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Norway travel guide

Coastal cities from Bergen to Tromsø and Longyearbyen, at their best in July and August

Best: Jul, Aug

Photo: trondmyhre4 / Pixabay

Capital
Oslo
Languages
Norwegian Nynorsk, Norwegian Bokmål, Southern Sami
Currency
Norwegian krone
Time zone
UTC+01:00
Plugs
Type C, F · 230 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
112
Entry
Schengen area

Why visit Norway

Norway suits travellers who want to follow a long coastline. Most of its main cities sit on the sea, from Bergen and Trondheim to Bodø, Tromsø, Svolvær and Longyearbyen. July and August are the best months for most of the country. Oslo also works well in June, and inland Lillehammer is at its best in May and June. One honest limitation: the peak window is short, and the country covers 323,802 km², so you need time to travel between regions.

  • Summer is the best time

    June and August are the best months to visit Norway, and the same months suit Oslo. If you want the easiest trip, plan around them. Outside these months, weigh your plans more carefully before you book.

  • Coastal cities with character

    Most of Norway's larger cities sit on the coast. Bergen has 291189 people and Trondheim has 198777, so both are big enough for a city break. Bodø, with 43504 people, is a smaller coastal option further along.

  • Small towns far from crowds

    Norway's far coastal towns are small. Tromsø has 38980 people, Svolvær has 4807 and Longyearbyen has just 2417. They suit travellers who prefer quiet places to large cities, but expect fewer services than in Oslo or Bergen.

  • Lots of space, few people

    Norway covers 323802 km² but has only 5636904 people. For independent travellers, this means plenty of room outside the cities. Inland, Lillehammer has 21677 people, while Oslo is also inland rather than on the open coast.

  • More than one Norwegian culture

    Norway's languages include Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk, plus Northern Sami, Lule Sami and Southern Sami. This shows the country has more than one cultural tradition, which is worth learning about before and during your trip.

Is Norway right for you?

Great for

  • Summer travellers who like mild days: Oslo highs reach about 21–22°C in June and July
  • Long, bright days: Oslo averages about 13 hours of sunshine a day in June
  • Coastal city trips to Bergen, Trondheim, Bodø, Tromsø and Svolvær, best in July and August
  • Travellers who enjoy real winter: Oslo January highs of 0°C and lows near -5°C
  • Spring trips inland: Lillehammer is best in May and June, and Oslo gets just 8 rain days in April

Less ideal for

  • Beach and heat seekers: even in July, Oslo highs only reach about 22°C
  • Travellers wanting dry summers: Oslo's July brings 13 rain days and 112 mm of rain
  • Sun lovers in winter: Oslo gets only about 2 hours of sunshine a day in December
  • Autumn visitors hoping for dry weather: Oslo gets 102 mm of rain in September

Norway right now: October

2.0/10
Avg high
10°C
Avg low
5°C
Rain days
12

Averages for Oslo.

Weather by month

In Oslo, July and August are the best months, with highs of 22°C and 20°C and 10.5 to 12.5 hours of sun a day, though July is also the wettest month at 112 mm. November to January are the toughest, with highs of 0 to 5°C, lows down to -5°C and only 1.9 to 2.7 hours of sun a day.

Average highs and lows in Oslo by month January: high 0°C, low -5°C , 12 rain days . February: high 2°C, low -4°C , 11 rain days . March: high 5°C, low -2°C , 9 rain days . April: high 11°C, low 2°C , 8 rain days . May: high 17°C, low 7°C , 12 rain days . June: high 21°C, low 12°C , 12 rain days . July: high 22°C, low 14°C , 13 rain days . August: high 20°C, low 13°C , 13 rain days . September: high 17°C, low 10°C , 11 rain days . October: high 10°C, low 5°C , 12 rain days . November: high 5°C, low 1°C , 12 rain days . December: high 1°C, low -3°C , 13 rain days . 0°C -5°C JAN 12d 2°C -4°C FEB 11d 5°C -2°C MAR 9d 11°C 2°C APR 8d 17°C 7°C MAY 12d 21°C 12°C JUN 12d 22°C 14°C JUL 13d 20°C 13°C AUG 13d 17°C 10°C SEP 11d 10°C 5°C OCT 12d 5°C 1°C NOV 12d 1°C -3°C DEC 13d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Oslo · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Norway: month-by-month weather →

Norway's climate regions

The weather varies across the country; each region has its own best months.

