Norway · TOUR REVIEWS

The 15 Best Days Out in Norway

1,141 tours  ·  from $2

A week of fjords or three nights chasing the aurora, the problem is the same: a long country and a short holiday. The 15 below are the days that earn their place, priced and timed, with the full catalogue underneath.

From Bergen: The Original Fjord Cruise to Mostraumen - The waterfall stop and Mostraumen currents
Bergen Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Fjord Cruises, Fjord Cruises in Bergen, Tour Reviews

From Bergen: The Original Fjord Cruise to Mostraumen

1.The Original Fjord Cruise to Mostraumen

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 8,440 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $93Our pick

Board Rødne Fjord Cruise at Zachariasbryggen by Bergen’s Fish Market for a 3.5-hour round trip through Osterfjord. You’ll pass Bryggen, approach a waterfall for a cool spray, and watch the boat work through narrow Mostraumen. An English and Norwegian audio guide, warm cabin, sun deck, toilets, and onboard snacks make this an easy half-day outing.

“Beautiful scenery and just the right amount of time for the activity !”

Check availability →Read our full review

Tromsø: Reindeer Sledding & Feeding with a Sami Guide - The reindeer sled ride
Guided, Reindeer Experiences, Sami Culture Tours, Sami Culture Tours in Tromsø, Tour Reviews, Tromsø Tours

Tromsø: Reindeer Sledding & Feeding with a Sami Guide

2.Reindeer Sledding & Feeding with a Sami Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 6,417 reviews · 4 hours · from $198

Travel by warm bus from Tromsø to a Sami reindeer camp, where you can feed a herd of about 300, ride a reindeer sled, and eat lunch inside a lavuu tent. English-speaking Sami guides, including Inga, Ilya, Maria, and Ana, share personal stories, herding traditions, and joik singing around the fire.

“Amazing! We did the 10am tour & the longer sled ride. Highly recommend. The reindeer are in a very large contained area with shelter at the start if you don’t want to stand outside. Great experience 10/10.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Stavanger: Scenic Fjord Cruise to Lysefjord and Preikestolen - Fantahålå and the story behind Vagabond’s Cave
Cruises & Boat Tours, Fjord Cruises, Pulpit Rock Hikes, Stavanger Tours, Tour Reviews

Stavanger: Scenic Fjord Cruise to Lysefjord and Preikestolen

3.Scenic Fjord Cruise to Lysefjord and Preikestolen

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 5,791 reviews · from $82

Sail from Stavanger’s Strandkaien on a quiet electric catamaran through Lysefjord. You’ll pause at Fantahålå, look up at 604-meter Preikestolen, and feel spray from Hengjanefossen. The boat has panoramic windows, leather seats, sun decks, Wi-Fi, an audio guide in English and Norwegian, and a small kiosk.

“Very nice experience nice boat and staff. Well worth the money and had lot of time for photos to be taken at the main points of interest”

Check availability →Read our full review

Oslo: Scenic Fjord Cruise with Audio Guide Commentary - Akershus Fortress and the changing waterfront
Audio Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Fjord Cruises, Fjord Cruises in Oslo, Guided, Oslo Tours, Tour Reviews

Oslo: Scenic Fjord Cruise with Audio Guide Commentary

4.Scenic Fjord Cruise with Audio Guide Commentary

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,375 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $44

Set out from Oslo Fjordhage, opposite the Opera House, for a 90-minute electric cruise around the inner Oslofjord. You will pass Akershus Fortress, Bygdøy, Gressholmen, Hovedøya, Sørenga, and the Opera House. Use the Voice of Norway app for commentary, or simply enjoy the quiet boat, wide windows, outdoor deck, and onboard café.

“Lovely boat. Very comfortable. Full shop and bar on board. Lovely way to spend 90 minutes of your day.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Tromsø: Whale Watching Tour by Hybrid-Electric Boat - Why Skjervøy is the main event
Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tromsø Tours, Whale Watching, Whale Watching Trips in Tromsø

Tromsø: Whale Watching Tour by Hybrid-Electric Boat

5.Whale Watching Tour by Hybrid-Electric Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4,217 reviews · from $195

Cruise from Tromsø toward Skjervøy on Brim Explorer’s quiet hybrid-electric catamaran, watching for orcas, humpback, fin, and sperm whales. Guides such as Bee, Adrian, Ivan, and Connor have led lively onboard talks, while heated lounges, panoramic windows, Wi-Fi, and a café make the long Arctic crossing comfortable.

