Best Hikes in Norway: The 5 Most Beautiful Trails

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If you love beautiful scenery, head to Norway. It’s a country of breathtaking beauty and a place where you can hike for days and never see the same landscape twice. If you’re looking for fresh air and a strenuous hike to start your day, look no further than these gorgeous hikes in Norway. 

The Scandinavian country has a diverse range of landscapes with everything from mountains to woodland, rivers to fjords to explore. You’ll even discover alpine lakes and glaciers.

From the coastal city of Bergen in the south to the capital of Oslo, from Trolltunga (the famous rock formation) near Odda and Vettisfossen waterfall outside Stavanger – there are plenty of stunning trails on offer if you fancy hiking in Norway.

When Can You Go Hiking in Norway?

If you’re not familiar with the climate of Scandinavian cities, you might be wondering when is the best time to go hiking in Norway.

September is a great month for hikers as it’s not too hot or too cold and the crowds are thinner than the summer months.

The scenery will still be green but the leaves are starting to change colour which makes for some beautiful red and gold foliage on your journey.

Nevertheless, you can enjoy the best hikes in Norway all year round. Summer has the most daylight hours. But winter will give you some of the most unique views as many areas will be covered with a crisp blanket of snow.

The 5 best hikes in Norway

So, if you’re looking for a new adventure to embark on, there is nothing better than hiking Norway. Hiking lets you see the Norwegian countryside up close and personal – which is something that I highly recommend for anyone who loves nature. 

No matter what type of terrain or climate you prefer, there’s something in this gorgeous country for everyone. These are 5 of the best places for hiking in Norway. 

1. Besseggen Ridge Trail

One of the most iconic hikes in Norway is the Besseggen Ridge Hike in Jotunheimen National Park. It’s a medium-high difficulty hike as it’s quite long. It also has a steep scrambling section up the actual ridge.

At this point, it goes 700 meters down on one side and 300 meters down on the other side. So, if you suffer from vertigo, it might be a challenge. 

You should only attempt this hike if you have a generally good physical condition and are used to hiking. The 6-8 hour hike one way can be done either by taking the ferry from Gjendesheim to Memurubu and walking up the ridge (the most popular hike) or hiking from Gjendesheim down the ridge.

But if you choose the latter, you might have to camp in Memurubu and wait for a ferry in the morning.

It is important to check the weather forecast before your hike. You also shouldn’t attempt The Besseggen Ridge Trail when it is raining as the ridge can get dangerous when slippery.

Make sure you listen to the locals – if they tell you not to go, don’t go. However, if it’s sunny and nice weather, you can expect some stunning views across Norway!

2. Pulpit Rock

Hiking the Pulpit Rock, or Preikestolen, is perhaps the most famous outdoor activity in Norway. It usually takes around 4 hours to reach the summit and climb back down. However, this depends on how fast you go and if the path is crowded.

The trail itself measures 3.8 km each way and totals 334 metres of elevation. It has a moderate difficulty level and anyone with a basic level of fitness should be able to climb it.

Just make sure to take short rests. Locals hike Pulpit Rock with their dogs and kids, so it’s quite a family-friendly route.

To reach the trailhead, most people take the bus or drive from Stavanger to the mountains. The trail starts at a charming mountain cabin. You can also take the ferry to Tau first, then drive up via Rv 13, or from Lauvvik to Oanes and continue by car. The scenery along the way is breathtaking so make sure to look around.

This is one of the hikes in Norway with a famous viewpoint. You can stand on the little ledge, but be careful as the wind can blow quite hard. You can stop to see the waterfalls too, and even try hiking during sunrise for a magical view of the landscape.

3. The Festvagtind Hike

The Festvagtind Hike in the Lofoten Islands in Norway is without a doubt one of the best places for hiking in Norway. It overlooks the broken islands that make up the small town of Henningsvaer. 

This out-and-back hike takes around 1.5 – 2 hours to complete. It’s moderately difficult as there are some steep sections near the top where you are required to scramble up a loose dirt path. This hike would suit people who are fairly active and want something that is relatively challenging but quite short.

The entrance to the hike is located around 2.5 kilometres before the town of Henningsvaer, along the winding road you take to reach the town. There is a small car park on the right-hand side of the road where you can park and the trailhead is a short walk towards the town.

You will see a beaten earth path emerging from the bushes on the left-hand side of the road which is the start of the trail.  

Along the route, you’ll need to climb a steep path made up of beaten earth and rocks. You can visit a small lake halfway up the trail and get similar views for less effort by heading right at a fork in the trail.

