Plan your vacation in Norway: Christmas, fjords and northern lights
Hi, I’m Brian 👋 an American dad living in Bavaria who plans family trips around trains and good timing. Vacation in Norway is my research desk for a first trip: the Christmas markets in Oslo and Bergen, the fjords by train and boat, and the northern lights in Tromsø and Lofoten. It’s written for families and couples who’d rather ride the train than drive, and every date, price and timetable comes from the official source.
Every date checked against the official site · 6 Christmas markets with 2026 dates · Updated November 2026
Short answer: Winter is a great time for a first Norway trip. Oslo’s Jul i Vinterland Christmas market opens on 7 November 2026 and runs to 3 January 2027, Bergen’s famous Gingerbread Town opens on 14 November, and the Røros Christmas market runs from 3 to 6 December. Up north in Tromsø, the northern lights can appear from late August to early April.
Where do you want to begin?
Bergen Gingerbread Town 2026
Dates, hours, tickets, and why weekdays are free for kids
Norway in a Nutshell: DIY or tour?
The fjord trains and boat, booked yourself or as a package
Tromsø northern lights with kids
When to go and how to plan the nights
Lofoten in winter without a car
Buses, ferries and express boats around the islands
Christmas in Norway 2026: the big openings
| Market | City | 2026 dates | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul i Vinterland | Oslo | 7 Nov – 3 Jan 2027 | Free |
| Pepperkakebyen (Gingerbread Town) | Bergen | 14 Nov – 10 Jan 2027 | Adults 199 kr; under 16 free on weekdays |
| Bergen Christmas Market | Bergen | 20 Nov – 22 Dec | Free (carousels extra) |
| Julemarked Røros | Røros | 3 – 6 Dec | Free to walk around |
| Julemarkedet i Trondheim | Trondheim | 3 – 21 Dec | Free |
| Norsk Folkemuseum Christmas market | Oslo | 5–6 and 12–13 Dec | Adults 200 kr; 0–17 free |
Dates were checked against each organizer in October 2026. Hours change on Christmas Eve and around New Year, so check the full guide before you go.
Norway at a glance
Christmas season
Oslo opens first on 7 Nov 2026; Bergen’s Gingerbread Town stays open to 10 Jan 2027
Oslo to Bergen
About 6.5 to 7.5 hours on Vy’s Bergen Railway, 6 to 7 departures a day
Fjords in winter
The Flåm Railway runs daily, and the electric boat to Gudvangen sails all year
Northern lights
Tromsø: late August to early April, most often about 20:00 to 02:00
Money
Norwegian kroner (kr). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere
Far north
No railway to Tromsø or Lofoten: most people fly, then use buses and boats
Where to go in Norway
- Oslo: the capital, with Jul i Vinterland in the city center and the Christmas market at the Norwegian Folk Museum on Bygdøy. See Christmas in Norway 2026.
- Bergen: the rainy, charming west-coast city, with Bryggen and the Gingerbread Town. About 6.5 to 7.5 hours from Oslo on the Bergen Railway.
- The fjords: Flåm, the Flåm Railway and the Nærøyfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage fjord, easy to reach from Bergen. Start with Norway in a Nutshell: DIY or tour?
- Tromsø: the biggest city in northern Norway and a top base for the northern lights with kids.
- Lofoten: dramatic islands in the far north, reachable by bus, ferry and coastal ship. See Lofoten in winter without a car.
Getting around Norway
By train: Vy runs the Bergen Railway between Oslo and Bergen, with 6 to 7 departures a day. The trip takes about 6.5 to 7.5 hours.
Into the fjords: the Flåm Railway runs between Myrdal on the Bergen Railway and Flåm in about 55 minutes. From Flåm, an electric boat sails through the Nærøyfjord to Gudvangen all year.
In the far north: there’s no railway to Tromsø or Lofoten. Most people fly, and in Lofoten the local buses, ferries and express boats connect the islands.
Paying: Norway runs on cards and phone payments. Bring a card with no foreign transaction fees.
Questions travelers ask
When is the best time to visit Norway?
For Christmas markets, mid-November to mid-December. For the northern lights, from September to March in the north, when the nights are dark. For long days and hiking in the fjords, June to August.
When do the Christmas markets in Norway open in 2026?
Jul i Vinterland in Oslo opens first on 7 November 2026. Bergen’s Gingerbread Town opens on 14 November and the Bergen Christmas Market on 20 November. Røros runs from 3 to 6 December and Trondheim from 3 to 21 December.
Can you see the fjords in winter?
Yes. The Flåm Railway runs daily in winter, and the electric fjord boat between Flåm and Gudvangen sails twice a day in each direction from 16 October 2026 to 31 March 2027.
How do I get from Oslo to Bergen?
By train on the Bergen Railway, which takes about 6.5 to 7.5 hours, or by a short flight.
Is Norway in a Nutshell worth booking as a package?
It depends on how much flexibility you want. Visit Bergen lists the package from Bergen at 2,698 kroner for adults and 1,204 kroner for children under 16. You can also book the same trains, fjord boat and bus yourself.
Where is the best place in Norway to see the northern lights?
Tromsø is one of the easiest bases, because it sits right under the auroral oval and has lots of tours and flights. Lofoten is another option if you want mountains and fishing villages.
About this site
I don’t live in Norway. My wife Shauna and I live in a small German village near the Austrian border, and our sites Vacation in Germany and Vacation in Austria are about our own neighborhood. Vacation in Norway is careful research, the way I plan any trip for my own family. Every date, timetable and price comes from the official source, and each guide lists its sources at the bottom.
Our other travel guides
- Vacation in Germany: Christmas markets, castles, Munich and Bavaria
- Vacation in the Alps: which Alps to pick, panoramic trains, winter without skiing
- Vacation in Austria: Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Tyrol and Krampus runs
- Vacation in the UK: London, Bath, York and Edinburgh by train
- Vacation in Sweden: Stockholm, Lucia, Liseberg and Lapland
Get my free Norway winter packing list
What to wear for a Norwegian winter, from rainy Bergen streets to a northern lights night in Tromsø. Plus one short email from me once a month: what's coming up, what's worth the trip, and one money-saving train tip.