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Norway’s 10 Best Photo Opportunities

Home » Norway Travel Tips » Norway’s 10 Best Photo Opportunities

Pack your camera, some warm clothes, and plenty of Norwegian coffee, as we give you the lowdown on exactly where to get those pictures you'll cherish for a lifetime.

One of the world's most photogenic countries, Norway doesn't need theme parks or vast shopping malls to pull in the crowds.

10 of Norway's Best Photo Opportunities

The mountains, fjords and natural light have been attracting travellers for centuries.

These days Norway is a hot destination for photographers, with both professionals and keen Instagrammers filling up social media with #breathtaking #photos #from #norway.

So with that in mind, here's our guide to the 10 best locations:

Trollstigen

The 11 hairpin bends of the Trollstigen mountain pass form part of one of Norway's most popular road trips. That's thanks in part to its proximity to the Geirangerfjord, the Atlantic Road, Ålesund and other top sights.

Looking down on Trollstigen

Photo opportunities abound, from the bottom of the road to the stone bridge crossing the waterfall and especially at the very top. Here you'll find a modern visitor centre with wooden walkways leading off towards the mountain top.

Several viewing platforms provide sensational views down the valley but the very best view is at the far end of the walkway.

Reine, Lofoten

The near-vertical granite mountains of Lofoten provide a stunning backdrop to almost every spot on this Arctic archipelago. For the most famous shot head to Reine at the western end of the E10 road that snakes through the islands.

The viewpoint at Reine, Lofoten

On approach to Reine, the road snakes across islands and skerries for a couple of miles, with open ocean, mirror-like lakes, and ragged snowtopped mountains visible in every direction.

It’s wise to take your time on this stretch to pause at one of the many parking areas and stroll around what is a truly remarkable location. Your first glimpse of Reine will be as you take the bridge from the seafood restaurant and cabins of tiny Sakrisøya island.

Reine itself is a charming village with a handful of cafes and tourist facilities, but the surrounding area offers hiking trails galore for even more spectacular photo opportunities.

Henningsvær, Lofoten

These specks of rock seem to float in the ocean yet they are home to a thriving community and several art galleries.

Henningsvær from above

For the best view of Henningsvær village, take the 2 hour hike to this point at the top of Festvågtind, the mountain that towers over the islands. It's not as steep as it looks!

There's no shortage of great photo spots from within the village, especially harbour scenes with this same mountain in the background.

Preikestolen, Lysefjord

There are few better views of a Norwegian fjord than the Lysefjord taken from the top of Preikestolen. Known as Pulpit Rock in English, this flat clifftop provides an incredible view along the fjord in both directions, as long as it's a clear day.

Hikers looking out from Preikestolen cliff, one of the most famous tourist sights in all of Norway.

The clifftop is accessible via a 8 km roundtrip hike and is a popular day trip from Stavanger. So much so that up to 300,000 people make the hike every year!

The walk is fairly easy (for Norway) although some of the steeper parts can be slippy if there has been recent rain. Come before it cracks! While not hugely challenging, it's still not recommended for those with no hiking experience.

Bergen from above

While most of the photo opportunities on this list are fairly remote, Bergen's Fløibanen funicular railway is at the very heart of Norway's second biggest city.

Bergen funicular viewpoint

The short journey brings you up to Mount Fløyen, from where you can enjoy the view of Bergen or explore the forests on miles of hiking trails. The most popular hike takes walkers over the mountain ridge to Mount Ulriken, where a cable car returns you to the city.

Dalsnibba, Geirangerfjord

Sold as the Geiranger Skywalk by the enterprising local tourist office, the Dalsnibba viewpoint is a dizzying 1,500 metres above sea level, providing an outstanding view down to the Geirangerfjord.

Geiranger from above

As long as there are no clouds, of course! Despite being less than an hour's drive from the fjord, snow is a common sight up at Dalsnibba, even at the height of summer.

For more about Dalsnibba and other viewpoints around Geiranger, check out our Geirangerfjord Travel Guide.

The Northern Lights

The entire northern part of Norway is your playground on a hunt for nature's wonder, the aurora borealis.

The northern lights above Tromsø, Norway

The best place to be changes with the weather. You'll need clear skies and as little light pollution as possible, so head inland from the cloudy coast to increase your chances.

It's difficult to capture the lights properly without professional equipment (and a tripod is essential) but if you know your way around a camera, this can be a trip of a lifetime.

Nordkapp

Staring out across the open ocean from a clifftop in remote northern Norway may not sound like your idea of fun, but that doesn't stop thousands of people from doing just that every day during the summer.

North Cape globe sculpture

The North Cape, or Nordkapp in Norwegian, is a common cruise ship attraction and an end point for a road trip. The iconic globe artwork is a popular spot for selfies.

On a clear summer night, the Midnight Sun sitting low in the sky can offer fantastic lighting effects.

The Kjerag Boulder, Lysefjord

This glacial deposit is wedged into a mountain crevasse and while not as unstable as it looks, there is a drop of almost 1km directly below. The hike there involves three steep climbs and is not for the inexperienced.

Kjerag Norway

For the photo opportunity, you may be waiting a while in high season as many people make this trip as part of a wider tour of the Lysefjord.

Trolltunga, Hardanger

I'm not sure what the most famous photo opportunity is in Norway, but Trolltunga is in with a good shout.

Standing on Trolltunga in Norway

The rock formation that literally means the Troll's Tongue in Norwegian can only be reached by hiking through the stunning mountains between the Folgefonna glacier and Hardangervidda National Park.

This demanding all-day hike is not for the inexperienced, but the reward is outstanding.

Which is your favourite location in Norway for taking pictures?

About David Nikel

Originally from the UK, David now lives in Trondheim and was the original founder of Life in Norway back in 2011. He now works as a professional writer on all things Scandinavia.

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4 thoughts on “Norway’s 10 Best Photo Opportunities”

  1. I have been to Norway twice now and hope to go again. During my first trip 12 days, I took over 3000 photos. I got a little over half that the second time. It is the most beautiful place in the world.

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  2. Thanks for the photos. We recently visited Norway during the last week of July through the first week of August 2017 staying with wonderful friends that helped us see the beauty of Norway near Trondheim, Vardal, and Innerdahlen Valley. SO beautiful. And, so are the people, inside and out! The lakes and streams are so clean and clear you can drink out of them. So much open nature to hike in and enjoy.

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  3. After a climb to the top of Galdhopiggen the view on a sunny day is amazing. Also the panorama of Oslo from the heights of the ski jump are a must see.

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