I lived in Tromsø. The Lyngen Alps are so incredibly beautiful, and it is so quiet and peaceful there – I barely see anyone else on my hikes around Lyngen. If you’re looking for unique places to visit in Norway, Lyngen is a great place to start. 

Plus, the Lyngen Alps are less than two hours from Tromsø, so they’re quite easily accessible for somewhere that feels so remote. Read more about visiting Lyngen here.

Åna-Sira

Åna-Sira is one of the most beautiful places I’ve been in Norway, and not many people know about it. In fact, the only reason I ended up going was that my former manager offered to let me stay in his summer house there for a couple of nights.

And it immediately became one of my favorite places in Norway. You can read more about my time in Åna-Sira here, and just know that if you’re looking for a fairytale village in Norway, this is it. Oh and be sure to hike up Brufjell when you go!

There are plenty of unique places to stay around Åna-Sira, such as the Øvstefjellså farm.

Gamle Strynefjellsvegen

A 27-kilometer loop of road may not sound like anything special, but when I think of the places in Norway that have most taken my breath away, Gamle Styrnefjellsvegen is at the top of the list. The views here are incredible. And since this route is a detour off the main road, it’s pretty quiet. I camped here with Alfie last summer and we had the whole mountainside to ourselves – in early August!

If you want to stay longer, Dalen Gaard camping is a beautiful location. 

You can read more about driving down Gamle Strynefjellsvegen here.

Marmorslottet

If you want to see somewhere unique in Norway, head to Marmorslottet, or “the Marble Castle.” I’ve never seen anywhere quite like it!

It’s really close to Mo i Rana, which is on the train line (and also right by the Arctic Circle, if you want to see the monument there). You can read more about planning a trip to Marmorslottet here.

Hjørundfjord

I’ve shared my list of the most beautiful fjords in Norway here, and Hjørundfjord is at the very top of that list. It’s stunning and a bit less visited than Geirangerfjord and Sognefjord, so you’ll find some actually quiet nature escapes here.

I wrote about my visit to Hjørundfjord here, including some amazing accommodation options. You could also stay at Norway’s historic Hotel Union Øye on Norangsfjord, which is an arm of Hjørundfjord. I wrote about my experience staying at the Hotel Union Øye here.

Hardangervidda

I might be biased because I live on the edge of Hardangervidda, but I honestly can’t think of a better place in Norway to go on a multi-day hiking trip. And I mean, if anyone asks me what to see in Norway my first answer is the mountains, of course! Hardangervidda is Europe’s greatest mountain plateau with one of the biggest populations of wild reindeer. The views are incredible, and because it’s a plateau the hiking isn’t too intense.

You can either drive up over Hardangervidda, or you could take the ferry to Mogen and start your hike from there.  You can read about the ferry into Hardangervidda here.

Svalbard

Svalbard is a Norwegian group of islands far north of mainland Norway – up by the North Pole. I’ve only visited Svalbard in winter, but I definitely want to return in the summer, when you have the chance to see polar bears, narwhals, and walruses. And flights to Svalbard are surprisingly affordable! 

Sørøya

Sørøya is Norway’s fourth largest island. I actually got the idea to visit from my doctor, who said she’s always wanted to see Sørøya but had never made it there. 

Alfie and I got the express boat from Hammerfest to Akkarfjord on Sørøya, which only took half an hour. You can check the time table and prices here. And wow, we had the most incredible time here. 10/10 recommend! 

Read my itinerary including Sørøya here. 

Helgeland coast

One of my Norwegian friends once told me that the friendliest people in all of Norway are on the Helgeland coast (Helgelandskysten), and I think she may be right! But you shouldn’t just go for the friendly locals, but also the incredible views.

It’s the perfect place for a summer road trip (especially if you want to escape the summer crowds!), or you could even cycle down the route. Read more about driving down the Helgeland coast here.

