Norwegian
Cultural Gems
Step back in time and experience authentic cultural history.
Immerse yourself in Norwegian heritage in some
of the country's most charming and unique places.
1. The Old Town, Fredrikstad
Is this Norway's cosiest neighbourhood? Wander around the green embankments and cobblestoned alleyways in The Old Town of Fredrikstad, called Gamlebyen, in the Østfold region. The star-shaped fortress city takes you back in time.
Visit cute cafés and unique shops, or join a walking tour with knowledgeable guides. Stop by The Old Town Model Train Centre and find some treasures at the popular Saturday markets!
2. Setesdal
Setesdal feels like a real-life open-air museum, with cultural gems as far as the eye can see. The valley is a 200-kilometre-long adventure, where old traditions are kept alive.
The traditional folk music and dance from the region can even be found on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage!
At Rygnestadtunet and The Setesdal Museum, you can learn more about the region. Go on a roundtrip on the steamboat D/S Bjoren on the Byglandsfjord.
The valley also offers three via ferratas for climbing enthusiasts, plenty of hiking and bike riding options, and rafting on the Otra river.
3. Røros
Travel back in time to the cosy town of Røros, a UNESCO site, where small log houses line the streets, bearing witness to its glory days as a mining town.
Visit the welcoming courtyards that are full of artists, craftsmen, cute shops and cafés with plenty of local specialties to try. Watch the marvelous play "Elden", that's on every year at Slagghaugen, and join a guided tour of the old mines.
4. Bakklandet, Trondheim
The Bakklandet neighbourhood in Trondheim is historical yet modern. Explore cobblestoned streets and colourful houses in a working-class area from the 18th century, which is now home to numerous cafés, restaurants with locally sourced ingredients, wine bars, galleries, and boutiques.
Enter the area by crossing the Old Town Bridge, first built in 1681 and later reconstructed in 1861. Bakklandet is also home to Trampe, the world's first bicycle lift, which takes you up the hill that leads to a historic fortress.
5. Nusfjord and Henningsvær, Lofoten
The ocher and red-painted fishing village, Nusfjord in Lofoten, is one of Norway's oldest and best-preserved fishing villages. Spend the night in one of its traditional fishermen's cabins.
The entrance fee gives you admission to several exhibitions and the Salteriet Gallery. Visit the vintage and quirky shop Nusfjord Landhandel, or treat yourself to a delicious meal based on Arctic ingredients at Restaurant Karoline.
The fishing village of Henningsvær in Lofoten is a cultural hot spot. The community here is so unique that it has been defined as cultural heritage by Norwegian authorities since 2022. Explore galleries including the Kaviar Factory, Galleri Lofoten and Engelskmannsbrygga.
The narrow streets are full of life with cute shops, cosy cafés, and inviting restaurants, such as the cultural hub of Trevarefabrikken.
6. Nyksund, Vesterålen
Nyksund in Vesterålen, just north of Lofoten, was once a thriving and vibrant fishing village, but became a virtual ghost town in the 1970s when became too small for the modern fishing industry. But all was not lost.
A group of Germans came to visit in the 1980s. They loved the place so much that they decided to restore it and salvage its history.
Around 15 people live in Nyksund today and it's a place for creatives and visitors alike. Despite its small size, you can go to concerts, visit art galleries, and eat local delicacies.
7. Sogndalstrand
Follow the idyllic North Sea Road to the little coastal gem of Sogndalstrand in Rogaland. When sailing ships ruled the seas, people would come here to rest and trade goods.
Explore the quaint wooden houses from the 18th and 19th centuries just three miles south of Egersund, where you can also find several small galleries and shops.
Eleven of the houses belong to the carefully restored Sogndalstrand Kulturhotell. You'll also find the narrow and spectacular Jøssingfjord nearby, featuring exciting mining and war history and a brand-new museum.
A small homestead from the 19th century, Helleren, is tucked away under a huge cliff nearby.
8. Risør
Just over an hour from Kristiansand in Southern Norway, you'll find Risør, with its lively harbour and characteristic white wooden houses. It's considered Norway's best-preserved wooden town and is one of many that dot the Southern Coast.
Explore Risør's past and present on a tour with a local watchman in a red uniform that dates back more than 100 years.
Eat quality seafood in a restaurant on the waterfront, visit galleries and niche shops, and stay overnight in a boat. Risør hosts several festivals, including the Chamber Music Festival and the Wooden Boat Festival in the Marina.
The oldest wooden car ferry in Norway, M/F Øisang, sails between Risør and Lille Danmark beach on Risøya island.
9. Ålesund
National Geographic named Ålesund one of Europe's most beautiful port cities. It's famous for its Art Nouveau architecture, which became a key feature when the city was rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1904.
Learn more about the city's history and architecture at The Art Nouveau Centre & the Art Museum KUBE.
For amazing views of the city climb the 418 steps from Byparken Town Park up to the Mount Aksla viewpoint, or get a different perspective of the city centre by kayaking through the Brosundet canal.
Aside from the architecture, there are also plenty of local shops, cafés and restaurants in the city centre, and there's even a restaurant on the top of Aksla.
10. Bryggen
Bryggen in Bergen has a proud place on UNESCO's World Heritage List and is one of Norway's main attractions. This is where the very first buildings in Bergen were built, many of which remain in narrow lanes of crooked wooden houses.
Parts of the medieval wharf, Bryggen, as we know it today, were rebuilt after the great fire in 1702 on the foundations from the 12th century.
This wharf was very important during the German Hanseatic League's trading empire from 1350-1750.
There's much more than first meets the eye. Enter the lanes behind the main facade to explore small passages, cafés, galleries and shops selling traditional crafts.
11. The Norwegian Museum of Cultural History
Discover everyday life in Norway from the 1500s until today at one of the world's largest open-air museums. Travel through time and explore 160 historic buildings and numerous farm animals set in beautiful nature.
The Norwegian Museum of Cultural History in Oslo lets you step inside a variety of different parts of Norway, from farms in the countryside to towns and cities.
Genuine historic clothing, furniture, Sami handicrafts, and more are on display, and there are several activities and events held at the museum throughout the year.
12. Maihaugen Museum
Norway's largest open-air museum, Maihaugen in Lillehammer, offers plenty of activities and fun experiences for all ages. Visit 200 historic houses from the 13th century until today, and learn how Norwegian mountain cabins have evolved over time.
The museum truly comes to life during the summer with farm animals, actors in period costumes, guided tours, craftsmen, and lots of fun activities for the kids. You can even visit H.M. Queen Sonja's childhood home from the 1930s.
Stop by the Norwegian Olympic Museum at Maihaugen's visitor centre to learn about the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer.