Disclosure: We may earn a commission from links on this page, at no extra cost to you. How we earn
This article contains affiliate links. If you make a booking through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. About & Affiliate Disclosure
Quick Answer
At a glance
- Best time
- Late Aug–early Apr aurora; Jun–Aug fjords
- Time needed
- 7 to 10 days
- Currency
- Norwegian krone (NOK)
- Language
- Norwegian
- Visa
- Schengen area rules apply
- Getting around
- Vy trains; Flytoget airport express
Norway is two trips. The south is fjords, mountain railways and two very different cities: dry, continental Oslo and wet, coastal Bergen. The north, above the Arctic Circle, is aurora country, with polar night in midwinter and midnight sun in summer. Pick the trip first, then the month. Every date and price below was checked on 9 October 2026.
The best time to visit Norway, month by month
Temperatures are monthly averages (day and night together) from the Norwegian Meteorological Institute’s 1991-2020 normals for Oslo (Blindern), Bergen (Florida) and Tromsø. Rain is Bergen’s monthly average, because Bergen is where the weather catches people out.
| Month | Oslo avg (°C) | Bergen avg (°C) / rain (mm) | Tromsø avg (°C) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -2.3 | 2.6 / 256 | -3.0 | Polar night in the north until mid-month, auroras |
| February | -2.0 | 2.3 / 209 | -3.3 | Aurora season with returning daylight |
| March | 1.3 | 3.8 / 202 | -1.9 | Snow, longer days, the best all-round Arctic month |
| April | 6.2 | 7.2 / 141 | 1.2 | Aurora season ends early in the month |
| May | 11.4 | 10.7 / 109 | 5.5 | Spring; midnight sun in Tromsø from around 18 May |
| June | 15.3 | 13.6 / 132 | 9.4 | Long days, fjords, hiking |
| July | 17.7 | 15.6 / 158 | 12.3 | Warmest month everywhere |
| August | 16.5 | 15.4 / 208 | 11.3 | Late summer; first auroras late in the month |
| September | 12.2 | 12.6 / 248 | 7.8 | Autumn colours, aurora season under way |
| October | 6.6 | 8.6 / 268 | 3.1 | Quiet shoulder month, dark Arctic evenings |
| November | 2.2 | 5.3 / 275 | 0.2 | Polar night begins in Tromsø on 28 November |
| December | -1.4 | 3.1 / 290 | -1.7 | Christmas in the cities, polar night in the north |
Bergen gets about 2,500 mm of rain in an average year on those normals, three times Oslo’s roughly 840 mm, so pack a waterproof whatever the month.
Top Cities to Explore
Norway by trip type
Northern lights and polar night (late August to early April)
Tromsø is the classic base: the city sits inside the auroral zone, and Visit Tromsø gives the season as late August to early April, when the sky is dark enough. The lights are often most active between about 20:00 and 02:00. Sightings are never guaranteed: the weather changes fast in the north, and Visit Tromsø’s own advice is that the more nights you stay, the better your chance. Get out of the city lights, ideally with a guide who will drive towards clear sky.
Midwinter in Tromsø is polar night: on the Norwegian Meteorological Institute’s sunrise data, the sun sets on 27 November 2026 and does not rise again until 15 January 2027. It is not pitch dark at midday, but the light is a long blue twilight. By 1 March the sun is up from about 07:11 to 16:43, which is why February and March are easier months for sightseeing. Our Tromsø guide covers the cable car, whale safaris and where to stay.
Comparing Arctic trips? Finnish Lapland is the Santa-and-snow option, covered in our Finland guide and Rovaniemi guide, and our Iceland guide is the other classic aurora trip in Europe.
Fjords and Norway in a Nutshell (all year)
Norway in a Nutshell is the fjord trip most first-timers take. Fjord Tours sells it all year, from 2,698 NOK, and it strings together the Bergen Railway, the Flåm Railway between the mountain station at Myrdal and the fjord village of Flåm, a zero-emission cruise on the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord and a bus through the Nærøydalen valley. You can start from Oslo, Bergen, Flåm, Voss or Geilo, and add overnight stays along the way. Fjord Tours warns that the route can change in winter, so read the current itinerary before you book.
Summer and the midnight sun (June to August)
Summer is the season for fjord hiking and the cities. July averages 17.7°C in Oslo and 15.6°C in Bergen. In Tromsø the sun does not set from around 18 May to 26 July, on the institute’s sunrise data for 2027.
