Norway has many big cities as well as hidden away towns and villages across the country, all with different sights to see and activities to explore. Visitors can choose from countless indoor as well as outdoor activities or you can gift them an adventure to make their stay even more fun. Gifting Owl has adventures and experiences gifts that will make the most of this fantastic destination; fjord cruises, mountain hikes, glacier hikes, city walking tours, caving adventures and kayaking tours. But there are other experiences not be missed such as skiing, dog sledding, cultural food tours, and visits to cultural centres and the museum.
Oslo is the capital of Norway and is located at the head of the Oslofjord in the south. It has a population of around 650,000, which is more than double the population of Norway’s second largest city Bergen.
Norway is one of the few countries in the world where the monarchy is still present. The royal palace is in central Oslo. Leading up to the palace is Oslo’s main street Karl Johan’s gate, known for being a great shopping street and where the biggest annual 17th of May Parade takes place to celebrate Norway’s national day. Other must-see Oslo attractions are the famous opera house, Akershus Fortress, the Viking Ship Museum with Viking ships dating back to the 9th century, and very contemporary Munch museum.
Oslo is also the art capital of Norway, mainly because of its many galleries and museums but also because of its magnificent outdoor art installations and sculptures. Because of Oslo’s cultural diversity, you can find places like Grønland, where it’s like taking a step into a Middle Eastern country with Middle Eastern food shops, curry houses, markets and clothing stores.
Among other great tourist cities in Norway are Trondheim, Lillehammer, Stavanger, Bergen, Ålesund, Tromsø, Kristiandsund and Lofoten, which are all located along the coast of Norway or close by. In Tromsø whale watching and dog sledding are popular activities and are often combined with sights of the Northern Aurora. Close by Kristiandsund you can find Atlanterhavsveien (the Atlantic Road), which is an impressive 8.3 kilometre stretch of road made up of bridges between small islands. In Bergen you can visit Bryggen (the dock), which is well known for its rows of wooden houses by the Bergen dock and for being an important trading place for centuries. Most of the coastal cities in Norway have a rich fishing culture and it won't be difficult to find delicious seafood restaurants anywhere.
If you visit Norway during the winter months you cannot leave until you have tried Norwegians favourite sport, skiing. There are countless ski resorts throughout the Norwegian mountains, just be a couple of hours drive outside most major cities. If you were to visit during the summer months but still want to get the real Norwegian ski experience you’re not to worry because in Norway its also possible to go summer skiing, as there are some areas where the snow simply doesn’t melt.
Hiking is a must-do when you visit Norway. Norwegians love their mountains and the forest, and there isn’t a shortage of trails and mountaintops to climb anywhere in the country. The Norwegian outdoors is a gold mine for the tourism industry and it’s is not difficult to see why. Some of Norway’s most famous mountains with picture perfect views are Trolltunga (Troll tongue), Mount Fløyen, Preikestolen (the Pulpit rock), Kjerag and Norway’s tallest mountain Galdhøpiggen, which is located in Jotunheimen National Park, are irresistible to those who love to get out into nature and enjoy her splendour. Galdhøpiggen is also the tallest mountain in all of Scandinavia and northern Europe, standing 2,469 meters above sea level.
In addition to the grand mountains of Norway there are also countless spectacular fjords. Amongst the most recognised are Reinefjord and Trollfjord in Lofoten, the Hardangerfjord, the Sognefjord, and perhaps the most famous of them all, Geirangerfjord. These fjords have for centuries represented the beauty of the Norwegian outdoors, and have been captured by painters in renowned paintings dating all the way back to the 17th century. These paintings can be found in various art museums throughout Norway with some of the more notable pieces featuring in Oslo’s National Gallery.
Treat yourself, friends or family with a gift to Nordic adventure-filled days, having fun in the midst of a natural wonderland.
