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DK Norway
DK Norway
DK Norway
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DK Norway

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Get closer to Norway with DK Eyewitness

A hike around the "Home of the Giants" in Jotunheimen. Watching whales in the waters of Tysfjord. Dining in Oslo's world-class restaurants. For a vacation to remember, Norway is hard to beat. Whatever your dream trip involves, this DK Eyewitness travel guide is the perfect companion.

Our updated guide brings Norway to life, transporting you there as no other travel guide does with expert-led insights, trusted travel advice, detailed breakdowns of all the must-see sights, photographs on practically every page, and our hand-drawn illustrations, which take you inside the country's buildings and neighborhoods.

You'll discover:
  • Our pick of Norway's must-sees and top experiences
  • Beautiful photography and detailed illustrations, taking you to the heart of Norway
  • The best spots to eat, drink, shop and stay
  • Detailed maps and walks that make navigating the region easy
  • Easy-to-follow itineraries
  • Expert advice: get ready, get around and stay safe
  • Color-coded chapters to each part of Norway
  • A lightweight format, so you can take it with you wherever you go


Travelling around Scandinavia? Try DK Eyewitness Sweden or DK Eyewitness Denmark.

DK is the world's leading illustrated reference publisher, producing beautifully designed books for adults and children in over 120 countries.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherDK Travel
Release dateJul 23, 2024
ISBN9780593957202
DK Norway

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    Book preview

    DK Norway - DK Travel

    DK

    NORWAY

    Inspire / Plan / Discover / Experience


    Contents


    g Contents

    key to main icons

    g Contents

    price guide

    Throughout the guide the following price categories have been applied:

     On a budget

     Mid-range

     Splurge

    g Contents

    key to maps

    g Contents

    DISCOVER NORWAY

    alt image

    t The village of Loen, by Lovatnet Lake

    g Discover Norway g Contents

    Welcome To

    Norway

    alt image

    t Trolltunga, a stunning scenic cliff overlooking Ringedalsvatnet.

    Epic and idyllic, Norway is home to some of Europe’s most spectacularly beautiful landscapes. From its dramatic coastline and dazzling natural wonders to its cosmopolitan cities and traditional towns, this is a country of contrasts. Whatever your dream trip to Norway includes, this DK Eyewitness travel guide is the perfect companion.

    alt imagealt image

    Follow in the footsteps of the Norse Vikings, who were prolific travellers themselves, as you explore this beguiling country – from the magical fjords of Vestlandet in the south to the frozen wilderness of the Arctic North. Adventure awaits you, whatever the season; hike around ‘‘the Home of the Giants’’ in Jotunheimen, watch whales dance in the waters of Tysfjord or don your skis in the alpine resort of Hafjell. If you’re after a cosier trip, hunker down in a remote cabin at the right time and you could find yourself beneath the mystical northern lights.

    Craving the bustle of a city? Ultra-cool Oslo, one of Europe’s richest cities, is home to superlative museums, world-class restaurants and cutting-edge architecture. On Bergen’s waterfront, the city’s maritime past remains evident in the attractive wooden warehouses, which now comprise buzzing bars and places to eat. To the west, Ålesund’s pastel-coloured fairy-tale turrets are quite unlike the beautiful clapboard fishing houses of other Norwegian towns, while Trondheim counts picturesque waterways and an impressive cathedral among its attractions.

    With so many different experiences and regions on offer, Norway can seem overwhelming. We’ve broken the country down into easily navigable chapters, with detailed itineraries and comprehensive maps to help plan the perfect adventure. Add insider tips and a Need To Know guide that lists all the essentials to be aware of before and during your trip, and you’ve got an indispensable guidebook. Enjoy the book, and enjoy Norway.


    1 Colourful wooden warehouses on the waterfront of Bryggen in Bergen.

    2 A skier jumping from a snow ridge in Myrkdalen.

    g Discover Norway g Contents

    Reasons to Love

    Norway

    Its scenery is spectacular. It oozes history. It’s a gourmet’s delight. Ask any Norwegian and you’ll hear a different reason why they love their country. Here, we pick some of our favourites.

    1 Hiking in the wilderness

    alt image

    t Nature belongs to everyone in Norway, and being in nature is the nation’s favourite pastime. Vast, unspoiled wildernesses – from mountain ranges to glaciers – await exploration.

    Discover Reasons to Love Norway

    2 The Northern Lights

    alt image

    t The most mesmerizing phenomenon, the northern lights dance across the sky. To some they’re a source of mythology; to many, they’re the greatest show on Earth.

    Discover Reasons to Love Norway

    3 Oslo’s Culinary Scene

    alt image

    t There’s palpable excitement around Oslo’s restaurants. Upstart chefs are pushing the boundaries of New Nordic cuisine, showing off Norway’s abundance of irresistible ingredients, spectacular seafood and foraged fruits.

    Discover Reasons to Love Norway

    4 Magnificent Wildlife

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    t Norway is the last refuge for some of Europe’s most beguiling wildlife – moose meander across motorways and reindeer roam in national parks. Join a safari and see them for yourself.

