10 Beautiful Places in Norway – Fairytale villages and magical towns !
While many love to visit Europe’s timeless destinations, they forget to explore this continent’s hidden gems. Norway is one such jewel. Studded with scenic villages and alpine meadows, the most beautiful places in Norway, will leave you muttering more ‘Wow’s than you ever imagined!
10 Most Beautiful Places in Norway : Scenic Villages and Towns
The legendary beauty of Norway is a well kept secret. Wild earthscapes complement quaint fishing villages. Bright blue fjords meander between green mountains and sculpt the landscape here. It’s a land of contrasts which can excite and calm travelers by turns.
Norway’s outdoors fire up the adrenaline and kindle a sense of adventure unlike any! The rugged cliffs and dazzling fjords are natural wonders begging to be explored.
Its surprising one can take in so much of that sensational nature while sailing in comfortable boats or zigzagging in vintage trains around the Arctic.
Since Norway is so vast and modern, it can be tricky to decide what to see. We were clear that we wanted to cover only the most beautiful villages and scenic places in Norway. So we skipped Oslo, the suave modern capital and headed straight to magical, lesser known hamlets clustered around the fjords.
There are dozens of beautiful villages in Norway that don’t get the attention they deserve. If you’ve been following our travel style, then you already know how I love to uncover the secret treasures around the globe.
1.Flam :
Flam with its unreal scenic beauty, is a delightful village cradled in Norway’s mountains. In Flam, cozy homes made of stone and wood, cling to the coastline of majestic blue fjords.
With absolutely no tourists around, the sight is magical, like you have stepped inside a fairytale. Flam is one of the most beautiful places in Norway. Its so captivating that it deserves the first spot. The photos say it all.
The Flam railway is world’s most picturesque train ride. Just getting to Flam is an adventure in itself. People in search of natural beauty , come from around the globe, to this lovely town. To escape the crowds, we hiked some easy trails surrounding Flam. There is a very helpful visitor center at train station. To know about all the possible hiking trails around Flam village, be sure to grab a brochure there, like we did.
2.Voss :
If you want a picture–perfect small town, in the heart of the fjords then look no further. Voss is a cozy and cute place. Its surrounded by mountains and sparkling glacial lakes. Don’t let the quiet allure of Voss fool you.Renowned as the hub of adventurous sports, Voss has everything to satiate your inner daredevil. As if being one of the most beautiful places in Norway was not enough, Voss has a sporty edge too!
The fast flowing white water river makes this an excellent place for rapid kayaking. That’s not it. Paragliding, hiking, camping, skydiving, skiing you name it !
It’s quite an adrenaline junkie’s paradise. And if that’s not your cup of tea, then simply walk in the historic town center and peruse cute gift shops selling local souvenirs. Voss is famous for its scenic beauty and breathtaking falls. Tvinde waterfall is an iconic spot and makes for great photo ops.
3. Myrdal:
Perched among the snowy peaks is Myrdal, an adorable little mountain village. While Myrdal is an extremely tiny hamlet, no trip to Norwegian alps is complete without spending some time in this pretty place. The centerpiece of Myrdal is the awe inspiring Kjosfossen – a majestic thundering waterfall. Thousands of tourists flock in summer to witness Kjosfossen’s regal roar and soak in Myrdal’s gentle spray.
Unfortunately when we went the glacial lake that feeds this waterfall was frozen because of which the waterfall was extremely dry. Just goes to show – the weather cannot be tamed. And as a responsible travel blogger, I owe it to my readers to show realistic images and not just the picture perfect dreamy ones.
The mountains are especially notorious for having unpredictable climate, so account for it, when you plan your trip. Nevertheless, we absolutely enjoyed the blanket of snow in Myrdal. Being so close to Lapland, N just had to look for Santa Claus!
4.Undredal: Beautiful Places in Norway
If you’ve been following us, then you know how much we love quaint little villages around the globe. A short drive away from Flam lies the coastal village of Undredal. Nestled in a valley, Undredal is a lovely little village of Norway. This scenic town is best enjoyed by boat.
Undredal is famous for its cheese. Locally made artisan cheeses are the bounty of goats grazing verdant green slopes.
An enchanting stave Church, pristine green pastures and glistening waterfront make Undredal a stunning little village for seekers of beauty. Located at the mouth of UNESCO world heritage site of Naeroyfjord, Undredal brims with cultural and scenic charm. Now isn’t that is a stunning combination to possess?
5. Alesund:
Not so much a village, but a chic port town, Alesund deserves a spot on this list because of the amazing array of beauty, it offers. Glorious mountains, breathtaking view points, curious museums, Jagged coastline, Arctic wildlife, whimsical lighthouse, floral grasslands, artsy cafes -you name it! Naturally, this makes Alesund one of the most picturesque small towns of Norway.
Alesund is spread across an archipelago of islands dotting the Atlantic. SAS -Scandinavian Airlines or trains from major hubs of Norway connect you to Alesund as do cruise ships.
6.Lofoten Islands:
Few can escape the captivating charm of rugged Lofoten islands. A unique sense of adventure gripped us while navigating the turbulent waters of Norwegian Sea. Here, near the Arctic circle, the Sea is rough and the beauty is astonishing.
