Best places to see and activities to do in northern Norway in winter

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Snowy landscapes in Alta in northern Norway

Travel to northern Norway allows you to enjoy very different experiences as you go in summer or in winter.

I would even tell you that it is precisely in winter when this area of northern norway, which corresponds to the natural region of Lapland, offers you its most differential and very appropriate attractions if you like to do winter tourism.

Perhaps his greatest and best known attraction is see northern lights, but I already tell you that this should not be the only objective of your trip to Arctic Norway, which is also how this region is known.

Dog sled in Tromso in Lapland Norway

On a trip of a few days it is not easy to see northern lights then you will be totally conditioned to the weather.

Therefore, you have to take into account from the beginning that perhaps during the trip you do not have all the necessary conditions to see them.

Therefore it is important that you plan a trip with visits and activities sufficiently attractive, so that see a northern lights become a possible icing on it.

This has happened to me on one of the trips I have made to northern Norway in winter, which has become one of those unforgettable travel experiences.

What to see and do in Northern Norway in winter

From the experiences that I have lived in the trips that I have made in winter, I am going to give you some advice about what to see Y what activities to do in a trip to northern Norway, to the region of Lapland.

Tromso funicular to northern Norway

Visit Tromso

Tromso It is the largest city in northern Norway and is considered the Arctic Gate.

Therefore, to make a journey through the Norwegian Lapland you will surely fly up Tromso, city that will become the starting point of your excursion.

This will allow you visit Tromso in winterwhere can you see his Arctic Cathedral, tour the Polar museum, where you will know the adventures of Norwegian explorers like Amundsenor go up by funicular to the spectacularlookout point mount storsteinen.

Here you have information about what to see in Tromso's visit.

Cathedral of Lights in Alta in northern Norway

Visit Alta

Another alternative for fly north of Norway from Oslo is get to Alta.

This city is even more north than Tromso, and it is the best option if in the end your trip is going to take place in the most northeastern areas of the country, such as the city of Kirkenes already bordering on the Russian border.

Its most characteristic image is known as the Cathedral of the Northern Lights inaugurated in 2013, with a very modern design with its spectacular titanium clad facade.

Alta can also be a good base to reach other places in the interior such as Karasjok.

From the city of Alta, its excellent features to see northern lights, as well as the numerous winter activities to which you can join, including the snow bike.

Snowy landscapes near Kirkenes in Lapland Norway

See fjords with snowy landscapes in northern Norway

Travel in winter to Lapland Norway will allow you to enjoy precious Snowy landscape, with the great contrast of seeing them by the sea in the fjords, which do not freeze.

Facing what happens in the Baltic Sea that in winter it freezes completely, the warmth of the Gulf Stream it prevents the waters from freezing on the Atlantic coast of Norway, including its fjords, even those located further north.

If you like winter landscapes, you will not forget these beautiful norwegian landscapes where the completely snowy mountains surround the tongues of the sea.

See northern lights in northern Norway

Of course, as I said, the possibility of see northern lights It is a great attraction to travel to Lapland Norway.

Northern Lights in Kirkenes in Northern Norway

This possibility also exists in other places in northern Europe, but it is shown that the further north, the more chance you have to see them.

For example, in the area of Kirkenes, one of the places I have visited northern norway, if the sky is clear, it is relatively easy to see them.

But I will tell you that it is also possible to see them in the aforementioned city of Tromso, and even in other places further south of Norway.

To see northern lights in Norway, the ideal is to go to a camp to see northern lights, which are conditioned to spend the night in it.

In addition, due to its location in isolated areas, far from cities, they ensure the minimum luminosity so that, if the sky is clear, you can enjoy the Northern Lights, which is how this natural phenomenon is known.

Here you have detailed information about how to see northern lights in northern Norway.

Snowmobile excursion near Alta in Arctic Norway

Excursion to drive a snowmobile

If there is an activity that we are all interested in doing in a trip to northern Norway is a snowmobile excursion for lose you for the huge snowy landscapes.

In various activities drive a snowmobile It is part of it as it is the way to get to the place where it develops, but you will always go corseted for going in a group or at a very limited speed.

However, on one of the trips I've made to Lapland Norway We participated in a snowmobile excursion in which the objective was to make a long journey through different types of Snowy landscape, from plains to lush forests, to crossing an icy lake.

The great attraction of this excursion that I enjoyednear the city of Alta It was that we could drive with total freedom, so you didn't feel like a tourist but almost a local resident who is using his usual means of transport for long trips in winter.

Here you have more information about the Snowmobile tour through snowy landscapes.

Dog Sledding Tour

I assure you that one of the most enjoyable activities you can do in a winter trip to Lapland Norway is adog sled tour.

They are excursions that are organized so that you can go on a dog sled husky, a very original and different way to enjoy beautiful snowy landscapes.

On my trip I made this excursion in an area near Tromso, and I was lucky to enjoy a bright sunny day that further increased the appeal of it.

Here you have information about the dog sled tour in Tromso.

