August 24th, 2023
How to Get to Norway
August 24th, 2023
Written by
Torunn Tronsvang
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Norway - closer than you might think
All our large cities and towns have airports catering for both international and domestic flights. In fact, there are more than 50 airports in Norway serviced through regular routes, making even remote places such as the Lofoten Islands, the North Cape, and the Svalbard Islands easily accessible by plane. If you are travelling to the Northernmost parts of Norway, Ivalo Airport in Finland, can be a convenient option to Kirkenes, Vardø or Vadsø airports.
More than 150 international airports connect with our main airport in Oslo, where more than 90 are direct connections.
Norse Atlantic Airways flies to Oslo from Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, New York and Orlando. Starting in summer 2024, Eurowings Discover will add two weekly nonstop flights between Frankfurt and Harstad/Narvik Airport in Evenes to its flight schedule opening a gateway to the Lofoten Islands.
Domestic (and international) carriers
Norwegian was the first airline in the world to join the UN Climate Secretariat’s climate action initiative, pledging to work systematically to become carbon neutral by 2050. They were also voted Europe’s Best Low-Cost Airline by Skytrax for six consecutive years. The airline now operates short-haul Norwegian domestic and International flights.
SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) is Scandinavia’s leading airline. Membership in Star Alliance provides passengers access to a far-reaching network of destinations in close to 200 countries. If you fly with SAS from New York, Norway is only 7 hours away!
Widerøe is the largest regional airline in Scandinavia operating more than 400 flights daily. Widerøe takes passengers to tiny airports in far and near destinations all over Norway. In fact, they have the ambition to electrify large parts of their fleet by 2030. Collaborating with Rolls-Royce and Italian Tecnam they can already present a 9-seater electric aircraft that can be ready for take-off as early as 2026. If you are travelling to Norway from the United Kingdom, don't forget to check out Widerøe.
Finnair flies directly to Bodø from Helsinki three times a week during the summer season. In addition, Helsinki Airport also offers direct flights to Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Tromsø. Bodø serves as a gateway to the incredible Lofoten archipelago, located just a ferry ride away from Bodø city centre.
DAT (Danish Air Transportation) service routes between Oslo and 7 smaller airports in Norway.
Trains, busses, cars & ferries
Train: An extensive rail network links Norway to the other Scandinavian countries and the rest of Europe. Our national trains are served by Vy (previously named NSB, the Norwegian State Railways), NORD (a brand of SJ, the Swedish national railway company), and GoAhead. You can travel by train as far North as Bodø.
The 42-km long Ofoten line from Narvik to Abisko in Sweden, has no connection with the rest of the Norwegian railway network. This railway does however cross the Swedish border, going all the way to Kiruna, and from there connects with the Swedish railway network. This Arctic Train offers a spectacular historic journey, and is one of our top three scenic railways along with the Flåm railway and the Raumabanen railway.
Bus: You can reach Norway by bus from Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Russia. Service from Gothenburg in Sweden and Copenhagen in Denmark is almost hourly. The service to Stockholm is also far more frequent than the train.
Car & ferry: You can enter Norway by car from Sweden, Russia and Finland. Major roads to Norway include European route E6 which runs through Malmö, Helsingborg, and Gothenburg in Sweden, before crossing the border at Svinesund in the south-east of Norway, and E8 which runs through Turku, Vaasa and Oulu in Finland before crossing the border at Kilpisjärvi.
You can also bring your car to all cities and towns in Norway providing ferry services to international ports in Denmark, Germany, Netherlands and Sweden. Ferry companies include Color Line, DFDS Seaways, Stena Line, Holland Norway Lines and Fjord Line. To search for ferries to Norwegian ports, check out AFerry.
Read more on how to get around in our Up Guide to Norway.
Still not sure how to get Up here? Get in touch: travel@upnorway.com
5 Reasons to Travel Up
Norway is a treasure trove brimming with pristine places to visit, unparalleled adventures to experience, and remarkable people to meet. We know where the gems are hidden and we’re eager to share them with you.
Up Norway’s professional team of insiders, partners and exclusive pathfinder-hosts genuinely care about giving you an unforgettable experience. Our extraordinary staff understands exactly what the modern traveller is looking for.
Our mission is to deliver an experience matching the interests of a singular client. Whether they’re a hardcore explorer into mountain walks and kayaking, an intrepid foodie chasing after the taste of the North, or in need of some serious down-time in tranquil, luxurious surroundings, we always match exactly the right thing for the right traveler.
Not only do we help to find the right ingredients for a dream holiday, but after the trip is booked, we ensure all tickets, reservations, booking information, contacts, and schedules are available on one convenient digital app. We have a 24-hour emergency chat-line and clients can reach us by phone.
Our partners are committed to sustainable services, our nature-based activities support local wildlife and cultural heritage, and our rural destinations provide investment in local economies and communities. Everyone wins, including the planet.
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