AFTERTHOUGHTS OF OUR NORWAY TRIP

We recently traveled to Norway for a two-week holiday (29 Aug to 14 Sep). This was our 5th trip to Norway in 10 years, so I’d say we have a decent amount of experience to share. Here are some useful insights for anyone planning a similar trip. I hope you find them helpful!

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We chose September because we wanted to hike during the day and chase the Northern Lights at night. Honestly, after this trip, I can confidently say that September is the best time to visit Norway. During the summer, we found it overcrowded, and parking was always an issue due to the sheer number of tourists. However, in September the crowds reduced significantly. It’s also a shoulder period between summer and autumn, so you can enjoy outdoor activities during the day and Northern Lights hunting at night. Our days were always packed with a mix of both.

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I highly recommend a 3-hour buffer for transitions from international to domestic flights as you have to clear immigration, collect luggage and check them in again. Hence, a bottleneck is expected. As for domestic flights consider night flights and book window seats as it would be an incredible experience if you can see them from the plane.

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We didn’t have high hopes for seeing the Northern Lights, as it was still early in the season. Surprisingly, we managed to see them almost every night when the skies were clear. Since it was early September, nighttime was limited, with the window for Northern Lights viewing from 11 pm to 4 am. Another surprise was that we managed to see Northern Lights in Oslo , outsidethe Arctic Circle.

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I used an iPhone 12, and its night mode was very useful for capturing the Northern Lights. I also used the phone to confirm if what I was seeing was indeed the Northern Lights. Be sure to bring a tripod, as clear photos are impossible without it.

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EasyPark – You’ll need this app to pay for parking, though most places also have machines.

Aurora – This app was incredibly helpful for tracking the Northern Lights, with location-based alerts when the lights were visible.

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I don’t think there’s a need to sign up for a Northern Lights tour, especially if you have a car. We saw strong Northern Lights in Tromsø , and with a car you can drive to areas with less light pollution and do the hunting on your own.

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If you’re renting a car and taking ferries, the cost of ferry tickets will be charged to your credit card by the rental company. There’s no need to make payment onboard the ferry.

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We were extremely lucky to have good weather throughout the trip, except for one rainy day. In previous trips, rain often affected our hikes. For hiking in Lofoten, be careful when referring to 68 North's hiking guide. We found that the actual difficulty levels were often higher than what we expected.

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Tromsø : We highly recommend the Ornfloya and Brosmetinden hikes. They’re easy with fantastic views.

Senja : If you plan to hike Segla, I suggest you try Hesten instead. It offers a great view of Segla from the top and is easier.

Lofoten : You can’t go wrong with most hikes here, but we recommend:

Djevelporten – A hike to a flat rock where you can stand and take amazing photos.

Reinebrigen – The most popular hike in Lofoten, and for good reason.

Ryten – This hike offers views of the Kvavika beach, another touristy but rewarding trek.

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Based on past experience, we planned for 8 days in Lofoten this time, and it was perfect. We managed to complete all the hikes we had shortlisted. We stayed 4 nights near Evenes and 3 nights near Svolvær. I wouldn’t recommend spending fewer than 3 days in Lofoten, as rain can often disrupt plans.

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The best fish soup we had in Norway was at the restaurant Bacalao in Svolvær, Lofoten. Definitely worth trying!

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Lingonberries were in season during our trip. You might recognize lingonberries from the jam served with IKEA meatballs. We spent half a day picking them and making homemade jam. It was a fun experience! No pectin is required as the lingonberries naturally thicken when heated.

This trip was a fantastic mix of hiking and Northern Lights, and we’re already looking forward to our next adventure! Hope these tips are helpful for your own Norway trip planning. :)

#norway #norwaytravel #norwaytravels #northernlights #auroraborealis