“Honestly everything was wonderful. I was on the bus up part of the journey, don't worry about which side you sit on - its all incredible. Look out for porpoises in the fjords as you go up. The bus is comfy and has USB/USBC chargers & WiFi and some water and a cereal bar for you. once you get to the boat they get you on quickly and within 15 minutes we were watching Orcas and Fin whales..I honestly couldn't believe it. They were incredible. The boat are really respectful of their habitat and slowdown/stop within certain distances to allow the Whales to make their own minds on how close…”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Tromsø: Aurora Borealis Tour - Why the moving search matters
Northern Lights Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tromsø Tours

From Tromsø: Aurora Borealis Tour

6.Aurora Borealis Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4,206 reviews · from $181

Spend up to six hours hunting the Aurora Borealis from Tromsø with Arctic Breeze AS. Two English-speaking guides track weather and solar activity, driving toward clearer skies when needed. You get a thermal suit, hot drinks, tripod help, camera advice, and a portrait photo. Guides such as Brynjar, Oscar, Andy, and Mattia are known for patient, determined guiding.

“We got incredibly lucky. A few days before our tour the weather said it was going to be cloudy but I checked again the night before and it was forecasted to be clear! So you really never know. Unfortunately the next two days were cloudy all night. The bus was really new and comfortable and our tour guide was clearly very passionate about the northern lights and had good humor too. He also helped us appreciate how rare it is to see northern lights, especially with the quality of the ones we saw. To be honest, the lights were a little underwhelming at first because I expected them to look…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Tromsø’s Top-Rated Fjord & Fishing Cruise – All-Inclusive - Ryøya, where eagles patrol the shoreline
Cruises & Boat Tours, Fishing, Fishing Trips in Tromsø, Tour Reviews, Tromsø Tours

Tromsø’s Top-Rated Fjord & Fishing Cruise – All-Inclusive

7.Tromsø’s Top-Rated Fjord & Fishing Cruise – All-Inclusive

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 4,017 reviews · from $142

Spend five hours aboard the family-run Capella, cruising Tromsø’s fjords and straits with an English-speaking guide. Visit Ryøya, try fishing in Ramfjorden, watch for eagles and marine life, and warm up with fish or vegan soup, hot drinks, and cookies. Guides may include Thomas, Jack, Holly, Kristina, or Estefania, depending on the sailing.

“This was definitely one of those activities not to be missed - we did a fair amount around Norway and this for us was up as one of our favourite activities. From the knowledgeable and wonderfully welcoming staff and yes the captain too! Who shared his wealth of knowledge and experience, plus help during the fishing. From the scenery to a fabulous time fishing and a lovely guide who gutted our abundance of fish for a very tasty fresh fish soup. Access to walk around the boat and take in all the scenery whilst taking pictures of this most memorable experience. As well as warming up inside with hot drinks…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Tromsø: Fjords and Sommarøy Islands Tour with Salmon Picnic - The bus ride from Tromsø to the fjords
Tour Reviews, Tours, Tromsø Tours

Tromsø: Fjords and Sommarøy Islands Tour with Salmon Picnic

8.Fjords and Sommarøy Islands Tour with Salmon Picnic

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 3,922 reviews · 4.5 hours · from $112

Spend 4.5 hours touring fjords and Sommarøy from Tromsø with an English or Spanish-speaking guide such as Andreas, Cande, or Joanna. Expect scenic stops, local stories, a beach tasting of salmon, cheeses, fruit, sweets, and cured meats, plus the chance for a brief swim in the Arctic Ocean. This is a full-bus tour, not a small-group outing.

“I finally able to go to Sommaroy Island! The guide, I forgot her name but she’s Argentinian and she was kind and very patient. She makes sure we are well taken cared of.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Tromsø: Self-Drive Husky Dog Sledding Adventure - The ride from Scandic Ishavshotel to Kvaløya
Dog Sledding Tours, Dog Sledding Tours in Tromsø, Tour Reviews, Tromsø Tours

Tromsø: Self-Drive Husky Dog Sledding Adventure

9.Self-Drive Husky Dog Sledding Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 3,498 reviews · from $328

Meet more than 130 Alaskan huskies on Kvaløya, learn to control your own sled, and take turns driving with a partner on a 70 to 80 minute snowy route. Arctic Adventure Tours provides thermal suits, boots, and winter gear, followed by coffee, tea, and cake around a fire in a Sami lavvo.

“This was an amazing!!! But be warned!! If it snows ALOT the night before your trip, just know you’ll be running behind/ pushing to help the dogs if the snow is deep. The dogs are strong but they need help going up the hills. My husband and I had a great workout! You do need to have some sort of physical abilities for this excursion. The guides were wonderful and patient. Another piece of advice is try to get the sled in the front by the guide. There’s a chance you could get stuck behind people that weren’t listening to directions and weren’t helping the dogs, hence, stopping every few…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Tromsø: Reindeer Camp and Sami Cultural Tour with Lunch - Arriving at the reindeer camp
Historical Tours, Historical Tours in Tromsø, Reindeer Experiences, Sami Culture Tours, Sami Culture Tours in Tromsø, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tromsø Tours

Tromsø: Reindeer Camp and Sami Cultural Tour with Lunch

10.Reindeer Camp and Sami Cultural Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 3,326 reviews · 4 hours · from $141

Travel about 35 to 40 minutes from Tromsø to a Sami reindeer camp, where you feed a herd of roughly 250 to 300 animals, warm up with hot drinks and stew, and hear traditional stories and joik singing. Guides such as Inga, Daniel, and Johannes have led especially engaging cultural talks.