  • Oslo and Eastern Norway

    Oslo, Lillehammer

    Oslo and Lillehammer have the warmest summers, with July highs around 21°C. Winters stay below freezing, with January highs of -1.8°C. Rain falls on about 142 days a year. June is the best month.

    Best: Jun

  • Western and Central Norway

    Bergen, Trondheim

    Bergen and Trondheim have mild winters for Norway, with January highs of 1.6°C, and cool summers at 17.7°C in July. This is the wettest region, with about 206.5 rain days a year. July and August are best.

    Best: Jul, Aug

  • Northern Norway

    Bodø, Tromsø, Svolvær

    Bodø, Tromsø and Svolvær have January highs of -1.8°C and July highs of 16.7°C. Rain falls on about 205 days a year. July and August bring the mildest weather.

    Best: Jul, Aug

  • Svalbard

    Longyearbyen

    Longyearbyen is the coldest place in Norway, with January highs of -8.7°C and July highs of only 9.7°C. It is also the driest region, with about 127 rain days a year. July and August are best.

    Best: Jul, Aug

Where to go in Norway

City guides with their own best months and weather.

Sample itineraries

7 days

Oslo, Lillehammer and Trondheim in one week

  1. Day 1–3

    Oslo

    Start in Oslo, Norway's capital and an inland city. Spend 3 days exploring its neighbourhoods, parks and museums at an easy pace. June and August are its best months.

  2. Day 4–5

    Lillehammer

    Head inland to Lillehammer, a small town of about 21677 people. Use 2 days for walks in the countryside around it. Its best months are May and June.

  3. Day 6–7

    Trondheim

    Finish in Trondheim, a coastal city of about 198777 people. Walk the city centre and the waterfront. July and August are its best months, so June is a good compromise for this whole route.

10 days

Norway's coast from Bergen to Svolvær

  1. Day 1–3

    Bergen

    Start in Bergen, a coastal city of about 291189 people. Spend 3 days walking the waterfront and the city streets. July and August are its best months.

  2. Day 4–5

    Trondheim

    Move up the coast to Trondheim, home to about 198777 people. Use 2 days to explore the centre on foot and eat by the water.

  3. Day 6–7

    Bodø

    Continue north to Bodø, a coastal town of about 43504 people. Slow down here and spend your time outdoors along the shore.

  4. Day 8–10

    Svolvær

    End in Svolvær, a small coastal town of about 4807 people. Spend the last 3 days outdoors. Like every stop on this route, its best months are July and August.

Where to stay

One good base in each main city and who it suits.

Sentrum

Oslo

Good for first-timers, short stays

The city centre around Karl Johans gate puts the Royal Palace, the Parliament and the main station within walking distance. Trains to the airport and most trams and metro lines start here, so getting around is easy. Some streets near the station feel busy and scruffy late at night, and the main shopping streets get noisy.

Bryggen

Bergen

Good for first-timers, sightseeing

The old Hanseatic wharf, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its wooden buildings sits a short walk from the Fish Market and the Fløibanen funicular. Staying here puts most of Bergen's best-known sights on your doorstep. The drawback is crowds, especially on days when cruise ships are in port.

Midtbyen

Trondheim

Good for first-timers, sightseeing, shopping

The city centre sits on a river peninsula, with the main square, shopping streets and Nidaros Cathedral all within walking distance. It is the easiest base for a short first visit, as most sights and restaurants are on your doorstep. Streets near the bars can be loud late on weekend nights.

Hunstad

Bodø

Good for families, self-caterers, longer stays

A quiet suburb east of the centre with houses, apartments, supermarkets and easy access to walking paths and ski tracks in winter. It feels like everyday Bodø rather than a visitor area. You will need the bus or a car to reach the harbour and most sights.

Sentrum

Tromsø

Good for first-timers, nightlife, no car

The compact city centre on the east side of Tromsøya island has most restaurants, bars, museums and the harbour where many tours start. Almost everything is walkable, and most northern lights and whale tours pick up here. The drawback is weekend bar noise and street lighting that makes aurora spotting from your window unlikely.

Sentrum

Lillehammer

Good for first-timers, car-free travellers, food and cafés

The compact town centre is built around Storgata, a pedestrian street lined with old wooden buildings, shops, cafés and bars. You can walk to the train station, the lakeside and most sights, so it works well without a car. Streets climb steeply uphill from the lake, and weekend evenings on Storgata can be noisy.

