9 Days in Norway - 8 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Oslo, Bergen & the Sognefjord

This active summer tour covers Norway's two biggest cities, as well as its longest and deepest fjord, using various means of transportation for a true Scandinavian adventure. 

Travelers who like to be near the water will love this option. Start the adventure in Oslo, Norway’s rapidly growing capital, surrounded by mountains and sea. You’ll have a free day to explore the city with a local where you can choose an activity depending on the season.

Then it's time to catch a ride on the Flåm Railway, regarded as one of the most beautiful train rides in the world. When you get to the picturesque village of Flåm, sit back and have lunch at the local microbrewery before catching a mid-afternoon ferry ride through a portion of the Sognefjord—Norway's longest and deepest fjord—arriving in Balestrand with enough time to check out the scenery before dinner. Spend the next few days enjoying the area’s architecture, hiking trails, and local cider, culminating with a three-hour kayak tour before traveling to Bergen by fjordcruise. 

After a night in Bergen, a local guide will take you hiking on one of the seven surrounding mountains. For something easy, take the Fløibanen funicular (or hike on foot) to the top of Mount Fløyen for the best views of the city (especially at sunset). The next day you’ll take another fjordcruise—this time to the Hardangerfjord passing the waterfall called Furebergsfossen. Return to Bergen for one more night to finish the trip. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Discover Norway's Cities & Fjords

This summer itinerary encompasses a mix of fun travel modes for the ultimate city and fjord adventure. 

Not surprisingly, the first metropolis on this 'city and fjord' itinerary is Oslo—the common gateway to Norway. If you want to see the new area of town, walk, bike, or jog on the Havnepromenaden (harbor promenade)—a new five-and-a-half-mile waterfront park, which combines sightseeing, history, art, and architecture (Norwegian’s love to be outside in any season). 

Travel to Flåm on the scenic railway and transfer to the beautiful town of Aurland where you’ll stay the night and hike with a local guide. This half-day excursion heads to a place called Hovdungo situated 2559 feet (780 m) above the beautiful Aurlandsfjord (a branch of the Sognefjord). From the top, you'll be rewarded with one of the best fjord views in the area before catching your fjordcruise to Bergen.

There’s won’t be too much time in Bergen, because you’ll board the Hurtigruten for an overnight cruise to Ålesund. Keep your eyes open in the morning as you sail through the UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord arriving at one of the prettiest and most charming cities in Scandinavia. There are photogenic streets, and numerous activities such as hiking, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding. Finish the trip with a relaxing bus and train journey back to Oslo, which follows along an emerald-green river. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Romantic Autumn Adventure in Norway's Arctic

This fall-themed trip—ideal for couples—explores Norway's snowy Arctic with a variety of travel modes and cozy accommodations. 

If traveling with your significant other, what could be better than a cozy autumn trip to a remote locale surrounded by snowcapped mountains? This itinerary offers just that, starting with two nights in Tromsø, the biggest city in Northern Norway. You'll then transfer to a remote seaside hotel that offers glass igloos and houses with views—ideal for couples who are interested in seeing the Northern Lights (October through March). In fact, the igloos come with glass ceilings so that you can look for the evening show while in bed.

When you're ready for some exercise, the area around the Lyngen Alps offers a wide range of activities including skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and ice climbing. If you're interested in dog sledding, you can take a hands-on tour where you are encouraged to help prepare the Huskies and sleds. You even have the choice to be a musher for a day and steer your own sled of 6 to 8 dogs through the wonderful Reisa National Park.

On day 5, you’ll head back to Tromsø before you board the Hurtigruten for an overnight journey to the Lofoten Islands. Once you've retrieved your rental car, experience the stunning natural scenery along the E10 road, which runs along the archipelago allowing you to stop and admire the dramatic landscape along the way. Reine is particularly breathtaking from the highway with red and white fishermen’s huts from the late 1800s—called rorbuer—dotting the shoreline and surrounding peaks of granite shooting out of the Reinefjorden.

