Enjoy this roundup of the most popular articles, podcasts, and videos published here on Life in Norway throughout the year. Plus, get a sneak peak at what’s in store for 2024.
Can you believe that’s another year over and done with already? I swear they speed up as you get older. My parents always said the same, and now I’m saying it too!
It’s been a busy year on Life in Norway. At this time of year, I always like to take a look back and see what content performed well, as it helps me plan for the new year. This year, I’m sharing those observations with you!
This isn’t a typical review of the year, but I will share the most popular content from across Life in Norway. That includes articles, podcast episodes, and videos produced over the last 12 months. Enjoy!
Popular Articles from 2023
Many of our articles dating back years proved just as popular in 2023. But the most popular article we actually published during the year may surprise some of you!
Norway Child Welfare Controversy Becomes Bollywood Movie
The Bollywood movie, ‘Mrs Chatterjee vs. Norway', is based on the true story of an Indian mother who fought to get her kids back after they were taken by authorities in Norway. It received a limited cinema release prior to release on Netflix.
The movie is based on a scandal from 2011 when a young girl and boy were removed from their Indian parents in Stavanger. The parents claimed their kids were taken because of cultural differences, like the mother sleeping with her child and feeding them with her hands.
Both Norway and India's governments got involved, and people in India protested outside the Norwegian embassy in 2012. You can read more about the case and the movie here.
Travel Chaos as Storm ‘Hans’ Strikes Norway
Norway has certainly received its share of bad weather during 2023. In fact, the year is ending with a severe cold snap set to hit much of central and northern Norway.
Back in August, severe weather known as Storm Hans caused travel chaos in Norway. A period of intense rainfall led to landslides and flooding in many parts of the country, with hundreds of people temporarily evacuated.
The impact is still being felt in some parts of the country. Buses continue to replace trains on a section of the Oslo to Trondheim railway because of damage to rail lines and bridges.
When to Visit Norway
This article was one of several written to answer a common question we get from people all over the world. It’s an understandable question. A trip to Norway is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for many people. Even if you’ll come again, it’s still an expensive undertaking.
But of course, the answer to when is the best time to visit Norway is “it depends!” This article breaks down the common reasons for visiting and what time of year may best suit you depending on your preferences.
Snakes in Norway
While Norway's climate isn't conducive to large populations of snakes, there are a handful of species resident in Norway. This popular article is designed to give travellers a headsup about what snakes to watch out for when in Norway.
Popular Podcasts
I only managed to publish six episodes of the Life in Norway Show during 2023. My bad! This is something I absolutely plan to fix in 2024. Before the year has even begun, I have two episodes recorded, so we’ll get off to a good start for sure.
As I plan to record more shows next year, I’ll need more guests. So, do get in touch if you have a story to tell. In the meantime, these were the two most popular podcast episodes from the past year.
Episode 72: FInding Work in Norway With a Mentor
A repatriate to Norway joins the show to chat about her experiences returning to Norway after many years abroad, and how mentoring can help foreigners find employment in Norway. Listen to the show here.
Episode 69: A Cruise Ship Captain on Life at Sea
Captain Victor Stoica of the cruise ship Borealis from Fred Olsen Cruise Lines chats about life at sea, the responsibility of captaining a cruise ship and his favourite parts of Norway.
This was one of my favourite podcasts to record as I was fortunate enough to do so on the bridge of Captain’s Stoica’s ship. Listen to the show here.
Popular Videos
I have thoroughly enjoyed making videos during 2023. It’s something I want to continue to do and get better at, so watch out for even more videos coming your way in 2024.
If you’re not already a subscriber, why not subscribe to us on YouTube so you don’t miss out on our latest videos. In the meantime, here are our four most popular videos from 2023.
Bergen City Highlights
By far the most popular video we published in 2023 was a look at some of the most popular things to do in Bergen.
Bergen is the perfect starting point to explore the best of Norwegian nature, but visitors shouldn’t ignore the city itself. From a UNESCO World Heritage site at its heart to a stave church hidden in plain sight, watch this video to see the top things to do in Bergen, Norway.
Havila Voyages: Havila Capella Ship Tour
Videos about ships performed well in 2023 but this one did better than all the rest. Havila Capella is one of four near-identical ships now in service on the Norwegian coastal route.
In this ship tour video I’ll take you on board the Havila Capella to let you have a good look around, and help you decide if a Havila voyage is right for you.
Fred Olsen Borealis Ship Tour
Another ship video that did well in 2023 was our tour of the Fred Olsen Cruise Lines cruise ship Borealis.
Filmed during a winter northern lights cruise to the north of Norway in January, this Borealis ship tour video will take you inside a traditional British cruise ship and help you decide if this way of seeing Norway is right for you.
Life in Norway in 2024
So, what’s in store for 2024? I’ve already given away the answer really. Over the coming year, I’ll be spending a lot of time producing more podcast episodes and making more videos.
I love writing, but there’s so much more storytelling you can do with audio and video. I’m excited to bring you many more of these stories in the months to come. If you have any ideas for podcast episodes or videos, I’d love to hear them in the comments below.
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