Svinøya

Svolvær

Good for couples, classic Lofoten stay

A small island joined to the centre by a short bridge, lined with traditional red fishermen's cabins (rorbuer) on stilts over the water. You get a waterside setting and harbour views while staying within walking distance of the centre. Drawback: the cabins are close together and can feel busy with other guests in peak season, and parking is limited.

Sentrum

Longyearbyen

Good for first-timers, short stays, no car

The small town centre around the pedestrian street holds most shops, cafés, bars and tour pick-up points, so everything is a short walk away. It is the easiest base in the dark or cold months, when you want little time outside between stops. It has less wilderness feel than the upper valley, and rooms here tend to fill first in busy seasons.

Food to try in Norway

Brunost (brown cheese)

A sweet, caramel-like brown cheese made from whey. Norwegians slice it thin with a cheese slicer and eat it on bread at breakfast or on waffles.

Fårikål

A simple stew of mutton, cabbage and whole black peppercorns, often called the national dish. It is mostly cooked at home in autumn and served with boiled potatoes.

Pinnekjøtt

Salted and dried lamb ribs, steamed over birch sticks. It is a Christmas dinner dish, most common in western Norway, and usually comes with mashed swede and potatoes.

Lutefisk

Dried cod soaked in lye until it turns soft and jelly-like, then served with bacon, peas and potatoes. It is eaten before Christmas, and its texture divides people.

Rakfisk

Freshwater fish, usually trout, salted and left to ferment for months. It has a strong smell. Locals eat it in late autumn and winter, often on flatbread.

Akevitt

A spirit made mainly from potatoes and flavoured with herbs such as caraway or dill. Norwegians drink small glasses of it with Christmas food and other festive meals.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Sockets take type C and F plugs, the round two-pin plugs used in most of mainland Europe. The voltage is 230 V. Bring an adapter if your devices use a different plug.
  • Driving side: Norway drives on the right. If you come from a country that drives on the left, take extra care at junctions and roundabouts during your first days.
  • Emergency number: Call 112 for emergencies. Save it in your phone before you go, especially if you plan to hike or drive in remote areas.
  • Currency: The currency is the Norwegian krone. Norway does not use the euro, so plan to pay in krone or by card.
  • Language: Norwegian is written in two official forms, Bokmål and Nynorsk. Three Sami languages are also recognised: Northern Sami, Lule Sami and Southern Sami. You may see Sami place names on signs in the north.
  • Time and calling code: Norway uses UTC+01:00, the same time zone as much of central Europe. The country calling code is +47, which you need when calling Norwegian numbers from abroad.
  • Tap water: Tap water is safe to drink across Norway. Carry a refillable bottle instead of buying bottled water.

Norway: frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit Norway?

July and August are the best months to visit Norway. They score 6.6 and 6.4 in our monthly rating, the highest of the year. In Oslo, average highs reach 21.7°C in July and 20.4°C in August, and lows stay above 12°C. Pack a rain layer, though. July is also Oslo's wettest month, with 112 mm of rain over about 13 rain days.

Is Norway good to visit in winter?

Winter in Norway is cold, dark and damp. It suits travellers who want those conditions more than those looking for mild sightseeing weather. In Oslo, December averages a high of 1.2°C and a low of -3.1°C, with 13 rain days and only 1.9 sun hours. January is colder, with a high of 0°C and a low of -5.3°C. November, December and January get the lowest scores in our rating.

Is September a good time to visit Norway?

September is a fair choice but not a peak month. It scores 4.9 in our rating. Oslo still averages highs of 16.6°C and lows of 10.1°C. The trade-off is rain: 102 mm over about 11 days, which is more than June or August. May scores about the same at 4.7. It has a similar 16.5°C high and less rain, at 78 mm.

When is the best time to visit Bergen, Tromsø or Lillehammer?

For most Norwegian cities, July and August are the best months. This includes Bergen, Trondheim, Bodø, Tromsø, Svolvær and Longyearbyen. Lillehammer is different, with May and June as its best months. Oslo does best in June and August. Note that the detailed temperature and rain figures on this page are for Oslo only.

Which is the driest month in Norway?

April is the driest month in Oslo, with 50 mm of rain over about 8 rain days. It is still cool, with an average high of 10.8°C and a low of 1.5°C, and it scores 3.3 in our rating. Summer is wetter. June brings 86 mm of rain and July brings 112 mm.

What plug type and currency does Norway use?

Norway uses plug types C and F at 230 V. The currency is the Norwegian krone. Cars drive on the right. The emergency number is 112, and the country calling code is +47. Norway is on UTC+01:00.

Similar destinations

Countries with a year of weather much like Norway.