Travel to Norway with travel insurance from Essential Travel

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Information on Norway with travel insurance from Essential Travel

Travel to Norway

Norway, Land of the Midnight Sun even boasts incredibly long summer days to allow you to enjoy its beautiful scenery even more.

Resting at the head of Oslofjord, an inlet of the Skagerrakm, the city of Oslo is the oldest of the Scandinavian capitals and was founded by Harald Hardrada in 1048. A major highlight of the city is the Akershus Fortress, a medieval fortress and castle built around 1300. The dungeons are especially chilling.

The historic city of Bergen is the main point from which to explore the western fjords of Norway. Nearby, Sognefjord is Norways longest (200kms) and deepest (1300m) fjord. You can also see the lovely Hardangerfjord; the massive Jostedalsbreen glacier; waterfalls at Geirangerfjord; and Trollveggen, considered the ultimate climbing challenge.

South of Oslo, Risør is home to a collection of historic white houses built around a small fishing harbour. It is most popular with artists and tourists, and trips to nearby islands can be made by inexpensive water taxis. Stangholmen, one of the islands, boasts an old lighthouse with a restaurant and bar.

Known as the ‘Gateway to the Arctic’, Tromsø is a vibrant town where you can enjoy street music, cultural events, and a plethora of inviting pubs. It offers a pleasant backdrop of snow-capped mountains, and the Tromsø Museum is a good place to learn about Lapp culture.

Founded in the 10th century, Trondheim is Norways third-largest city and was the capital until the early 1200s. This busy university town is noted for its timbered architecture and its medieval past. A famed attraction is the Gothic-style Nidaros Cathedral; pilgrims came from all over Europe to worship at the shrine of Olaf, who was buried in the cathedral in 1031.

Sandefjord was one of the most famous playgrounds of the Vikings in the Middle Ages and its natural harbour along a 9.75-kilometre fjord made it the whaling capital of the world at one time as well. Today visitors come here to see the 115 islands, its archipelago and its many beaches.

Also worth seeing, the Lofoten Islands make up one of the most beautiful regions of Norway. The area is famed for its fishing, as well as the abundant bird life and flora. Another good place to visit is Hammerfest, touted as the northernmost town in the world. People come here in the winter to witness the bizarre and often elusive ‘northern lights’ or borealis, that illuminate the night sky. The stunning Jotunheimen National Park, on the road between Sogndal and Lom, is a top wilderness destination boasting a network of hiking trails to some 60 glaciers.

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