Norway regularly ranks among the happiest and most prosperous countries in the world, and it is full of surprises. Babies nap outdoors in freezing weather, Norwegians read crime novels at Easter, and a Norwegian export campaign helped put salmon in sushi. Here are 22 fun facts about Norway, from its fjords and Arctic wonders to its culture and quirky traditions.
Nature and Landscapes
1. The Lærdal Tunnel Is the World's Longest Road Tunnel
At 24.5 km, the Lærdal Tunnel links Lærdal and Aurland. To keep drivers alert, it has three large caves lit in blue and yellow to mimic daylight.
2. Hardangervidda Has Europe's Largest Wild Reindeer Herd
Europe's largest mountain plateau is home to thousands of wild reindeer.
3. The Midnight Sun Shines for Weeks
Above the Arctic Circle, the sun does not set for weeks in summer. At the North Cape, it stays above the horizon from mid-May to late July.
4. Tromsø Is One of the Best Places to See the Northern Lights
Located beneath the auroral oval at about 69°N, Tromsø is one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights, from around September to March. See our guide to the northern lights in Europe.
5. Norway Has More Than 1,000 Fjords
Glaciers carved the country's coastline into more than a thousand fjords. The Sognefjord is Norway's longest and deepest, stretching about 205 km inland.
6. The World's Most Remote Island Is Norwegian
Uninhabited Bouvet Island, in the South Atlantic, is a Norwegian dependency and is often described as the most remote island on Earth.
7. Norway Has an Active Volcano
Beerenberg, on the Arctic island of Jan Mayen, is the world's northernmost active volcano above sea level. It last erupted in 1985.
Culture and Daily Life
8. Norway Helped Put Salmon in Sushi
In the 1980s, Norway launched "Project Japan" to sell farmed Atlantic salmon in Japan. Over the following years, raw salmon became a sushi favorite.
9. Norwegians Drink a Lot of Coffee
Norway is one of the biggest coffee-drinking nations in the world per person, usually filter coffee, and coffee breaks are part of daily life.
10. A Norwegian Invented the Cheese Slicer
Carpenter Thor Bjørklund patented the ostehøvel in 1925, inspired by his woodworking plane.
11. Easter Means Crime Novels
Påskekrim, or "Easter crime," is a national tradition of reading crime fiction and watching detective dramas at Easter. It is often traced to a 1923 newspaper advertisement for a crime novel that looked like a real news headline.
12. Babies Nap Outdoors in Winter
Many Norwegian parents and kindergartens let babies nap in strollers outside, well wrapped up, even in sub-zero temperatures, believing fresh air helps them sleep.
13. Frozen Pizza Is a National Favorite
Despite its world-class seafood, Norway is famous for eating huge amounts of frozen pizza, with tens of millions sold every year.
14. Norwegian Has Two Official Written Forms
Bokmål and Nynorsk are both official written standards, and schoolchildren learn both.
15. Friluftsliv Is a Way of Life
The concept of friluftsliv, "open-air life," means spending time outdoors in all weather. The right to roam lets everyone hike and camp on uncultivated land, as long as they respect nature and privacy.
History and Global Influence
16. The Nobel Peace Prize Is Awarded in Oslo
While the other Nobel Prizes are presented in Stockholm, the Peace Prize ceremony takes place in Oslo, as Alfred Nobel specified in his will.
17. Norway Leads the All-Time Winter Olympics Medal Table
Norway has won more Winter Olympic medals than any other country, thanks largely to cross-country skiing and biathlon.
18. Norway Gives London a Christmas Tree Every Year
Since 1947, Oslo has sent a tree to Trafalgar Square as thanks for Britain's support during World War II.
19. Tax Information Is Public
Norwegians can look up each other's income, wealth, and tax online, a policy of transparency. Lookups are logged, so people can see who searched for them.
Quirky Norway
20. You Can Visit Hell
Hell is a village near Trondheim, and its old station sign is a popular photo spot, especially when Hell freezes over in winter.
21. The Sámi Have Their Own Parliament
The Indigenous Sámi people of the north have had their own parliament, the Sámediggi, in Karasjok since 1989.
22. A Penguin Is a Norwegian General
Sir Nils Olav, a king penguin at Edinburgh Zoo, is the mascot of the Norwegian King's Guard and has been promoted to the rank of major general.
Bonus fact: Vikings did not wear horned helmets. That image comes from 19th-century art and opera costumes.
Plan Your Trip to Norway
Find out the best time to visit Norway for fjords, the midnight sun, or the northern lights. Stay connected from the moment you land with an egoViet Norway eSIM, or a Europe eSIM for a Scandinavian trip.
FAQs: Fun Facts About Norway
What is Norway famous for?
Norway is famous for its fjords, the northern lights, the midnight sun, Viking history, salmon, and a very high standard of living.
What is friluftsliv?
Friluftsliv means "open-air life," the Norwegian philosophy of spending time outdoors in nature as part of everyday life.
Can you see the northern lights in Norway?
Yes. Northern Norway, including Tromsø, the Lofoten Islands, and Alta, is one of the best places in the world to see them, from about September to March.
Where is the Nobel Peace Prize awarded?
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded at Oslo City Hall every December.