Norway is small in population, wide in landscape, and big on quality of life. From the bustle of Oslo to the blue hour quiet of Tromsø, each city has its own rhythm, job market, and culture. If you are planning a move, choosing the right place will shape your daily life more than any other decision you make. As someone who has spent a lifetime here, worked with newcomers, and helped plenty of friends settle in, I can tell you there is not one perfect city, there are several good fits depending on your goals.
If you want the quick answer, the best cities for foreigners in Norway are Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger and Sandnes, Tromsø, and Kristiansand, with Ålesund, Drammen, and Lillestrøm as strong alternates. Oslo wins for career variety and international services. Bergen offers a balanced lifestyle and coastal charm. Trondheim is excellent for students, researchers, and families. Stavanger and neighboring Sandnes suit energy, engineering, and English-first workplaces. Tromsø is for Arctic lovers and scientists. Kristiansand delivers sunshine, a friendly pace, and a family focus.
Let’s take a deeper dive into the best cities for foreigners in Norway, what daily life actually looks like, and how to choose the one that fits you.
What Makes a Norwegian City Great for Foreigners
Before the map pins, it helps to know what to look for. The best cities for newcomers share a few traits: an international job market, straightforward public transport, diverse housing, and welcoming communities. English is widely spoken in Norway, especially in bigger cities and international companies. You can start life here without fluent Norwegian, yet learning the language will open more doors at work and socially. I also look at access to nature, since most of us head outdoors year-round. Finally, consider climate. Coastal cities are milder and wet, inland can be colder and drier, and the north has both polar night and midnight sun. None of this is a dealbreaker, but it shapes your routines.
Oslo
For most foreigners, Oslo is the first stop. The capital has the widest job market across technology, finance, media, design, consulting, health, and public sector. Startups cluster around areas like Aker Brygge, Barcode, and Nydalen, and commuting is easy by metro, tram, bus, and ferry. If your partner also needs work, Oslo gives you both the best odds.
Neighborhoods feel distinct. Grünerløkka is lively and creative, great for cafés and small shops. Frogner and Majorstuen are classic and central, with parks and museums. Bislett and St. Hanshaugen offer good everyday living, close to the city but calmer. If you want newer developments and a quick commute, look at Nydalen or Løren. Many newcomers widen their search to Bærum, Asker, or Lillestrøm for more space and a quick train into the city.
Oslo is the priciest place to live, and competition for rentals can be stiff. Act fast, have documents ready, and use Finn.no for housing. The trade-off is convenience. International schools, diverse food, cultural events every week, and waterfront saunas after work all make daily life easier and more fun.
Bergen
Bergen is a beautiful coastal city tucked between fjords and mountains. It has a strong maritime, aquaculture, and energy profile, plus universities and research institutes. English is widely used in many workplaces. The city’s scale is ideal if you like a big small town feel. In my experience, people join clubs and outdoor groups quickly here, which helps newcomers build a network.
Weather is part of Bergen’s personality. It rains often, so invest in a proper rain jacket and you will be fine. The reward is green hills year-round and fast access to trails right from town. Neighborhoods to consider include Sandviken for old wooden houses and sea views, Fana for space and family-friendly areas, and Nygårdshøyden if you like to be near the university life.
Bergen’s light rail and compact center make commuting simple. The culture scene is strong, from the KODE museums to festivals and small venues. If you want the fjord lifestyle with a real job market and solid services, Bergen is a safe pick.
Trondheim
Trondheim is Norway’s tech and research nerve center, anchored by NTNU and SINTEF. That matters for foreigners because there are many roles where English is the working language, from engineering to applied research and startup spinoffs. The city is walkable, bike friendly, and known for being family oriented. Schools are good, and community sports are active year-round.
You will hear locals say the best Trondheim is outside. Bymarka gives you forests, ski tracks, and lakes a short tram ride away. Bakklandet has riverside cafés and cobblestone streets. If you are studying or doing a postdoc, Moholt and Gløshaugen will be your daily landmarks. Winters are colder than the coast, yet the city is well set up for it. If you want a measured pace with brains and bikes, Trondheim fits.
Stavanger and Sandnes
Stavanger and the neighboring city of Sandnes form one of the most international regions in Norway. The energy industry is the big draw, yet there is also engineering, maritime services, and an expanding tech scene. Many workplaces operate in English, and newcomers often say they found it easy to start without Norwegian while they learned.
Daily life feels suburban in the best way. Families settle in Sandnes or parts of Stavanger like Eiganes and Hinna, then commute to Forus, the main business area. The coast is flat and open here compared to the fjords, with long sandy beaches at Jæren that are perfect for walks, kiting, and watching wild weather roll in. If you want a practical setup with international schools and a ready-made expat network, this area delivers.