N absolutely adores birds especially puffins because they appear in his favorite cartoon! We were so lucky to spot Puffins and other arctic birds squawking away on the rocks rising out of sea. This little fishing village is steeped in Viking culture and history, so go ahead and soak up all the charming heritage of Lofoten islands.
7.Tromso:
Snow capped Tromso is Norway’s northernmost town. It comes alive with psychedelic colors dancing in the sky. Tromso is Renowned across the globe as the perfect place to view Northern Lights from.
The night sky lights up in a surreal glow as the Aurora Borealis waltzes with the wind. A unique way to enjoy Tromso is to go on a reindeer sleigh or husky sled if you crave something more adventurous. Keep in mind, the Northern Lights are visible only in winter months, so plan your trip accordingly.
8.Geiranger:
When it comes to beautiful places in Norway, Geiranger has to be mentioned. It is small, sleepy and sensational. Snuggled in a lush green valley, Geiranger is adorned with gentle waterfalls and low hanging clouds. Wildflowers wake up from their sleep on pristine meadows here while colorful homes dapple this lovely landscape. This is a popular Cruise ship spot.
9.Balestrand and Vangnes :
Immersed in Norse legends and Sagas, Vangnes is a quaint village with a Nordic statue as it’s focal point. While Ballestrand is a traditional district, its more popular than others.
With Kviknes Hotel as its epicenter, Balestrand receives thousands of visitors who come to spend a few days by this fjord side majestic hotel. Tourists love to spend some time in this gorgeous valley resort for an unforgettable holiday. We however, just spent an afternoon in the town and proceeded to discover more scenic villages nearby.
10.Bergen: The most beautiful places in Norway
In Bergen, travelers plunge into the rich history of this delightful town. Vividly Colorful homes line the waterfront of this wharf. Bergen is one of the most charming towns of Norway.
Bergen by no means is a “small village”. Its a major cultural hub that provides excellent connectivity to almost all the small towns and villages mentioned above.
It is so extraordinary that I have to conclude my list of ‘most beautiful places in Norway’ with a mention of this glorious place. Its packed with old world charm and rich Viking heritage. Use this as your base to explore everything around. Its such a charming place!
Hope you enjoyed reading this article. I would love to hear your feedback and thoughts in the comments!
Wanna look around more in Europe ? Or Shall we visit the colorful markets in Africa together ?
14 thoughts on “10 Beautiful Places in Norway – Fairytale villages and magical towns !”
Hi Deepti,
What an amazing website you have! You guys are very inspiring and all the pics and places you guys have visited are so beautiful. You have awesome collection of pictures and really like to read up travel experience and suggestions 😊
Thanks so much Amisha ! Your kind words have motivated me to bring my readers more stellar content 🙂 !
HI!planning to visit Norway in July this year. Want to enjoy the midnight sun. Any suggestions?
Its surreal to experience the midnight sun. Svalbard & Tromso are some of the best places to witness it in Norway. Maybe you can try that. We did see a glimmer at the horizon all through midnight.
HI!planning to visit Norway in July this year. Want to enjoy the midnight sun. Any suggestions?
Hi! How did you travel from South to North Norway. Did you take flights everywhere? Did you cover all these places in one trip? Im finding internal flights quite expensive as most are via Oslo.
Hi Dhruvi,
To get the most out of our money, we planned all internal travel within Norway by train or cruise boats. We skipped Oslo completely and landed in Bergen.Its a perfect hub to explore all gorgeous vistas that Norway has to offer. Lots of Trains / boats take you to scenic spots.Also Children under 5 travel free in Trains. I agree, Norway is expensive. Cost of food, accommodation and travel are exorbitant. But just look at the mind numbing beauty! It was totally worth it in the end.
Hi! We are planning a trip to Norway. How did you internally travel from South to North Norway? Did you cover all these places in one trip? All intrnal flights are quite expensive and most are visa Oslo so wanted your inputs based on how you managed.
yeah we did cover all the places in one trip. But if you want a shorter version , then pick Bergen, Flam, Voss, Myrdal, Balestrand. It can easily be done in 3-5 days.
We have 20 days in hand and want to cover ma good chunk of Norway. Want you inputs on internally travelling within the country. What mode to use and what route do you suggest?
Norway is a vast country stretching from north to south. North norway to south distances are huge. Though the roads are in good condition, it takes a lot of time. I would say to cover reasonable distances with car and for morth to south connectivity use flight. Train connectivity is sparse and narvik is the northest that the railways go.
The entire fjord region can be covered by train/road or boats. You can fly to Tromso (northern region for Aurora Borealis) if you don’t want a long journey by road. If you prefer covering the length and breadth of the country, then look for low cost airlines within Norway like Norwegian air. We concentrated most of our time near the Fjord region as we loved the landscape there.
The route depends on your personal preferences. For example: Norwegian lapland and northern lights were not the main focus this time, but could be for others. To simplify , pick a favorite area that you would like to see and spend more time there, or it may get too hectic. Hope that helps.
U have given me a travel goal! Norway looks absolutely stunning .when is the best time to visit it?
Thanks Ranjita 🙂 If I gave you a travel goal then I achieved my goal ! The best time to visit Norway is around summer – May to Sept is our favorite time to go, because of the gorgeous hiking opportunities and the pictures you see are of then. However, Northern Lights are visible only in winter months, so if that is your priority , then plan to go from Oct – Mar. Have fun !