Why Winter Is My Favorite Time To Visit One Of The World’s Safest Countries
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Earlier than you scroll by means of to the following article on sunny Mexico, bear with me a second:
I do know Europe is not everybody’s thought of enjoyable in winter, particularly in the event that they’ve been saving up the whole yr to splurge on that customary, all-inclusive seaside getaway.
Between the incessant London rain, the grey Parisian skies, and Italy’s plummeting temperatures, I can see how the thought of embarking on a Transatlantic journey proper now may sound unappealing, however what if you don’t should escape winter to have a cracking time in your subsequent trip?
Enable me to elucidate why winter is my favourite season to go to Norway, one of many world’s most Northerly nations – and one of many most secure ones at that – and why it is best to give it an opportunity your self:
Why Is Norway Changing into So Fashionable As A Winter Vacation spot?
Norway is surging in recognition in 2024, and I can’t say I’m stunned: one of many the reason why I fell in love with it within the first place was how unspoiled and considerable the character is.
Although it boasts a excessive Human Improvement Index and High quality of Life, a lot of the nation is comprised of forested areas and rural hinterlands, and regardless of the place you’re headed, be it the Arctic North or the fjord lands, there isn’t a scarcity of pure wonders to be discovered right here.
From the minute you step out of the airplane and breathe within the crisp, contemporary mountain air, with out having solid a single look on the nearest mahoosive peak but, you realize you’re not in terminally-industrialized Germany, nor overpolluted France anymore.
Caribbean seashores are nice, however I’m positive most would agree ice-skating on mirror-like frozen lakes, enjoyable in saunas, snowboarding down winding slopes, and comfortable late nights sitting by a hearth, sizzling chockie in hand, watching the snowfall from the window could be simply as alluring a prospect.
Why Fly To Norway For A Winter Wonderland When You Can Go To Aspen As a substitute?
Chances are you’ll be questioning why precisely I’m making an attempt to persuade you to fly midway throughout the globe for a winter vacation when you possibly can simply go to Colorado as an alternative: as lovely as it could be, the Centennial State lacks Norway’s mystique, historical tradition, scenic railways and hearty ‘Scandi’ meals.
Nonetheless, this can be a huge nation we’re speaking about, with a fjord-traversed shoreline extending for 1,100 miles alongside the North Sea, and in case you’re warming as much as the thought of happening somewhat low season Viking journey, you might be questioning the place to go for essentially the most epic surroundings.
Away from the massive cities and off the crushed path, listed below are 4 unbelievable winter locations in Norway (and why they need to be added to your bucket checklist):
4 Unimaginable Locations To Go to In Norway In The Colder Months
Flåm
Flåm, a small village on the innermost a part of the historic Aurlandsfjord, is one in every of Europe’s best-hidden secrets and techniques this winter, residence to the four-star Fretheim Resort, inbuilt traditional chalet type, an award-winning microbrewery, and the world-famous Flåmsbana practice.
Rattling up a steep 2,841 toes ascent, with large panoramic home windows providing views of deep valleys, slim fjords, majestic waterfalls and remoted, colourful villages with chimneys and lampposts poking out within the virgin snow, it’s a $50 round-trip price embarking on.
Sauna tradition isn’t as prevalent in Norway because it in fellow incredible winter wonderland Finland, the place it originated, however in Flåm it simply occurs to be one of many prime sights, with FjordSauna welcoming visitors onboard floating steam rooms on the fringe of the ice-covered fjord.
In case you’re a fan of the Vikings, you possibly can take a day journey out to Gudvangen to see a Norsemen village functioning as a folks park, or go for some beer tasting and fish supper at Ægir, a pub and restaurant modeled after pagan messhalls of the Tenth-century.
Voss
The unofficial ski capital of Western Norway, simply over an hour away from Bergen, Voss is a small settlement resting on the backside of an elongated valley dotted with lakes, the place colourful homes and a medieval stone church make for a picturesque townscape.
Fashionable for its gondola rides, assorted choice of Haute delicacies eating places, and surprisingly wide selection of leisure choices – it has its very personal skydiving middle – this laid-back alpine village isn’t a spot you’ll wish to skip when paying Norway a go to within the colder months.
Moreover, it’s the place the highly-reputed Myrkdalen Ski Resort is positioned, boasting 22 ski trails, 9 ski lifts, 2 of that are categorical chairlifts, distinctive stays – assume repurposed barns and homely, self-catering wood cabins – and three distinguished eating places for both superb or informal eating.
Costs for double rooms begin at $239 this season, and if snowboarding isn’t your factor, Myrkdalen continues to be the proper base for exploring the encircling nature, as it’s a stone’s throw away from UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord, and mystical Gudvangen (Norwegian for ‘Valley of the Gods’).
By the best way, ski season on this a part of Norway can final as late as April.
Bodø, Norway
An enthralling fishing port in Northern Norway, Bodø was recognized by the European Fee as one of many continent’s Cultural Capitals in 2024, and with over a thousand events deliberate to have fun the city’s wealthy heritage, beginning this winter, it’s undoubtedly someplace you don’t wish to miss in 2024.
