Why Winter Is My Favorite Time To Visit One Of The World’s Safest Countries
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Earlier than you scroll by way of to the following article on sunny Mexico, bear with me a second:
I do know Europe is not everybody’s concept of enjoyable in winter, particularly in the event that they’ve been saving up the whole 12 months to splurge on that customary, all-inclusive seashore getaway.
Between the incessant London rain, the grey Parisian skies, and Italy’s plummeting temperatures, I can see how the concept of embarking on a Transatlantic journey proper now may sound unappealing, however what if you don’t should escape winter to have a cracking time in your subsequent trip?
Enable me to clarify why winter is my favourite season to go to Norway, one of many world’s most Northerly nations – and one of many most secure ones at that – and why it is best to give it an opportunity your self:
Why Is Norway Changing into So Well-liked As A Winter Vacation spot?
Norway is surging in reputation in 2024, and I can’t say I’m stunned: one of many the reason why I fell in love with it within the first place was how unspoiled and considerable the character is.
Although it boasts a excessive Human Growth Index and High quality of Life, a lot of the nation is comprised of forested areas and rural hinterlands, and no matter the place you’re headed, be it the Arctic North or the fjord lands, there isn’t any scarcity of pure wonders to be discovered right here.
From the minute you step out of the aircraft and breathe within the crisp, recent mountain air, with out having solid a single look on the nearest mahoosive peak but, you realize you’re not in terminally-industrialized Germany, nor overpolluted France anymore.
Caribbean seashores are nice, however I’m positive most would agree ice-skating on mirror-like frozen lakes, enjoyable in saunas, snowboarding down winding slopes, and comfortable late nights sitting by a hearth, scorching chockie in hand, watching the snowfall from the window will be simply as alluring a prospect.
Why Fly To Norway For A Winter Wonderland When You Can Go To Aspen As a substitute?
Chances are you’ll be questioning why precisely I’m attempting to persuade you to fly midway throughout the globe for a winter vacation when you could possibly simply go to Colorado as an alternative: as stunning as it could be, the Centennial State lacks Norway’s mystique, historic tradition, scenic railways and hearty ‘Scandi’ meals.
Nonetheless, it is a large nation we’re speaking about, with a fjord-traversed shoreline extending for 1,100 miles alongside the North Sea, and in case you’re warming as much as the concept of happening a little bit low season Viking journey, chances are you’ll be questioning the place to go for probably the most epic surroundings.
Away from the massive cities and off the crushed path, listed below are 4 unbelievable winter locations in Norway (and why they need to be added to your bucket record):
4 Unimaginable Locations To Go to In Norway In The Colder Months
Flåm
Flåm, a small village on the innermost a part of the historic Aurlandsfjord, is one in every of Europe’s best-hidden secrets and techniques this winter, dwelling to the four-star Fretheim Resort, in-built traditional chalet model, an award-winning microbrewery, and the world-famous Flåmsbana prepare.
Rattling up a steep 2,841 ft ascent, with large panoramic home windows providing views of deep valleys, slender fjords, majestic waterfalls and remoted, colourful villages with chimneys and lampposts poking out within the virgin snow, it’s a $50 round-trip value embarking on.
Sauna tradition just isn’t as prevalent in Norway because it in fellow incredible winter wonderland Finland, the place it originated, however in Flåm it simply occurs to be one of many prime sights, with FjordSauna welcoming visitors onboard floating steam rooms on the fringe of the ice-covered fjord.
In the event you’re a fan of the Vikings, you could possibly take a day journey out to Gudvangen to see a Norsemen village functioning as a folks park, or go for some beer tasting and fish supper at Ægir, a pub and restaurant modeled after pagan messhalls of the Tenth-century.
Voss
The unofficial ski capital of Western Norway, simply over an hour away from Bergen, Voss is a small settlement resting on the backside of an elongated valley dotted with lakes, the place colourful homes and a medieval stone church make for a picturesque townscape.
Well-liked for its gondola rides, various collection of Haute delicacies eating places, and surprisingly big selection of leisure choices – it has its very personal skydiving heart – this laid-back alpine village just isn’t a spot you’ll wish to skip when paying Norway a go to within the colder months.
Moreover, it’s the place the highly-reputed Myrkdalen Ski Resort is situated, boasting 22 ski trails, 9 ski lifts, 2 of that are categorical chairlifts, distinctive stays – suppose repurposed barns and homely, self-catering picket cabins – and three distinguished eating places for both positive or informal eating.
Costs for double rooms begin at $239 this season, and if snowboarding isn’t your factor, Myrkdalen continues to be the proper base for exploring the encompassing nature, as it’s a stone’s throw away from UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord, and mystical Gudvangen (Norwegian for ‘Valley of the Gods’).
By the best way, ski season on this a part of Norway can final as late as April.
Bodø, Norway
A captivating fishing port in Northern Norway, Bodø was recognized by the European Fee as one of many continent’s Cultural Capitals in 2024, and with over a thousand events deliberate to have fun the city’s wealthy heritage, beginning this winter, it’s positively someplace you don’t wish to miss in 2024.