“Absolutely wonderful experience with beautiful animals and warm friends guides. Sami culturally talk was very informative and interesting and the food was also excellent.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Bergen: Mostraumen Fjord & Waterfall Cruise - Why Osterfjord is the main event
Bergen Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Waterfall Tours, Waterfall Tours in Bergen

Bergen: Mostraumen Fjord & Waterfall Cruise

11.Mostraumen Fjord & Waterfall Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 2,990 reviews · from $81

Sail from central Bergen past Bryggen and along the 27-kilometer Osterfjord to the narrow Mostraumen strait. You get indoor seating, outdoor decks, a kiosk, English commentary, and views of cliffs, waterfalls, currents, and winter ice. Captain Harald and the crew have been praised for their friendly welcome on some departures.

“the cruise was very comfortable. the views were amazing. it was raining that day though and we couldn’t go to one area because of ice but the drivers drove us to somewhere else to make up for it and that was nice”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Svolvær: Lofoten Islands Silent Trollfjord Cruise - Leaving Svolvær and finding your sea legs
Cruises & Boat Tours, Fjord Cruises, Lofoten Tours, Tour Reviews

From Svolvær: Lofoten Islands Silent Trollfjord Cruise

12.Lofoten Islands Silent Trollfjord Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,979 reviews · 3 hours · from $140

From Svolvær, Brim Explorer takes you on a three-hour hybrid-electric cruise into Trollfjord. Expect panoramic lounges, open decks, live English guiding, white-tailed eagle watching, and possible views of porpoises, dolphins, whales, or orcas. Guides such as Tobias, Bee, Ivan, Margot, and Connor have helped make the trip lively and informative.

“Spectacular scenery! Unfortunately the weather wasn’t the best but the crew made the most out of it! We saw plenty of eagles. The crew is very nice and the food on board super tasty. Highly recommend!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Oslo Nature Walks: Island Hopping Tour - Starting beside Oslo City Hall
Oslo Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Oslo Nature Walks: Island Hopping Tour

13.Oslo Nature Walks: Island Hopping Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,713 reviews · 4 hours · from $69

Spend four hours island hopping from Oslo with an English-speaking guide, public ferries, and about 7 km of walking. Visit Hovedøya’s medieval abbey ruins, Gressholmen’s old airport and military sites, and Lindøya’s flower-filled cabin paths in summer. Winter trips visit two islands and include hot drinks.

“A great overview of the 2 islands- we went in winter. The morning was freezing but pristine. Carolina our guide was very lovely, full of interesting bits and pieces, and secret spots. Morning tea break on the beach with a view was much appreciated & enjoyed. Definitely worth booking.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Tromsø: Northern Lights Chase Minibus Tour - What the seven-hour route feels like
Bus Tours in Tromsø, Northern Lights Tours, Sightseeing Bus Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tromsø Tours

Tromsø: Northern Lights Chase Minibus Tour

14.Northern Lights Chase Minibus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 2,687 reviews · from $172

Join Polar Adventures for a seven-hour minibus chase from Tromsø, guided in English by aurora specialists such as Joanna, Romain, Aneta, or Hans Eric. You may cross into Finland if skies are clearer. Thermal suits, hot drinks, snacks, two professional photos, hotel drop-off, and repeated stops are included, but a bonfire and the lights are not guaranteed.

“Vanessa (tour guide) was very nice! She was very patient and helpful! I really recommend it!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Tromsø: Reindeer Sled, Dinner, and Chance of Northern Lights - Feeding a herd of about 300 reindeer
Dining Experiences, Dinner Experiences, Northern Lights Tours, Reindeer Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tromsø Tours

Tromsø: Reindeer Sled, Dinner, and Chance of Northern Lights

15.Reindeer Sled, Dinner, and Chance of Northern Lights

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 2,651 reviews · 4h 30m · from $219

From Tromsø, ride by bus to a Sami reindeer camp with about 300 animals. Feed the herd, take a nighttime sled ride, eat bidos stew, and hear Sami stories and joik around a fire. Guides including Anna, Luona, and Thea bring the culture to life, while the dark camp offers a chance to see the northern lights.

“The excursion was very well organized. Feeding the reindeer was the absolute highlight. There was plenty of time to get to know the animals up close. You also gained a small insight into the lives of the Sami people. Typical Sami food isn't for everyone, but it's worth a try. The reindeer sleigh ride could have been a bit longer, but otherwise it was a successful excursion”

Check availability →Read our full review

Scroll to Top

Norway, by the kind of day

Pick a fjord, a sled team or a night under the lights.