View source for Tourism in Norway

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Norwegian-people}}
[[File:Geiranger2.JPG|thumb|250px|The [[Geirangerfjord]] in [[Møre og Romsdal]], since 2005 on [[UNESCO]]'s list of [[World Heritage Site]]s.]]
[[File:Bryggen (6-2007).jpg|thumb|250px|The historical quarter of [[Bryggen]] in [[Bergen (city)|Bergen]].]]
As of 2019, Norway ranks 22nd in the [[World Economic Forum]]'s [[Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report]].<ref name="wef1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.weforum.org/en/media/Latest%20Press%20Releases/PR_TTCR08|title=World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Report Highlights the Importance of Environmental Sustainability|access-date=6 March 2008|publisher=World Economic Forum|year=2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307004114/http://www.weforum.org/en/media/Latest%20Press%20Releases/PR_TTCR08|archive-date=7 March 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref> '''Tourism in Norway''' contributed 4.2% of the [[gross domestic product]] as reported in 2018.<ref name="stats">{{cite journal|author=|first=|year=2019|title=Key Figures for Norwegian travel and tourism|url=https://assets.simpleviewcms.com/simpleview/image/upload/v1/clients/norway/Key_figures_2019_70ab0c61-9c91-4b2a-b450-63898baceccc.pdf|journal=Innovation Norway|volume=|pages=|access-date=15 January 2021|via=}}</ref> Every seven in a hundred people throughout the country work in the [[tourism]] industry.<ref name="stats" /> Tourism is [[Season|seasonal]] in Norway, with more than half of total tourists visiting between the months of May and August.<ref name="stats" />

== Attractions ==
The main attractions of Norway are the varied landscapes that extend across the [[Arctic Circle]]. It is famous for its fjord-indented coastline and its mountains, ski resorts, lakes and woods. Popular tourist destinations in Norway include [[Oslo]], [[Ålesund (town)|Ålesund]], [[Bergen (city)|Bergen]], [[Stavanger (city)|Stavanger]], [[Trondheim (city)|Trondheim]], [[Kristiansand (town)|Kristiansand]], [[Arendal (town)|Arendal]], [[Tromsø (city)|Tromsø]], [[Fredrikstad (town)|Fredrikstad]] and [[Tønsberg]]. Much of the nature of Norway remains unspoiled, and thus attracts numerous hikers and skiers. Pulpit Rock and Trolltunga are among the most popular selfie locations in the mountains. The fjords, mountains and waterfalls in [[Western Norway|Western]] and [[Northern Norway]] attract several hundred thousand foreign tourists each year. In the cities, sights such as the [[Holmenkollen ski jump]] in Oslo and [[:no:«Saga Oseberg»|Saga Oseberg]] in Tønsberg attract many visitors, as do the Hanseatic [[Bryggen]] area in Bergen, the [[Vigeland Sculpture Park]] in Oslo, The [[Nidaros Cathedral]] in Trondheim, [[Fredrikstad Fortress]] (''Gamlebyen'') in Fredrikstad, [[Tønsberg Fortress|the ruin park of Tønsberg Fortress]] in Tønsberg and numerous others.

The culture of Norway evolved as a result of its sparse population, harsh climate, and relative isolation from the rest of Europe. It is therefore distinct from other countries in Europe in that it has fewer opulent palaces and castles, smaller agricultural areas, and longer travel distances. Regionally distinct architecture, crafts, and art are presented in the various folk museums, typically based on an ethnological perspective. [[Norsk Folkemuseum]] at [[Bygdøy]] in Oslo is the largest of these.