    Discover Reasons to Love Norway

    5 Munch’s beaches

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    t A romantic and restless soul, Edvard Munch painted The Scream in Oslo and sought inspiration for The Girls on a Bridge in the idyllic beach towns of Hvitsten and Åsgårdstrand.

    Discover Reasons to Love Norway

    6 The Norwegian art of Kos

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    t Cosiness is a life skill in a climate as harsh as Norway’s. Whether in a cabin or a café, being koselig means getting comfy, snuggling up and enjoying hearty food, alone or with friends.

    Discover Reasons to Love Norway

    7 Norway’s fjords

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    t Carved into the coast by glaciers, the emerald fjords are the ultimate symbol of Norway. You can explore the breathtaking scenery by boat, bike or on foot.

    Discover Reasons to Love Norway

    8 Skiing

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    t The word ‘‘ski’’ comes from Old Norse, and Norwegians claim they were born with skis on their feet. Hit the powder during the winter months, or ski down a glacier in summer.

    Discover Reasons to Love Norway

    9 Craft beer

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    t Norwegians have been brewing since the Viking Age, so it’s not surprising how enthusiastically they have embraced craft beer. In the last decade alone, more than 200 microbreweries have bubbled up across the country.

    Discover Reasons to Love Norway

    10 Wooden architecture

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    t From stunning wooden cathedrals and charming turf- roof cabins to photogenic timber wharf buildings lining harbourfronts – you can’t miss Norway’s wealth of architecture.

    Discover Reasons to Love Norway

    11 Midnight sun over the Lofoten

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    t The red midnight sun hovers over the craggy Lofoten Islands all night from May to July. A kayaking trip is an unforgettable way to experience this scene.

    Discover Reasons to Love Norway

    12 Viking heritage

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    t There are many traces of the seafaring Vikings across Norway plus more modern monuments, from reconstructed longhouses to Fritz Røed’s Sverd i fjell in Hafrsfjord.

    g Discover Norway g Contents

    Explore

    Norway

    This guide divides Norway into seven colour-coded sightseeing areas: Oslo, Around Oslofjorden, Eastern Norway, Sørlandet and Telemark, Vestlandet, Trøndelag and Northern Norway and Svalbard, as shown on this map. Find out more about each area on the following pages.

    n Double-tap image to read the labels

    DISCOVER Getting to Know Norway

    oslo

    Tucked between Oslofjorden and dense marka (forest), Norway’s ever-changing capital has reinvented itself as a destination to rival Europe’s best. Many of the city’s top attractions have moved to the 9-km- (6-mile-) long harbour, dubbed Fjord City. This ongoing regeneration project attracts cyclists and pedestrians, who make use of the wide pavements and cycle lanes overlooked by cultural hubs such as the Munch Museum, Astrup Fearnley Museum and the iconic iceberg-like Opera House. The harbour is also the spot for superlative restaurants and urban beaches, where the sounds of splashing and laughter ring out during the summer months. Central Oslo’s grand Royal Palace and cobblestoned Karl Johans gate are an architectural contrast to the harbour side, and offer a flavour of the past. Across the water in Bygdøy, a leafy peninsula with a rich maritime history, residential developments are punctuated by museums celebrating Norway’s social and seafaring history.


    Best for World-class art museums, modern architecture and New Nordic cuisine

    Home to Nasjonalmuseet, Nobel Peace Center, Akershus Festning, Norsk Folkemuseum

    Experience Multiple tempting courses at triple Michelin-starred restaurant

    Go To: Oslo i

    DISCOVER Getting to Know Norway

    alt image

    t Oslo’s dramatic Akrobaten Bridge

    DISCOVER Getting to Know Norway

    around oslofjorden

    It’s easy to see why the sunlight-dappled towns, islands and beaches of Oslofjorden have long inspired artists like Munch. Coastal towns such as Drøbak, Hvitsten and Son are characterized by wooden houses sloping towards the sea, waterfronts peppered with bobbing boats and seagulls shrieking as they wheel overhead. Inland, the counties of Akershus, Østfold and Vestfold are known for pretty, pastoral farmland, and history abounds here too: Fredrikstad is Norway’s best-preserved fortress town, while Vestfold is home to Viking artifacts.


    Best for Relaxing on beaches, Viking heritage and escaping the city

    Home to Fredrikstad, Jeløy, Verden’s Ende lighthouse, Borre National Park

    Experience Stand-up paddleboarding at Hvitsten

    Go To: Around Oslofjorden i

    DISCOVER Getting to Know Norway

    alt image

    t Wooden boats docked at Fredrikstad’s pier

    DISCOVER Getting to Know Norway

    eastern norway

    With three of Norway’s most beloved national parks, the appeal of Eastern Norway is simple: this is some of the most gorgeous, unspoiled wilderness you can find. Comprising one-fifth of Norway’s land area, the parks’ stirring landscapes include deep emerald valleys, Norway’s longest river, Glomma, and massive Lake Mjøsa. Further north, Rondane, Jotunheimen and Dovrefjell national parks are famed for their snowcapped peaks and beautiful wildlife, with ancient reindeer herds roaming free. A paradise for nature lovers and thrill- seekers, the region is perfect for fishing, snowboarding and glacier-walking.


