Norway: Here the mountains look into cold lakes
Norway is the northernmost of the Scandinavian states, the land of the harsh Vikings that made Europe fearful, but all this is in the past: the harsh God One is forgotten, and the Valkyries have no one to offer beer and honey during battles.
oslo
The main city of the country is Oslo. For the European capital, it is not big – only 600,000 inhabitants. Oslo left the top 10 most expensive cities to live in this year, but despite this, housing in the Norwegian capital is still a very expensive page of the traveler’s budget. If you are not afraid to spend the night in a tent, then you should know that in Norway there is an interesting law according to which every traveler has the right to stay for one night anywhere. Whether it is private property or public property. This law was passed in the time of the Vikings, and it still applies today.
Norway is a great place for bike lovers. You can ride anywhere you want. This can be country trips to nature, skiing in the mountains or just moving around the city. In the capital itself there are thousands of kilometers of mountain bike trails. From April to November, Oslo has a special program, the task of which is to provide free city bicycles to residents and guests of the capital.
The best view of the capital of Norway is from the fortress of Akerhus, which was built in 1290. During World War II, it was the center of the German Gestapo. Nowadays there is a small bar and restaurant where you can enjoy the views of the city.
After a walk through the old fortress, you will want to eat well. Dinner can be found at Aker Brig. It is advisable to go out for dinner early in order to have time to enjoy the views, run into several shops and take memorable photos. Aker Brige is one of the most visited places in Oslo. Every year there are about 12 million people.
It will be interesting to visit the Viking Ship Museum. The exhibition is small, but can give an idea of the courage of the people and the talent of the Norwegian Vikings. The museum has collections of cult, household and funerary exhibits of that distant time. Many say that the museum is not impressive, perhaps because to visit such a place you need at least basic knowledge of history. Therefore, if you decide to visit the museum on the Bygde Peninsula, be sure to read about the Vikings and their sea exploits.
bergen
The trading capital of Norway and the second largest city in the country. It is often called the gateway to the fjord kingdom.
It is better to plan your walk in Bergen in the morning because there are too many tourists after lunch. Getting acquainted with the city can begin with the famous fish rows. Here you will find not only raw, but also cooked seafood. All sellers are very friendly, do not spare products and let you try almost everything. Here you will be treated to crabs, oysters and even whale meat.
It is worth a walk along the famous embankment of Bruggen. The embankment is a complex of commercial buildings and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. There's a cod monument here. Locals appreciate this fish because Norwegian cod is famous all over the world. In small shops you can buy paintings, various souvenirs and grab deer horns as a gift to a friend.
You can enjoy the beautiful panorama of Bergen from Mount Fleyen. Tourists have a choice: climb the funicular, admiring the views, going down the city or try to conquer the mountain on your own. There's a café upstairs to eat.
olesund
Alesund is the smallest but most beautiful city in Norway. It is very easy to forget that you are in a harsh country. Near the city there are many beautiful natural attractions: rocky islands, snow-capped mountains, majestic fjords and impressive waterfalls.
At the beginning of the last century, Olesund was an ordinary village of fishermen, but once it completely burned down. Then, the residents decided to build the village again and not how, but to build beautifully. Therefore, absolutely all the buildings in Alesund were designed and built in the Art Nouveau style. In the architecture of this style, there are many pretentious elements: turrets, spires and ornaments of different vegetation.
The highest point of Alesunna is Mount Axla, with the best view of the city. You will have to climb a steep climb of 418 steps. Norwegians even organize competitions on the speed climb to this mountain. The record is 4 minutes.
As for the attractions that were created not by majestic nature, but by man, three kilometers west of Alesund is the Atlantic Park - one of the largest aquariums in Scandinavia. Here you can touch the stingray, hold a starfish or an oyster in your hands. Every day at 13:00 visitors can watch a diver feed the fish in a huge aquarium. In a small bay there is a beach, with enough warm water of 18-20 degrees, where you can splash adults and children.
If you have a small budget for travel and your choice fell on Norway, you can safely say that you are an adventurer, because it is a terribly expensive country. But for sure it will be an unforgettable experience, a lot of impressions and a lot of interesting stories for the rest of your life. But if you are a tourist with a significant amount in your pocket, then in Norway there are always entertainments that you can spend it on.
Text by Anna Bochkareva
Photo: venividi.ru, destinations.ru, travel.nationalgeographic.com, travel-wonders.com, visitnorway.com, apikabu.ru