Top 41 Things Norway is Known For & Famous For

If you’re planning a trip to Norway, you’re likely barraged by the number of attractions and sightings you’re interested in seeing! Therefore, I’m writing this article in hopes that all your questions about Norway and where to go once there can be answered in one spot!

Norway is famous for its scenic beauty (including its mountains, fjords, and waterfalls), its culture-rich cities, its skiing destinations, its eco-friendly operations, the Nobel Peace Prize, and much more.

In the rest of the article, I’ll further discuss the top tourist attractions as well as the landscape, cities, and culture that have given Norway the title of the happiest place on Earth!

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Sognefjorden

While Norway boasts many majestic fjords, none is quite like the Sognefjorden (or Sognefjord). It is the longest fjord in Norway and is lined with waterfalls, mountains, and picturesque villages. It also enters the Jotunheim National Park, a popular tourist, and cultural destination. If you have the time, a hike along its banks or up a nearby mountain will be quite visually rewarding!

Among the Scandinavian Countries

Norway is often considered the model Scandinavian country. The three official Scandinavian countries are Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, but Iceland, Finland, and the Faroe Islands are culturally Scandinavian as well. The name “Scandinavia” comes from the ancient Germanic words for “Dangerous Island” (skaðin and awjō). Scandinavian countries are renowned for their landscapes, temperatures, skiing, fishing, and other cold-weather attractions.

The Lærdal Tunnel – Longest Road Tunnel

The Læderal Tunnel of Norway is the world’s longest road tunnel. Constructed in 1992, the tunnel reaches for 24.5 kilometers (15.2 miles) and links two major cities in Norway that were otherwise difficult to travel between. By going through the mountains instead of over them, the tunnel is able to provide reliable transportation between cities without the cost of destroying the natural landscape.

The City of Oslo

The scenic city of Oslo is the capital of Norway. It’s also the largest city in the country, with about a million people living there. It’s one of the fastest growing cities in all of Europe and no wonder! Its museums are some of the finest in the world, and there’s always plenty to do and see. Located at the opening of a fjord, it’s full of stunning scenery and ancient history.

Trolltunga

Trolltunga (meaning “troll tongue”) is one of the highest and most impressive cliffs in Norway. Standing at the height of 1,100 meters, it overlooks Lake Ringedalsvatnet and gives you a marvelous view of the western edge of the Hardangervidda mountains. One rock in particular sticks out over a ravine, much like a tongue – hence the name.

However, the hike up to Trolltunga should not be attempted lightly or without a guide. For more information about the difficulty and length of the hike, visit this Norway tour site.

Salmon

Sometimes called Norway’s most quintessential food, salmon is the most exported fish in all of Norway, and for a good reason. Norway’s Atlantic Salmon are world-famous for their size and quality. The cold Norwegian seas and rivers are perfect for these salmon to grow and multiply.

The Northern Lights

Northern Lights, scientifically known as aurora borealis, occur in many northern countries. However, above the Arctic Circle in Norway, the lights take on a whole new splendor. Since darkness falls around noon between September and March, you have the chance to see the dancing colors for hours upon hours, even inside the cities. Whether you’re hiking or enjoying a night on the town, the lights are sure to make an appearance!

The Midnight Sun

Anywhere above the Arctic Circle or below the Antarctic Circle will experience the midnight sun for at least a few weeks out of the year. In Norway, the city of Svalbard experiences the midnight sun for the most prolonged period in the country, starting at the end of April and lasting until August.

The midnight sun does not rise far above the horizon, bathing the seas, mountains, and cities in a perpetual dusk. The midnight sun will add a splendid atmosphere to anything else you decide to do during your stay!

The City of Svalbard & The “Doomsday” Vault

While you’re on the island of Spitsbergen visiting Svalbard, you have the chance to see the Global Seed Vault, also called the Doomsday Vault. Given the year-round freezing temperatures on the island, the vault has become a natural refrigerator for the world’s seeds.

Countries will send some of their crops’ seeds to Svalbard for safe-keeping so that if a famine comes, they’ll have access to their own, freshly preserved seeds for the following year’s harvest. Rather than genuinely saving for “doomsday,” the seed vault is used whenever a country is facing a shortage.

Arctic Animals

If you love viewing wild animals in their natural habitat, you’re going to love Norway! Norway and its islands are home to polar bears, seals, walruses, reindeer, whales, wolves, sea otters, and more! These animals thrive in cold temperatures and are not often seen south of the Arctic Circle.

Norway’s mountains, tundras, coastlines, and seas are the perfect place for these animals to live and hunt! If you’re interested in seeing these types of animals, check out fjord tours here.

Whale-Hunting

Whale hunting isn’t quite dead, though it’s undoubtedly not the widespread phenomenon it once was. Whaling used to be the primary way of obtaining oil for lamps and was a dangerous pastime that nearly drove the Sperm and other whales all across the ocean into extinction.

