Visiting Vemork is one of those rare trips where spectacular nature, groundbreaking engineering, and world-shaping history all meet in one dramatic valley. Perched above the industrial town of Rjukan in Telemark, Vemork was once the world’s largest hydroelectric power plant and later became the focus of the WWII heavy water sabotage. Today it houses the … Read more
Rjukan sits in a steep valley in Telemark, surrounded by high mountains, waterfalls and one of Norway’s most dramatic industrial histories. Built by Norsk Hydro in the early 1900s to harness the Rjukanfossen waterfall, the town grew into a company community with handsome brick buildings, cable cars to sunshine and a railway that linked to … Read more
Norway has a way of capturing imaginations. Vikings, fjords, northern lights, blond hair, endless winter. As someone born and raised here who also works with travelers, I hear the same assumptions again and again. Some are charming. Some are wildly off. And a few can trip you up when you plan a trip or consider … Read more
Arriving at Ålesund Airport, Vigra (AES) is straightforward, and getting into town is just as easy. The airport sits on the island of Vigra, connected to Ålesund by subsea tunnels and island roads, so you will be in the Art Nouveau city center in well under half an hour. Whether you prefer a budget-friendly bus, … Read more
Svalbard is one of those rare places where the Arctic still feels vast and untamed. The archipelago sits far north in the Barents Sea, wrapped in glaciers and cold seas, and its wildlife has adapted to short summers, long polar nights, and shifting sea ice. Even a few hours outside Longyearbyen can remind you that … Read more
Public transportation in Oslo is reliable, safe, and the easiest way to move around the capital. The system is run by Ruter and covers the metro (T-bane), trams, buses, local ferries, and local trains within the fare zones. Prices are set by the number of zones you travel through, with Zone 1 covering virtually all … Read more
Visiting Svalbard feels like stepping to the edge of the map. Polar bears roam, glaciers calve, and the Arctic light plays tricks with your sense of time. With that wonder comes a fair question: how safe is Svalbard for travelers, expedition cruises, and new arrivals planning a season in Longyearbyen? Short answer: Svalbard is generally … Read more
Norse mythology is packed with unforgettable beings: world-coiling serpents, oath-breaking wolves, whispering spirits, and shape-shifting giants. These creatures animate the old sagas and Eddas, but they also live quietly in everyday Norway, from carvings on medieval stave churches to modern place names and local folk tales told on dark winter nights. If you want the … Read more
Arriving in Tromsø, you’ll feel the city’s easygoing rhythm right away. The good news is that Tromsø Airport Langnes sits close to town, so getting downtown is quick and painless whether you’re here to chase the northern lights, catch a conference, or grab a cinnamon bun on Storgata. I’ve lived in Tromsø my whole life … Read more
Norway is not exactly famous for reptiles, but we do have snakes. They are part of our forests, heathlands, and lake shores, and if you spend time outdoors you will eventually meet one. As someone born and raised here, I have bumped into them on spring hikes, at the cabin, and once while picking blueberries … Read more