Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
2
Planning Your Trip to Norway
I
n the pages that follow, we've compiled everything you need to know about the
practical details of planning your trip—airlines, a calendar of events, details on
currency, and more.
1 The Regions in Brief
WESTERN NORWAY
Western
Norway is fabled for its fjords, saltwa-
ter arms of the sea that stretch inland.
Many date from the end of the last ice
age. Some fjords cut into mountain
ranges as high as 1,006m (3,300 ft.).
The longest fjord in western Norway
is the Sognefjord, north of Bergen,
which penetrates 177km (110 miles)
inland. Other major fjords in the dis-
trict are the Nordfjord, Geiranger-
fjord, and Hardangerfjord. The capital
of the fjord district is
Bergen,
the
largest city on the west coast.
Lofthus,
a collection of farms extending
along the slopes of Sørfjorden, offers
panoramic views of the fjord and the
Folgefonn Glacier.
Hiking is the pri-
mary activity in this region. The area
north of the
Hardangerfjord
is a
haven for hikers. Here you'll find
Hardangervidda National Park, on
Europe's largest high-mountain
plateau, home to Norway's largest
herd of wild reindeer. The town of
Voss,
birthplace of the American foot-
ball great Knute Rockne, is sur-
rounded by glaciers, fjords, rivers, and
lakes.
CENTRAL NORWAY
Fjords are
also common in central Norway; the
two largest are the Trondheimsfjord
and Narnsfjord. It's not unusual for
roads to pass waterfalls that cascade
straight down into fjords. Many thick
forests and snowcapped peaks fill cen-
tral Norway. The town of
Geilo,
halfway between Bergen and Oslo, is
one of Norway's most popular ski
resorts. It boasts more than 129km
(80 miles) of cross-country trails.
Trondheim,
central Norway's largest
city, is home to Nidaros Domen, the
11th-century cathedral that was once
the burial place for kings.
Røros
is a
well-preserved 18th-century mining
town. The medieval city of
Molde,
Norway's capital during World War II,
plays host to one of Europe's largest
jazz festivals.
Geiranger,
site of the
Seven Sisters waterfall, is one of Nor-
way's most popular resorts.
EASTERN NORWAY
On the bor-
der with Sweden, eastern Norway is
characterized by clear blue lakes,
rolling hills, and green valleys. In
some ways, it's the most traditional
part of the country. Because of its
many fertile valleys, it was one of the
earliest areas to be settled. Some of the
biggest valleys are Valdres, Østerdal,
Hallingdall, Numedal, and Gud-
brandsdalen. Campers and hikers
enjoy the great forests of the Hedmark
region, site of Norway's longest river,
the Glomma (Gløma), which runs
about 580km (360 miles). The area
has many ski resorts, notably
Lille-
hammer,
site of the 1994 Winter
Olympics. Norway's most visited
