Top Crime Fiction Locations in Norway

Are you a fan of crime and mystery novels? Discover the best-known locations used in Norwegian crime fiction novels and TV.

It’s easy to forget now, but I barely read any crime literature before moving to Norway. Once you’re here, it’s almost impossible to avoid.

Bookstores dedicate entire walls to Norwegian crime novels, and Easter brings with it a unique tradition known as påskekrim, when publishers, TV networks, and even milk cartons embrace crime stories.

In the past two decades, the genre has travelled well beyond Scandinavia. Jo Nesbø’s novels sell millions of copies worldwide, Gunnar Staalesen’s private detective Varg Veum has made it onto cinema screens, and TV adaptations such as Wisting reach global audiences through streaming services.

A defining characteristic of Nordic noir is its strong sense of place. Bleak landscapes, stormy coastlines, and gritty urban backstreets are more than backdrops: they shape the characters, drive the plots, and reflect the moral complexity at the heart of the stories.

Norway’s scenery, from the dense streets of Oslo to the snowy mountain plateau of Finse, plays a starring role.

Crime Fiction as a Window Into Norway

One of the reasons Nordic noir resonates so strongly is that it doesn’t only tell crime stories, it comments on society.

Themes such as inequality, immigration, political corruption, and environmental conflict often appear, and the landscapes mirror the characters’ inner struggles.

For visitors to Norway, exploring these crime fiction settings is more than literary tourism. It’s a way to understand how Norwegians see their cities, towns, and wilderness.

Harry Hole’s Oslo reveals the grittier side of a seemingly clean city. Varg Veum’s Bergen reminds us that even picturesque places have shadows. Finse demonstrates how isolation can shape a story, just as it shapes life in the mountains.

Now, let’s explore some of the most recognisable locations in Norwegian crime fiction.

Harry Hole’s Oslo

Perhaps the most famous fictional resident of Oslo is the alcoholic detective Harry Hole. Created by Norwegian superstar Jo Nesbø, Hole has featured in a dozen novels. While the first two books took place abroad, later instalments are firmly rooted in the Norwegian capital.

Fans of the series often seek out real locations from the books. Schrøder’s bar on Waldemar Thranes gate is Hole’s watering hole of choice. It’s a real bar, not a tourist gimmick, and regulars still sit at tables while curious fans peer around to picture Harry brooding over a drink.

His home on Sofies gate is also real. It’s an ordinary apartment building with a buzzer that playfully lists “Harry Hole” among the names.

Many other real places feature throughout the series. Oslo Police Headquarters in Grønland is where Hole works, and it’s also the backdrop for other authors’ police procedurals. Even Holmenkollen, Oslo’s ski jump, makes a dramatic appearance in The Snowman.

Walking tours of Harry Hole’s Oslo have been offered in the past, and even if they’re not currently running, Visit Oslo can advise on fan experiences. A self-guided wander through St. Hanshaugen, Grønland, and central Oslo is the next best thing.

William Wisting’s Larvik

While Oslo dominates Norwegian crime fiction, the small coastal town of Larvik has earned a place on the map thanks to author Jørn Lier Horst.

His creation, Detective William Wisting, is a methodical investigator often praised for his realism. Horst himself worked as a police officer in Larvik, which lends authenticity to the novels.

International awareness of Wisting grew dramatically in 2019 with the launch of the TV adaptation ‘Wisting'. Unlike many shows that use generic locations, the series was filmed on location in Larvik and neighbouring towns, using local extras to anchor it in reality.

For fans, this makes a visit especially rewarding. Strolling along Larvik’s waterfront or exploring the surrounding Vestfold region, you can imagine the investigations unfolding nearby.

Larvik isn’t usually high on tourist itineraries, but for crime fiction fans, it offers a quieter, more intimate connection with the genre.

Varg Veum’s Bergen

If Oslo has Harry Hole, Bergen has Varg Veum. Created by Gunnar Staalesen, the private detective has starred in 19 novels, short stories, and a series of films. With his rebellious streak and social conscience, Veum is sometimes described as Norway’s answer to Philip Marlowe.

