Login
Facebook
YouTube
WhatsApp
Twitter
The historical places in Norway are rooted in real events and everyday lives. They are lived-in streets, old trading ports, working churches, and quiet strongholds. In Bergen, Bryggen’s faded timber walls once held German merchants and their goods. In Lærdal, farmers once walked to Borgund Stave Church on snow-covered paths. Each place has its past built with purpose, altered by wars, touched by faith, and shaped by weather. Norway’s history lives in these places, not in stories or labels, but in doors still used, bells still rung, and paths still walked.
Must-See Historical Places In Norway
1. Bryggen (Bergen)
Photo: Svend-Eirik H. Pedersen / Wikimedia Commons
Bryggen is one of the most recognised historical places in Norway, a seafront district in Bergen that has stood for centuries as a record of the city’s role in the Hanseatic trading empire. Behind their narrow fronts are long corridors and old wooden staircases once used by German merchants who dealt in fish, grain, and cloth. Although many buildings now house shops and galleries, the architecture and atmosphere remain. The Hanseatic Museum nearby explains how trade, religion, and language mingled in this port.
How To Reach: 20-minute walk or 7-minute bus ride from Bergen Station.
Entry Fee: Museum entry 160 NOK / ₹1360
Timings: 24*7; museum 11 AM – 5 PM.
Nearby Attractions: Fløibanen funicular, Bergen Fish Market, Hanseatic Museum.
2. Akershus Fortress (Oslo)
Photo: Falk2 / Wikimedia Commons
Akershus Fortress is among the most commanding historical places in Norway, rising above Oslo’s harbour with thick stone walls and centuries of royal and military legacy. It evolved into a Renaissance castle and then a military base. The interiors reflect this layered history of vaulted dungeons, royal halls, and cannons overlooking the fjord. It was also used by Nazi forces during the Second World War as a prison and execution site, making it one of the country’s most solemn war memorials. Today, visitors can walk through the castle grounds freely, enter the Royal Mausoleum, and explore exhibitions on Norway’s armed forces.
How To Reach: 10-minute walk from Oslo Central Station.
Entry Fee: Museum 100 NOK / ₹850
Timings: Fortress grounds 6 AM – 9 PM; museums 10 AM – 4 PM.
Nearby Attractions: Oslo Opera House, City Hall, Aker Brygge.
3. Urnes Stave Church (Luster)
Photo: Bjørn Erik Pedersen / Wikimedia Commons
Urnes Stave Church stands quietly above Lustrafjord in western Norway, surrounded by trees and fjord light. This is one of the historical places in Norway and the oldest stave church in the country. Built in the 12th century, it combines Christian and Viking-era symbols in a way that no other building does. The carvings on the north wall, taken from an even older church, show snakes, dragons, and vines in a swirling Norse pattern. Inside, the structure feels like a ship turned upright, tall, dark wooden beams rise like masts, and the air smells of tar and timber.
How To Reach: Bus from Sogndal to Solvorn, then a ferry to Urnes.
Entry Fee: 100 NOK / ₹850
Timings: 10.30 AM – 5 PM (May to September)
Nearby Attractions: Lustrafjord, Feigefossen Waterfall, Nigardsbreen Glacier.
4. Nidaros Cathedral (Trondheim)
Photo: Knut Arne Gjertsen / Wikimedia Commons
Nidaros Cathedral stands in Trondheim on the burial site of King Olaf II. It was shaped by builders and craftsmen from several parts of Europe who brought Gothic techniques and carved ornamentation. Although fire damaged parts of it over the years, each reconstruction stayed true to the original structure. The cathedral’s western wall is filled with statues of biblical figures, bishops, and kings, each carved in detail. Among all historical places in Norway, Nidaros Cathedral remains deeply tied to the country’s royal past, its religious traditions, and its national history.
How To Reach: 15-minute walk from Trondheim Central Station.
Entry Fee: Entry approx. 120 NOK / ₹1020
Timings: 9 AM – 3 PM
Nearby Attractions: Archbishop’s Palace, Old Town Bridge, Rockheim Museum.
5. Røros Mining Town (Trøndelag)
Photo: Geir Hval / Wikimedia Commons
Røros is a mountain town built by miners, shaped by cold winters and hard labour, one of the historical places in Norway. It began in 1644 when copper was found nearby, and then the settlement grew into an important mining community in Norway. The buildings were made with thick logs, darkened by soot and age, and the same homes where miners once lived still stand along narrow, uneven streets. Some houses belonged to company men and have painted doors and wide windows, while others are plain and practical, built only to keep out the heat.
How To Reach: Train from Trondheim to Røros (approx. 2.5 hours).
