Did you know that the Frozen franchise was inspired by Norway? Take an unforgettable trip in Elsa and Anna's footsteps and create your own fairytale adventure surrounded by deep fjords and snow-clad mountains. See stunning autumn colours and northern lights in the magic kingdom of Norway. Maybe you'll even meet Olaf!
In 2013, Frozen became the highest-grossing animated film of all time. An instant Disney classic, the smash hit bagged two Oscars – for best animated feature and best original song (Let it go).
Heavily influenced by Norwegian nature, culture, and traditions, Frozen introduced us to unforgettable characters including Elsa and her sister Anna, ice harvester Kristoff and his reindeer Sven, Olaf the adorable snowman and a bunch of cheeky trolls.
In Frozen 2, we are invited on an epic journey to seek the answer to where Elsa got her powers. The quest for the truth takes us from the fjord valley of Arendelle into the unknown.
Here are our top 10 tips to help you create your own enchanted adventure in Norway!
1. Autumn in enchanted forests
As the days get shorter, the landscape is transformed. Much of the action in Frozen 2 takes place during autumn – a good time to go for a walk in the Norwegian woods. With refreshingly cool temperatures, mysteriously long shadows, and a riot of colours that range from pale yellow to burning red, it's easy to be enchanted by the forests of Norway.
Get ready for an autumn holiday in Norway and remember that visiting after summer also means shorter queues at the biggest attractions and lower prices.
2. Forces of nature: the northern lights
To call nature one of the main characters in Frozen 2 is hardly an exaggeration. The forces of earth, air, fire, and, not least, water and ice, guide the story from the very start. Watching natural phenomena like the northern lights on screen can be captivating enough, but to really feel the sheer force, nothing compares to a real-life experience. Pure magic!
Northern Norway is one of the most beautiful and convenient places on earth to experience the northern lights. There are excellent transport connections, comfy hotels, and plenty of fun winter experienceslike dog sledding, too. Knowledgable guides can introduce you to new winter sports and help you chase the spellbinding lights.
3. Mythical creatures and elemental spirits
Enchanted forests are full of mythical creatures, of course. Trolls in particular are so common in Norwegian folklore that they have left a mark in every part of society – from place names like Trolltunga, Trollstigen, and Trollfjorden to troll souvenirs in every tourist shop. And you don’t need to have a vivid imagination to spot trolls around every bend on an evening walk through a Norwegian forest.
Frozen 2, is full of fairy-tale creatures in addition to trolls, like the formidable Nøkk, who was inspired by the Norwegian water spirit Nøkken.
4. Sami culture
If you follow in the footsteps of the Frozen heroines and head north of Fjord Norway, the region that most resembles Arendelle, you will eventually end up in Northern Norway. This is the land of the Sami, Norway’s reindeer herding indigenous population. The filmmakers of Frozen 2 collaborated with the Sami on elements in the film that draw on their culture, including details for the Northuldra characters who Anna and Elsa meet in the enchanted forest. Frozen 2 is also the first time in history that an international Disney movie is being released in a Sami language version.
There are plenty of ways to experience the unique Sami culture in Northern Norway. With more than 200,000 reindeer in Norway, reindeer sledding is actually a thing! In addition to being pulled through the snow by your own personal Sven, you can stay in a cosy lavvo tent, sample traditional Sami food, and visit a Sami festival or museum.
5. Joik music
Joik is traditional Sami music – a tradition that remains very much alive today. Fans of Frozen were introduced to Sami music in 2013, as the opening song of the soundtrack was composed by Sami musician Frode Fjellheim.
There is so much more to discover in the world of joik, however. Here is a short introduction to the past, present and future of Sami music.
6. Say hello to the snow!
In Norway, winter without snow is like Frozen 2 without Olaf the snowman. Snow is what makes the winter season so special. It brightens up short winter days and provides the foundation for a never-ending supply of fun activities , like downhill and cross-country skiing of course, but also lots of fun things to do without skis, including tobogganing, ice skating, snowshoe hiking, ice fishing, and sleigh riding.
If you have never made your own snowman like Olaf before, this is your chance!
7. Fairytale fjords
In many ways, Arendelle looks like a quintessential fairy-tale setting, complete with a grand castle in lush surroundings. Much of it is inspired by Bergen. Norway´s second largest city is one of numerous places in Fjord Norway where you can experience a bit of fairy-tale magic in real life.
With more than 1,000 fjords and even more fjord villages around the country, the most difficult thing to decide is where to start. If you are a fjord novice, take our crash course on the Norwegian fjords.
8. Akershus Fortress
Arendelle castle would definitely have looked completely different if it wasn’t for Akershus Fortress in Oslo. Located right in the centre of the Norwegian capital, the building dates all the way back to 1299, when king Håkon V decreed its construction. It was modernised and converted into a royal residence in the 16th century.
Today, you can join a guided walking tour to learn more about this fascinating medieval castle.
9. Medieval stave churches
Another example of how deeply Norway has influenced Frozen is the Arendelle chapel, where Elsa’s coronation takes place in the first film. The Disney artists who created the chapel were heavily inspired by Norway's stave churches. During the Middle Ages, these elaborately carved wooden churches were a common sight in many parts of northwest Europe. Today, only around 30 stave churches remain, most of which are located in Norway.
Learn all about Norwegian stave churches here.
For a deep dive into the Norwegian folklore that inspired the Frozen films, make sure to visit one of the many folk museums around the country to experience everything from handicrafts and folk costumes to art exhibitions.
Many are open-air museums that are just as fascinating for architecture buffs as they are for Disney fans. Walk around historic Norwegian buildings including original wooden cottages with turf roofs. At some folk museums, like the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History in Oslo and the Maihaugen Museum in Lillehammer, you can also experience medieval stave churches.
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