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Enjoy nature in bloom (and on your plate)
Norway is home to hundreds of thousands of trees and billions of flowers. The trees normally blossom in May, a time which is particularly beautiful by the Hardangerfjord and the Sognefjord, with their famous fruit trees. Sample the world’s finest cider at the source. Visit one of Norway’s Michelin-starred restaurants and sample delicious Nordic flavours made from locally-sourced ingredients.
Majestic waterfalls
Many of Norway's most incredible waterfalls are found in Fjord Norway. The melting snow makes them even more impressive in spring, when huge volumes of water cascade down the mountainsides.
Spring skiing
Spring offers the most enjoyable skiing, with more hours of daylight and warmer temperatures. Early spring is the main season for ski touring.
Experience some delightful late season runs at popular ski resorts like Strandafjellet, Voss, Folgefonna, and Narvikfjellet.
Outdoor swimming and saunas
Rejuvenate your senses with the first refreshing dip of the year! You will find fjord-side saunas featuring cutting-edge modern architecture in many places in Norway, including right by the Oslofjord. You can go straight from the bracing water of the fjord into a sauna to heat up.
City breaks
When winter is in retreat and the sun returns, it’s the perfect time for a city break. Explore Trondheim, Oslo, or Stavanger. Discover Bodø or the charming Arctic city of Tromsø, known as the ‘Paris of the north’. Norwegian cities are compact and very walkable — perfect for a weekend break.
See the sights without the crowds
Summer is high season for tourism in Norway. But if you visit in spring, there are far less visitors, and you can have a more relaxing experience.
It's the perfect time to ride the famous Flåm Railway down to the fjord village of Flåm for a fjord cruise, and experience Norway in a nutshell. Head north and experience wild nature, fresh and unique seafood, and indigenous Sami culture.
Unique holiday experiences
Easter is a major holiday in Norway. Traditions include skiing, sunbathing, and reading crime novels.
The 17th of May is Norway’s constitution day. The entire country celebrates, with parades in the streets featuring marching bands and a wide variety of floats. There are Norwegian flags everywhere and people dress formally in traditional national costumes, suits, and dresses. It’s the biggest party of the year!
From March to May, the days get longer, and the weather gets warmer all over the country. Melting snow creates natural waterfalls everywhere, and blooming flowers – and smiling people – make spring in Norway a remarkable experience.
Some years spring comes early, other years late, sometimes it’s warm, and sometimes chilly well into what’s supposed to be the summer months.
How to dress for spring
- The weather can change quickly in Norway, especially in the mountains, so bring good footwear and warm clothes no matter what the conditions are like when you set out.
- Dress in layers and be prepared for both sun and rain, and even snow.
- If you’re out seeing the city sights, it's a good idea to bring along an umbrella. Bring a rain jacket along if you’re exploring nature.
- Don’t forget sunglasses and sunscreen! White snow reflects sunlight, and it’s easy to get a sunburn.
- Above all, don’t trust your own eyes – by the time you’ve gotten dressed, the weather may have changed.
Local variations
- Spring usually arrives earlier in Southern Norway than the rest of the country, usually sometime in April.
- In early spring, the coastal areas of Fjord Norway typically have the highest temperatures. However, in May, the warmest weather is often found in the southern part of Eastern Norway and Southern Norway.
- Above the Arctic Circle in Northern Norway, you may not experience true spring until late May or early June.
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Just as spring arrives later in the north than in the rest of the country, it also arrives at the coast and in the lowlands long before creeping up into the mountains. When you travel in the mountains, the changes in altitude mean that you can also see the scenery change from winter to spring and from spring to winter, in the space of just a few hours!
To be honest, spring is not the ideal time to visit if you are keen to experience either phenomenon.
The northern lights can be seen when the sky is clear and dark. Cold, dry nights from October to March are the best to hunt for the northern lights, so a winter trip to the north is recommended for those who want a glimpse of the northern lights.
In spring, the nights grow shorter, and the days grow longer. There are 76 days of midnight sun between May and July in Northern Norway. For 24 hours of daylight, visitors need to go north of the Arctic Circle in summer.
Although there is no true midnight sun in spring, the days are noticeably longer in Norway than further south in Europe.
Well done! Early spring is a popular time for skiing in many parts of Norway.
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Correct! Melting snow makes for powerful and dramatic waterfalls.
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Correct! The only thing that’s certain is that spring weather is never certain. Pack accordingly!
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