Entry Fee: Museum 150 NOK / ₹1270
Timings: 24*7; museum 10 AM – 4 PM.
Nearby Attractions: Olavsgruva Mine, Femundsmarka National Park, Røros Church.
6. Heddal Stave Church (Notodden)
Photo: Christian Barth / Wikimedia Commons
Heddal Stave Church is the largest stave church in Norway, built using local pine and traditional tools. The church is shaped like a ship turned upright, with steep ridges and carved dragon heads that look out in every direction. In the dark you can see the light coming from narrow slits in the walls, faint wall paintings, and the soft shine of worn wood. The altar is simple, and the carvings around it show both Christian figures and older Norse designs. Many who grew up nearby had their most important life moments here, like baptisms, weddings, and funerals.
How To Reach: 2-hour drive from Oslo or bus to Notodden, then local transport.
Entry Fee: 90 NOK / ₹760
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM (May to September)
Nearby Attractions: Telemark Canal, Notodden Blues Festival (seasonal), Tinn Lake.
7. Fort Fredriksten (Halden)
Photo: Ulflarsen / Wikimedia Commons
Fort Fredriksten was built in the late 17th century. In 1718, during one of the fiercest sieges, Swedish King Charles XII was shot and killed just outside its walls. After this, Sweden never invaded again. The fortress is built from heavy stone, with steep walls, high watchtowers, and long tunnels that cut through the hill. You can still see the gun slits in the walls and the open courtyards where soldiers once trained. The barracks are worn, with soot-stained fireplaces and floors scratched from decades of boots and barrels.
How To Reach: Train to Halden, then a 20-minute uphill walk.
Timings: 24*7; museums 11 AM – 4 PM
Nearby Attractions: Busterud Park, Halden Canal, Rød Manor.
8. Viking Ship Museum (Oslo)
Photo: Larry Lamsa / Wikimedia Commons
The Viking Ship Museum holds three of the best-preserved Viking ships ever discovered, all pulled from burial mounds in the Oslofjord area. These ships were not made for display. They were real vessels, built to travel, to trade, and finally to carry the dead into the afterlife. The Oseberg ship was found with the remains of two women buried alongside sledges, beds, and household goods. Tools, textiles, and carvings found inside the graves give clues to Viking life and belief.
How To Reach: 15-minute bus from Oslo Central to Bygdøy.
Entry Fee: 120 NOK / ₹1020
Timings: 10 AM – 4 PM
Nearby Attractions: Fram Museum, Kon-Tiki Museum, Norwegian Folk Museum.
9. Avaldsnes – Nordvegen History Centre (Karmøy)
Photo: Krage52 / Wikimedia Commons
Avaldsnes sits on the narrow Karmsund strait, once known as Nordvegen, one of the historical places in Norway. This was one of the earliest seats of Norwegian kings. Harald Fairhair, who united the kingdom in the 9th century, ruled from here. The Nordvegen History Centre stands just behind the medieval St. Olav’s Church. Inside the centre, the exhibits trace how early kings controlled land and sea through alliances, rituals, and power symbols. It gives visitors a chance to walk inside longhouses and see how everyday life once looked with simple tools, thick furs, and wood fires.
How To Reach: Bus from Haugesund to Avaldsnes.
Entry Fee: 140 NOK / ₹1190
Timings: 10 AM – 4 PM (May to September).
Nearby Attractions: St. Olav’s Church, Viking Farm, Karmsund Maritime Museum.
10. Borgund Stave Church (Lærdal)
Photo: W. Bulach / Wikimedia Commons
Borgund Stave Church was built around 1180 and still stands in its original form, untouched by later additions or reconstruction. Everything from its pine posts and tar-black roof to the dragon heads on the gables is original. It was built when Christianity was new in Norway, and traces of earlier beliefs remain in the carved patterns and animal figures. The building is narrow and tall, with small, deep-set windows. The scent of old resin and pine lingers in the air. The floorboards are uneven, and the ceiling beams are marked by smoke.
How To Reach: Bus from Sogndal or drive via E16.
Entry Fee: 110 NOK / ₹930
Timings: 10 AM – 5.30 PM (May to September)
Nearby Attractions: Lærdal Tunnel, Sognefjord, Vindhellavegen Hiking Trail.
The historical places in Norway are a part of the country’s lived history. From the wooden frame of Borgund Stave Church to the stones of Akershus Fortress, travelling through them offers more than just sightseeing. It gives a deeper look into how Norway was shaped from sea routes and mining towns to royal courts and Viking settlements. Explore more such packages offered by TripXL for unforgettable experiences.
Cover Photo: Gordon Leggett / Wikimedia Commons
