The Overall Best & Worst Times to Visit Norway in 2024 (Our Take) (2024)

What's the best time to visit Norway?

The best time to visit Norway is between May and August, when the weather warms up to highs near 60°F and 70°F with moderate rain and perfect conditions for hiking, witnessing the amazing Midnight Sun, sightseeing, and checking out seasonal events like the popular Oslo Jazz Festival, Mela Festival, and food festivals in Norwegian towns and villages around the country.

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If you want a truly breathtaking travel experience, Norway should be on your list. You can see glaciers, mountains, fjords, fishing villages, bustling cities, and amazing natural phenomena like the Northern Lights, the Midnight Sun, and the Polar Night.

But since Norway is so far north, winters are frigid and some parts experience nonstop darkness this time of year. The Midnight Sun means the sun never sets during parts of the summer, and fluctuations in prices, crowds, and events can make certain months better for a visit than others.

We’ll show you the overall best time to visit Norway, plus the cheapest, least busy, and worst months for a trip to the land of the Vikings. Get information on what to expect from the weather, costs, crowds, and more below so you can plan your perfect trip!

Overall Best Time to Visit Norway

The best time to visit Norway is between May and August. You’ll see the Midnight Sun and enjoy warm weather for hiking around fjords and mountains, sightseeing and exploring cities, and attending music and food festivals.

May, June, July, and August enjoy the highest temperatures of the year (especially July and August). Between these months, rainfall is moderate and you won’t have to deal with snow and ice — great if you want to hike without bringing extra gear.

• May: 46-60°F; 9-12 rainy days
• June: 54-66°F; 10-13 rainy days
• July: 59-70°F; 10-15 rainy days
• August: 57-68°F; 10-15 rainy days

May can be a little early to visit northern Norway, when some areas are still seeing snow and cold temperatures. Opt for June-August if you’ll be traveling far north (like Tromsø).

One of the coolest things about visiting this time of year is the Midnight Sun phenomena. The sun doesn’t set in Norway between late April and late August (dates differ depending on how far north or south you go).

It’s an amazing thing to see the sun move across the sky, appearing like it’ll set any minute — then rising back up to once again flood the landscapes with golden light.

The northern Svalbard archipelago, Sommarøy, and Tromsø are all great destinations if you want the most impressive Midnight Sun. While you’re here, try nighttime activities like fishing, cycling, or kayaking to really make the most of the experience.

Oslo, the capital city, is another great spot to visit in summer. Wander the Museum of the Viking Age to see Viking ships and learn about the interesting history of these explorers and warriors through artifacts and exhibits.

Enjoy the parks around the city, especially its most-visited: Vigeland Sculpture Park, where walking paths lead over 200 bridges to fountains, sculptures, and giant monoliths.

You can check out the Norwegian Maritime Museum and Norsk Folkmuseum on a rainy day in Oslo and enjoy delicious local and international food at trendy and funky restaurants around town. Hit a brewery for craft beer!

Since hiking is fantastic in the summer across Norway, this is a good time to hike the Lysaker River trail to the Oslofjord to see lighthouses, stunning mountains surrounding the deep channels of the fjord, and wildlife with flowers and greenery around you.

We analyzed Google Hotels and Skyscanner data to find out how much it costs to visit Norway during the best months of the year. Here’s what we found:

• May: $169/night; flights from $386
• June: $192/night; flights from $393
• July: $152/night; flights from $547
• August: $154/night; flights from $389

June and July are the two most expensive months to visit Norway, but planning to come during May or August can help you sidestep higher prices on hotels and flights. You might pay anywhere from $1,470 to $1,740 for a 7-day trip to Norway this time of year.

You’re also in luck because the summer months are when tons of music, food, and cultural festivals happen across Norway. People love getting out and enjoying concerts, food trucks, and markets when it’s nice and warm!