Tromsø
Tromsø is the capital of the Arctic, and it is unlike anywhere else you might live. The University of Tromsø, Arctic research institutes, space and satellite activity, and a strong tourism sector create a steady stream of international hires. If you are a scientist, guide, nurse, programmer, or project manager with a taste for the north, it is an inspired choice.
Life here follows the sky. From late May to late July the sun does not set. From late November to mid January it does not rise. Locals manage the dark with routines, vitamin D, winter sports, and social plans. The upside is real magic, the northern lights dancing overhead and ski tours right after work. Housing is tighter and pricier than you expect for a smaller city, so start early. Tromsdalen and Langnes are popular, and being close to your work matters in winter. If you want adventure in your weekdays and a tight-knit community, Tromsø will treat you well.
Kristiansand
Kristiansand sits on Norway’s southern coast and has a warmer, sunnier climate than most of the country. It is a favorite for families, with beaches, bike paths, and a compact center that works well for daily errands without a car. The job market touches shipping, engineering, tech, healthcare, and public sector roles, with the University of Agder providing academic opportunities.
The city is practical. Ferries link to Denmark, the airport is close to town, and the vibe turns festive in summer. Neighborhoods like Lund and Grim are popular for access and parks, while Posebyen’s wooden houses feel like a postcard. If you want a calmer entry to Norway that still has everything you need, Kristiansand is worth a close look.
Ålesund
Ålesund is one of Norway’s most distinctive cities, famous for its Art Nouveau architecture and island layout. The maritime cluster is strong, with ship design, fisheries, and ocean tech companies that recruit internationally. You can live on the islands near the center for sea views, or in areas like Volsdalen for more space.
Nature is off the charts. The Sunnmøre Alps stand close behind the city, which means real mountain days on regular weekends. English is common in many firms, yet daily life feels more local than in Oslo or Bergen. Choose Ålesund if you want an outdoors-forward lifestyle with a serious maritime job market.
Drammen and Lillestrøm
If your job is in Oslo but you want more space or lower housing costs, Drammen and Lillestrøm are excellent bases. Fast trains make the commute painless, both cities have grown a lot in the past decade, and services are strong. Families appreciate sports facilities and schools, and it is easy to get to lakes and forests. These commuter cities also work well if you plan to travel frequently, since you are still close to Oslo Airport or the main rail lines.
How to Choose Your City
Start with your work. Norway’s job market is regional, so where you will find the right role often narrows the map quickly. If your field is flexible, list your top three lifestyle values, then map cities to those. For example, if you want variety, culture, and career options, Oslo is the fit. If you want mountains from your back door and a tech research community, Trondheim or Ålesund make more sense. If you want an English-first workplace and coastline, the Stavanger and Sandnes area is hard to beat. If winter magic calls your name, Tromsø is waiting.
Think about housing early. Rentals move quickly, and good applications are complete, polite, and clear. You will need identification and a way to pay the deposit. Use Finn.no for apartments, and join local Facebook groups for neighborhood news. When viewing places, check storage, bike parking, and how snow clearance works in winter.
Plan for the practicals. Register with the authorities, get your tax deduction card, and sort a Norwegian bank account and BankID as soon as you are eligible. BankID unlocks almost everything here, from paying bills to signing leases. Many foreigners also set up Vipps, the mobile payment app used for everything from splitting dinner to buying a coffee at a flea market.
Invest in community. Norwegians can seem reserved at first, then very loyal once you are in their circle. The quickest way to meet people is through activity. Join a hiking group, a climbing gym, a football team, a choir, or a volunteer group. Your child’s kindergarten or school will also connect you with local families. Learning Norwegian, even slowly, shows goodwill and pays off fast.
Dress for the weather. There is a local saying that there is no bad weather, only bad clothing. Get a breathable rain jacket and trousers, wool base layers, and proper footwear. With the right kit, you will use the outdoors in every season, which is half the joy of living here.
A Few Personal Tips Before You Decide
If you are torn between two cities, come for a weekend in winter and another in spring. You will get a feel for light, wind, and how people live. Pay attention to commuting options and whether you like the local grocery stores and cafés, these small routines make a place feel like yours.
If you have children, look at neighborhood playgrounds and walking routes to school. If you are single and social, check live music venues and sports leagues. If you plan to buy a car, verify parking rules at your potential home. And wherever you land, start Norwegian lessons early, even if your job is in English. It will help with friends, confidence, and all the little moments that make a city feel like home.
Norway is generous in that way. Choose a city that matches your season of life, lean into the local habits, and you will find your people. From Oslo’s waterfront saunas to the soft summer nights in Kristiansand, there is a version of the good life waiting for you here.