Things to Do in Norway: A Heritage Travel Guide

A mother and her son sit in a sleigh bundled up in winter clothes, with a reindeer behind them on a snowy day.

Norway—the land of fjords, mountains, and reindeer—is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and boasts a charming culture. Whether you’re chasing the northern lights or your ancestral roots, you’ll discover countless things to do in Norway that will make your trip unforgettable.

If you’re lucky enough to make the trip, here is a guide to some of the rewarding experiences in Norway, including tips on turning your trip into an exploration of your cultural heritage.

Check for Norwegian Ancestors

Do you know if you have any Norwegian ancestors? One of the most personal things you can do in Norway is to understand the lives your family led. Before going to Norway, check if you have a connection to the country. All you have to do is create a create a free FamilySearch account.

A blond girl holds a Norwegian flag, looking out at a fjord.

Once you have an account, you can easily find your Norwegian ancestors by using the free Where Am I From? FamilySearch activity. This tool lets you see where past generations of your family came from.

Where Am I From?

Norwegian Cultural Experiences

One of the most enriching things to do in Norway is to explore local life. Norway has a rich cultural heritage, with native Sami culture, Viking history, and unique farm culture.

If your trip aligns with any of the following events, consider going to them! They may help you understand and celebrate the lives of your Norwegian ancestors. And whatever you do during your trip, be sure to sample some traditional Norwegian cuisine.

Sami Week in Tromsø

Gain an appreciation for Sami culture at this weeklong festival in February, filled with activities, concerts, and lectures celebrating Sami culture, as well as a Sami handicrafts market.

The Viking Festival of Avaldsnes

At the beginning of June, there is a 4-day festival with one of the largest Viking markets, traditional food, and theater. You'll find the festival at the Viking farm Avaldsnes.

The World’s Tallest Bonfire

Celebrating Midsummer Eve, on June 23 of every year, the people of Ålesund burn an impressive tower of wooden pallets on a man-made island. Other Midsummer Eve festivals take place across the country.

Try Norwegian Foods

By Sunny Jane Morton

February 23, 2025

As you explore everything Norway has to offer, indulge in Norway’s culinary delights. Food is a fantastic way to experience a culture because it involves all the senses, and reflects the natural plant and animal life, economy, and history of a place.

Sights to See in Norway

Take in Norway’s miraculous beauty, both natural and man-made. Countless activities in Norway involve the great outdoors, from hiking and kayaking to cycling and skiing, and even dog sledding and reindeer safaris. Experience the majestic landscapes, and, along the way, explore Norway’s unique architecture. Norwegian buildings reflect Norwegian life because styles evolved to withstand the harsh winters and ocean winds.

Green northern lights in a night sky over snowy mountains, lake, and a Norwegian town with red buildings

The Northern Lights and Midnight Sun

In northern Norway between September and March, you’ll have a chance of seeing the northern lights. During the summer, you can experience a sun that never sets.

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Bergen

Bergen is a picturesque city with prime examples of traditional wooden architecture. If it looks familiar, that might be because it inspired the design of Arendelle in Frozen.

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A woman in warm hiking clothes walks on the narrow rock ridge of the Romsdalseggen hiking trail in Norway.

The Romsdalseggen Ridge

The Romsdalseggen Ridge is a challenging and long hike, but it has rewarding views of beautiful fjords, mountains, waterfalls, and even the ocean.

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A large, wooden Norwegian church in a graveyard, with green grass and mountains behind it and a tree beside it

Wooden Stave Churches

Wooden stave churches can be seen throughout Norway. They reflect the Viking-era dragestil, or dragon style. Norway's largest stave church inspired the design of Anna and Elsa’s castle in Frozen.

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A man in a bright yellow jacket sits on a large rock that extends out over a fjord.

Lands of the Trolls

Trolls are an important part of Norse mythology, and many Norwegian landscapes are tied into those myths. Some of these places are Trolltunga, Trollstigen, Trollpikken, the Trollkirka Caves, and Trollveggen.

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A large ornate Gothic cathedral in Norway, with a few trees around it

Nidaros Cathedral

This ancient cathedral in Trondheim, Norway was built nearly 1,000 years ago. Its ornate design is a classic example of Gothic architecture, and it took almost 300 years to complete.

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A large treehouse cabin in a forest, with trees, mossy rocks, and ferns around it

Treehouse Cabins

Treehouse cabins can be found all over Norway, and they put you at the heart of its dramatic landscapes, perfect for anyone looking to reconnect with nature.