Christmas and winter in the south (December)
Oslo is cold but rarely brutal in December, averaging minus 1.4°C, and even on 21 December the sun is up from about 09:18 to 15:12. For a side-by-side of December trips, see where to go in December, and for Europe’s market cities, our Christmas markets 2026 guide.
How much does a day in Norway cost?
Norway is expensive, but its transport and big sights publish clear prices. These are the 2026 figures from the operators.
| Item (2026) | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Flytoget, Oslo Airport to Oslo S | 276 NOK one way, adult | Flytoget |
| Norway in a Nutshell, full route | from 2,698 NOK | Fjord Tours |
| Fløibanen funicular, Bergen, return | 145 NOK (Oct to Mar), 200 to 220 NOK (Apr to Sep) | Fløyen |
| Fjellheisen cable car, Tromsø, return | 645 NOK, adult | Fjellheisen |
| Arctic Cathedral, Tromsø | 90 NOK, adult; under 12 free | Arctic Cathedral |
| Tromsø city bus, single ticket | 50 NOK, or 30 NOK off-peak | Svipper |
| Whale safari from Tromsø | around 1,890 NOK, about 8 hours | Brim Explorer |
The cost that surprises people is food and accommodation rather than transport, so price your nights as soon as you have dates. If Norway stretches the budget, compare the cheapest European countries to visit.
Getting around Norway
Entry rules, money and staying connected
Entry: Norway is not in the EU, but it is in the Schengen area, so non-EU visitors count their days under the Schengen 90/180 rule. The Norwegian Police say non-EU and non-EEA nationals on short stays are registered in the Entry/Exit System when they arrive in or leave Norway, and that ETIAS, once it starts, will be required of visa-exempt travellers too; our EES and ETIAS guide explains both.
Money: Norway uses the Norwegian krone (NOK), not the euro. When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and pay in kroner: the conversion rate offered is usually worse.
What to pack for the Arctic: layers beat bulk. Start with a thermal base layer, add a packable down jacket and insulated winter boots, and consider heated gloves for long aurora nights.
Data: a travel eSIM gets you online on landing; see the best eSIM for Europe.
- Activate before you fly: data works on arrival
- Plans for 200+ countries from a few dollars
- Keep your number; no physical SIM swap
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best month to visit Norway?
It depends on the trip. For the northern lights, February and March combine dark nights with more daylight than midwinter; Visit Tromsø gives the aurora season as late August to early April. For fjords and hiking, July is the warmest month, with average temperatures of about 17.7°C in Oslo and 15.6°C in Bergen on MET Norway’s 1991-2020 normals.
When is the best time to see the northern lights in Norway?
From late August to early April, north of the Arctic Circle, on clear nights. Visit Tromsø says the northern lights are often most active between about 20:00 and 02:00, and that the more nights you stay, the better your chance that activity and weather line up. Cloud is the usual reason people miss them, so plan three or four nights and get away from city lights.
Is Norway in the EU or Schengen?
Norway is not a member of the European Union, but it is part of the Schengen area, so non-EU visitors count their days under the Schengen 90/180 rule. The Norwegian Police say non-EU and non-EEA nationals on short stays are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) when they arrive in or leave Norway, and that ETIAS, once it starts, will be required of visa-exempt travellers.
Can you do Norway in a Nutshell in winter?
Yes. Fjord Tours sells Norway in a Nutshell all year, from 2,698 NOK. The route combines the Bergen Railway, the Flåm Railway between Myrdal and Flåm, a cruise on the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord and a bus through the Nærøydalen valley, and it can start from Oslo, Bergen, Flåm, Voss or Geilo. Fjord Tours notes that the route can change in winter, so check the current itinerary when you book.
How long is the train from Oslo to Bergen?
About 6.5 to 7.5 hours. Vy runs the Bergen Line with 6 to 7 departures a day, including a night train, across the Hardangervidda mountain plateau; the highest point on the line is 1,237 metres above sea level. Myrdal, on the way, is where you change for the Flåm Railway.
How expensive is Norway for travellers?
Norway is one of the pricier countries in Europe, so budget by published fares. In 2026, the Flytoget airport express from Oslo Airport to Oslo S costs 276 NOK one way, Fløibanen in Bergen costs 145 NOK return in winter, the Fjellheisen cable car in Tromsø costs 645 NOK return, and a single bus ticket in Tromsø costs 50 NOK. Pay in kroner when a card terminal offers a currency choice.
Start planning your Norway trip
Decide between the fjords, the Arctic or both, then the month: February or March for auroras with daylight, July for fjords and hiking, December for the cities and polar night. For the darkest months, our where to go in November, where to go in January and where to go in February guides compare Norway with the rest of Europe.
