Norway – a paradise for nature lovers

Posters featuring the wild beauty of Norway are a big part of Plakatfar’s online collection. Eight years ago, Norway was to me just an expensive country full of mountains, oil money, and polite people on skis. Today, it’s one of my most important sources of inspiration. The landscape is so stunning that sometimes it feels like all you need to do is hold up a camera and press the button.

Many trips to Norway

For years, we went to Sweden for affordable ski holidays when the kids were small. But eventually, we needed bigger slopes—and while I was determined we’d go south for a proper ski trip, travelling with three children in the winter holidays didn’t come cheap. Norway, however, felt almost like next door, and driving there was blissfully simple. We found a good deal in Skeikampen, and it was there we first discovered Norway’s raw, untamed beauty.

That trip was just the beginning. Since then, we’ve returned many times to explore the country’s breathtaking nature.

Our trip to Hemsedal—often called the Alps of the North—opened our eyes fully to Norway’s grandeur. Soon, winter wasn’t enough. We returned in both autumn and summer, unable to resist those mountains in every season.

Cross-country skiers at Hafjell

Autumn in Stavanger and surroundings

One of our most beautiful trips came in autumn 2015. You don’t need to fly to New England to see blazing red and gold forests—Norway easily matches it. We used Stavanger as our base and spent a few days exploring the surrounding landscapes. The highlight was, of course, the hike to Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)—a tough climb, but the reward at the top, with 600 metres of open air below and a view that steals your breath, was worth every step. We also cruised on Lysefjorden and climbed the rocks at Månefossen.

Preikestolen seen from Lysefjord

A rainy summer in Røldal

In the summer of 2016, we returned to Norway for our first summer trip—and it turned out to be the wettest holiday we’ve ever had. But it was also an absolute feast of nature experiences. That journey, in fact, became the foundation for Plakatfar.dk, as many of our Norwegian nature posters were born there. It was the trip that truly ignited my love for nature photography.

The hike—or more accurately, the climb—to the Folgefonna glacier remains one of the most spectacular and demanding treks I’ve ever done. But, as always in Norway, the reward was immense: awe-inspiring scenery and a panoramic view that defies description. If you plan to go, set aside plenty of time—the mountain always takes longer than you think.

Besides visiting Folgefonna, we stopped at the roaring Låtefossen waterfall, the beautifully located Vøringsfoss, hiked to Bondhus Lake, and explored parts of Telemark.

Dramatic cloud formations over Røldalsvatnet

Fishing trip to Bergsjø

Our most recent visit was in the summer of 2018—probably our last family trip with the youngest before he flew the nest. Saving up for Australia later that year meant Norway once again won on price and proximity. We could combine a bit of fishing with my long-held dream of riding the Flåm Railway. The train from Flåm to Myrdal is ranked among the world’s most scenic rides—but paying 400 Norwegian kroner for 50 minutes up and down a mountain felt… optimistic.

The mass tourism in Flåm, which we usually escape by heading to Norway, was more than compensated by the silence and vast view from the Aurlandsfjord lookout.

We fished in lakes near Ål and Bergsjø, catching absolutely nothing all week. It turns out that fishing in Norwegian lakes is both expensive and unpredictable—many are stocked, and as they empty out, catching anything becomes increasingly difficult. The small comfort was that the locals didn’t catch anything either.

While the fishing failed, the scenery didn’t. Norway once again provided endless inspiration for new posters.

View over Aurlandsfjorden

We’ll be back

We’re far from finished with Norway. The North Cape is calling, and I still dream of driving the Atlantic Road. There are still ski destinations we haven’t explored, and I’d love to see Trolltunga and sail the deep fjords. Norway’s list of wonders is long—and growing.

Posters inspired by Norway

Norway’s landscape doesn’t just have a place in my heart—it fills a large part of my shop, Plakatfar.dk, where you’ll find a whole section dedicated to Norwegian posters. So if you’re looking for wall art or a print that captures the spirit of Norway, visit our collection of Norwegian nature motifs—open 24 hours, no passport required.

Read more travel stories from Norway

• We hiked to the top of Preikestolen – read the story
• The climb to Folgefonna glacier is not for the faint-hearted
• Find out if Old Stavanger is worth the trip