Bodø is finest recognized for its walkable, museum-packed historic heart, vibrant artwork scene, with progressive installations and awe-inspiring road artwork lurking in each nook, and in recent times, it’s developed a repute for being a foodie hotspot.
Reindeer is often served in eating places, in step with Northern Europe’s staple weight loss program, and it’s Kjelen kafé in Bodø the place you’ll discover probably the most scrumptious møsbrømlefse, a Norwegian flatbread filled with camarelized goat cheese, and different native delicacies.
Winters in Nordland will be harsh, with freezing temperatures and restricted daylight by way of March, but it surely’s usually within the darkest of nights the sky bursts into one million totally different shades of inexperienced and purple (sure, we’re speaking about Aurora sightings).
Lofoten
My remaining entry on this record is Lofoten, a grouping of islands linked by a collection of bridges and undersea tunnels additional North from Bodø that really feel nearly otherwordly, with jagged peaks taking pictures as much as the celebrities, and fishing villages sitting on rugged coasts.
Three of probably the most sought-after winter actions amongst guests to the archipelago embrace horse driving, taking sea eagle safaris to Trollfjord, an space of excellent pure magnificence, and looking down the elusive Northern Lights.
Village-hopping across the islands can be a must-do: Reine and Nusfjord are notably stunning, with their centuries-old fishing custom and Instagram-ready, brightly-painted cottage homes lining quaint, snow-dusted harbors.
To prime it off, Lofoten enjoys a way more gentle winters in comparison with different locations on the mainland: as it’s surrounded by the North Sea, the local weather is usually maritime, that means you’re unlikely to be caught knee-deep in snow when snowshoeing within the wild.
That’s to not say it’s heat. By all means, do put on a number of layers.
Why Is Norway Surging In Recognition Regardless of The Harsh Winters?
In keeping with the latest data, reservations for Norway – extra particularly, freezing chilly Northern Norway – have skyrocketed this winter, a lot in order that European airways are launching new direct routes to secondary airports like Harstad/Narvik, Evenes, and Alta.
Alta is Norway’s distant capital for aurora sightings, and its Northern Lights Cathedral, eclectic structure and Arctic way of life have been on our radar since last winter; now, new flights arriving from Frankfurt with Lufthansa have enormously improved connectivity within the space.
Equally, a rise in arrival figures for Tromsø Airport, serving probably the most Northerly main settlement in mainland Norway, has led to the development of an further terminal.
Wintertime visitor bookings between 105 journey firms throughout Norway now complete 350,000 so far, with Finest Arctic CEO Trond Arne Kongsli claiming his firm alone had ‘triple’ the quantity of reservations this season in comparison with the 2022-2023 interval.
Norwegian authorities have cited Norway’s numerous vacationer provide, superb meals, and rising reputation as a cultural vacation spot as three of the primary drives behind the rise in demand, despite its harsh winters.
What I Assume As Somebody Who’s Been To Norway In Winter
Personally, I might add tourist-friendliness as a significant component contributing to Norway’s surging reputation as a year-round vacation spot.
Having traveled solo in Norway within the lifeless of winter, when service availability is usually decrease and plenty of sights are shut down, I nonetheless had a outstanding time.
Naturally, it is best to handle your expectations: going climbing in most trails just isn’t attainable because of the heavy snowfall and poor visibility, so you possibly can scrap the long-lasting Trolltunga or go away it for the hotter months, however there may be nonetheless loads to maintain you entertained on the character entrance.
Norway’s ‘Proper to Roam’ is a freedom enshrined within the structure that’s fairly telling of this historic nation’s appreciation for the nice outside. In Norway, everybody has the correct to take pleasure in and make cheap use of nature with out paying to entry it.
In essence, you possibly can go roam freely throughout nature preserves, camp out within the open, try climbing, and even reside off of any uncultivated land as long as you’re not finishing up industrial actions, beginning harmful fires, or polluting.
Exercising the correct to roam in winter is trickier, as I wouldn’t be sleeping exterior in detrimental temperatures myself, however as you possibly can attest from the locations listed above, nature in Norway is at all times breathtaking, and it may be notably stunning when it’s frozen and glistening white.
Lastly, Norway is an extremely protected nation to discover – one of many most secure on the planet, at that.
In keeping with the U.S. Division of State, it’s one in every of a handful of locations globally to take pleasure in a Stage 1 standing, that means vacationers would not have to be overly involved about their security when visiting.
Violent crime charges are negligible, pickpocketing just isn’t frequent, in contrast to in different European states, and poverty ranges are very, very low. Whether or not you’re in a serious city heart like Oslo or Bergen or the huge countryside and fjordlands, you possibly can put your worries about private security apart.
The largest risk dealing with Norway these days is recurring terrorist assaults, like most Western nations, however even these don’t occur on a major scale.
Caught the journey bug? Learn on about Norway, and begin planning your frozen journey here.
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Opinions expressed listed below are the creator’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, lodge, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, authorised or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included inside the put up.