While checking this viewpoint out is recommended, the view at the top is well worth the extra effort.  

The last part of the trail is a very steep scramble to the top. But fewer people make the effort to come up here, so it isn’t too busy. The 360-degree views you get are amazing.

The panoramic views down to Henningsvaer and out over the surrounding mountains are some of the best views you’ll get while hiking Norway or hiking anywhere in Europe for that matter.  

The Festvagtind Hike is incredible and you can enjoy marvellous scenic views. The fact that you only need to be hiking for less than 2 hours is even better.

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4. The Vidden Trail

One of the best hikes in Norway is the Vidden Trail – Mount Ulriken to Mount Floyen. This is also one of the best things to do in Bergen to experience the beautiful nature surrounding the city.

Bergen is located in a privileged natural area, surrounded by seven mountains. Two of these are Ulriken and Floyen.

The hike between the two mountains is so beautiful. There are plenty of places to stop by and just admire the scenery. Whilst it is an easy to moderate hike, at 15 kilometres long, it takes at least 5-6 hours to complete. If you plan to hike up and down the mountains, it will take longer.

To start the hike, you need to take the cable car up to Ulriken Mountain. Here you will find a small shop, the only one, so stock up with plenty of water and snacks.

The terrain is rocky and sometimes muddy, so make sure you are wearing proper hiking boots. Walking poles are very useful for the few steep ascents and descents the trail challenges you with.

Bergen is known as one of the rainiest cities in the world. So, prepare accordingly, as the chances of rain on the trail are quite high.

5. Trolltunga

Trolltunga, located in Western Norway has become one of the world’s most famous hiking trails. This is mainly thanks to its epic photo-taking opportunities on the “troll’s tongue”, an unusual and incredible protruding rock that juts out 700m over Lake Ringedalsvatnet. 

The entire route is 23km in distance, which isn’t too far. It has an ascent of 1000m in the first kilometre. Throughout the trail, the terrain is tough and demanding. In fact, it can take on average 10-12 hours to complete this return trip!

You can only access this scenic route can only from around late May to mid-September. You could do the hike in snowshoes with a local tour company if you wanted to go in the winter months.

However, people often don’t complete this hike and need to be rescued (often by helicopter!), as tourists sometimes risk starting too late in the day. 

That being said, you’ll see incredible views as the route winds its way along beside the fjords. With each twist and turn it offers another spectacular view across bright blue water and stunning cliffs. 

The starting point is in the town of Odda, where you can camp or sleep in a wooden lodge. When hiking the route, make sure to bring all of your own food (there’s nothing on the route).

You can enjoy a picnic at the troll’s tongue viewpoint. It’s easily one of the most beautiful spots in the world and the best hikes in Norway.

Which fjord is the most beautiful in Norway?

Norway has over 1800 miles of fjord-riddled coastline. Fjords are effectively deep, narrow inlets with 3 steep sides. They almost look like giant canyons, but they were carved from rock by glaciers during the last ice age.

They are incredibly beautiful. And Norway has a lot of them. So many in fact that the country is often referred to as “The Land of Fjords.” But, which fjord is most beautiful? That’s a tricky question and is slightly a matter of opinion. Some of the most beautiful fjords in Norway include:

The Sognefjord – The largest and most famous of Norway’s fjords and has been nicknamed ‘King of the Fjords’. It has a total length of 205 kilometres (127 miles) and reaches depths of more than 1300 meters.

The water in the Sognefjord is typically blue, but on occasion, it can be brown due to sediment from nearby rivers.

The Geirangerfjord – This UNESCO World Heritage Site has been voted one of the world’s most scenic travel destinations by National Geographic.

Lonely Planet has also ranked it number five on its list of top ten must-see spots and the Guardian listed it as one of the world’s 10 most amazing places to see before you die. Geirangerfjord offers breathtaking views from its cliffs at more than 2,000 feet above sea level

A few more of Norway’s most beautiful fjords include Nærøyfjord, Aurlandsfjord, Lysefjord, and Trollfjord. Many of these fjords (including the famous Trolltunga) are some of the best hikes in Norway.

Final Thoughts on the Best Hikes in Norway

Norway is a stunning hiking destination. It’s easily one of the best places to hike in Europe and there are so many different routes from towering mountain peaks to hidden waterfalls. It’s also just a wonderful country to get outside and enjoy the natural scenery around you. If you’re planning on visiting Norway, you have to add one of these Norway hiking trails to your bucket list.

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