HURTIGRUTEN

The coastal highway to the soul of the north

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Hurtigruten in the Hjørundfjord .
Photo: Fuglefjellet / Hurtigruten

Are you ready for a once-in-a-lifetime journey?

2023 is a special year for Hurtigruten – this year, the Norwegian coastal express has sailed from port to port along one of the world’s most beautiful coastlines for 130 years!

Hurtigruten in the Hjørundfjord .
Photo: Fuglefjellet / Hurtigruten

And it is still bringing people, stockfish, and new kitchen chairs safely between Bergen and Trondheim – and all the way to Varanger and Kirkenes in the far north.

Along with the latest gossip, of course!

Hurtigruten .
Photo: Trym Ivar Bergsmo / Hurtigruten

A big part of Northern Norway didn’t have proper roads or a railway until after the Second World War.

So if you lived in a remote fishing village, it felt …

Reine in Lofoten .
Photo: Stian Klo / Hurtigruten

… really remote.

That all changed in 1893 when DS Vesteraalen, the first Hurtigruten steamship, began its journey from Trondheim to Hammerfest on 2 July, visiting 11 harbours along the way.

In 1898, the route expanded southwards to include Bergen.

Ten years later, Kirkenes near the Russian border became the northernmost turning point for the coastal voyage.

From 2023, customers can also travel all the way from Oslo to North Cape with the new North Cape Express or travel all the way from Bergen to Svalbard with the Svalbard Express.

Hurtigruten 1912 .
Photo: Hurtigrutenmuseet

Over the years, Hurtigruten has become an integral part of Norwegian culture and is even immortalised in the song “Hurtigrute” by singer/songwriter Kari Bremnes.

Hurtigruten .
Photo: Hurtigrutenmuseet

"It was a party that came
A One thousand and one nights with a taste of salt
With goodbyes and Oh my goodness, there you are"

Hurtigrute, Kari Bremnes

Hurtigruten .
Photo: Hurtigrutenmuseet

So many stories. Ships. Destinies. Lifelines.

Explore how the coastal express connected Norway at the iconic new landmark, the Hurtigruten museum (a part of Museum Nord) that opened in 2021.

Revisit history in the authentic salons and cabins on the old Hurtigruten ship MS Finnmarken, built in 1956.

Hurtigruten museum in Vesterålen .
Photo: ©Tom Pål Holdø

The everyday life on board the ships is still very present today.

They continue to bring locals to family gatherings, granny to the doctor, and children to football tournaments ...

Multe bakery & ice cream on Hurtigruten .
Photo: Agurtxane concellon / Hurtigruten

... alongside tourists who gaze towards the mountains under a sun that never sets …

Hurtigruten .
Photo: Trym Ivar Bergsmo / Hurtigruten

… or that doesn’t even bother to show up.

There is no need to stay up all night just in case Aurora goes dancing.

A northern lights alarm will wake you up if you’re sleeping. And do you know what's even better? There is now a Northern Lights Guarantee when you travel in wintertime, which means Hurtigruten give you a free 6-day southbound or 7-day northbound Original Coastal Express Classic Voyage if the Northern Lights do not occur within sight of your ship!

So get a good night's sleep in your cabin …

Hunting the northern lights with Hurtigruten .
Photo: Arctic Light Production / Hurtigruten

… after a meal that tastes of the Norwegian coast.

King crab. Tender lamb. Slow-growing potatoes. And fresh fish, of course.

Norway’s coastal kitchen at Hurtigruten .
Photo: Agurtxane Concellon / Hurtigruten

80 per cent of the food you enjoy on board comes from Norwegian providers, which secures workplaces and the daily lives of the people who live along the coast.

Locals have been fishing “skrei”, the wandering Arctic cod, for thousands of years.

Hurtigruten .
Photo: Agurtxane Concellon / Hurtigruten

Back on the ship, you can also learn how to take care of the amazing surroundings you sail through.

You see, the coastal express Hurtigruten is considered the world’s greenest cruise line, and they are now working on having their first zero emission ship ready before 2030!

You can also check out these facts:

· No single-use plastic on board
· The waste from all of the ships is recycled
· Hurtigruten has the world’s first hybrid-powered cruise ships
· The ships run partly on biogas

Kayaking at the Hjørundfjord .
Photo: Tomasz Furmanek / Visitnorway.com