Bergen itself is ever-present in the stories. Veum grew up in Nordnes, but in the books he lives below the old Skansen fire station. His fictional office is on Strandkaien, and both locations appear on guided walking tours. The routes often include the police headquarters, the national registry, and the now-closed Børs café.

In 2008, Bergen unveiled a statue of Varg Veum on Strandkaien, just outside his fictional office. It’s one of the few places in Norway where a crime fiction character has been immortalised in bronze, a testament to Veum’s popularity.

For visitors, this means Bergen isn’t only about colourful Bryggen or rain-soaked mountains. It’s also the gritty, shadowy world of Staalesen’s detective.

Finse: Hanne Wilhelmsen in the Mountains

Anne Holt’s creation Hanne Wilhelmsen is usually based in Oslo, but one of her most memorable adventures took place in Finse. At 1,222 metres above sea level, Finse is a remote mountain village only accessible by rail along the Bergen line.

In the novel ‘1222', a train derailment during a blizzard strands passengers at the Finse Hotel, where Wilhelmsen must solve a mystery in claustrophobic conditions.

The real-life hotel welcomes hikers, cyclists, and skiers depending on the season, but fans of Holt’s novel often come to experience its atmospheric isolation.

Finse is also famous among Star Wars fans, as the surrounding plateau was used to film the icy planet Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back. Whether you arrive as a hiker, a skier, or a crime fiction enthusiast, the sense of otherworldliness is unmistakable.

Arctic and Coastal Crime

While Oslo, Bergen, and Larvik dominate the headlines, more authors are turning to Norway’s dramatic coastal and Arctic landscapes for inspiration.

In northern Norway, Heine Bakkeid’s ‘I Will Miss You Tomorrow' begins with a man’s disappearance at a remote lighthouse near Tromsø. The bleak Arctic setting amplifies the psychological unease of his disgraced investigator, making the snow, sea, and isolation part of the story’s tension.

Tromsø has also appeared in crime series featuring journalist Alex Winther, where the midnight sun and polar night heighten the drama.

The Lofoten Islands are another rich backdrop. Frode Granhus deliberately set his Rino Carlsen series there, starting with The Maelstrom, to prove that crime fiction need not be confined to Oslo or Bergen. His novels make full use of Lofoten’s treacherous seas and tight-knit fishing communities.

More recently, Ørjan Karlsson’s Into Thin Air carries readers across Bodø, Røst, and the Lofoten archipelago as part of his “Arctic Murders” series. The sense of isolation and the raw force of the landscape becomes a character in its own right.

Even central Norway has had its moment. Mats Vederhus’ ‘Trouble in Trondheim' places a serial killer in the historic city, blending suspense with the cobbled streets and student-filled nightlife of Norway’s former capital.

Together, these examples show that Nordic noir thrives everywhere: from Arctic lighthouses to fishing villages and university towns. Norway’s geography is so varied that it offers an almost limitless canvas for crime writers.

Norwegian Crime on Screen

Although this article is mainly about novels, TV has played a huge role in spreading Norwegian crime fiction to the world.

The quirky Lilyhammer was one of Netflix’s first international hits, mixing mobster comedy with small-town Norwegian life. Filmed in Lillehammer, the nightclub Brenneriet doubled as Frank’s Flamingo Bar, and fans can still visit today.

Beforeigners, a genre-bending crime and sci-fi drama, filmed much of its action in Oslo. The opening scenes at Bjørvika and the Opera House set the tone, while the Barcode financial district was transformed into a futuristic migrant quarter.

Series like Occupied and Borderliner highlight Oslo and eastern Norway, while international film crews increasingly use Norway’s fjords and towns for their atmospheric backdrops.

From Oslo’s backstreets to Bergen’s waterfront, from Larvik’s quiet coast to the snowy heights of Finse, Norway’s crime fiction is inseparable from its locations. These places aren’t just settings but characters in their own right, shaping the detectives, influencing the crimes, and adding to the suspense.

Whether you’re a long-time fan of Nordic noir or simply curious about Norway, visiting these locations offers a new perspective on the country. Just remember, behind every scenic fjord or charming cobbled street, a crime story may be waiting to unfold.