== Weather ==
[[Norway]] is often associated with weather similar to [[Alaska]] or [[Siberia]], primarily because the country shares the same [[latitude]] as them. In reality, while it is often cold in Norway, the weather is often milder than might be expected, due to the [[Gulf Stream]] and warm air currents.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=21117|title = Reports}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.visitnorway.com/plan-your-trip/seasons-climate/|title=Seasons and climate in Norway}}</ref> Away from the coast, winters are colder, with more snow, and summers are mild with little to no [[humidity]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.visitnorway.com/plan-your-trip/seasons-climate/summer/|title=Summer in Norway}}</ref>

== Transport ==
The Norwegian highway system covers more than 90,000 kilometres, of which about 67,000 are paved. The highway system includes ferry transit across waterways, numerous bridges and tunnels, and several mountain passes. Some of these mountain passes are closed during the winter months, and some may close during winter storms. With the opening of the [[Oresund Bridge]] and the [[Great Belt Fixed Link]], Norway is connected to the European continent by a continuous highway connection through [[Sweden]] and [[Denmark]].{{cn|date=November 2024}}

The 4,058 kilometres long rail network connects most of the major cities south of [[Bodø (town)|Bodø]]. The [[Rail transport in Norway|Norwegian rail network]] is also connected to the Swedish network. [[Oslo Airport, Gardermoen]] is the most important airport in Norway, with 24 million passengers in 2014. Most cities and towns have nearby airports, and some of the largest also have international flights. The cruise ferry [[Hurtigruten]] connects the cities on the coast between Bergen and [[Kirkenes]]. In the summer, the coastal cities are visited by numerous foreign cruise ships, Bergen being the main cruise port.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bergenhavn.no/en/news/many-cruiseguests-to-bergen-this-summer |title=Many cruiseguests to Bergen this summer |access-date=28 December 2023}}</ref>

== Statistics ==

<div class="floatright">
{|
|+'''Tourist arrivals of 2024 in %'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=UN Tourism Data Dashboard |url=https://www.unwto.org/tourism-data/un-tourism-tourism-dashboard |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=www.unwto.org}}</ref>
|-
|
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In 2015, 8,828,771 foreign tourists visited Norway, an 8.3% increase over the previous year's figure of 8,154,436.{{Fix|text=Needs updating}}

The top ten countries of origin of tourists visiting Norway were:<ref>[http://www.innovasjonnorge.no/contentassets/ad75036d7d1141338d4ccc200c162c32/nokkeltall-2015-enkeltsider.pdf Nøkkeltall for norsk turisme 2015]</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! Rank
! Country
! 2014
! 2015
|-
|1||{{flag|Germany}}|| 1,388,978 || 1,459,908
|-
|2||{{flag|Sweden}}|| 1,040,168 || 1,097,231
|-
|3||{{flag|Denmark}}|| 741,241 || 749,517
|-
|4||{{flag|United Kingdom}} || 614,876 || 704,508
|-
|5||{{flag|The Netherlands}} || 539,733 || 567,343
|-
|6||{{flag|United States}} ||  397,801 || 425,295
|-
|7||{{flag|France}} || 301,889 || 326,866
|-
|8||{{flag|China}} ||  176,767 || 287,153
|-
|9||{{flag|Spain}} ||  200,441 || 253,590
|-
|10||{{flag|Italy}} ||  191,390 || 196,785
|-
! colspan=2| Total international visitors || 8,154,436 || 8,828,771
|}

