Norway is just about at the top of the world, stretching from the North Sea into the Arctic Ocean and sharing its borders with Sweden, Finland and Russia. It's best known for its natural wonders - fjords, waterfalls, mountains, glaciers and islands. Add to that its charming cities, ski resorts and the oil industry and it's no wonder that increasing numbers of tourists seek cheap flights to Norway.
Despite its latitude, Norway benefits from the warming influence of the Gulf Stream. Summer temperatures in Oslo can hit the 30-degree mark and there is about 20 hours of daylight. In the far north, there is almost continuous daylight in the summer months, and almost endless night in midwinter.
Another natural wonder to be experienced in Norway is the Aurora Borealis. Tromso, a lively university town, is located in the middle of the Northern Lights zone.
Oslo is the sophisticated and well-ordered capital. It sits at the northern end of the Oslofjord. Known as a peace city, it is home to the Nobel Peace Centre as well as 50 museums and art galleries.
Bergen, the second-largest city, is a sturdy old Hanseatic-League town with those famous brightly painted merchants' houses.
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The climate may surprise you - thanks to the Gulf Stream. The south is the sunniest. In the summer, temperatures often climb past 25 degrees Celsius. The west coast gets rain year-round, and the further north you go, the colder it gets. Temperatures can plummet to -51 degrees Celsius.
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Peak Season:
Seek Norway flights and visit between May and September for the longest, brightest days. The Bergen International Festival is the country's biggest arts extravaganza, and takes place in May.
The Northern Lights can be enjoyed (marvelled at) between November and February in the north of the country. The lights can be rays or arcs of colour – greenish white to deepest red. The Northern Lights Festival takes place in Tromso at the end of January.
Norway’s three most northern counties enjoy endless sun between the middle of May and the end of July. Places to enjoy the “longer” days include Nordkapp, Hammerfest, Vardø, Tromsø, Harstad, Svolvær and Bodo.
Off Season:
Avoid November to March as average temperatures are below freezing unless you like to ski. If you are a skier, the most popular resorts include Lillehammer, the famous former host city of the Olympic Games, Trysil, Oppdal and Hemsedal.
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SAS Braathens, Norwegian and Wideroe offer domestic Norway flights.
Norwegian State Railways has a well-developed network within the country, to other Scandinavian countries and to points in Europe.
The largest coach network in Norway is called NOR-WAY Bussekspress AS. Eurolines is its network partner, which provides services throughout Europe.
Passage between Bergen and Stamsund can be booked with Norwegian Coastal Voyage.
Car-rental companies are represented at the airports.
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- Flam Mountain Railway is one of the steepest in the world. The train travels from the mountain station at Myrdal on the Bergen Railway to Flåm station in the Aurlandfjord, which is a branch of the world's longest fjord (the Sognefjord).
- Pick up an Oslo Card for unlimited free travel by bus, tram, underground, boat and local train and the museums are free too. These include Viking Ship Museum; Norsk Folkemuseum; The Munch Museum; Akershus Fortress, the Nazi headquarters during the Second World War; and the Resistance Museum. The new Ibsen Museum features the playwright’s home, now restored to its original Victorian glory.
- The Alta Igloo Hotel is open between January and April. Located on the edge of the Arctic Circle, it is made of snow and ice, all of it - the bar, gallery, wedding chapel, lounges and, of course, ice sculptures. Reindeer hides help keep in the warmth as temperatures hover between -4 and -7 degrees Celsius. Alta also has northern Europe’s largest collection of rock carvings. There are more than 3,000 paintings and engravings.
- In West Norway, the fjords of Geiranger and Nærøyfjord are on the Unesco World Heritage list. They are among the longest and deepest fjords in the world, the product of several ice ages. The largest glacier in mainland Europe, Jostedalsbreen, lies between the fjords. Other World Heritage sites include Bryggen in Bergen, a number of Hanseatic commercial buildings that line the side of the fjord. Although the buildings are not original, the same building pattern has been maintained for 900 years. Bergen is a great base for discovering the fjords and it is where the Norwegian Coastal Express, which sails some of the most popular tourist routes, starts from. In Bergen, you can take the funicular railway to the top of Floyen mountain, and enjoy the best views of the city. For more insider advice on Bergen, visit the Norwegian Tourist Board's official tourism website.
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Oslo Airport (OSL) (Gardermoen) is 48km (30 miles) north of Oslo.
Stavanger (SVG) (Sola) is 14km (9 miles) southwest of the city (travel time – 20-30 minutes).
Bergen (BGO) (Flesland) (website: www.avinor.no) is 19km (12 miles) south of the city (travel time – 25 minutes).
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All visitors to Norway must have sufficient funds, or return or onward tickets, and any documents necessary for further travel. The borderless region known as the Schengen area includes the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. All these countries issue a standard Schengen visa that allows the holder, in principal, to travel freely within the borders of all.
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British passport holders must have a passport valid for at least period of intended stay. No visa is required for stays of up to three months in any six-month period.
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