Among the many natural beauties that Norway offers, below is our guide on which Norwegian fjords to visit and which cities beyond Trondheim, Bergen and Ålesund.
La Norway, land of the Vikings, the Midnight Sun, the Northern Lights and landscapes that will leave you speechless. That is why in this post we suggest which fjords to visit with their cities, starting from the east and proceeding towards the North Cape.
Three pearls of nature await you in the Vestlandet region with their equally characteristic towns that overlook it: Bergen, Geiranger e Ålesund.
Bergen, gate of the fjords
The city of Bergen is also known as the gateway to the fjords of Norway. From the top of Mount Fløyfiellet, reachable by the Floyen funicular, you have a view of the city below, the Puddefjorden and the Vågen. You will immediately notice that seen from up there, it almost seems that the coast forms the paw of an animal that gives itself the momentum to dive into the waters of the North Sea. On the Vågen lies the Bryggen with its colorful buildings, theater of shops, restaurants and the curiosity of visitors. In addition, the maritime activity of the city unfolds. The ships that load and unload goods dock here, as well as the cruise ships that stop there.
Going up the Vestlandet, we first meet Geiranger and then Ålesund.
Geiranger and the Geirangerfjorden
The town of Geiranger is located at the foot of the mountain Dalsnibba, on whose perennially snow-capped peaks, the Djupvatnet lake rises, ninety meters deep. Mosses and lichens are the typical vegetation of the area around the lake, which is also home to more than a hundred different species of birds, roe deer, elk, reindeer, hare, mink and fox. The last sighting of the brown bear dates back to the beginning of the last century; while in the eastern and northern regions, they still live wolves and polar bears. The coasts of the town are bathed by the waters of the Geirangerfjorden, considered one of the most beautiful places on the planet, in fact belonging to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, due to its characteristics. In fact, in its salty waters the herring fishing, salmon, cod and halibut. Numerous waterfalls are thrown into the fjord, among which the best known are the Sette Sorelle waterfalls and that of the Pretendente, born one in front of the other. In addition, the Storfossen literally throws itself into the fjord stor = large e fossen = waterfall, the watercourse that crosses the village, flanked by an iron staircase that follows a good part of its course.
There are two ways out of Geiranger, the Geiranger road and the eagle road. The first is closed during the winter as it is subject to avalanches, and the inhabitants of the village move along the second or using ferries.
Ålesund, the city risen from its ashes
Ålesund it is one of the cities in the north where the Art Noveau or Jugendstil style is very strong and present. The name of the city literally means sound of the eel, from Ål = eel and sund = sound, since it is said that when the wind enters the bay, it seems to produce a sound similar to the cry of the eel. The city is located on the island of Aspøya, overlooking the Valderøyfjorden. Much of the city was destroyed by a fire on January 23, 1904, leaving ten thousand people homeless. Even today the place from which it all originated, a canning factory, is marked on the outside by a plaque bearing a flame. It was then rebuilt thanks to the logistical support of German Emperor Wilhelm II, who sent Norwegian engineers and architects educated abroad, as well as clothes, food and building materials.
Trondheim, the historic capital of Norway
Climbing towards North Cape, we meet Trondheim in the Trøndelag region, in the Trondheimfjorden. The origins of the city date back to the Viking era. It was founded by King Olav. Originally the name of the city was Nidaros, like the historic cathedral, and it was the first capital of Norway. Today the Cathedral of Nidaros is a destination for pilgrimages and for the many tourists who annually crowd the streets of Trondheim. Construction work began in 1035 and ended in 2001, bearing in mind that between 1300 and 1400, the cathedral was the scene of numerous fires. To get an overall view of the city from above, we advise you to go to Kristiansten fortress, which rises above the Bakklandet district, which is accessed via the Old Town bridge over the Nidelva River. The initial stretch of the road leading to the fortress has a steep slope, so prepare your breath!
Tromsø and the polar expeditions
The last stop on our tour is Tromsø, in northern Norway. Known as the home base for expeditions to the Arctic, Tromsø is located beyond the parallel of Arctic Circle, and hosts the Arctic Cathedral, which is located beyond the bridge that bears the same name as the city. The structure is visible from every point, thanks also to its unique triangle shape on a rectangular base, and the entirely glass facade. Don't forget to make a note of Polaria as well, to see the transparent seal tank up close.
