When to visit Norway

"It's the great north wind that made the Vikings." - Scandinavian proverb

The two main seasons for travel to Norway are summer and winter - and for radically different reasons.

Summer is wonderful for hiking, sailing, kayaking, white-water rafting and other outdoor pursuits among the breathtaking fjords, glaciers, rivers and mountains. The main season runs from mid-June to mid-August, though many operators open from May to late September. The midnight sun keeps burning over most of the country from late May to mid-July, and from late April to late August in Arctic Svalbard.

Norway's long, dark winters attract cross-country and downhill skiers, and increasing numbers of snow-safari aficionados, combining activities such as dog-sledding, ice fishing and snowmobiling. February is generally the coldest month, but still offers superb opportunities to witness the Northern Lights, which can be seen in the skies above the Arctic circle from as early as September.

Easter is the time to catch traditional Sami festivals, and mid-May can offer a colourful glimpse of the brief Norwegian spring. Autumn can be stunning too, but bitterly cold in the far north.