Norway is built for walking in a way few countries match. The
allemannsretten, the right to roam, lets you cross uncultivated land and pitch a tent a reasonable distance from houses, so a trip is not tied to a campground. The
Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT) maintains thousands of kilometers of trails marked with red-painted T’s on rocks and cairns, plus a network of staffed, self-service and unstaffed cabins. That infrastructure exists because walking, or
friluftsliv, is part of national identity, and you will meet Norwegians in wool and rain shells on the same slopes.
Geography does the rest. Glaciers carved fjords and plateaus, leaving trails that climb hundreds of meters from sea level within a few kilometers, over wet rock, loose scree and spongy bog that soaks boots through. Weather …
read more 👉Norway is built for walking in a way few countries match. The allemannsretten, the right to roam, lets you cross uncultivated land and pitch a tent a reasonable distance from houses, so a trip is not tied to a campground. The Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT) maintains thousands of kilometers of trails marked with red-painted T’s on rocks and cairns, plus a network of staffed, self-service and unstaffed cabins. That infrastructure exists because walking, or friluftsliv, is part of national identity, and you will meet Norwegians in wool and rain shells on the same slopes.
Geography does the rest. Glaciers carved fjords and plateaus, leaving trails that climb hundreds of meters from sea level within a few kilometers, over wet rock, loose scree and spongy bog that soaks boots through. Weather swings quickly: sun, hail and fog can arrive within an hour, and the air smells of cold stone and moss.
Know before you choose it that Norway is expensive: food, cabin beds and ferries add up, and supermarket supplies are far cheaper than cafés. Many routes are short on distance but long on effort, so Norwegian trail times matter more than distance. Daylight also ranges from near 24 hours in summer to a few hours in winter, which shapes what is practical.
Behind the Scenes of Selection
The list of best hikes in Norway is created based on scenery, challenge, trail quality, landmarks, and overall enjoyment. If you feel a hike is missing in this list, please let us know.