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An A-frame cathedral covered in snow, with stained glass windows. The northern lights are visible behind the building

The Arctic Cathedral

The dramatic look of Tromsdalen Church, also known as the Arctic Cathedral, was inspired by Norway’s arctic landscapes. One of its most striking features is its large, glass mosaic window.

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A large stone fortress at sunset, on the seashore

Akershus Fortress

One of the most impressive medieval castles in Norway, Akershus Fortress was built in the 1300s and has survived many sieges.

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Norwegian Heritage Sites and Museums

Exploring heritage sites and museums can help you learn how your ancestors experienced life in Norway. Here are some of the museums and sites you could check out on your trip.

Norwegian Museum of Cultural History

If you’re visiting Norway to connect with your Norwegian heritage, this museum is one of the best places you could visit! It has folk art, folk costumes, 160 historic buildings and more.

The Viking Ship Museum

The Viking Ship Museum in Oslo houses 3 Viking burial ships originally used in rituals for the wealthy.

The Historical Museum

The Historical Museum in Oslo houses Norway’s largest collection of artifacts from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages.

Rock Art of Alta

Thousands of paintings and engravings in the Alta Fjord date back as far as 4200 BC. The collection is the largest in northern Europe.

A white church in a green field, with graves around it and bright blue water and forested mountains behind

Norwegian Genealogy Resources

To form deeper connections to Norway on your trip, consider learning more about your ancestors while in the country. Here are a few ways to learn more about your family.

Find Your Ancestors Buried in Norway

While you’re in Norway, connect with your ancestors by visiting cemeteries (kirkegård or gravlund). Seeing your ancestors’ resting places can help you understand the reality of their lives and appreciate the way they contributed to your own life. FamilySearch has free tools you can use to locate burial sites across Norway.

Ancestory Cemetery List

Find a list of cemeteries connected to the ancestors in your Family Tree on FamilySearch.org.

People in a Cemetery

Search for specific cemeteries, and learn about all the people buried there, not just your ancestors.

Connect with a Local Genealogy Society

Consider contacting a Norwegian genealogy or history society before visiting Norway. These societies are often small and run by volunteers who are knowledgeable about the area. Through contact with a society, you may be able to learn where your ancestors lived, find living relatives to meet, or receive recommendations for things to do and foods to try.

Use these resources to find a genealogy or history society:

Slekt og Data allows you to see a list of societies organized by region, county, and city. Please note, this website is in Norwegian. To find a society, click Slekt og Data der du bor, which stands for “Slekt og Data where you live,” and start searching.
Historielagene allows you to find a society by county. Please note, this website is in Norwegian. To start looking for a society, on the website, click Finn Lag, which means “Find group,” and select a county to start looking for a society.
Try searching on your browser for the name of the place you are visiting, and add “historielag” (history society) or “slektshistorielag” (family history society) to your search. Once you have the name of the society, look for a website to determine how to contact the society.

Visit the Archives

You can also visit different archives in Norway to see what else you can find out about your family through historical documents that may not be online.

The National Archives (Rigsarkivet)

These archives in Oslo hold a wealth of information about the whole country as well as Regional Archives for Oslo specifically.

Regional Archives (Statsarkivene)

In various cities throughout Norway, regional branches of The National Archives provide specific local collections and documents.

The National Library (Nasjonalbiblioteket)

The National Library in Norway has a vast collection of books, newspapers, and other items. Some items can be viewed online from anywhere, some online in Norway, and some only physically in the National Library.

The Emigration Museum (Utvandrermuseum)

This museum is dedicated to understanding those who left Norway to travel and settle abroad. View their exhibits, take a stroll through their open air museum, or research in their onsite library.

Meet a Relative

Meeting your living relatives can be one of the most rewarding experiences you can have while traveling in an ancestral homeland. Relatives may have pictures and stories you have never seen or heard. Here are a few ways you can try to find a relative.

Search for your ancestors on public family tree websites such as FamilySearch, Ancestry, and MyHeritage. Look for the creator or contributors to the family tree with your ancestor in it, and send them a message.
Connect with living relatives by taking a DNA test.
Between February and March of each year, use FamilySearch’s Relatives at RootsTech tool to find living family connections.
If you make contact with a local society, ask them if they can help you find living relatives.

A man in a blue jacket points to a blue river with green canyons around it as he sits beside a woman in a red jacket on a rock.

Safe Travels!

Whatever you do in Norway, take the time to discover more about your cultural heritage during your travels, and by doing so, uncover more about your family story. How do you plan on honoring your Norwegian heritage and ancestors on your trip to Norway?