Norway: Closer Than You Think, With So Much More to Discover
Norway has long been associated with dramatic fjords, snow-covered landscapes and the Northern Lights, but look a little closer, and there is another side to this beautiful Scandinavian country, one filled with fascinating history, wonderful food, vibrant cities, outdoor adventures and some of Europe's great storytellers.
With direct Aer Lingus flights from Dublin to Oslo, Norway is also closer and easier to explore than many Irish travellers might imagine.
A recent Aer Lingus trip, hosted in conjunction with VisitOSLO and Into Norway, gave the Irish travel trade the chance to experience three very different Norwegian destinations – Lillehammer, Hamar and Oslo – over three nights.
It was a short introduction to a country that could easily fill a much longer holiday.
Beyond Oslo
For many visitors, Oslo will naturally be the starting point for a Norwegian adventure, but travelling beyond the capital quickly reveals how much variety lies within easy reach.
Lillehammer, Hamar and Oslo each offer something quite different, combining countryside, lakes and sporting heritage with medieval history, contemporary architecture, excellent food and city life.
And then there are the people.
Norwegians have a deep connection to their landscape and history, and storytelling comes naturally. Stories of Vikings, farmers, fishermen and sailors sit alongside tales of polar expeditions, Olympic champions and famous explorers.
It gives visitors a sense of the country that goes far beyond simply admiring its spectacular scenery.
Lillehammer – More Than a Winter Destination
Lillehammer is known worldwide as the host of the 1994 Winter Olympics, and its Olympic Park remains a major attraction. The famous ski jump dominates the landscape, and a visit gives an immediate sense of Norway's extraordinary relationship with winter sports.
But Lillehammer shouldn't be considered purely a winter destination.
The surrounding mountains, forests and lakes open up a completely different range of experiences during the warmer months, with hiking, cycling, kayaking, rafting and other outdoor activities all possible. For a glimpse into Norway's past, Maihaugen is one of Lillehammer's highlights.
This fascinating open-air museum brings together historic houses, farms and buildings from different periods of Norwegian life, allowing visitors to see how families lived, worked and farmed through the generations.
Rather than keeping history behind glass, visitors can walk through it. Lillehammer also provides an introduction to another increasingly important part of the Norwegian travel experience – its food.
Restaurants are making excellent use of local ingredients and traditional flavours, often in wonderfully atmospheric surroundings. Hvelvet, housed in a former bank, is one such example, combining an unusual historic setting with excellent dining.
Hamar and Norway's Largest Lake
Travelling south from Lillehammer brings visitors to Hamar, beautifully positioned on the shores of Lake Mjøsa, Norway's largest lake.
Hamar offers a quieter contrast to Oslo, with its lakeside setting, outdoor lifestyle and fascinating Viking and medieval heritage.
It is the type of place that works particularly well as part of a wider Norwegian itinerary – somewhere to slow the pace, learn a little more about the country's history and enjoy the landscape.
Norway's traditions can also be discovered through its food and drink.
Atlungstad Distillery, on the shores of Lake Mjøsa, offers visitors an insight into the production of aquavit, the traditional Scandinavian spirit that has been part of Norwegian food culture for generations.
Experiences like this are an important part of discovering modern Norway. They introduce visitors not simply to another attraction, but to the traditions and people behind it.
Oslo – A Capital Built Around the Water
Arriving in Oslo brings another change of pace.
Norway's capital feels contemporary and cosmopolitan while staying closely connected to nature.
The waterfront has undergone an extraordinary transformation, with modern architecture, cultural attractions, restaurants and public spaces creating an area that encourages visitors to explore on foot.
Perhaps the most recognisable symbol of modern Oslo is its striking Opera House.
Designed to appear as though it is rising directly from the fjord, visitors can walk across its sloping roof for views across the city and waterfront. Behind the scenes, it is home to Norway's national opera and ballet.
Yet Oslo's modern architecture is only one part of its appeal.