Sami experience in Kautokeino in northern Norway

Excursion to get to know Sami culture

Another interesting excursion that you can sign up for on your trip to northern Norway is the one that will allow you to deepen the culture Sami.

This excursion called Sami Experience we made it near Kautokeino, and after a tour in snowmobile sled to reach a camp Sami installed next to a reindeer farm, we did some activities.

So, in addition to see reindeer up close, we were able to handle our own sleigh dragged by a reindeer, emulating the reindeer races that periodically practice samis.

Then already in a big Sami store, around a bonfire we taste some gastronomic specialties of the samis.

And finally we hear some Sami songs and we were able to deepen all the curiosities that arise to understand what their culture and lifestyle is like reindeer herders.

Snowmobile Night Tour in Arctic Norway

Snowmobile Night Tour

Another alternative within the activity of thedriving a snowmobile is a ago night excursion, as I did too close to Tromso, with the added attraction of the possibility of seeing northern lights.

If you sign up for snowmobile night safari, they will pick you up at 5 o'clock at night in a central hotel next to the port of Tromso, and they will take you in a minibus to the place where it takes place.

In this excursion in each snowmobile two people go, the driver and the passenger, with the possibility of exchanging positions during the journey.

On a route of about 15 kilometers one way, plus another 15 back, we climbed some winding snowy paths of a very wooded area, so the speed was always quite reduced.

This excursion reaches its goal when it reaches an icy lake where the most daring had the opportunity to make strong accelerations.

Trekking with snowshoes in Lapland Norway

Of course, only the expert guide showed us his skills as a snowmobile rider going up and down the slopes of the mountains that surrounded the lake.

The motorcycle tour lasts about 4 and a half hours, with the transfer from the hotel to the departure and return point and a dinner, in total it is about seven hours.

Snowshoe trekking

Another activity that you can star in your trip to Lapland Norway is a snowshoe trekking.

Of course, you must have a minimum of physical conditions for the walk It's really nice for the snow.

I have lived this experience on a couple of occasions, one of them close to Kirkenes, and in addition to doing a type of activity that will surely attract your attention, such as walking with snowshoes, during the walk you can enjoy beautiful snowy landscapes.

Ice fishing in Karasjok in Arctic Norway

Trekking to fish in an icy lake

The activity of snowshoe trekking it is usual to combine it with other winter activities, such as fish in an icy lake.

I did so one excursion near Karasjok, in the Lappish region ofCentral Finnmark.

After leaving the city and going by minibus to one of the nearby places of the same, it was time to put on the snowshoes to start a trekking along the paths that run through a plain with wooded areas.

The objective was to reach an icy lake where, after opening the relevant holes in the ice, with a simple rod we start fishing, which is not easy, but possible.

The day is completed with a picnic around the fire of a campfire in which we could try some specialties of the area, such asbanana with chocolate orsmoked cheese with bread made with potatoes.

Here you have more information about the trekking to fish in an icy lake.

Snowhotel, ice hotel in Kirkenes in northern Norway

Sleep in an ice hotel

Undoubtedly one of the experiences that can attract your attention, as was my case, is sleep in an ice hotel.

I tell you that it is a very exclusive activity because in very few places in the world you find the possibility of staying in a ice Hotel.

Because you have to know that the hotel is set up every winter, so that it is not available until December.

The question is not to stay in an ice hotel for several nights, but to live a true Arctic one-night experience, as it is very expensive and I cannot tell you that it is especially comfortable.

I had the opportunity to live it in the Kirkenes snowhotel, almost on the border between Norway and Russia, although you also have another alternative to live this experience in the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel de Alta.

King crab safari in winter in Lapland Norway

Here is the information on how this experience is also unforgettablesleep in an ice hotel in Lapland Norway.

Royal Crab Safari

In a previous trip to northern Norway I had already had the opportunity to participate in a safari Royal crab, a huge and delicious crustacean of striking red color originating from bering sea It can weigh several kilos.

In summer this activity is carried out in a motorboat that sailing brings you closer to the place of the fjord where the Royal crab to subsequently go to the cabin or store Sami where they cook and taste.

But you have to know that in winter You can also do this activity, as I lived near Kirkenes in one of mywinter trips to Norway.

On this occasion you will go in a kind of carriage pulled by a snowmobile that will travel over an icy area of ​​the fjord to the place where the Royal crabs.

Then you will return to a comfortable cabin where you will end up tasting them in a very nice meal in a wooden cabin.

Here you have all the information about how the experience of a safari of Royal crab in winter.

Fly over snowy landscapes

Finally, facing you trip to northern Norway in winterI also want to highlight that one of the attractions is fly over very low Over the Snowy landscape from this region so far north of the country.

Flying over snowy landscapes in northern Norway in winter

To fly between its small cities you will use the regional airline Wideroe, with small propeller planes of just 20 seats that take you on flights at very low altitude, for example, between Alta and Kirkenes.

This will allow you to enjoy these at all times beautiful snowy landscapes of Norway, so, without a doubt, this flight becomes another true experience to count after the trip.

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Video: Top 12 Things to do in Tromsø in Winter (March 2024).