Best Cities to Visit in Norway

03/07/2022

01/07/2022

Fredrikstad

Lying on the banks of the Glomma river, Fredrikstad is a lovely, old fortified city that has been very well-preserved. A picturesque place to wander around – when the sun is shining, the modern waterfront is particularly delightful; there are a number of coffee shops, restaurants and bars for visitors to enjoy.

On the opposite bank, the old town, with its impressive Kongsten fort and distinctive moat, is the undoubted highlight, and is what makes Fredrikstad a popular haunt for tourists.

01/07/2022

Kristiansand

The fifth largest city in Norway, Kristiansand is a charming place with a lovely marina and lively ambiance. With lots of shopping options and some great restaurants and bars along the waterfront, the city has some pretty sandy beaches and claims to be Norway´s most popular holiday resort.

While Norwegians do indeed head here in large numbers, it is often to stop by on the way to other destinations in the south. The nearby archipelago is lovely to explore and the southern coast is not too far away either.

29/06/2022

Hamar

Set on the banks of the largest lake in Norway, Hamar has a surprising amount to do given its size. It’s not a bad option if you are looking to stop off somewhere when traveling to the north from Oslo.

It has the largest glass building in Europe, which remarkably has the ruins of a cathedral inside. The accompanying museum about the vikings is captivating. Apart from this, Hamar is a charming, laid-back place where you can also head out for some fishing and kayaking on the lake.

29/06/2022

Lillehammer

Having hosted the Winter Olympics in 1994, it is unsurprising that Lillehammer has such a fantastic array of winter sport activities on offer. Lying on the edge of Lake Mjosa, there are some great museums and galleries about town, as well as a number of lovely restaurants.

One of the most popular ski resorts in the country, Lillehammer has a picturesque setting, with roving hills and forests all around it. Although there are interesting things to see and do throughout the year, winter is when Lillehammer really comes alive.

27/06/2022

Larvik

Lying on the southern coast of Norway, Larvik has a busy port and, although it is not a very popular tourist destination, there is more than enough to warrant a visit. There are a couple of fantastic historical museums in town and a new cultural center has recently opened up, while the old baroque lighthouse looks impressively out over the sea.

From here you can visit the country´s largest beech forest at Bokeskogen, and the surrounding area has some great viking excavations for visitors to enjoy.

25/06/2022

Drammen

Traditionally an industrial center with a bustling port and a reputation as a grimy, grey and grim city, Drammen has cleaned up a lot in recent years, and as a result, is a lot more tourist friendly.

Lying not too far from Oslo, the city has some lovely walks and trails on both sides of the river that splits Drammen in two, and the center of town is easily traversed on foot. Visitors nearly always use this city as a stepping stone to the interior of the country, or as a stop-off on the way to the nearby mines at Blafarvevaerket.

25/06/2022

Tonsberg

Although relatively few remnants of the past remain, Tonsberg is actually the oldest town in the whole of Norway. As such, history lovers will enjoy stopping by when traveling from Oslo along the coast, to see all that it has to offer.

There is a crumbling old castle, some Viking ruins and graves, as well as a cool museum with the skeleton of a blue whale in it. A lively town, the landscapes surrounding Tonsberg are also nice, if people fancy taking a trip into the nearby countryside.