Modern whaling, however, is small and contained, mainly off the western coast of Norway. If you want to learn more about the history of whaling, you can visit the one and only whaling museum in Europe – called HvalfangstMuseet – in Sandefjord, Norway.

The Beerenberg Volcano

The Beerenberg Volcano is the northernmost active volcano in the world. Located on the island of Jan Mayen and covered in ice and snow, you would think it was just another mountain. The last eruption was in 1985, and the next explosion could happen at any time. The name of this glacier-blanketed volcano means “Bear Mountain” in Dutch because of the polar bears discovered there.

The City of Bergen

Bergen, the second-largest city in Norway, is famous for its fjords and small-town feel. The coastal town used to be the center of trade between Norway and Europe and still hosts a giant wharf lined with old buildings, now converted to tourist stores. There’s also a famous outdoor Fish Market where you can buy freshly caught fish, other types of produce, and even souvenirs! Bergen is filled with tourist attractions, ancient scenery, and delicious seafood!

The “Norwegian” Language

Norway’s languages are as full of history as they are complicated. It’s not often that you come across a country with more than one official language! The two official languages of the nation are Norwegian and Sami, both of which I’ll explain below.

Norwegian

Norwegian is very similar to Danish and Swedish, as all three languages come from Germanic and Old Norse. Norwegian speakers can easily converse with a Swedish or Danish speaker – though it might take some getting used to, people from these countries can understand each other without much difficulty.

Sami

The other official language of Norway, Sami, is used by the indigenous Sami people of Northern Norway. Sami has no connection or roots in Norwegian, and knowing Norwegian will not help you learn Sami. Sami is, however, far less used even though it’s of equal historical and cultural value.

There Are Two Versions of the Norwegian Language

While Norwegian is one language, there are actually two different historically-based systems of writing it: bokmål and Nynorsk. Bokmål is derived from written Danish, while Nynorsk was a writing system created in 1850 and based on Norwegian regional dialects.

Bokmål is more commonly used, but both are recognized as nationally significant and revered in the same way. The differences between the two written versions of Norwegian amount to regional dialects, and if you can read and speak one, you can likely read and speak the other.

Norwegian Independence Day

Norway’s independence day, more commonly called Constitution Day, is one of the biggest national holidays of the year. Constitution day takes place on the seventeenth of May, on the anniversary of the signing of their first constitution in 1814. Though Norway was still officially united with Sweden and the Swedish king banned the celebration of the Norwegian nation, children and adults still took to the streets to celebrate their country.

Constitution Day is celebrated now with children’s parades, the eating of ice cream and hot dogs, and the wearing of traditional bunad. Bunads are garments for either men or women whose colors and patterns show where in Norway your ancestors came from. Constitution Day is overall a cheerful holiday, a celebration of the country’s heritage.

Vikings

The Scandinavian Vikings are perhaps the most famous legacy of medieval Norway. The Vikings ruled the coastal seas from 800 AD to around 1050 AD. But the Vikings of Norway not only plundered coastal villages in Europe, but they also set up trade between cities and colonized the uninhabited Greenland and Iceland.

The most outstanding achievement of the Vikings (besides the settlement of many towns) was probably their well-built ships. The Vikings built their ships to be swift so that they could raid a town and be out before the villagers could respond. Equipped at first with oars and later with sails, Viking longships proved to be quick at navigating rivers and icebergs that littered the northern seas.

The longship style of overlapping planks spread from the Vikings to other cultures, as well as the countries saw the usefulness of a fast ship that could sail in shallow water or oceans.

The best-preserved Viking ship from this period resides in Oslo’s Viking Ship Museum. There, you can see three genuine longships that have remained intact for a thousand years. It’s a sight to behold and well worth the visit. The museum also serves to educate people about Viking culture and legacy, a significant part of Scandinavian heritage.

The City of Ålesund

Western Norway is home to the beautiful city of Ålesund, a coastal city that spreads out into the surrounding islands. Ålesund is home to the Jugendstil Museum, numerous hiking paths, and gorgeous scenery from the old-fashioned buildings to the sea to the mountains. You can take fjord tours or simply wander the city and marvel at its artistry! Either way, Ålesund is a beautiful city that deserves to be seen!

Water

Norway is also home to the world’s purest bottled waters: VOSS, Isbre, OSE, and many more. Norwegian bottled water has a low mineral content and has less dissolved solids than most other brands. Norwegian water is quickly becoming a specialty famous around the world!

Expensive

While there are many benefits to living in a country as beautiful as Norway, there is one significant drawback: it can get pretty expensive. Norway remains one of the most expensive countries to live in, with the average living expenses hovering around $3,000 dollars a month. This can be tough for visitors, but much simpler for citizens to navigate as salaries tend to be higher.