• Oslo Vegetarian Festival (May) brings plant-based treats and foods to new heights in Oslo with a huge vegetarian food court, keynote speakers, live music, face painting, contests, and more
• Bergen Night Jazz (May-Jun) begins in late May with 80+ jazz, electronic, rock, and indie music concerts at different venues, including a former sardine factory and theaters
• Old Cheese Festival (late May-Jun) in Vic is a celebration of Norwegian food and special regional Gamalost cheese (plus lots of other goodies to taste) along with concerts and dance performances, races, and more
• Bergenfest (Jun) is a major multi-day music and cultural event in the UNESCO World Heritage site, Bryggen, on the grounds of an old castle and fortress
• Ekstrem Sport Veko (late Jun) is a huge, weeklong extreme sports event and festival in Voss with adrenaline-pumping events and activities from waterfall rappelling to obstacle courses and skydiving
• Grimstad Food Truck Festival (Jul) features dozens of the country’s most popular food trucks set up in Grimstad with local and international flavors, from poke bowls to crepes and burgers
• Ranglerock (Jul) at Bryce celebrates the volunteer spirit with live music performances, food booths, and 2 days of music played by locals who want to share their talents with the community
• Mela Festival (early Aug) celebrates diversity and different cultures in Norway at the Rådhusplassen in Oslo, where families, immigrants, and locals gather for music, food, entertainment, and pop-up markets
• Norwegian International Film Festival (mid-Aug) in Haugesund brings thousands to the city for a 7-day film festival with the Amanda Award Show, concerts, screenings, art exhibits, and more
• Oslo Jazz Festival (mid-Aug) features over 60 jazz concerts at 15 venues around Oslo with bands and musicians playing different types of jazz at indoor and outdoor venues
• Øya Festival (mid-Aug) brings rock, indie music, hip hop, and electronic jams to Norway in a big way with dozens of bands performing hit and new songs at Tøyen Park on outdoor stages

Overall, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Norway between May and August. From the Midnight Sun to awesome music festivals and prime hiking weather, this is our favorite time to visit.

Cheapest Time to Visit Norway

January through March is the cheapest time to visit Norway. You could spend as little as $370 on a round trip flight this season and find hotels averaging just $133-$143/night.

Winter is harsh in Norway — that’s one reason it’s cheaper for a visit. There’s more precipitation between September and March, and a lot of it is snowfall. Norway can see up to 9.6″ of rain in a month (Bergen, December) and up to 30″ of snow (Trofors, January).

Temperatures are frigid in Norway this time of year. Highs struggle to make it above freezing during January and February, while March sees gradually warming temperatures that still max out in the low 30s and 40s.

• January: 26-37°F; 9-16 rainy/snowy days
• February: 27-37°F; 7-16 rainy/snowy days
• March: 33-41°F; 7-16 rainy/snowy days

These are the daily highs — overnight lows can dip into the teens in places like Trofors and well below freezing in Oslo, Bergen, and Tromsø.Bergen is nice to visit in the winter months because it’s usually around 10° warmer during the winter months than cities like Oslo and Tromsø.

This time of year has a few special bonuses for travelers, though. This is the best time of year to witness the Northern Lights — clear, winter nights in dark areas far from light pollution will give you the best chances to see them. Alta, Tromsø, and the Lofoten Islands are favorite viewing spots.

You’ll be able to witness the unique “blue hour,” or tussmørket, around 1-2pm each day when the snowy landscapes are bathed in a serene, deep blue color. Ithappens during the extended Polar Night in Norway — the period from November to January with almost total darkness 24 hours a day.

Some find the Polar Night an incredible experience, but it can be a little much for others who can’t imagine not seeing the sun for weeks at a time. In Tromsø, the Polar Night lasts for about 6 weeks. In areas further south, it’s a shorter period or not completely dark with short sun appearances (like Bodø).

Stay active with fun winter sports and activities, like cross-country skiing, snowboarding, dog sledding, ice fishing, and snow shoeing across the vast wilderness as snowy mountains surround you.

