Regions in Norway

Hemmed by a fjord and several kilometres of woodland, Norway’s capital is an attractive, easygoing city with an eclectic architectural mix of old and new that’s hard not to like. Oslo is certainly the cosmopolitan heart of Norway, with a rapidly growing café and bar culture, world-class restaurants, a lively nightlife and music options, as well as plenty of outdoor activities for the energetic.

The glacial land at the top of the globe, Arctic Norway is the icy backdrop for the Midnight Sun in summer and the enchanting Northern Lights in winter. It’s also the kingdom of the polar bear – in fact these white beasts outnumber people in the Svalbard Archipelago.

Surrounded by seven hills and seven fjords, Bergen is a beautiful, charming city. With the UNESCO World Heritage listed Bryggen and buzzing Vågen Harbour as its centrepiece, Bergen climbs the hillsides with hundreds of timber-clad houses, while cable cars offer stunning views from above.

While the priority of most tourists visiting Norway is (understandably) seeing the fjords, the lesser-visited central region, in between fjord country and the frozen north, has plenty to offer in itself, with beautiful countryside, pleasant cities and charming hotels.