On my travels around Europe this summer I was really impressed with Norway. It is a country of incredible scenery, famed for its glaciers, fjords and dramatic valleys. However, very few people I know have actually visited Norway, so I’d like to tell you more about it…
The obvious place to start is the capital city of Oslo. Whilst it is perhaps not the most attractive city (its town hall was voted the ugliest in Europe, and I could see why!), Oslo offers plenty of interesting things to do. Probably its main attraction is the National Gallery which is home to an excellent collection of 20th century paintings, including Edvard Munch’s The Scream. Frogner Park is definitely worth a visit for its brilliant statues, and there is a good range of museums including the Kon-tiki, the Fram and the Modern Art museum. For something a little bit different, try the nearby Holmenkollen Ski Museum which is housed underneath the ski-jump itself- I felt scared just watching people go down it!
Oslo is certainly worth a visit, although smaller cities such as Lillehammer and Trondheim are more picturesque and less touristy. However, it’s when you leave civilisation behind for good that Norway is perhaps most impressive. One of the great things about travelling there is that even driving huge distances is far from boring due to the breathtaking landscapes. Norway is one of the world’s most sparsely populated countries, and indeed there are some extremely isolated houses dotted around the countryside (often brightly coloured buildings with grassy roofs).
I was lucky enough to visit Geiranger Fjord (Norway’s second-largest), and the Svartisen glacier- both of which are very much off the beaten track, but were awesome experiences. Also entertaining, but for very different reasons, was the trip to Hell, a small settlement north of Trondheim. OK, so there’s hardly anything there, but the opportunity to take daft photos and listen to AC/DC’s Highway to Hell en route more than make up for that!
Continuing further north, you can cross the Arctic Circle into the 'Land of the Midnight Sun'. I was there in August, a bit late in the season for sun at midnight, but watching the sun set at around 11pm is nonetheless pretty special. In the winter, the Northern lights are visible from northern Norway- although of course then, constant darkness will have set in, not to mention the cold! Right at the top of Norway, I went to Hammerfest, the northernmost town in the world. It was cold (even in August). There was nothing to do. On the plus side, there were wild reindeer there and even a moose! And Hammerfest would make an excellent name for a metal band. Indeed Norway is the home of many extreme metal bands; I wonder if this may be a reaction against the high level of censorship prevalent in the country (apparently, Roadrunner was banned for being too violent!). For anyone thinking of going to Norway, it would be unfair not to warn you of how expensive it is! Norway’s natural resources (such as fishing and oil) and high taxes have made it very affluent (enabling it to give a two-fingered salute to the EU). So, yes, it is pricey, but as long as you are prepared for this, and don’t plan to do anything too outlandish then you will survive. Alcohol is especially expensive, so you may wish to steer clear of the booze! Overall, however, Norway is a fantastic place to travel, especially if you are a fan of natural beauty (who isn’t?). So if you fancy something different to a city break or a week on the beach, then I would recommend it. Just don’t forget your credit card.