Europe · 3 cities
Things to Do in Norway
Tromso, Oslo and Bergen in one place: where the aurora is actually chased from, how the fjord day trips are put together, and what the light does across the year this far north.
1,614 tours listed by Viator 3 cities we cover Free cancellation
Where to go
Cities of Norway
In the order Viator’s own catalogue puts them — most-booked first, not alphabetical.
Full list
All cities, by region
Grouped by region using Viator’s own map of the country. The first block is the places it files directly under Norway.
Boats & cruises
Harbour cruises, catamarans, kayaks and sunset sailings.
ExploreWalking tours
Small groups, old streets, two hours on foot.
ExploreFood & drink
Street food, markets and tasting walks with a local guide.
ExploreDay trips
Out of the city and back the same day.
ExploreCity tours
Guided sightseeing on foot, by bus and by open-top tram.
ExploreNature & wildlife
National parks, whale watching, safaris and jungle walks.
ExploreAdventure
Rafting, zip lines, canyoning, quad bikes and climbing.
ExploreCulture & history
Ancient sites, old towns and guides who know the dates.
ExplorePractical info
Know before you book
The things that change a decision — not a retelling of the guidebook.
Tromso is the aurora base, and the tours drive
It sits well inside the Arctic Circle and the season runs from about September to March. Chase tours will drive three or four hours, sometimes into Finland, to find a hole in the cloud — that mobility is what you are paying for, not the location itself.
The fjord day trips are assembled routes
The classic from Bergen combines a train, the Flåm railway, a boat on the Nærøyfjord and a bus back. You can book it yourself leg by leg or take it as one product; either way it is a full twelve-hour day and the boat section is the part that matters.
Norway is expensive and it is not in the euro
The currency is the krone and cards work everywhere — cash is almost unnecessary. Alcohol above 4.75% is sold only in state Vinmonopolet shops with short weekday hours and closed Sundays, which catches people out on a Saturday evening.
The light is extreme in both directions
Tromso has midnight sun from late May to late July and polar night from late November to mid-January — during which there is a few hours of blue twilight rather than true darkness. It changes what a day trip can contain.
Weather cancels boats and aurora tours regularly
This is normal and operators are used to it; most rebook or refund. Leave more than one night for anything that depends on clear sky, and do not schedule a fjord cruise for the morning of your flight home.
The Bergen railway is a sight in itself
Seven hours from Oslo across the Hardangervidda plateau, and one of the great train journeys in Europe. Advance minipris fares cost a fraction of the walk-up price, so book it as soon as your dates are fixed.
When to visit
Norway through the seasons
What is open, how busy it gets, and when to book ahead.
Spring
Apr–May
- Best for
- Waterfalls at full melt, fjords without crowds, light returning fast.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Some mountain roads and lifts are still closed into May — check the specific route.
Summer
Jun–Aug
- Best for
- Midnight sun, hiking, every fjord boat and mountain railway running.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- No aurora is visible at all. Bergen is one of the wettest cities in Europe — pack for it.
Autumn
Sep–Oct
- Best for
- Aurora season opening while the fjords are still accessible, and colour inland.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- September is the one month you can realistically do fjords and northern lights in one trip.
Winter
Nov–Mar
- Best for
- Northern lights, dog sledding, whale watching off Tromso, snow-covered fjords.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Polar night in Tromso means no sunrise for weeks — beautiful, and worth knowing first.
Frequently asked
Norway: common questions
How many days do you need in Norway?
Four days for Bergen and one full fjord route. A week to add Oslo and the railway between them. Tromso is a separate trip of three or four nights, usually flown to directly, and best treated as its own holiday rather than an extension.
What does a tour in Norway cost?
Norway is not in our fifty-city price index, so we will not quote a median. It is clearly one of the more expensive markets in Europe: fjord cruises and aurora chases are full-day products with high fixed costs, and that is what the catalogue is made of.
Where do you see the northern lights?
Tromso is the usual base — far enough north to be under the auroral oval, with an airport and a large operator scene. The season is September to March. Give yourself three nights: one clear one is all you need, and weather decides which.
When is the best time to visit?
June to August for fjords, daylight and hiking; late September for the overlap of fjords and aurora; January to March for snow and lights with the light returning. May is lovely, wet and uncrowded.
Is Bergen or Oslo the better base?
Bergen for fjords — it is the gateway and everything leaves from there. Oslo for museums, and for the train that is itself worth a day. If you have a week, do both with the railway between them rather than flying.