There was not an exact match for the language you toggled to. You have been redirected to the nearest matching page within this section.
Scandic Hotels – in all major cities from north to south
Nordic Choice Hotels – a different hotel company
Thon Hotels – with fantastic breakfast
Hostelling International – the door to Norway
Radisson Blu Hotels – discover your favourite destinations
Widerøe – the largest regional airline in Scandinavia
AutoEurope – always a smooth car rental experience
Vy express – travel with bus throughout Norway
DFDS – Europe’s leading ferry operator 2012-2020
Rent-A-Wreck – the smart car rental alternative
Arctic Campers – Norway’s camper van rental
NOR-WAY Bussekspress – travel green with express busses
Vy – it should be easy to travel green
Hurtigruten – "The World’s Most Beautiful Sea Voyage"
Authentic Scandinavia – exciting Norway tours
Up Norway – tailored journeys
Norrøna Hvitserk – expeditions and adventure holidays
Fjord Tours – experience Norway in a nutshell® with one ticket
50 Degrees North – unforgettable tailor-made and small group tours to Norway
Discover Norway – skiing, biking and hiking tours in Norway
Norwegian Holidays – low-price package holidays with Norwegian. Flight, hotel and rental car
Secret Atlas – Svalbard and Northern Norway. Small Ship with 12 guests.
DanCenter – your specialist in holiday homes in Norway
Norgesbooking – book your perfect cabin stay in Norway
{{title}} {{:price}} - {{!preprice}} Price: {{?}} {{preprice}} {{/}} {{price}} {{:postprice}}{{postprice}}{{/}} {{?:pricing}} - {{pricing}} {{/pricing}}
So you’re going on a Norwegian Christmas holiday? Great choice! Here are some of the questions you might have – along with the answers.
Please note that the information below might be outdated as the coronavirus situation constantly changes. Some Christmas events and markets may be changed or cancelled as a result, so find updated information on the organisers’ own website and double-check the opening hours before you head off.
Inland is always more snowsure than the coast, but Oslo and the surrounding eastern and middle part of Norway often have a nice white coat at Christmas, in both cities and more rural areas. The same applies to Northern Norway.
The southern parts and Fjord Norway are more of a gamble – you’ll probably have to stay away from the coast to have a good shot at snow.
If you’d like a thorough overview of snow depths for specific locations all over Norway, visit Yr.no. For snow reports that focus more on skiing, Fnugg has got you covered.
But what to do with all that snow? Well, go skiing, of course!
Just pick a direction. Norway is such a cornucopia of riveting Christmas markets that you could probably survive most of December on a diet of nothing but gingerbread cookies and mulled wine.
If you’re having trouble choosing, you’d be well advised to look at our guide to the best Christmas markets in Norway.
At the fairs, you’ll find a selection of anything from handcrafted products and delicacies to woodwork, gingerbread towns, Ferris wheels, puppet shows, and pastries. Be aware that most fairs close up shop before Christmas Eve, so make sure to plan your visit accordingly.
Don’t worry – Norwegian law is pretty generous when it comes to breathless last-minute Christmas shopping. According to the law, stores can “stay open on the last three Sundays before Christmas Eve between 2 PM and 8 PM. On Christmas Eve, regular sales places are to close no later than 4 PM, and they shall remain closed on the first and second day of Christmas”.
This gives you ample opportunity to shop for a freshly wrapped present you can stick under the tree in the nick of time. If you’re in Oslo, most stores, especially in the shopping centres, are open on Sundays in December. The same goes for Bergen and Trondheim.
On Christmas Eve, it’s important to remember that many stores close earlier than 4 PM. While some stores in Oslo will close at 2 PM, Christmas comes even earlier (1 PM) for many of the stores in Bergen and Trondheim.
Even though Norway does quiet down quite a bit during the holidays, our nights are not completely silent. Whether you’re in the mood for a Christmas party or a Christmas mass, you can find a large selection of activities by browsing our event calendar.
If you’d rather relax and see a film, many cinemas are open for most of Christmas, with the exception of Christmas Eve. And no, the films are not dubbed – unless it’s animation, in which case you might want to avoid screenings marked with “norsk tale”.
Christmas, in general, is a bit of sponge holiday that has soaked up bits and pieces from various cultures and traditions. Throughout history, it has been a celebration of anything from the god Saturn to the winter solstice.
The Christian variant of the holiday was introduced gradually in Norway around the year 1,000. The Norse sacrificial feast jólablót (jól = jul, the Norwegian name for Christmas) coincided with the birthdate of Jesus on the 25th of December, a date that had already been moved from sometime earlier in the year to better match Roman holidays.
Our current Christmas tradition, as it is celebrated today with customs like Santa Claus and singing around the Christmas tree, did not take shape until the 1800s.
Although Christmas is a time of rest and relaxation for a lot of chefs and waitstaff, there are still plenty of places that will welcome diners, especially in the cities.
As for ordering traditional Norwegian Christmas food? You can’t go wrong with “ribbe” (pork ribs) or “pinnekjøtt” which is cured lamb cooked over twigs in a saucepan. There are plenty of other culinary traditions, too, as seen in this classic Christmas food test, courtesy of the US embassy here in Norway.
Dates are from 2020 - will be updated for 2021 when available:
14 November–3 January
(Closed 24 December)
Winter Wonderland in Spikersuppa, Oslo
31 October–23 December
Christmas market at Hadeland Glassverk
3–6 December
Christmas market in Røros
29 November–20 December
Norsk Folkemuseum’s annual Christmas fair, Oslo
4–20 December
Christmas market in Trondheim
30 October–20 December
Pre-Christmas fun in Henningsvær, Lofoten
28 November–22 December
Christmas at Bærums Verk
28 November-24 December
Christmas market in Kristiansand
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Read up on everything Norwegians do and eat before and during the holiday season.
There is a reason why the Norwegians are among the happiest people on earth. Learn the noble art of “kos”, taste some weird and wonderful food, and join us during our favourite holidays. And we know you’ll want to get a closer look at those fierce Vikings!
Wintertime is fun time! Although the days are shorter, you can go skiing or try many other fun outdoor activities. In the Arctic, whales and northern lights are waiting for you. “The Viking season” also gives you an opportunity to experience the fjords without the crowds.
Norway is far larger than most people realise. We recommend focusing on one region at a time, If you only plan one trip to Norway, take your time as you travel; make the journey itself your destination.
Planning your trip will help you get what you want and find the experiences you wish for.
Back to top