Summer in Norway

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Weather forecast from Yr, delivered by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK). Download Yr’s free weather app for iOS or Android.

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How to dress for summer weather

Norwegian summer weather may be relatively stable, but that doesn’t mean it can’t surprise you. If you go hiking in the mountains or are out at sea, prepare for everything and make sure you bring waterproof and windproof clothing, as well as a layer of wool.

The sun can be deceptively strong, even if the wind helps keep you cool, so make sure you use sunscreen – otherwise you’ll soon turn pink and sore.

Even if you should be careful not to underestimate the weather, the summer is the time of year when you can relax the most with regards to what to wear. Dress to your fancy, and enjoy the season – but use your head. As we say in Norway: there is no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.

Dynamic Variation:

The Slottsfjell music festival in Tønsberg.
Photo: Otto Alsaker Prestmo / Slottsfjell

Taking a swim in Southern Norway.
Photo: Johan Wildhagen / Visitnorway.com

Midnight sun in Helgeland.
Photo: Bård Løken / www.nordnorge.com/Træna

The seafood platter at Solsiden restaurant in Oslo.
Photo: CH / Visitnorway.com

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How to dress for summer weather

Norwegian summer weather may be relatively stable, but that doesn’t mean it can’t surprise you. If you go hiking in the mountains or are out at sea, prepare for everything and make sure you bring waterproof and windproof clothing, as well as a layer of wool.

The sun can be deceptively strong, even if the wind helps keep you cool, so make sure you use sunscreen – otherwise you’ll soon turn pink and sore.

Even if you should be careful not to underestimate the weather, the summer is the time of year when you can relax the most with regards to what to wear. Dress to your fancy, and enjoy the season – but use your head. As we say in Norway: there is no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.

Seasonal food and drink

Blueberries are common in Norwegian forests and mountains, and will start to ripen in the middle of summer in Southern Norway and a bit later further north. In July and August, you will see roadside booths offering locally grown strawberries and cherries for sale.

When the sun is out, so are the Norwegians. Barbecuing vegetables, fish, meat, and poultry for dinner is a Norwegian summer tradition, and at the first sign of summer Norwegians of legal drinking age will flock to pubs offering for a beer on the pavement or in a beer garden. This “utepils” (literally “outdoor beer”) is so ingrained that the first opportunity for it will often be mentioned in the national press. We wouldn’t like to miss the year’s first beer in the sun, would we?

A typical summer dish is freshly caught fish, especially mackerel served with sour cream, fresh potatoes, and cucumber salad. Shrimps straight from the boat, enjoyed right at the dock or served with white bread, mayonnaise, and white wine is another favourite. Yet another popular summer choice is cured pork or mutton served with sour cream and flatbread.