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Module 16:
Why travel to Norway in spring?

When many people think of Norway, they think of cold winters and the northern lights or long summer nights and the midnight sun. But there are many reasons why springtime is the perfect time to visit Norway, whether on a weekend break or for a longer stay.

In this module, we will present some of the highlights of Norway in spring, from beautiful nature to fun activities for young and old.


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Spring in Sogndal.
Photo: Vegard Aasen

Sites and activities

Experience Norway without the crowds. Here are a few experiences that are perfect in spring.

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.

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Find extra information on Visitnorway.com
The sauna Heit Sørfjorden outside of Lofthus in the Hardangerfjord region in Fjord Norway
Heit Sørfjorden Sauna.
Photo: Heit Sauna / Tor Hveem

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.

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A man next to Rjukandefossen waterfall in Hemsedal, Eastern Norway
Rjukandefossen waterfall in Hemsedal.
Photo: Hemsedal.com / Nils-Erik Bjørholt

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.

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Two people in skiing clothes sit in deck chairs outside Skarsnuten Hotel and enjoy the sunny weather and the wide views of the mountains of Hemsedal, Eastern Norway
Spring skiing in Norway.
Photo: Ola Matsson / SkiStar

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.

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The Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark, Eastern Norway
Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark.
Photo: Dag Jenssen

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.

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A woman on a city break in Norway is overlooking Ålesund from Aksla viewpoint
Go on a city break to Norway! Aksla viewpoint in Ålesund.
Photo: Samuel Taipale / Visitnorway.com

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.

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A woman smelling apple blossoms in Hardanger, Norway in the spring
Fruit blossoming in Hardanger.
Photo: CH / Visitnorway.com

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!

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The children’s parade in front of the Royal Palace in Oslo, Eastern Norway, on the Norwegian Constitution Day 17 May
17 May in Oslo.
Photo: Tomasz Majewski / VisitOslo

Spring climate

Friends walking in an orchard in Hardanger in Vestland County, Norway
Friends walking in an orchard in Hardanger.
Photo: Øystein G. Haara/Visit Hardangerfjord

What about the famous northern lights and midnight sun?

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.

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The northern lights over the fishing village Reine in Lofoten, Northern Norway
Northern lights over Reine in Lofoten.
Photo: Alex Conu / Visitnorway.com
A person watching the midnight sun at Senja in Northern Norway
Midnight sun at Senja in Northern Norway.
Photo: Tobias Bjorkli

Test your knowledge

Finished the module? Check your knowledge by taking the test below.

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A customer wants to go on a skiing holiday to Norway in April. Will there be any snow?

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Is spring a good time to see the waterfalls?

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What should visitors pack for springtime weather in Norway? Select all that apply.

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A man is walking among apple trees in full blossom in Hardangerfjord
Apple blossom in Hardanger.
Photo: Visit Hardangerfjord