Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
HERE COMES THE SUN
The inhabitants of Longyearbyen in the high-Arctic archipelago of Svalbard must with-
standthewinterdarknesslongerthananyotherNorwegians.Itshouldcomeasnosurprise,
therefore, that their week-long Sunfest (
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), in early March, is celebrated with
special fervour.
WINTER'S-END DOG-SLEDDING
Alta's Borealis Alta winter festival (
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) in March has concerts and other cultural
events aimed at saying good riddance to winter. The festival also marks the beginning of
Europe's longest dog-sled endurance race, the epic Finnmarksløpet.
April
April has surprisingly few festivals of note and represents something of a breathing
space before the end-of-winter celebrations and action-packed Norwegian summers.
The weather is improving and few tourists are around.
FOOD & WINE IN STAVANGER
Stavanger is a port city
par excellence
and its culinary culture is one of Norway's most
varied. In mid-April, the local love of food and wine takes on special significance with the
Stavanger Vinfest (
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).
May
By May, Norway has a real spring in its step: the weather's warming up, Norway's
renowned music festivals get under way and tourists have yet to arrive in great num-
bers.
CONSTITUTION DAY
On 17 May the country becomes engulfed in a wave of patriotism during Norway's most
popular nationwide festival. It's celebrated with special fervour in Oslo (
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),
where locals descend on the Royal Palace dressed in the finery of their native districts.