Finish with a ferry to Bodø where you can look for white-tailed sea eagles for which the city is known. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Explore the Hardangerfjord & Sognefjord

This slow road trip—concentrating on Norway's two longest fjords—gives travelers the opportunity to become part of local life. 

Ideal for summer months, this trip starts in the wharf city of Bergen, situated on Norway's west coast and surrounded by ocean, mountains, and fjords. After a few nights exploring the city, pick up a rental car and make the 1.5-hour drive to Norheimsund a town on the Hardangerfjord. When you arrive, take some time to visit the Hardanger Maritime Museum before continuing to Grandvin where you will stay for three nights.

Grandvin is a great base for various activities including beautiful drives and hiking trails, like the one through Husedalen Valley that passes four distinct waterfalls. If interested in a more challenging hike, take a full-day trip to Trolltunga to get to one of the most famous views in Norway. You’ll also explore the Hardanger from a mountain biking point of view where you can choose the best route and level of difficulty with a local guide.

Then it’s time to drive to Aurland where you’ll stay two nights at the Riverside Farm Lodge. This is the same stunning area where Vikings first set sail for Iceland, and there are several options on how to spend your time including paddling rowboats, fly-fishing, sand gallery hopping. To finish the trip, you'll take a fjordcruise through the Nærøyfjord—an 11-mile-long (18 km) fjord that is only 1640 feet (500 m) wide in some parts with impossibly tiny farms clinging to steep mountainsides—before driving back to Bergen. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Norway's Best Cities & Hikes

Accomplish legendary trails on this active itinerary while rewarding yourself in some of Norway's best cities like Oslo, Bergen, and Stavanger. 

Start this trip with an expert-curated tour of Oslo where you can choose between dozens of urban trails. One option is to take public transportation to Europe's largest urban forest, called Nordmarka, where trails meander through dirt paths, rocky passages, and deep forests as you make your way to the viewpoint of Vettakollen—a locals' only destination for one of the best views in all of Oslo. This stop is perfect for a panoramic lunch, which can be purchased at a café in a forest cabin.

The next day you’ll board a train to Stavanger, the coastal city on the southwestern tip of Norway. Although the journey is over seven hours long, it's filled with incredible scenery where you can relax and watch the coastal landscapes of southern Norway glide past you.

Stavanger will be your base for two epic day-hikes starting with Preikestolen. This trek takes about five hours roundtrip on hilly terrain, accounting for plenty of time enjoying (and photographing) the famous views from Pulpit Rock. The next day, you’ll accomplish a challenging six-hour hike that ends at the famous Kjeragbolten—a massive boulder solidly wedged into the crevasse of the mountain.   

The last leg of the trip is Bergen, which you'll arrive to by ferry from Stavanger. There are more urban trails to choose from including a hike to Mt. Sandviken (2.5 hours), which includes a visit to Stoltzekliven—a local favorite consisting of 900 steps built by sherpas from Nepal.

That’s not all though: you’ll take a ferry to the Hardangerfjord where you'll travel back in time to experience the traditional life of the dairy farms in Norway's highlands. The tour starts with a mile-long walk (1.5 km) from Dinglowhile where you might encounter animals like goats, sheep, and cows. At Kjedelstøl, you will be greeted by the budeier (farm ladies) who will serve you fresh coffee and homebaked melkekake, a traditional baked good similar to the French crepe. Learn more

Itinerary #6: Tromsø & Senja Winter Adventure 

This active winter trip gets to the heart of Northern Norway's spectacular snow-covered scenery in two key areas.

Like many winter trips in Norway, this one begins in Tromsø, the 'Gateway to the Arctic' (one of its many monikers). Before you head into the wilderness, there will be a free day where you can join a local guide for a three-hour walking tour of the city's beautiful architecture, including historic wooden houses dating as far back as 1789.

There’s also a chance to take a Northern Lights Chase, a guided after-dark excursion that concentrates on the best locations away from the city lights for viewing and photographing this spectacular natural occurrence. Your guide will even be able to assist you in adjusting your camera settings for the best photographs. 