Take advantage of the unique coziness that Norwegians enjoy during the cold, dark winter months with candlelit dinners at local restaurants, relaxing by a fireplace with a co*cktail, or soaking in a hot tub with views of the winter wonderland outside.

With the lowest average prices on hotels and chances to score ultra-cheap airfare, January to March is easily the cheapest time to visit Norway. Here’s what you might pay this time of year, according to Google Hotels and Skyscanner data:

• January: $133/night; flights from $370 1301
• February: $135/night; flights from $376 1321
• March: $143/night; flights from $373 1374

You could pay as little as $1,301 for a 7-day stay in Norway with a round trip flight during January — the cheapest month to visit Norway overall. February is only slightly more expensive, with March offering great prices along with weather that’s less frigid.

November is another cheap month to visit, priced slightly lower than March when airfare and hotel costs are considered.

When you’re in Norway between January and March, you’ll be able to check out some of the festivals and events that take place during the peak of winter:

• Tromsø International Film Festival (Jan) takes place during the Polar Night in Tromsø as one of the biggest film events in the country with special activities for kids, multi-genre screenings, prestigious awards show, and more
• Northern Lights Festival (Jan-Feb) in Tromsø when the dazzling aurora is at its peak during the winter season with live music, food booths, games, indoor events to keep warm, and more
• Holmenkollen Ski Festival (Feb) is an annual skiing competition in the FIS World Cup Nordic with skilled athletes taking to the slopes when the snow is fresh and deep
• Inferno Festival (Mar/Apr) in Oslo is a giant black metal festival where attendees can hear hard-core riffs and licks with some of the world’s best black metal bands playing

With plenty to occupy you from chasing the Northern Lights and skiing to hiding from the cold at museums and restaurants indoors, Norway can be really interesting to visit during the winter when it’s cheap and full of unique natural phenomena.

Least Busy Time to Visit Norway

October through April is the least busy time to visit Norway. January and February see the fewest visitors of the year, but October-December and March-April are also less-traveled months if you want to avoid crowds.

October is when the daily highs drop down into the 40s and low 50s as fall takes hold and winter looms on the horizon. Snowfall begins in the northern regions this month and only gathers strength the further into the winter season you go.

• October: 41-50°F; 10-18 rainy/snowy days
• November: 32-43°F; 10-16 rainy/snowy days
• December: 28-38°F; 9-20 rainy/snowy days
• January: 26-37°F; 9-16 rainy/snowy days
• February: 27-37°F; 7-16 rainy/snowy days
• March: 33-41°F; 7-16 rainy/snowy days
• April: 38-49°F; 7-13 rainy/snowy days

These months are the wettest and snowiest of the year, so fog, rain, snow, and ice can make conditions poor for hiking and sightseeing. But there are a few upsides to coming to Norway when it’s least crowded.

This period intersects with the cheapest time to visit Norway (January through March), so it’s possible to find some really great deals on hotels and flights if you come when Norway is least busy.

You’ll also be able to experience the awesome phenomena of the Northern Lights at their peak, experience the Polar Night, and witness the strange “blue hour” each wintry afternoon from November to January.

This is when Norway experiences the Polar Night — a period from November to January that means total or partial darkness 24 hours a day. The sun stays below the horizon this far north during the winter, and in places like Tromsø, the nonstop darkness can last for 6 weeks.

If you arrive ahead of winter (October or November), you’ll be treated with a gorgeous display of fall color in the wilderness of Norway. Even bustling cities like Oslo are decked out in seasonal color this time of year!

October and November are the best times to take a train ride from Oslo (in eastern Norway) to Bergen (western Norway). You’ll pass stunning countryside, mountains, and trees lit up in warm fall color before they lose their leaves.

If you’re set on adventuring this time of year, two of the western fjords, Nærøyfjord and the Geirangerfjord, are UNESCO World Heritage sites and well worth seeing when the mountains that line them are glistening with snow.

