Luxury Tours to Norway

Oslo is Norway’s major gateway for air travelers. Although direct flights to other destinations are sometimes possible, depending on the route you may have to change planes in Oslo. Year-round, flights depart from major European hubs daily; typical journey times are between two and three hours. Further afield, direct flights with SAS link Oslo to New York in under 8 hours while low-cost carrier Norse Atlantic Airways also operates non-stop flights to Miami which take 10 hours.

Norway, though not a member of the EU, is a signatory to Schengen. Travelers from most European countries including the UK, as well as visitors holding US, Canadian, Australian and Japanese passports, do not need a visa to come to Norway for a vacation. People that don’t need a visa to visit Norway can stay for up to 90 days. For more information visit the UDI website.

Let’s flip this around: there’s no bad time to visit Norway. The summers aren’t the hottest in Europe, but mild sunny days are perfect for taking long walks through city parks, hiking along unspoiled beaches or following mountain trails up to breathtaking overlooks. Winter brings its fair share of snow and ice, but pull on a pair of snow boots and a thick jacket and you’ll see the countryside at its most beautiful. Come when you like – Norway won’t disappoint.

Norway has an extensive train network which links cities such as Oslo in the south with others such as Bergen, Trondheim, and Bodø. Travelers heading to Arctic Norway might be keen to book a sleeper, while day trippers will delight in scenic routes such as the Flåm Railway. Buses serve most destinations in between, while ferries such as those operated by Hurtigruten are an efficient way of hopping along the coast. For maximum flexibility you may wish to rent a car, though it’s a large country and driving distances can be significant. For instance, to drive from Oslo only as far as Stavanger or Trondheim you’d still need to allow about seven hours without stops. Car hire companies can also charge rather large one way fees, therefore car hire is recommended for when doing a round trip. There are also many flights operating between regional airports.

Typically, the Northern Lights are visible in Norway from late August until the end of April – during the summer there’s too much daylight to be in with a chance of a sighting. Statistically, auroral activity peaks around the spring and fall equinoxes in March and September respectively, but if the skies are clear you’ll have a good chance of witnessing this breathtaking spectacle throughout the winter too. We’re currently in what’s known as the solar maximum , making this the ideal time to plan a Norway trip.

The Midnight Sun is a natural phenomenon that bathes the polar regions in 24 hour daylight at certain times of the year. In the northern hemisphere, it occurs in summer and affects Arctic locales because the earth rotates on a tilted axis relative to the sun. It’s most pronounced in Svalbard, where the sun won’t set for four months from 20th April to 22nd August, while further south in the Lofoten Archipelago it lasts roughly from the beginning of June to mid-July. While cities such as Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim are too far south to experience the Midnight Sun, summer travelers will still be treated to long days and late night sunsets. Bring an eye mask to cope with those early sunrises if you’re a light sleeper.