Largest Consumers of Electric Cars

Besides the grand history, architecture, and natural beauty of the country, Norway also boasts its remarkable efforts at sustainability. While most of the world still relies on fossil fuels and factories that spit dangerous toxins into the atmosphere, Norway is far ahead in the race to save the planet. It’s by far the largest consumer of electric cars and plans to ban the sale of cars powered by fossil fuels, and it’s estimated that by 2025, all cars in the country will be powered by green energy.

Oil & Gas Production

Norway has been called by many “the most sustainable country in the world.” Green cars are not the only strides the country has made towards sustainable energy! About 95% of the country’s energy is hydropower, and the remaining factories that use fossil fuels are being quickly weeded out. The country is on a track to achieving climate neutrality by 2030, twenty years ahead of the European Union.

Norwegian Folklore

Marvel Comics, Disney, and author Rick Riordan have made mainstream some of the folklore of different cultures, including Scandinavia. We know who Thor, God of Thunder, is; we know his father Odin and his half-brother Loki.

Though Hans Christian Andersen was Danish, the Disney adaptation of his fairytale “Snow Queen” is culturally Norwegian. Rick Riordan moved to books about the sons and daughters of Norse gods after the success of his Percy Jackson series.

However, while the mainstream media has taken bits and pieces from old tales and made them relatable, there is something about going to a country and learning about their folklore from their own tongues. There is hardly a mountain or a fjord without a story and a goblin, hardly a city or a ship without a mythical foundation and blessing. Pagan gods and fairy tales seem real when you look out over ice-capped hills and clear blue rivers.

There are far more stories and legends than American media can tell. If you’re planning a visit to Norway, you ought to look into the beautiful stories the Norwegian people tell about their land, origin, and ancestors.

Roald Dahl & the Chocolate Factory

Novelist Roald Dahl, most famous for his book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, was born in a Norwegian community in Wales. Roald spoke Norwegian in his home until his father died, and his Norwegian nanny moved away when he was six. While Roald Dahl is considered a British author, his Norwegian roots are strong in his legacy and his writing.

Norway is home to the chocolate factory that inspired Roald Dahl’s most famous book! The hot chocolate factory is called Freia, and its headquarters are located in Oslo. The chocolate factory (or at least eating the chocolate produced by it) is an excellent tourist activity for people who spend time in the capital of Norway!

Norwegian Table Etiquette

One culture shock that Americans may experience when traveling to Norway is the strict social and table etiquette. If you are ever invited to dinner by a Norwegian, you should be careful to follow the etiquette guidelines outlined below:

Do not begin eating until your host or hostess starts eating.
Do not discuss business at the table.
Offer a toast to your host or hostess during the course of the meal.
Make toasts with alcoholic beverages but not beer.
Eat everything with a utensil, even sandwiches or fries.
Place your utensils across the top of your plate when you are finished eating.
Always thank your host or hostess.
Always reciprocate invitations.

With these tips in mind, you are free to go out and experience Norwegian culture without being seen as an uncouth American!

World’s Best Skiers

It should be no surprise that Norway is home to the world’s best skiers. The official list is quite extensive, but some of the most famous names include Kjetil Andre Aamodt, Sigmund Ruud, and Alf Andersen. These skiers are renowned for their medals, experience, and ability.

Winter Sports

Norway is home to a significant number of skiing destinations that cannot be ignored. Even if you have never skied in your life, a ski resort is well worth a visit. Most ski resorts feature luxurious lodging, gorgeous scenery, and beginner lessons for all ages. If you’re on the fence about it, just try it out – once you have entered this skiing paradise, you won’t want to go home!

Winter Olympics

Norway’s cold climate is perfect for all kinds of winter sports. Therefore, it should be of no surprise that many of the best skiers in the world have hailed from Norway, including the most decorated Winter Olympian of all time, cross-country skier Ole Einar Bjøerndalen.

Norway continues to hold more Winter Olympic medals than any other country, with a whopping 405 as of 2022. There are hundreds of famous Norwegian skiers and alpinists that have benefitted from Norway’s terrain and climate.

Card Is King

You would be hard-pressed to find a country using as little cash as Norway. Credit and debit payment cards are the norm everywhere, and e-commerce continues to expand and develop as we speak. Make sure you plan accordingly and do not carry just cash while visiting there!

Not Big on Fast Food

One thing you should probably know about Norway before going there is their position on fast food. The Norwegian government and people as a whole are against the unhealthiness of fast food and are not going to consider fast-food chains a good way to dine out. To dissuade people from eating fast food, Norway has put a special tax on it as well as sugary drinks. It’s even illegal to market junk food to children under the age of sixteen.