Bodø is finest recognized for its walkable, museum-packed historic middle, vibrant artwork scene, with progressive installations and awe-inspiring avenue artwork lurking in each nook, and in recent times, it’s developed a repute for being a foodie hotspot.
Reindeer is often served in eating places, in keeping with Northern Europe’s staple eating regimen, and it’s Kjelen kafé in Bodø the place you’ll discover essentially the most scrumptious møsbrømlefse, a Norwegian flatbread filled with camarelized goat cheese, and different native delicacies.
Winters in Nordland could be harsh, with freezing temperatures and restricted daylight by means of March, however it’s usually within the darkest of nights the sky bursts into one million totally different shades of inexperienced and purple (sure, we’re speaking about Aurora sightings).
Lofoten
My remaining entry on this checklist is Lofoten, a grouping of islands related by a sequence of bridges and undersea tunnels additional North from Bodø that really feel nearly otherwordly, with jagged peaks capturing as much as the celebrities, and fishing villages sitting on rugged coasts.
Three of essentially the most sought-after winter actions amongst guests to the archipelago embrace horse using, taking sea eagle safaris to Trollfjord, an space of excellent pure magnificence, and looking down the elusive Northern Lights.
Village-hopping across the islands can also be a must-do: Reine and Nusfjord are notably lovely, with their centuries-old fishing custom and Instagram-ready, brightly-painted cottage homes lining quaint, snow-dusted harbors.
To prime it off, Lofoten enjoys a way more gentle winters in comparison with different locations on the mainland: as it’s surrounded by the North Sea, the local weather is usually maritime, that means you’re unlikely to be caught knee-deep in snow when snowshoeing within the wild.
That’s to not say it’s heat. By all means, do put on a number of layers.
Why Is Norway Surging In Reputation Regardless of The Harsh Winters?
In keeping with the latest data, reservations for Norway – extra particularly, freezing chilly Northern Norway – have skyrocketed this winter, a lot in order that European airways are launching new direct routes to secondary airports like Harstad/Narvik, Evenes, and Alta.
Alta is Norway’s distant capital for aurora sightings, and its Northern Lights Cathedral, eclectic structure and Arctic life-style have been on our radar since last winter; now, new flights arriving from Frankfurt with Lufthansa have enormously improved connectivity within the space.
Equally, a rise in arrival figures for Tromsø Airport, serving essentially the most Northerly main settlement in mainland Norway, has led to the development of an further terminal.
Wintertime visitor bookings between 105 journey corporations throughout Norway now whole 350,000 so far, with Finest Arctic CEO Trond Arne Kongsli claiming his firm alone had ‘triple’ the quantity of reservations this season in comparison with the 2022-2023 interval.
Norwegian authorities have cited Norway’s various vacationer provide, wonderful meals, and rising recognition as a cultural vacation spot as three of the principle drives behind the rise in demand, regardless of its harsh winters.
What I Assume As Somebody Who’s Been To Norway In Winter
Personally, I might add tourist-friendliness as a significant factor contributing to Norway’s surging recognition as a year-round vacation spot.
Having traveled solo in Norway within the useless of winter, when service availability is usually decrease and lots of sights are shut down, I nonetheless had a exceptional time.
Naturally, it is best to handle your expectations: going mountain climbing in most trails isn’t doable because of the heavy snowfall and poor visibility, so you may scrap the long-lasting Trolltunga or depart it for the hotter months, however there’s nonetheless a lot to maintain you entertained on the character entrance.
Norway’s ‘Proper to Roam’ is a freedom enshrined within the structure that’s fairly telling of this historic nation’s appreciation for the nice open air. In Norway, everybody has the fitting to get pleasure from and make cheap use of nature with out paying to entry it.
In essence, you may go roam freely throughout nature preserves, camp out within the open, try mountain climbing, and even stay off of any uncultivated land as long as you’re not finishing up industrial actions, beginning harmful fires, or polluting.
Exercising the fitting to roam in winter is trickier, as I wouldn’t be sleeping outdoors in damaging temperatures myself, however as you may attest from the locations listed above, nature in Norway is all the time breathtaking, and it may be notably lovely when it’s frozen and glistening white.
Lastly, Norway is an extremely secure nation to discover – one of many most secure on this planet, at that.
In keeping with the U.S. Division of State, it’s one in every of a handful of locations globally to get pleasure from a Stage 1 standing, that means vacationers do not need to be overly involved about their security when visiting.
Violent crime charges are negligible, pickpocketing isn’t frequent, not like in different European states, and poverty ranges are very, very low. Whether or not you’re in a significant city middle like Oslo or Bergen or the huge countryside and fjordlands, you may put your worries about private security apart.
The largest menace dealing with Norway these days is recurring terrorist assaults, like most Western nations, however even these don’t occur on a big scale.
Caught the journey bug? Learn on about Norway, and begin planning your frozen journey here.
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Opinions expressed listed below are the creator’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, lodge, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, authorized or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included inside the put up.