Cost varies quite a bit throughout this period, so take a look at data we’ve pulled from Google Hotels and Skyscanner to find out how much you might pay during each month for flights and hotels:

• October: $150/night; flights from $389
• November: $138/night; flights from $376
• December: $142/night; flights from $458
• January: $133/night; flights from $370
• February: $135/night; flights from $376
• March: $143/night; flights from $373
• April: $142/night; flights from $493

January-March is the cheapest time to visit when Norway is less busy, but the prices are generally affordable during all of the low season months. Tourists tend to stay away due to the intense cold and snow, so you can benefit by paying less!

We’ve already looked at the events that happen during January-March, but here are some you might be interested in between October-December and April:

• Vossajazz (Apr) brings jazz, world music, vendor booths, and food to Voss in Western Norway around Easter each year with dozens of performances over a 3-day period
• Bergen International Film Festival (Oct) brings the most films of any festival in Norway (150+) to Bergen with international and local filmmakers screening their works with an awards show at the end
• Film fra Sør (Nov) translates to “Films from the South” and features screenings and awards for Asian, African, and South American cinema
• Rakfisk Festival (Nov) is named after a classic Norwegian dish — semi-fermented trout, or rakfisk — but now features tons of food options from food trucks and pop-up cafes in Valdres
• Christmas Events (Dec) include gingerbread village in Bergen, Christmas markets and wintry villages set up in Oslo and Trondheim, caroling, tree lighting events, and more in cities around Norway

October through April can be a great, less busy time to visit since you can choose dates that are warmer, snowier, or better for viewing Norway’s amazing natural phenomena (Northern Lights, Polar Night, etc.).

Worst Time to Visit Norway

The worst time to visit Norway is November through January. These months are some of the cheapest and least busy, but they’re also the coldest, snowiest, and rainiest.

Parts of Norway can see up to 30″ of snow each month this time of year and almost 10″ of rainfall. All that precipitation gets in the way of exploring the country in full.

• November: 32-43°F; 10-16 rainy/snowy days
• December: 28-38°F; 9-20 rainy/snowy days
• January: 26-37°F; 9-16 rainy/snowy days

You won’t be able to spend time outside without bundling up this time of year. While hiking isn’t impossible, you’ll probably need crampons or snowshoes to cover any ground (especially in the mountains of Norway).

If you’re planning on sticking to exploring Norwegian cities, this part of the winter is still less than ideal. With the Polar Night phenomenon occurring, it’s dark 24 hours a day in most of the country. Some places close early or shut down this time of year.

While bars, breweries, and restaurants will have a livelier atmosphere as people duck out of the cold, it’s nothing like the busier warm season. And the lack of daylight can interfere with your ability to get out and see the sights — fjords, glaciers, architecture, etc.

On the positive side, you’ll be able to see the Northern Lights on clear nights during November, December, and January. Some people even camp out or book a glamping dome to sleep under the undulating display of light in the sky this time of year.

We’ve already covered these months in the Cheapest and Least Busy Time to Visit Norway sections above, so you know that these months can be a great source for travel deals. Here’s a reminder of what it costs to go between November and January:

• November: $138/night; flights from $376
• December: $142/night; flights from $458
• January: $133/night; flights from $370
• February: $135/night; flights from $376

Events like the Tromsø International Film Festival, Northern Lights Festival, and traditional Rakfisk Festival can be fun highlights if you must visit Norway during these months.

But overall, you’re better off coming when the weather is warm and there’s less precipitation to interfere with your plans to explore and sightsee.

Norway by Month: What to Expect

Norway’s weather, costs, crowd sizes, and activities vary quite a bit throughout the year. This is a land of extremes, after all! Here’s what you can expect each month.

January

Frigid and snowy with lots of rain, January is one of the cheapest and least busy months in Norway. Hotels average just $133/night and flights start at $370. The Polar Night, Northern Lights, and “blue hour” can be seen this month. Check out theTromsø International Film Festival and Northern Lights Festival this month.

February

Chilly February is just as cold and snowy as January with slightly less rain. It’s one of the cheapest and least busy months to visit with flights as low as $376 round trip and hotels priced around $135/night. It’s a popular time for skiing and when the Holmenkollen Ski Festival is held.

