Norway
Kingdom of Norway
Northern Europe · NOR
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Norway
Norway is one of Europe's clearest nature-first trips if you want fjords, mountain routes, and a country where the scenery does most of the work. It is strongest when you build around one corridor or region, whether that means the west coast, a summer hiking route, or a winter trip with northern light and snow-focused priorities.
Popular For
Things To See
- Oslo
- West Norwegian Fjords – Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord
- Bryggen
- Urnes Stave Church
- Røros Mining Town and the Circumference
- Jotunheimen National Park
Best Months
Best Months For Winter Travel
Know Before You Go
- May through August is the easiest broad window in the current brief, while December through March fits winter-focused trips better.
- Norway is large enough that most first visits should stay focused on one region or one corridor rather than trying to cover the whole country.
- The west-coast fjords, Oslo and Bergen, and interior mountain parks each support different trip styles instead of one short all-purpose itinerary.
Affiliate links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Norway.
Guidebooks
Rick Steves Scandinavia
Rick Steves
Covers Norway's scenic fjords, northern lights, and cultural highlights of Scandinavia.
View on Amazon →
Moon Norway: Best Hikes, Road Trips, Scenic Fjords
Lisa Stentvedt
Focused guide to Norway's iconic fjords, hiking trails, and scenic road trip routes.
View on Amazon →
Moon Norway
David Nikel
Flexible itineraries for Norway's fjords, Oslo culture, and northern lights.
View on Amazon →Tours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Norway.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Oslo
- Population
- 5,606,944
- Area
- 386,224 km²
- Region
- Northern Europe
Languages
- Norwegian Nynorsk
- Norwegian Bokmål
- Sami
Currency
Norwegian krone (kr)
NOK
1 USD = 9.66 NOK
Cost of Living (World Bank)
85.1
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 85.4
- Restaurants
- 88.6
- Rent
- 29.2
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Oslo (59.92°N, 10.75°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
83/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 90/100
- Lived safety
- 71/100
This traveler-facing score is lower than the legal protections score because lived-safety context is weaker, based on broader traveler safety and development conditions.
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionMarriage
- Adoption recognition✅
- Anti-discrimination laws✅
- Employment protections✅
- Legal gender recognition✅
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.970
Very high human development
- 5-year change
- +0.004
- 10-year change
- +0.017
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.995
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.004
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.723
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (8)
- 🏛️
Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage Site
Inscribed 2015
- 🏛️
Struve Geodetic Arc
Inscribed 2005
- 🌿
West Norwegian Fjords – Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord
Inscribed 2005
- 🏛️
Vegaøyan – The Vega Archipelago
Inscribed 2004
- 🏛️
Rock Art of Alta
Inscribed 1985
- 🏛️
Røros Mining Town and the Circumference
Inscribed 1980
- 🏛️
Urnes Stave Church
Inscribed 1979
- 🏛️
Bryggen
Inscribed 1979
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 17.8%
- Forest cover
- 33.5%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 8
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 11
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
69/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Winter Sports
62/100
Ski infrastructure & alpine pedigree
Combines ski resort depth, ski resort density, and Winter Olympic skiing results. Separate from climate comfort.
Luxury Infrastructure
86/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
There was no change to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated. Exercise normal precautions in Norway. Advisory Summary Norway is generally a safe destination for travelers. Be aware of landslides and avalanches. Norway’s steep mountains make these common. Heavy summer rain or winter snow accumulation can cause them. A special kind of clay called “quick clay” (kvikkleire) can cause ground to collapse in some areas where people live. Keep your belongings safe. Watch your wallet, phone, and bags in busy tourist spots like hotels and transit stations. Review our Travel Guidance for Norway to learn how to prepare for a safe trip. If you decide to travel to Norway: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Oslo. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for Norway. Whether you’re a first time or frequent traveler, use the International Travel Checklist. We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage.
Read full advisory →Data current as of July 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data