The next day you’ll head to Trapper's Farm, less than two hours outside of Tromsø, for a unique all-inclusive excursion in the great outdoors. Each tour offered by the farm varies slightly depending on the time of year and weather patterns, but you can expect to take part in a range of day-time trapping and fishing trips as you travel through the countryside by dogsled (snowy months only). The small, modern cabins at the farm will be your base camp for three nights where you'll participate and enjoy traditional meals together made from local ingredients, many of which you helped catch.

Continue the journey with a bus to Senja, Norway's second-largest island, where you will stay for the next few days at a year-round resort called Mefjord Brygge located between the mountains and fjords. It is also a great place to go whale watching, snowshoeing, and dining with locals, especially by visiting restaurants and eateries that reflect the region’s scenery and nature. Learn more 

Itinerary #7: Norway's Sognefjord Road Trip

This 9-day itinerary combines some of Norway's prettiest cities, villages, and mountains surrounding its biggest and most famous fjord: the Sognefjord. 

Start with some time in Oslo to explore this exciting and cultural city on foot, including its outdoor restaurants and summer festivals. The city comes alive to celebrate extended daylight hours, with various festivals and celebrations happening each week.

From here, you’ll take the train to Flåm and then catch a mid-afternoon ferry ride to Leikanger through a portion of the Sognefjord, Following the ferry ride, you'll be picked up and transferred to a rental car company to pick up your vehicle and then drive to fjord-side Gaupne—your base for nearby hikes and day-trips to Solvorn and Urnes, where you can see the UNESCO-listed Urnes Stave Church, built in the 12th and 13th centuries. 

The road trip also includes a night in the village of Fjærland with Jostedalsbreen Glacier as its backdrop. When you arrive at your hotel, there will be time to relax and have lunch before you meet up with your guide in the reception area for a seasonal hike that is great for families (3-4 hours; easy to medium difficulty) in the Mundal Valley. Finish the road trip with a drive to Balestrand on a fantastic scenic driving route called Gaularfjellet, along one of the few protected watercourses offering everything from wild rapids to waterfalls.

When it's time to return the rental car, you'll travel to Bergen by fjordcruise and check out the city's sights. Consider an evening Segway tour that travels all over Bergen, including to the top of Mount Fløyen for a beautiful sunset view. Learn more

Itinerary #8: Western Norway's Islands & Fjords

This west coast journey includes a night in Ålesund where you'll then take an overnight cruise to Florø—your jumping-off point for fishing islands, outdoor activities, and Viking culture.

Before you head to Western Norway, spend a night in Oslo where you’ll have just enough time to get a taste of this growing capital with sleek new architecture, especially along the waterfront, like the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art. The next morning, you'll travel west by train and bus to Ålesund, where you will have time to wander the city's beautiful streets and have dinner.

The next day is free to enjoy the sites. In the late evening, you will embark on the Hurtigruten for an overnight cruise to Florø. This off-the-beaten-path region of Norway is dominated by mountains and islands dotted with glaciers and tiny villages, with long stretches of fjords and coast that are untouched by roads. From Florø, you'll ferry to Kalvåg and spend two nights in one of the best-preserved fishing village milieus in Vestlandet. There are a number of outdoor activities that take advantage of the varied landscapes like hiking, biking, and kayaking, or visit some of the town's cultural sights.

You’ll then ferry to the even more remote island of Svanøy. In previous centuries, the island was the most important center in the region, with a high level of export and shipping activity. Today, about 70 people live on the island, and Svanøy is widely known for its high-quality salmon and venison. In fact, you can visit Norsk Hjortesenter—the Norwegian Deer Center—a national center of expertise on wild and farmed deer, which lets you experience the deer at close quarters.

Finish with an express boat towards Bergen where you can absorb more seafaring history, as well as hiking trails, parks, restaurants, and even some nightlife thanks to a young student population. Learn more

More Great 9-Day Norway Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your Norway trip? Check out these other 9-day Norway itineraries, ranging from active, to cultural, to luxury, or family-friendly trips.

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