Winter in Norway

Winter is perhaps the most beautiful time to explore Norway's coastline, and is the best season to witness the Northern Lights.

Sailing along Norway’s coastline in winter is a beautiful experience. The air is fresh, crisp and clear. Mountaintops silhouette against a backdrop of polar twilight, and clusters of cosy homes glow on the shoreline like fires in the distance.

Top winter experiences in Norway

lofoten-norway-hgr-143507 1920-photo shutterstock

Witness the wondrous aurora borealis

bergen-norway-hgr-143160 1920-photo shutterstock

Experience the magic of Norway’s white winter wonderland

snow-mobile-trip-polar-night-mehamn-kjollefjord-norway-hgr-43097 1920-photo orjan bertelsen-1

Ride a snowmobile or dog sledge across the snowy tundra

christmas-traditions-norway-hgr-120408 1920-photo shutterstock

See charming Christmas markets along Norway’s coast in late November and December

The fantastic Northern Lights

Join us on an exploration of polar twilight that often also includes experiencing the elusive aurora borealis at night. Sailing with Hurtigruten, at sea and far away from light pollution, provides some of the best possibilities to view this magical celestial lightshow of ghostly green, red and dark purple.

Even regular daylight in the far north is remarkable. The low position of the sun renders beautiful subtle shades of light that reflect off the Arctic’s white surroundings.

northern-lights-hamnoy-norway-hgr-143737_1920
Nidaros Cathedral in winter under a blanket of snow

Arctic winter wonders

Norway lights up during Christmas. Stroll the charming lanes and browse the stalls of traditional Christmas markets in coastal towns and cities in late November and December.

Elsewhere, follow in the footsteps of great explorers and venture out on North Cape while peering over the edge of the world. Or discover the splendid Arctic scenery and wonders of the far north during exciting shore excursions.

Dashing through the snow

Imagine crossing the snowy tundra on a snowmobile or sitting in a dog sled behind a team of barking huskies. For those who prefer a more leisurely pace, there are also introductions to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. These are just a few of the excursions Hurtigruten offer during winter.

What to pack for winter in Norway

It can get quite cold along the coast during winter, so we recommend you pack a thick winter jacket, hat, gloves, wool sweater, a scarf, winter boots with good grip, and pull-on spikes.

A person standing on top of a snow covered mountain