    Best for Getting back to nature, mountaineering, hiking and skiing

    Home to Jotunheimen, Lillehammer, Rondane National Park

    Experience A musk ox safari in Dovrefjell, or a summer hike across Besseggen Ridge

    Go To: Eastern Norway i

    DISCOVER Getting to Know Norway

    alt image

    t Mountains reflected in a lake at Rondane National Park

    DISCOVER Getting to Know Norway

    sØrlandet and telemark

    The spectacular mountain plateau of Hardangervidda dominates Telemark. Hikers and skiers travel from one turf- roof hytte (cabin) to another as they scale the ravines, while fishers wait for a catch in the rivers below. Sørlandet’s coastline is the country’s warmest and attracts holidaymakers in summer, while the port town of Kristiansand, idyllic settlement of Grimstad and historic island village of Lyngør all bustle with activity. The grand finale is photogenic Lindesnes lighthouse, Norway’s southernmost point.


    Best for Turf-roof cabins, hiking and cross-country skiing and a warmer climate

    Home to Hardangervidda, Kristiansand, Heddal Stavkirke

    Experience Hardangervidda with a hytte-to-hytte hike

    Go To: SØrlandet and telemark i

    DISCOVER Getting to Know Norway

    alt image

    t Lobby of the Kilden Performing Centre, Kristiansand

    DISCOVER Getting to Know Norway

    vestlandet

    This is the land of extraordinary fjords. Precipitous cliffs flank crystal-clear waters at the likes of the spectacular Geirangersfjorden and Nærøyfjorden. Waterfalls plunge down mountainsides, with onlookers stopping to reach out and taste the salty spray. Modern wood-and-steel viewpoints, such as Stegastein, allow enraptured visitors to pause and take in the awe-inspiring panoramas below, while fjord villages cling to the slopes overhead. Vestlandet is also home to historic Stavanger and Bergen, Norway’s second city. Here you can expect a laid-back vibe, stunning art and architecture, and – famously – rain.


    Best for Breathtaking fjords, traditional and Neo-Fjordic culinary scenes, and historic cities

    Home to Bergen, Stavanger, Borgrund Stavkirke, Geirangerfjorden

    Experience Beautiful Bergen by catching the Fløibanen funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen and admiring the view below

    Go To: Vestlandet i

    DISCOVER Getting to Know Norway

    alt image

    t Precipitous Preikestolen, overlooking Lysefjorden

    DISCOVER Getting to Know Norway

    trØndelag

    Often overlooked in favour of Vestlandet and the Arctic North, Trøndelag is the Norway of the past. Pilgrims make for Trondheim, Norway’s first capital city, where St Olav was laid to rest and independent shops and a competitive restaurant scene showcase the best crafts and cuisine in the region. To the north, the almost 400-year-old timber town of Røros is Norway’s equivalent of the wild west. Quaint and picturesque, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a time capsule of Nordic life.


    Best for Historical Norway, pretty wooden towns, shopping and dining

    Home to Trondheim, Nidarosdomen, Røros

    Experience Snowy Røros by travelling through with a kick-sled

    Go To: TrØndelag i

    DISCOVER Getting to Know Norway

    alt image

    t Snow-topped buildings in Røros

    DISCOVER Getting to Know Norway

    northern norway and svalbard

    The primitive polar North is, perhaps, Norway at its most beautiful. The truly adventurous wrap up warm and travel here to experience the midnight sun over the craggy archipelagos of the Lofoten and Vesterålen islands. Continuing north, the Viking town of Tromsø is the mostly likely spot to witness the world’s best show: the northern lights, which waltz across the sky. At the northernmost tip, the Svalbard archipelago is a land of sub-zero temperatures and pristine snow, as well as polar bears, walruses, wolves and reindeers.


    Best for The northern lights, wild and untamed Norway, and natural wonders

    Home to Lofoten, Vesterålen, Tromsø, Svalbard

    Experience The amber midnight sun by kayaking around the Lofoten Islands

    Go To: Northern Norway and Svalbard i

    DISCOVER Getting to Know Norway

    portrait_image

    t The illuminated village of Mefjordvaer on Senja island

    g Contents

    Norway Itineraries

    alt image

    t Bryggen in Bergen.

    g Norway Itineraries g Contents

    Discover Norway Itineraries

    7 Days

    In Summer

    From lounging on urban beaches in Oslo and tucking into Neo-Fjordic cuisine in Bergen to chasing waterfalls in Jotunheimen and watching the sun set in Ålesund, Norway in summer is unforgettable.

    Discover Norway Itineraries

    alt image

    t Crossing Oslo Opera House.

    g Norway Itineraries g Contents

    Discover Norway Itineraries

    10 Days

    In Winter

    Few places do winter like Norway. Don ice skates in Oslo, hit the slopes at Hafjell, sled through historic Røros and – if you’re lucky – witness the northern lights in the sky above Tromsø.

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