Norway – land of the northern lights, fjords, reindeer and midnight sun. The sheer vastness and variety of this Scandinavian country knows no bounds – from pottering in cosmopolitan Oslo to exploring the Northern wilderness by fjord, ski or dog sled. A Viking museum or Nobel Prize Museum, waffles or reindeer steak, locally brewed beer or -the lethal- Aquavit.
Hanne Knudsen at Trollstigen, Norway
In our Norwegian themed Insider Guide Hanne Knudsen, UK PR Manager for Visit Norway, explains the best places to see, the best things to taste and her favourite experiences from her home country:
What do you love about most Norway?
I love the versatility – with the different seasons and the different scenery you get. We have cold, snowy winters with great skiing and Northern Lights, but in summer it is hot, with Midnight Sun and endless daylight. We have fjords, mountains, plateaus and sea – what more can you ask for?
Favourite Restaurant/café area?
For the authentic local food it has to be Fiskekompaniet in Tromsø. Set on the harbour front it serves the freshest halibut and inventive king crab dishes, caught in the sea outside. For the urban scene, a visit to Delicatessen in Oslo’s Grynerløkka area (east of the river) is a must – they serve great tapas and there is always a queue for tables. I also never miss the famous ‘smørbrød’ buffet (open sandwiches) at the Grand Café, located in the Grand Hotel in the capital. Ibsen used to eat here.
Must see sight?
There are too many to pick just one!!! In addition to the Northern Lights above Lyngen and the Midnight Sun in Lofoten, the UNESCO listed Geirangerfjord, the Stegastein designer viewpoint near Flåm, Trollstigen road with its hairpin bends, the peaks in the Romsdal Alps, the lunar landscapes of Svalbard from a skidoo – and in Oslo, the Opera House and new Astrup Fearnley museum. And these are just some…….
Trollstigen
Most people don’t know but…
Ski is a Norwegian word. And forget Italy – Norway is the second largest consumer of coffee in the world and the 8th largest on ice cream despite our cold climate.
Good value tourist ticket you can buy?
Norway in a Nutshell– this ticket enables you to see the key scenery of Norway in a day. You start either in Bergen or Oslo on the famous railway line connecting the two cities, before changing trains in Myrdal to the steep Flåm railway down to the Aurlandsfjord, where you get to go on a cruise on the UNESCO World Heritage listed Nærøyfjord. You then board a coach to take you up the hairpin bends of the Stalheimskleiva road, before you board the train again in Voss. Fjord, mountains, ocean and plateaus as well as our largest two cities – all in one ticket. You can tailor make it so that you can stay overnight too.
Flåm
Best place to people watch?
The Hanseatic Wharf in Bergen to see tourists from all over the world marvel at the arcitechture or lying on the grass in the Vigeland sculpture park in Oslo, to watch the locals work out or admire the fascinating statues of nude people.
Bergen, The Wharf
Souvenir you must take home?
A large bar of Freia milk chocolate from the airport duty free. And Smash, salty dorritos covered in chocolate. Delicious.
Local delicacies to try? Reindeer steak. And as an afternoon snack or elevensies, the Norwegian waffle with jam and sour cream. You should also try the brown goats cheese on a piece of toast at the breakfast buffet. 
Local tipple?
Aquavit is the local schnapps to be enjoyed with heavy foods but most prefer the local beer. Most big cities have their own brewery, of which they are very loyal, and there are microbreweries popping up all over the country. My favourite is Ægir beer from Flåm.
Is there a ‘happy hour’ or ‘aperitif’ time to take advantage of?
I have made my own when I fancy a good aperitif. We are very fond of local cloudberries in Norway and they have produced a liqueur, which makes a very good Kir ‘Royal’. Pour a shot of the liqueur into a glass of Prosecco or Champagne and it tastes of the ‘forest gold’ as the berry is nicknamed. 
Best viewing spot?
Stegastein viewpoint on the National Tourist Route above Flåm, or the Trollstigen viewpoint above the Trollstigen route from Geiranger. Both offer breathtaking views – Stegastein high above the Aurlandsfjord and Trollstigen above the hairpin bends at the start of a beautiful valley.
Hanne at Aurlandsfjord
Best place to explore on your own?
Oslo, Bergen or Trondheim are all great to explore on your own – plenty to see and nice people to ask along the way.
Best place to see with a guide?
Northern Lights hunting should be done with a guide as they know the best conditions and have warning systems for where the Aurora has the highest chances that day.
The best place for shopping?
The shops in Oslo have a lot of Scandinavian designs such as porcelain from Wik & Walsøe and or woollen throws from Røros Tweed that are worth investing in. Norwegian design is doing really well both at home and internationally now thanks to international design fair such as 100% Norway in London. Also, the wine selection and prices in the duty free shops at the main airports are surprisingly good. 
Where is a must-visit which will keep the kids entertained?
In Northern Norway there is a Polar Zoo where you get up close with wolves. Also, going on a RiB safari (rigid inflatable boats) along the coast in Lofoten or dog sledding in Alta should keep them entertained.
Dog sledding Finnmark
The perfect areas to stay for…
Families: In a hut or lavvu for a night at Lyngsfjord Adventure outside Tromsø whilst hunting the Northern Lights.
Couples: The Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel in Alta – very romantic and not as cold as you might think.
Cosy: Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel
Group of friends: Ålesund – a small city with great art nouveau arcitechture, great activities on the beautiful Hjørundfjord and short way to the Geirangerfjord, Sunnmøre Alps and Stranda for skiing.
Where are the top spots to enjoy the nightlife?
You’d be surprised over the nightlife in Tromsø. It has the most bars per capita due to the high population of students at the University.
The best beach area?
People are shocked when they see the beaches in the Lofoten islands – stunning coral sand beaches above the Arctic Circle.
Beach at Ramberg Lofoten
And finally, did you know… …If you flip Norway on its axis, it reaches to Rome! …There almost as many Norwegian descendants living in the United States as there are Norwegians living in Norway. Check out more of our Insider Guides here.
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