There are many highlights on a cruise along the Norwegian coast.
The Norwegian fjords are naturally on top of the wishlist for many visitors, and doing so aboard Hurtigruten’s Original Coastal Voyage since 1893 is also an experience like no other.
Here are the monuments, natural wonders and impressive architecture to keep an eye out for during this discovery.
Monuments
The Arctic Circle:
Blink and you may miss it. On Hurtigruten voyages, you will celebrate crossing the Arctic Circle at 66°33′N with rites such as whistle signals and symbolic on-deck baptisms.
North Cape:
About 2102 km from the North Pole you will find one of Norway’s most popular attractions. The beauty of the North Cape simply must be experienced.
Mountain Ranges
Sunnmøre Alps:
The mountains around Hjørundfjord in Møre & Romsdal country are nothing short of spectacular, offering some of the most challenging and rewarding hikes along the Norwegian coast.
The Lyngen Alps:
Nestled amidst the majestic Lyngen Alps, Lyngenfjord is a great region for adventurous travellers. It was also recently chosen as one of the world’s top 100 sustainable destinations.
World-class skiing, fantastic hikes, whale watching, mountain biking, glacier walks, fishing and unique Northern Lights photography are just some of the activities you can enjoy here.
Natural Wonders
The Helgeland Coast:
If you sail between Rørvik and Ørnes, you will experience the Helgeland Coast, a region of many highlights.
The Vega Islands with their 6,500 islands, islets and skerries and a special bird that produces prized down feathers, have been recognised in UNESCO’s world heritage list since 2004.
The Seven Sisters: Seven mountaintops alongside each other, are so beautiful that a local legend tells that they are female trolls turned to stone.
Then there’s Torghatten with its 30-metre high, 25-metre wide and 160-metre deep hole right through the mountainside.
Highlights: Lofoten and Vesterålen
Lofoten is a rare wilderness outpost that offers a unique landscape of majestic mountains, deep fjords and long, surf-swept beaches. Hurtigruten offer several optional excursions in Lofoten.
The neighbouring Vesterålen islands is an archipelago characterized by contrasts, from white beaches and idyllic farmlands to mountain peaks rising from the sea.
Risøyrenna:
Risøyrenna is an inland canal made especially for Hurtigruten’s ships. It is only 7 metres deep and therefore inaccessible by bigger ships.
Finnkirka:
While cruising along the Norwegian coast, look out for Finnkirka, a dramatic cathedral-shaped sea cliff that rises into view as you enter Kjøllefjord.
Hestmannen:
A rock formation that inspired great myths, Hestmannen is an iconic landmark close to the Arctic Circle.
Architecture
Kjeungskjær Lighthouse:
Kjeungskjær is one of Norway’s most distinctive lighthouses that guides traffic in and out of the Trondheim Fjord.
The Atlantic Ocean Road:
Dubbed by The Guardian newspaper as “the world’s most scenic drive”, the Atlantic Ocean Road (Atlanterhavsveien) crosses eight bridges between islets and skerries where the ocean washes against the northwestern shores of Norway.
Trondenes Church:
A historically important Roman Catholic church built to fool sea bandits, Trondenes church north of Harstad is definitely worth a look.
Bryggen, Bergen:
In the city of Bergen, see the stretch of wooden houses built in the Middle Ages. These have since been rebuilt several times after fires.
Keep reading:
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