Mosjøen

I still can’t believe I hadn’t heard more about Mosjøen before visiting – it really is one of the loveliest towns in Northern Norway. If you take a trip down the Helgeland coast, definitely consider a detour inland to spend a night or two in Mosjøen. You can read more about Mosjøen, including things to do there and where to stay, here.

Grimstad

I hesitated to include Grimstad because I’m not sure it has the same appeal to foreign tourists as it does to Norwegians, but it’s one of my favorite places in Norway so I can’t leave it out. Grimstad is right on the coast in the far south of Norway, and it’s the ultimate cute summer seaside town, where you can buy fresh shrimp and fish cakes and go for boat rides to the many tiny islands dotting the coast. Also be sure to check out the lovely Cafe Ibsen downtown. 

Norwegians love this area in the summer, but I think sometimes foreigners can find it a bit boring because there are no fjords or mountains here. But it’s definitely an important part of Norwegian summer culture!

For accommodation in Grimstad, the Ibsen Guesthouse looks truly incredible (I really want to stay here next time I visit Grimstad), or if you’re on a smaller budget the Holsthuset Losji would be perfect. 

Rjukan

I’m always telling people to go to Rjukan, whether they’re looking for a day trip from Oslo or an interesting place to stop on their way from Oslo to Bergen. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site with a fascinating World War II history, and it’s also home to one of the most beautiful mountains in Norway: Gaustatoppen.

I’ve included Rjukan in one of my one week Norway itineraries, and you can read my complete guide to visiting Rjukan here.

Jotunheimen National Park

Or really, just go hiking in any national park in Norway. But I chose Jotunheimen because it has Norway’s two tallest peaks and over 250 mountains reaching nearly 2000 meters. Most mountains in Norway aren’t actually that high, so hiking in Jotunheimen makes for quite a unique experience in Norway.

If you don’t have much time, an excellent way to see some of the park is to stay at the Leirvassbu Fjellstue which is actually in the park. This mountain lodge is right by Leirvatnet lake at 1400 meters high and serves as a base camp for all sorts of hikes in the area. I stayed here with Alfie and we had a great time! 

I’ve included Jotunheimen in my epic road trip itinerary from Bergen here. 

Ålesund

If you’ve read a few of my Norway articles you probably saw this one coming.

I really love Ålesund, and it makes for the perfect base to explore some of Norway’s most stunning nature. Geirangerfjord and Trollstigen are both close by, along with many beautiful places to go hiking. Plus the city itself is probably the most beautiful in Norway. Read my full guide to visiting Ålesund and the surrounding areas here.

Lofoten

Okay, Lofoten is definitely not off the beaten path in Norway. But I just had to include it on this list because when I think of the places that have emotionally moved me in Norway Lofoten is one of the top! Plus if you take the time to explore a bit I think you can have a really unique experience here. You could also head up to Vesterålen to see some less visited islands!

Read my guide to planning a Lofoten road trip here.

Vardø

Vardø is the quirkiest town at the very tip top of Norway. Driving into Vardø always feels like a surprise, because even though I’ve visited several times now I never expect to see such a vibrant, happening place in the far far north of Norway. 

I’ve written more about Vardø in my Northern Norway itinerary here. 

Sommarøy

Arctic Norway has some surprisingly tropical looking beaches, and I think the most beautiful beaches of all might be on Sommarøy, which is just a short drive outside of Tromsø. Even on a cloudy day the water surrounding Sommarøy is such a beautiful turquoise color that you might even be tempted to take a dip! Read more about Sommarøy here.

On Sommarøy I’ve stayed at the Sommarøy Arctic Hotel, which also happens to be dog friendly (I brought Alfie with me!). We stayed in one of the standard dog-friendly rooms, but the three-bedroom houses right on the water also look incredible. The hotel has a sauna complete with a walkway right into the sea so you can take some icy dips, and there is also a jacuzzi to rent. The restaurant is also fantastic, with beautiful views out over the water. Check current rates and availability here

 

Do you have any other suggestions? Share in the comments!