12 Things You Should Know About Traveling To Norway In The Winter
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Loading... - Lynne Jameson
- 24 Jan 2023
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After a lifetime of winter visits to Norway, and seven years living in what are some of the wintriest places in Norway, I’ve learned a thing or two about winter in Norway. Now, personally I think winter is when Norway is at its best, but it can also be a bit of a tricky season for travel if you’re not properly prepared.
So read through these tips and then go book yourself that winter trip to Norway!
It’s dark
November, December, and January are dark months in all of Norway though, unlike the north, southern Norway does continue to see sun during the winter months.
But don’t let polar night stop you from visiting northern Norway in the winter! We don’t get any sun in Tromsø from the end of November until mid-January, but I actually love this time of year here. It’s incredibly cozy, and the northern lights are extra spectacular. And while the sun doesn’t actually rise, it does approach the horizon, meaning we do get a few hours of beautiful blue light – like an extended twilight – so you will still be able to see the stunning winter landscape here.
It’s good to remember the limited daylight hours when planning out your days, though the darkness can also add to your winter experience in Norway. You’ll see some amazing stars at night in the Norwegian countryside, and in the north longer nights mean more chances of seeing the northern lights!
It’s not actually that cold
Thank you, Gulf Stream.
Or maybe no thank you, as I’ve actually seen a lot of visitors disappointed at the lack of snow and frost when they’ve visited Norway in the winter.
If you want to see snow and experience some really cold temperatures, you’re best off heading inland and/or up into the mountains. And that even applies to northern Norway – Tromsø’s winter temperature’s often hover around zero. Last winter we had a huge amount of snow here, but the year before we didn’t have any snow on the ground for all of December!
That said, sometimes even the Norwegian coast can get really cold, and you want to be prepared so bring appropriate winter clothing. I’ve even written an entire post for you on what to pack for winter in Norway. Read More…