== Most visited tourist attractions ==
[[File:New Holmenkollen ski jump.jpg|thumb|The [[Holmenkollen ski jump]] in [[Oslo]]]]
[[File:Tønsberg - tower and ruins.JPG|thumb|Ruins of the [[Tønsberg Fortress]] in [[Tønsberg]] with the famous [[:no:Slottsfjelltårnet|Slottsfjell Tower]] in the background]]
[[File:002 Jotunheimein reindeer - tourist on Besseggen trail in Jotunheimen National Park, Norway.jpg|thumb|Tourist observes reindeer next to [[Besseggen]] trail in [[Jotunheimen National Park]].]]
[[File:Norwegian trail marking.jpg|thumb|250px|Norwegian trail marking, [[Trollheimen]]]]
Innovation Norway, a state-owned promotion company which is also in charge of tourism affairs, publishes annual reports on the country's most visited tourist attractions, both cultural and natural. The 2007 report{{Fix|text=needs updating}} lists 50 cultural and 20 natural attractions.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Cultural attractions
! Rank
! Attraction
! Type
! Location
! Visitors, 2007
|-
| 1
| [[Fløibanen]]
| Railway
| [[Bergen (city)|Bergen]]
| 1,131,707
|-
| 2
| [[Holmenkollbakken]] and [[Holmenkollen Ski Museum|Ski Museum]]
| Ski jumping hill
| [[Oslo]]
| 686,857
|-
| 3
| [[Bryggen]]
| Heritage wharf
| [[Bergen (city)|Bergen]]
| 583,510
|-
| 4
| [[Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park]]
| Amusement park
| [[Kristiansand Municipality|Kristiansand]]
| 532,044
|-
| 5
| [[Tusenfryd]]
| Amusement park
| [[Ås Municipality|Ås]]
| 501,235
|-
| 6
| [[Flåm Line]]
| Railway
| [[Flåm]]
| 457,545
|-
| 7
| [[Hadeland Glassverk]]
| Glass works
| [[Jevnaker Municipality|Jevnaker]]
| 431,400
|-
| 8
| [[Fredrikstad Fortress]], Old Town of [[Fredrikstad]]
| Heritage fortress and town
| [[Fredrikstad (town)|Fredrikstad]]
| 372,360
|-
| 9
| [[Viking Ship Museum (Oslo)|Viking Ship Museum]]
| Museum
| [[Oslo]]
| 314,560
|-
| 10
| [[Hunderfossen Familiepark]]
| Amusement park
| [[Øyer Municipality]] - [[Lillehammer Municipality]]
| 270,500
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Natural attractions
! Rank
! Attraction
! Type
! Location
! Visitors, 2006
|-
| 1
| [[Vøringsfossen]]
| Waterfall
| [[Eidfjord (village)|Eidfjord]]
| 655,000
|-
| 2
| [[Trollstigen]]
| Road
| [[Åndalsnes]]
| 563,331
|-
| 3
| [[Kjosfossen]]
| Waterfall
| [[Flåm]]
| 457,400
|-
| 4
| [[Geirangerfjorden]]
| Fjord
| [[Geiranger]]
| 423,643
|-
| 5
| [[Låtefossen]]
| Waterfall
| [[Odda (town)|Odda]], [[Hardanger]]
| 420,000
|-
| 6
| [[Steinsdalsfossen]]
| Waterfall
| [[Norheimsund]], [[Hardanger]]
| 300,000
|-
| 7
| [[Nærøyfjorden]]
| Fjord
| [[Aurland Municipality|Aurland]]
| 297,038
|-
| 8
| [[Briksdalsbreen]]
| Glacier
| [[Olden, Norway|Olden]], [[Stryn Municipality|Stryn]]
| 280,000
|-
| 9
| [[Sognefjellsvegen]]
| Road
| [[Lom Municipality (Norway)|Lom]] and [[Luster Municipality|Luster]]
| 253,953
|-
| 10
| [[Atlantic Ocean Road]]
| Road
|
|
|-
|}

== Tourism exhibitions ==
In January 2009, the [[National Building Museum]] presented the exhibition ''Detour: Architecture and Design along 18 National Tourist Routes in Norway''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbm.org/exhibitions-collections/exhibitions/detour.html |title=Detour: Architecture and Design along 18 National Tourist Routes in Norway |access-date=2014-07-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709233624/http://www.nbm.org/exhibitions-collections/exhibitions/detour.html |archive-date=9 July 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The exhibition, which was created in collaboration with the Norwegian Embassy, was available for view until May 2009.

== See also ==
* [[National Tourist Routes in Norway]]
* [[World Heritage Sites in Norway]]
* [[Norwegian Mountain Touring Association]]
* [[List of museums in Norway]]
* [[Scandinavian Mountains Airport]]
* [https://nordnorge.com/en The Official Tourist Board for Northern Norway]
*[[Tourism in Denmark]]
*[[Tourism in Finland]]
*[[Tourism in Sweden]]
*[[Tourism in Iceland]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wikivoyage|Norway}}
* [http://www.visitnorway.com/ VisitNorway.com]

{{Norway topics}}
{{Tourism in Europe}}

[[Category:Tourism in Norway| ]]
[[Category:Tourism in Europe by country|Norway]]