March

March is cold, but a cheap and less-busy month in Norway when you can still witness the Polar Night (total darkness), blue hour, and Northern Lights. With highs in the low 30s and 40s, it’s cold and snowy up north with hotels around $143/night. Flights start at $373 and the Inferno Festival (black metal) takes place in Oslo.

April

An in-between month with fair prices, milder weather, and the start of the Midnight Sun. April can be a good time to visit Norway with events like Vossajazz Festival in western Norway. Hotels cost around $142/night and flights start at $493, but rain and snow begin to taper off with 7-13 rainy or snowy days this month.

May

May is one of the best months to visit Norway with warmer weather pushing highs into the upper 40s and 60s, 9-12 rainy days, Midnight Sun, and tons of things to do from hiking around fjords to kayaking and exploring Oslo. The Oslo Vegetarian Festival happens this month with a huge plant-based food court.

June

June is another excellent month to visit, but pricey with hotels averaging $192/night and flights from $393. The weather reaches highs in the mid-60s in areas with 10-13 days of rain. June sees the Midnight Sun across Norway and is packed with events like Bergen Night Jazz, Old Cheese Festival in Vik, Bergenfest, and the Exstrem Sport Veko in Voss.

July

The Midnight Sun is still shining in July with highs reaching the upper 50s and low 70s (10-15 rainy days). It’s an expensive month to visit with hotels around $152/night and flights from $547, but events like the Grimstad Food Truck Festival and Ranglerock music festival make it a fun time to be out enjoying the warm weather.

August

August is a happenin’ month in Norway as the final month of the Midnight Sun and great events like Mela Festival, NIFF, Oslo Jazz Festival, and Øya Festival. With highs dipping into the upper 50s and 60s, it’s comfortable for hiking and just right for sightseeing around Oslo and Bergen.

September

September can be a fine time to visit Norway with highs between 50-60°F, but more rain (up to 17 days). Hotels cost around $167/night and flights start at $432. You can check out events across the country, like the Bergen Matfestival (food festival) and the Norwegian Cider Festival just across from it in Bergen this month.

October

October marks the start of the low season as temperatures drop and fall foliage makes its appearance. It’s a great month for a train ride from Oslo to Bergen in time for the Bergen International Film Festival. Highs in the 40s and 50s with 10-18 days of rain or snow make it okay for hiking, while you’ll pay about $150/night for hotels and upwards of $389 for airfare.

November

November is a quiet month in Norway with highs in the low 30s to low 40s. Expect plenty of rain and snow this month, especially further north. You can check out events likeFilm fra Sør and the Rakfisk Festival this month. You might pay around $138/night for a hotel and $376+ for a round trip flight in November.

December

Cold, quiet December sees highs below freezing in most of the country with up to 20 days of snow or rain. It’s a poor time for hiking unless you come prepared with gear and is better for indoor activities in Oslo. Check out Christmas markets in Oslo and Trondheim or the unique gingerbread village in Bergen this month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Figuring out your Norway travel dates is easier when you can collect some tidbits of knowledge by learning the answers to questions other travelers tend to ask. Here’s what you should know about the best time to visit Norway!

So, What’s the Absolute Best Time to Visit Norway?

The overall best time to visit Norway is between May and August. The closer to August, the warmer it is with highs around 70°F.

It’s worlds away from the frigid winter and the perfect time to go hiking in the mountains to see glaciers, fjords, and stunning coastal views. You’ll even see the stunning Midnight Sun — the sun that never sets!

This is also a great time to explore Norway’s cities, like the capital, Oslo and the charming town of Bergen. You’ll save money by coming between January and March, avoid crowds between October and April, but find the worst weather during November-January.

There’s no truly bad time to go to Norway, but if you stick to the summer months, you’ll be able to enjoy time outside more without bundling up. And if you love the sunshine, you’ll appreciate the Midnight Sun and all the extra time to spend outdoors!