Why Winter Is My Favorite Time To Visit One Of The World’s Safest Countries
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Earlier than you scroll by 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 your entire 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 concept of embarking on a Transatlantic journey proper now might sound unappealing, however what if you don’t need to escape winter to have a cracking time in your subsequent trip?
Permit me to elucidate why winter is my favourite season to go to Norway, one of many world’s most Northerly international locations – and one of many most secure ones at that – and why you need to give it an opportunity your self:
Why Is Norway Turning into So Standard As A Winter Vacation spot?
Norway is surging in reputation 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 plentiful 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 no matter 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 aircraft and breathe within the crisp, contemporary mountain air, with out having forged a single look on the nearest mahoosive peak but, you’re not in terminally-industrialized Germany, nor overpolluted France anymore.
Caribbean seashores are nice, however I’m certain most would agree ice-skating on mirror-like frozen lakes, stress-free in saunas, snowboarding down winding slopes, and comfortable late nights sitting by a fireplace, scorching chockie in hand, watching the snowstorm from the window might be simply as alluring a prospect.
Why Fly To Norway For A Winter Wonderland When You Can Go To Aspen As a substitute?
You could be questioning why precisely I’m attempting to persuade you to fly midway throughout the globe for a winter vacation when you may simply go to Colorado as a substitute: as lovely as it might be, the Centennial State lacks Norway’s mystique, historic tradition, scenic railways and hearty ‘Scandi’ meals.
Nonetheless, it is a large nation we’re speaking about, with a fjord-traversed shoreline extending for 1,100 miles alongside the North Sea, and in the event you’re warming as much as the concept of occurring somewhat low season Viking journey, it’s possible you’ll be questioning the place to go for essentially the most epic surroundings.
Away from the massive cities and off the overwhelmed path, listed below are 4 unimaginable winter locations in Norway (and why they need to be added to your bucket checklist):
4 Unbelievable 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 Lodge, in-built traditional chalet type, an award-winning microbrewery, and the world-famous Flåmsbana practice.
Rattling up a steep 2,841 ft ascent, with huge 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 is just not 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 high points of interest, with FjordSauna welcoming friends onboard floating steam rooms on the fringe of the ice-covered fjord.
In the event you’re a fan of the Vikings, you may 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.
Standard for its gondola rides, diversified number of Haute delicacies eating places, and surprisingly big selection of leisure choices – it has its very personal skydiving heart – this laid-back alpine village is just not 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 situated, boasting 22 ski trails, 9 ski lifts, 2 of that are categorical chairlifts, distinctive stays – suppose repurposed barns and homely, self-catering wood cabins – and three distinguished eating places for both high-quality or informal eating.
Costs for double rooms begin at $239 this season, and if snowboarding isn’t your factor, Myrkdalen remains to be the right base for exploring the encompassing nature, as it’s a stone’s throw away from UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord, and mystical Gudvangen (Norwegian for ‘Valley of the Gods’).
By the way in which, ski season on this a part of Norway can final as late as April.
Bodø, Norway
A captivating 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 a good time the city’s wealthy heritage, beginning this winter, it’s undoubtedly someplace you don’t wish to miss in 2024.
Bodø is finest identified for its walkable, museum-packed historic heart, vibrant artwork scene, with modern installations and awe-inspiring road artwork lurking in each nook, and lately, it’s developed a popularity for being a foodie hotspot.
Reindeer is often served in eating places, according to Northern Europe’s staple food regimen, and it’s Kjelen kafé in Bodø the place you’ll discover essentially the most scrumptious møsbrømlefse, a Norwegian flatbread full of camarelized goat cheese, and different native delicacies.
Winters in Nordland might be harsh, with freezing temperatures and restricted daylight by March, but it surely’s usually within the darkest of nights the sky bursts into 1,000,000 completely different shades of inexperienced and purple (sure, we’re speaking about Aurora sightings).
Lofoten
My closing entry on this checklist is Lofoten, a grouping of islands linked 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 celebs, and fishing villages sitting on rugged coasts.
Three of essentially the most sought-after winter actions amongst guests to the archipelago embody horse using, taking sea eagle safaris to Trollfjord, an space of excellent pure magnificence, and searching down the elusive Northern Lights.
Village-hopping across the islands can 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 high 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 often maritime, which 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 accordance 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 way of life 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 firms throughout Norway now complete 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 numerous vacationer supply, wonderful meals, and rising reputation as a cultural vacation spot as three of the principle drives behind the rise in demand, regardless of its harsh winters.
What I Suppose As Somebody Who’s Been To Norway In Winter
Personally, I’d add tourist-friendliness as a significant component contributing to Norway’s surging reputation as a year-round vacation spot.
Having traveled solo in Norway within the useless of winter, when service availability is often decrease and plenty of points of interest are shut down, I nonetheless had a exceptional time.
Naturally, you need to handle your expectations: going mountain climbing in most trails is just not doable as a result of heavy snowfall and poor visibility, so you’ll be able to scrap the enduring Trolltunga or depart it for the hotter months, however there may be nonetheless loads 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 good open air. In Norway, everybody has the suitable to get pleasure from and make affordable use of nature with out paying to entry it.
In essence, you’ll be able to 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 business actions, beginning harmful fires, or polluting.
Exercising the suitable to roam in winter is trickier, as I wouldn’t be sleeping exterior in unfavorable temperatures myself, however as you’ll be able to 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 accordance 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, which means vacationers shouldn’t have to be overly involved about their security when visiting.
Violent crime charges are negligible, pickpocketing is just not frequent, not like in different European states, and poverty ranges are very, very low. Whether or not you’re in a serious city heart like Oslo or Bergen or the huge countryside and fjordlands, you’ll be able to put your worries about private security apart.
The largest menace dealing with Norway these days is recurring terrorist assaults, like most Western international locations, however even these don’t occur on a major 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 writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, resort, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, accepted or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included inside the put up.