Norway’s Top Attractions
Whether you are on vacation or you just want to experience Norway, there are plenty of things to do in the country. The mountains, glaciers, fjords, and green spaces are just a few of the things that make Norway special. The country is also known for skiing, hiking, fishing, and other outdoor activities.
Vigeland Sculpture Park
Located in the heart of Oslo’s Frogner Park, the Vigeland Sculpture Park is one of Norway’s best attractions. It’s free to enter and has over 200 sculptures by the famous Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland.
The park is open year-round. The sculptures cover a variety of subjects from everyday human situations to highly abstract works. It’s open to visitors from 07:00 to 19:00, seven days a week. There are also several transportation options.
The park is home to 150 species. Its main attraction is the famous monolith. It is made of one block of granite and took 14 years to complete. It represents human desire to reach the divine.
The Vigeland Sculpture Park contains 212 bronze models, most of which are an examination of human form. There are also dozens of smaller figures.
The park also features the famous Monolith Plateau, which is a platform north of the park. It has eight wrought iron gates and 36 groups of figures around it. The sculpture is about 46 feet high.
Another of the park’s highlights is the Wheel of Life. This sculpture features four human figures and a baby. It’s a symbol of eternity.
The park also contains a manor house and pavilion. The museum also features an exhibition that highlights Vigeland’s earlier work. The gallery is managed by the city of Oslo, and is open to visitors.
The park is also home to one of Norway’s largest collections of roses.
Bryggen Wharf
Located in Norway’s second largest city, Bergen, Bryggen is an old wharf and one of the country’s most popular attractions. The area has been a centre of trade for centuries, with buildings lining the eastern shore of Vagen Harbour. It was also a part of the Hanseatic League’s trading empire from the 14th to the mid-16th centuries.
Bryggen’s buildings are made of wood, in keeping with the vernacular building tradition. The wooden structures are separated by narrow wooden passages, which once served as private courtyards for different dwellings.
These structures also include warehouses and storerooms. The buildings were designed to store grain, fish and other goods. The storerooms were designed to protect valuables from fire, but they were also used as individual warehouses.
Bryggen’s timber structures are still striking today. Over the centuries, Bryggen has been destroyed by fire several times. Nevertheless, the area has been carefully restored and is now managed according to a management plan.
Besides the historic buildings, the area also has a series of commercial buildings and workshops. The Hanseatic Museum is located in Bryggen and focuses on the daily life of Hanseatic merchants. It was built over the remains of Bergen’s oldest building from the early 1100s.
The area is also home to a number of stores selling handcrafted items. You can also find small art galleries and cafes hidden away in the alleyways. The area also hosts temporary art exhibitions.
Geirangerfjord
Located on the west coast of Norway, Geirangerfjord is a popular tourist destination. It is home to several magnificent waterfalls, and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This fjord is surrounded by majestic mountains.
This fjord was formed in a U-shaped valley by glaciers that wore down the rocks. In several Ice Ages, glaciers also filled the valley with deep water. In 2013, the Seawalk pontoon bridge was built, which allows ferries and tenders to pass through the fjord.
The fjord is surrounded by magnificent cliffs and waterfalls. The area has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. It offers travelers many adventure activities, including canoeing, kayaking, and mountain hiking.
For sightseeing, it is recommended to take a cruise tour of the fjord. During this tour, you will have the opportunity to view some of the best waterfalls in Norway. You will also see some spectacular mountaintops rising out of the water.
The Seven Sisters waterfalls are the most popular of the waterfalls in the Geirangerfjord. They create a magnificent curtain of water that falls 800 feet into the fjord. It is named after the seven separate streams that make up the waterfall.
Aside from the waterfalls, the Geirangerfjord offers travelers a wide variety of adventure activities. Aside from hiking, there are also kayaking tours and trips on RIB inflatable boats. During winter, skiing is popular in the mountains.
Jostedalsbreen Glacier
Located in the northernmost region of Norway, the Jostedalsbreen Glacier is one of the country’s top attractions. It is one of the world’s largest glaciers, spanning 487 square km, and is the largest glacier on the mainland of Europe.
The Jostedalsbreen glacier is also part of the Jostedalsbreen National Park, a protected area that features a wide variety of landscapes. It includes lush valleys, mountainous peaks, rivers, and a variety of glaciers.
There are a number of ways to explore the Jostedalsbreen Valley. You can hike in and around the glacier or take a scenic cruise on the water. You can also go glacier trekking. There are a number of shorter routes and longer ones that can take you across the Jostedalsbreen and into the Jotunheimen mountains.
The Jostedalsbreen National Park was established in 1991. It is located in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, and is home to a wide variety of landscapes. It is surrounded by mountains and is home to large populations of deer and wild reindeer.
The Jostedalsbreen glacier has grown and retreated for many years. It was once an impenetrable ice cap. In recent years, it has retreated considerably. This has made it more difficult to access the northern edge of the glacier. However, it is still possible to take a tour, or arrange an individual tour with a tour guide.
Jostedalsbreen is also home to several other glaciers, including the Austdalsvatnet glacier and the Boyabreen glacier. The latter is one of the most accessible glaciers in Norway, and is easily viewed from the Rv5 route.
Holmenkollen Ski Jump
Located near Oslo, Norway, the Holmenkollen Ski Jump has played an important role in the local community for over 120 years. This is one of Norway’s top tourist attractions. It is located on top of a hill overlooking Oslo. It has been rebuilt 18 times since it was first built.
It was first constructed in 1892 and is now 197 feet high. Its hill is 134 meters long and 440 feet wide. This is a large ski jumping hill that has capacity for 70,000 spectators.
Visitors can see the ski jump from a viewing tower. This is a short walk from the metro station. The viewing tower provides panoramic views of Oslo and the surrounding area.
A new simulated ride is also available at Holmenkollen. Visitors can try ski jumping, snowboarding, and other winter sports.
There is also a souvenir shop located on site. You can also visit the Holmenkollen Ski Museum. This museum has exhibits detailing the history of skiing and snowboarding, as well as Norwegian polar exploration artifacts.
You can also ride a zipline that runs down the length of the ski jump. This is 360 meters above the ground and it can be done free of charge.
The Holmenkollen Ski Museum presents the history of skiing from 4,000 years ago through modern skiing. It also has a ski simulator and a souvenir shop. It is open year round.
Alesund
Located in Norway’s Sunnmore region, Alesund has a lot to offer. From the impressive fjords to the unique architecture, this town has something for everyone. The town is one of Norway’s top attractions and is often called the adventure capital of the fjords.
If you are a fan of Art Nouveau architecture, then Alesund is the place for you. Alesund has more than 320 Art Nouveau buildings, creating Europe’s largest Art Nouveau cityscape. During its reconstruction, Alesund officials hired some of Norway’s top master builders to rebuild the city in stone and brick.
During a major fire in 1904, most of the town was burned down, but officials rebuilt the town in art nouveau style. Alesund’s architecture includes unique shapes and pastel colors.
Luckily, the city is walkable, which makes exploring the town easy. If you want to learn more about Alesund’s history, the Alesund Museum is a great place to start. It features a model of the town in 1898 and a lot of photos. It also focuses on the town’s past as a fishing port.
Another excellent artifact to see in Alesund is the KUBE art museum. The museum is located near the Art Nouveau Center and features artworks and displays related to town architecture.
For an even more interesting architecture experience, consider taking a stroll around Alesund’s historic streets. You can also find informative guides about the city at the tourist office.