A woman laughing while posing besides the famous polar bear traffic sign at Svalbard

Norwegian road signs

Looking for a sign?

Well, Norway has plenty, and some are downright hilarious!

Norway’s road signs are not just informative, they’re entertaining! Here are some of the more unusual signs you may encounter in Norway and explanations of what they actually mean.

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Norway has a lot of different signs along the road. You have the classics: red triangles, stop signs, no parking signs – clear and practical.

But then things get interesting. Suddenly, you spot a sign with a moose on it. Then one with a horse. Then a tractor. And wait… is that an alpaca?

Norway's road signs don't just help you drive, they give you a peek at the fun, weird, and wonderful things you might see along the way. These charming, unexpected warnings offer a quirky glimpse into rural life, where traffic might include more hooves than wheels.

Alpacas and alpaca sign at Sørum, Eastern Norway.
Alpaca walking, Eastern Norway.
Drøbak- Santa Claus traffic sign
Woman in front of a polar bear sign in Svalbard
Seljordsormen in Seljord
Hell in Trøndelag
A chicken sign called "Hanen".

Follow this sign! You might not reach your destination, but at least you'll make a woolly friend!

Totally worth a stop! Stretch your legs by taking a stroll with an alpaca. Snap a selfie with your fluffy new pal, and pick up a souvenir made from alpaca wool before hitting the road again.

You'll find this alpaca sign in Sørum in Eastern Norway, but there are plenty of other places along the road to meet alpacas.

Walk an alpaca!

Nothing says "holiday spirit" like a road sign warning you to watch out for Santa. Sleigh traffic must be heavy this year!

But why is there a Santa Claus sign in Drøbak, you might wonder?

At Tregaardens Julehus in Drøbak, Eastern Norway, it's Christmas 365 days a year. Letters from all over the world addressed to Santa Claus have ended up in the letterbox here for over 30 years. While you're here, why not send a letter yourself with an official Santa stamp?

Explore Drøbak

I bet you haven't seen this sign anywhere else! You'll find this polar bear sign in Svalbard!

While downtown encounters with polar bears are rare, these signs warn residents and visitors about the potential danger they face when venturing beyond the town limits.

In doing so, these signs have become icons in their own right, symbolising the vigilance that characterises the community.

The Svalbard Islands

This sign says danger! Watch out for the Norwegian Loch Ness Monster: Seljordsormen! (The Seljord sea serpent.)

"Selma" is a legendary lake monster said to lurk in Lake Seljord in Eastern Norway.

Sightings date back to 1750, but Selma remains camera-shy. Despite little proof, she's now the town mascot, a tourist magnet, and even stars on the Seljord coat of arms.

You have reached your final destination. Welcome to Hell!

Hell is a small village in central Norway, near the city of Trondheim. While its name may sound terrifying to English speakers, it’s actually a peaceful little spot.

Tourists from around the world come here just to take a photo with the legendary “Hell" sign.

Did you know that "Hell" actually means "luck" in Norwegian?

If you spot a sign with a brown rooster, hit the brakes! You’re about to encounter a rural pearl of Norway.

This sign is used by the members of HANEN, an organisation promoting local food, activities in nature, and a good night's sleep in peaceful surroundings.

Go rural with HANEN

These are just a few examples of the fun signs scattered across Norway. Drive along the Norwegian Scenic Routes and maybe you'll see some of them!

Norwegian Scenic Routes
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    Cat and sheep sign
    Duck sign in the old town of Fredrikstad

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