Module 16:
Why travel to Norway in spring?

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Easter is a major holiday in Norway. Traditions include skiing, sunbathing, and reading crime novels.

The 17^th 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!

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.