The high price of fast food and general distaste for the genre will likely come as a shock to foreigners, especially Americans. However, as long as you’re aware of the stigma and lack of availability before you head overseas, you should be prepared to deal with missing your favorite American treats. There are far better restaurants to visit while you stay in Norway anyway, and you’ll hopefully learn to appreciate the healthiness you experience there.

Love of Fish

As one of the biggest exporters of fish in the world, it should come as no surprise that seafood reigns supreme in Norway. Norway boasts exquisite cod and tasty shellfish, including crabs and mussels. You can eat seafood in Norway knowing that everything is freshly and sustainably caught in the cold salt water that surrounds the country.

Norwegian Expressions

One thing that is always fun to learn about a new culture is its idioms or common expressions. Oftentimes, the literal translation will not make much sense to an outsider until you know more about the culture. There are plenty of phrases (such as “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” or “early bird gets the worm”) that have direct translations, but there are also plenty of others that might seem foreign and need some explanation.

Here’s a short list of sayings you may encounter while in Norway:

Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlige klær. Translates to “there is no bad weather, only bad clothes”. Commonly said to cold foreigners.

Det var helt texas. Translates to “it was totally Texas!” and means “it was totally crazy!

Å være midt i smørøyet. Translates to “be in the middle of the butter eye,” a reference to Norwegian porridge where a lump of butter is put on top and melts into a little puddle or an “eye.” It means “to be a cozy or good place.”

Ugler i Mosen. Translates to “owl in moss” and means “something is amiss.”

Ta for god fisk. Translates to “take for a good fish” and means you should believe something is true without doubting.

Natural Landscapes

Norway boasts some of the most beautiful scenery you’ll find anywhere in the world. Mountains, glaciers, fjords, seas, rivers, forests – almost anything a nature lover could hope for can be found in the Norwegian wilderness.

Even the cities are nestled in mountains and cliffs, and you never have to go far to find natural marvels.

Mountainous

The mountainous terrain in Norway is marvelous. It is home to a seemingly endless array of ski resorts and hiking trails, and there is no shortage of gorgeous views either! If you consider yourself a “mountain person”, you will be more than pleased with what Norway has to offer!

One of the Happiest Places on Earth

The sheer amount of things to do, the freshness of the atmosphere, and the historic feel are enough to make Norway one of the happiest places on Earth. You will never have a day of boredom during your stay! Norwegians enjoy higher incomes and lower health risks than other European citizens, and you are sure to reap the benefits of the land even when on a short vacation!

Norwegian Christmas Traditions

Norway has many special and unique Christmas traditions that are celebrated countrywide. Christmas food and festivities often begin in November and go all the way to the very first day of January. After all, who would not want to celebrate Christmas in a land of almost eternal snow?

Traditional Food

The Christmas and Christmas Eve menu often include pork rib, lamb rib, and lutefisk (lye-cured cod). Hot rice pudding is often served as a dessert or a side and also left outside for a barn gnome to eat! Marzipan is a favorite candy of the holiday, and many other sweets and nuts will be eaten and left on display as decoration.

Traditional Drink

Most Norwegians will look forward to juleøl, a unique, malty Christmas beer. If you’re looking for a non-alcoholic Christmas drink, you can have gløgg; a spicy drink served warm. These drinks are well-loved and served in many Christmas specialty shops in Oslo as well as restaurants in November.

Traditional Festivities

It’s common to see Christmas trees in the streets of Oslo after the start of November, and Norwegian households are never far behind. Lights, gnomes, stars, gingerbread houses, and nativity scenes are all part of Norwegian traditions.

Christmas Eve is the pinnacle of Norway’s festivities: the morning is spent going to church or going last-minute shopping, and at five, a city bell rings to mark the beginning of Christmas. Shops close, and families go back to the home to enjoy a meal and the rest of the evening together.

Nobel Peace Prize

Norway is home to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which selects the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize every year. This is done in accordance with the will of Alfred Nobel, who delegated the task to the committee upon his death.

Each year, the Norwegian Nobel Committee chooses a nominee based on their outstanding efforts toward world peace and union. The committee is made up of five members of the Norwegian parliament and designates the winner of the prize on the tenth of December, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.

Svalbard

The city of Svalbard is the biggest (and pretty much only) inhabited city located in the northern island of Spitsbergen. It is cold, remote, and absolutely breathtaking. If you’re looking for solitude and gorgeous scenery (and do not mind frigid temperatures) Svalbard is a must-see!

Reindeer

Reindeer, also called caribou, roam the landscapes of Norway in impressive herds. Born for the cold and nearly the size of elk, they are a majestic sight. Some reindeer are even domesticated in farms and help to pull sleds! Therefore, if you’re looking to marvel at these creatures’ beauty. Norway is just the place to go.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you have the chance to visit Norway, you should absolutely take it. The scenery will astound you, the cities will entertain you, and the history will inspire you! So put on some skiing gear and head for the hills of Scandinavia!

Learn about more European countries here!