Norway has an extraordinary history of exploration, from its Viking seafarers to polar expeditions and adventurers such as Thor Heyerdahl, whose famous Kon-Tiki expedition showed how deeply exploration is woven into the country's identity.
The city's museums offer plenty of opportunities to explore these stories.
Experiencing Oslo From the Fjord
One of the best ways to understand Oslo is from the water.
The Oslo Fjord is part of everyday city life, not just a backdrop, and boat trips offer a completely different perspective on the capital.
An evening dinner cruise combines views of the city and surrounding islands with another of Norway's increasingly impressive attractions – its food.
Norwegian cuisine is strongly influenced by the country's landscape and coastline, with seafood, game, locally grown produce and traditional preservation techniques appearing on menus alongside increasingly contemporary cooking.
For travellers who enjoy building food experiences into their holidays, Norway may come as a pleasant surprise.
Sauna, Swim…Repeat
Few experiences are more Norwegian than combining a hot sauna with a cold dip in the fjord.
Floating saunas have become part of Oslo's waterfront culture, allowing visitors to step from the heat directly into the water.
A sunrise sauna followed by a fjord swim may require a little courage, particularly for first-timers, but it is quickly becoming one of the city's must-try experiences.
It also says something about Norway itself – a destination where city life and the outdoors are rarely separated.
Visitors can spend the morning exploring museums and architecture, have lunch in a great restaurant and still find themselves swimming in a fjord before the day is over.
A Country With a Story to Tell
A visit to Norway at the beginning of September also coincided with an exceptionally poignant period for the country following the passing of King Harald V.
At the Royal Palace in Oslo, flowers and tributes demonstrated the enormous affection and respect felt for the late King.
For visitors witnessing the scenes, it offered a moving insight into the relationship between the Norwegian Royal Family and its people, and a reminder that travel can sometimes unexpectedly place us close to significant moments in a country's history.
So, What Does a Norway Holiday Look Like?
The answer is: almost anything you want it to.
For a first visit, Oslo works extremely well as a city break, with culture, restaurants, museums, architecture, and outdoor experiences all within easy reach.
But it would be a shame to assume that Oslo is all there is to see.
A few extra days can take visitors through the countryside to destinations such as Hamar and Lillehammer, combining lakes, history and outdoor experiences with the capital.
For a longer holiday, Norway offers even more.
Its famous fjords pair well with some of Europe's most spectacular rail journeys. Walking and cycling itineraries offer another way to experience the landscape, while historic pilgrimage routes provide a slower journey through the country.
Further north, Tromsø offers an entirely different Norway, with Arctic landscapes, winter adventures, and the chance to see the Northern Lights.
Norway can work for couples looking for something different, active families, food lovers, rail enthusiasts and experienced travellers searching for a destination they haven't already explored.
It can be a three-night city break or a two-week adventure. Most importantly, it rewards travellers who go beyond the obvious.
Norway From Ireland
The introduction of Aer Lingus' direct Dublin–Oslo service has made Norway particularly accessible, with flights operating through the end of October and other carriers year-round.
Aer Lingus also operates direct services from Dublin to Tromsø in northern Norway, opening up opportunities for a completely different type of Norwegian adventure.
For The Travel Suite, whose team specialises in creating tailor-made holidays and more unusual itineraries, Norway is a destination with enormous potential.
The key is not necessarily trying to see everything in one visit.
Combine a city with the countryside. Take a train rather than simply flying from one point to another. Spend time on the water. Try the local food. Visit the museums, but also talk to the guides and people you meet along the way.
Norway's landscapes may initially draw visitors, but the experiences and stories along the way often make them want to return.
Three cities in three nights may provide a wonderful introduction – but in Norway, it really is only scratching the surface.
The Travel Suite www.TheTravelSuite.ie 01 9059008 is an award-winning, Irish-owned luxury travel agency based in Milltown, Dublin, specialising in tailor-made holidays, luxury cruises, and bespoke itineraries. The experienced team can create personalised Norway itineraries that combine Oslo, the countryside, fjords, rail journeys, and Northern Norway.
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