The Best Time to Visit Norway

SPRING in Norway: APRIL, MAY & EARLY JUNE

Why Visit Norway in the Spring?

While Norway’s weather in the spring can be changeable, you are guaranteed quieter trails at this time of year than in the high summer. So if you find solace in solitude, then this may be the best time to book your trip. 

As the snow melts, the lush green leaves emerge from deciduous forests throughout southern and western Norway. The number of waterfalls cascading down the steep-sided valleys multiply, and the most significant ones, such as those you find on our Hiking Alesund & the Sunnmøre Alps trip, must be seen to be believed.

In Norway, the thaw that follows the winter is as deeply felt within as it is observed on the landscape. They even have a word for it: “Vårfølelse,” which translates to “springfulness.” It is the uplifting feeling of renewal you get when you spot the first wildflower blooms erupting through the subsiding snow, and you feel the warm rays of spring sun hit your cheek.

The weather is unpredictable throughout the Norwegian year, particularly in spring, so you will need to bring clothing that covers all possibilities. So, while waterproof clothes and a warm layer are a must, you should also pack light clothing and sunscreen for those days when Freyr, the Norse weather god, is feeling particularly benevolent.

Top 3 Reasons to Visit Norway in Spring:

1. Waterfalls at their most powerful
2. Lush forests full of birdsong
3. The pure feeling of “springfulness”

Summer in Norway: Late June, July & AUGUST

Why Visit Norway in the Summer?

There is no shortage of daylight in Norwegian summer during which to explore this wonderful land. Trails throughout the country are in excellent condition by July and fill up with the sounds of excited locals pursuing the national pastime: hiking. The fjord temperatures rise also, and a cold-water swim becomes an exciting prospect after a day in the hills, especially when there is a hot sauna nearby. 

The weather warms throughout the country at this time of year. Temperatures can reach up to 77°F, but more often hover in the 60°Fs. They can and do drop into the low 50°Fs, particularly in the northerly regions or those near the North Atlantic coast. One should never be too far from a warm coat in Norway at any time of year.

In Dovrefjell National Park, which separates southern Norway from what northerners call “the real Norway,” we keep an eye out for wild muskox during the hikes on our Hiking the Heart of Norway trip. And since the further north you go, the longer a summer’s day becomes, this is the perfect time of year to join a hiking tour in Norway’s Lofoten Islands. The “midnight sun” never sets between late May and mid July, making this the perfect time to experience the islands’ jagged peaks rising out of crystalline bays 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle.

Top 3 Reasons to Visit Norway in Summer:

1. Days that never end
2. Sunny mountaintops, oceans, and fjords
3. Perfect hiking conditions

Fall in Norway: September & October

Why Visit Norway in the Fall?

By late August and into September, autumn arrives, and with it the leaves transform to fiery reds, oranges, and yellows. Reflections on the stunning alpine lakes of the Sunnmøre Alps and Rondane National Park are breathtaking. In Sunnmøre, the Jostedalsbreen Glacier, the largest in northern Europe, hangs in blue tongues over the reddening valley, which provides plenty of opportunities to take a once-in-a-lifetime photograph. 

The weather in September becomes increasingly changeable and hiking trails become quieter. You’ll find sunny days, particularly in the first half of the month, but you should expect more rain than at the height of the summer. With average temperatures in the low 50°Fs, you’ll need to pack warm layers. By the end of September, the weather continues to cool until the snow arrives around November.

Fall is harvest season in areas like Hardanger, a region beloved by locals for its delicious cider. You’ll find a flurry of action at fjordside apple farms such as Syse Gard, which we visit on our Hiking Norway’s Fjords trip. We run our last Norway trip of the season in mid-September. Solo travelers can find beautiful landscapes and decent hiking weather through October, but will need to be prepared for cool and rainy conditions at times.

Top 3 Reasons to Visit Norway in Fall:

1. Incredible landscape colors
2. Harvest season
3. Quiet trails in this peaceful paradise

Winter in Norway: December, January, February & March

Why Visit Norway in the Winter?

Norway transforms into a fairytale world in winter as white snow blankets the mountainsides and towns. Lakes, rivers, and waterfalls freeze, creating stunning sculptures of nature suspended in time. The waters off the Lofoten islands are teeming with life as the skrei (cod) arrive between January and April to spawn, and in snow-lined fjords, orcas and humpback whales hungrily dine on abundant herring.

As you can imagine, the weather is very cold during the Norwegian winter. Temperatures are often below freezing and can reach as low as -20°F in the northernmost regions. But don’t let that turn you off. As Scandinavians will often remind you, there is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothing and gear!

Cross-country skiers appear on snow-covered mountain roads during this time, while alpine skiers carve perfect lines down the pistes of famous ski resorts like Voss or Trysil. And there is nothing more magical than a winter’s night in Norway. In the north, the night can last for days, and even the smallest moon illuminates the snow white landscape on a clear night. And if you’re lucky, the dark sky will play host to one of Earth’s most marvelous spectacles: the aurora borealis.

Sápmi is the geographical area of northern Fennoscandia that includes Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia, which the Sami people claim as their nation. These indigenous nomadic people have herded in this icy land for almost 10,000 years, and although we don’t have a winter trip in Norway, our Winter Adventures in Lapland journey explores fascinating Sami culture in Finland while seeking out the northern lights.

Top 3 Reasons to Visit Norway in Winter:

1. Witness nature straight from a fairytale
2. Oceans and fjords teeming with life
3. The northern lights