Exciting new experiences in 2025
1. Nordic World Ski Championship
Don't miss Norway's biggest ski event of the decade!
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships (Ski VM) will be held in Trondheim, Norway, from February 26 to March 9, 2025.
This is the second time the city is hosting the Nordic World Championships, the first being in 1997.
2. The year of Friluftsliv!
Friluftsliv is a part of the Norwegian´s DNA. It´s basically about enjoying a simple life outdoors, in the nature, without destroying or disturbing it.
2025 has been named The year of friluftsliv, in order to inspire more people to discover nature´s blessings, try new outdoor activities, and find lots of friluftsglede ('outdoor joy').
You are welcome to join in!
3. PoMo – a new art museum
Trondheim also has big news for art lovers. PoMo, short for Posten Moderne, is a new art museum opening in the city.
This iconic building, designed in 1911 in classic Art Nouveau style, was created by the local architect Karl Norum.
PoMo aspires to provide you with outstanding artistic experiences, comparable to those in the world’s major cities.
Opens: 15 February, 2025
4. The new Hjorten Teater
After strolling through Trondheim's new art museum, why not end your day at the brand new Hjorten Teater?
Here, you can see plays, comedy shows, musicals, and family shows. Performances will feature newly-written works and well-known titles.
Their ambition is clear: to exceed expectations and make it feel like Saturday all week long!
Opens: 15 January, 2025
5. Go swimming
Tøyenbadet, Oslo´s biggest swimming facility, reopens, after a 2.37 billion Norwegian kroner revamp.
It has seven new pools (including a diving pool), water slides, saunas, a hot tub, and more.
To reduce its climate footprint, the building has solar panels and a system for collecting rainwater on the roof.
The facility is quite luxurious!
Opens: 6 January, 2025
6. UNESCO honors the "bunad"
We’re starting the new year with some joyful news! In December 2024, the Norwegian national costume, the Bunad, was officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage list, recognized as a living piece of history and culture.
The girls pictured are wearing bunads from Vest-Telemark.
With over 450 regional variations, each Bunad features vibrant colors, intricate embroidery, and unique accessories that tell the story of Norway’s rich heritage.
PS. The details in the image are from a men's Setesdal Bunad.
... and the good news doesn't stop there!
Summer mountain farming ("seterkultur") was also officially added to UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, recognizing its cultural significance and the efforts to preserve this unique way of life.
Fun fact: Nowhere else in Northern Europe are there as many operational summer mountain farms as in the tasty Valdres region.
Thanks to locals like Kathrin H. Aslaksby (pictured), a farmer and cheesemaker at Nørrestogo farm, these age-old traditions continue to thrive.
7. Husky Forest Suites
The Forest Suites at Holmen Husky in Alta, Northern Norway, have recently opened, offering a living room with a breathtaking 5-meter-tall window towards the sky, framing a panoramic view of the pristine, untouched forest.
And if you're fortunate, the northern lights might dance!
8. Signature hotel in Tromsø
2025 brings even more unique accommodations for you to discover! Scandic’s new signature hotel, The Dock 69°39 by Scandic, is opening in the Vervet area of Tromsø.
The hotel is located 69 degrees and 39 minutes north, hence the name.
The 12-storey hotel will have over 300 comfortable rooms with spectacular views. The à la carte restaurant on the 10th floor will offer panoramic views of Tromsø, the surrounding mountains, and the fjords.
Opens: June, 2025
9. Lundins hotel in Skudeneshavn
Lundins hotel is a historic hotel from 1853 with only 3 double rooms, in Western Norway.
Every detail, from authentic wallpaper to antique furniture, has been carefully chosen to preserve the timeless atmosphere, yet with modern comfort!
10. Norway's first International Dark Sky Place
Øvre Pasvik National Park in Finnmark is Norway’s first certified International Dark Sky Place. This means that it's a perfect place for stargazing during the polar nights, and you might even witness the northern lights dancing across the sky.
The park has no permanent lights, and there’s not much air traffic, so the night sky isn't affected by artificial light. If you choose to visit this park in the winter months, be prepared for harsh conditions and temperatures lower than minus 30 degrees celcius.
More exciting stuff in 2025:
- Nordic Pixel Forest in Ekebergparken in Oslo – recently opened.
New light and sound installation by the Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist, consisting of 24,000 LED lights. -
Bristol Spa – opens 2025
A new, luxurious spa is opening in the heart of Oslo. Start with a refreshing shower, followed by a traditional hot sauna, then cool down with a cold plunge in a snow cave! -
New water park at Hovden – opens autumn 2025.
Features a 25-metre swimming pool with diving platforms and lanes, a cold plunge pool, a hot tub, and a wellness area with saunas. - Hobo Hotel comes to Oslo – opens October, 2025.
This boutique hotel will feature 181 rooms and follow the same concept as the Hobo hotels in Stockholm and Helsinki – designed for modern travellers seeking authentic, local experiences.