Are you planning to travel to Norway in 2025 and you need help figuring out where to start for planning your trip or where to go? It’s a hard task; after all, Norway is a relatively big country full of fjords, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture. Every city and region has something unique and different. You also need to know when to go because each season has other things. You can experience the Midnight Sun in Tromso, Trondheim, Lofoten, (click on any of the city names to see my tips on each of them) and surrounding regions in summer. In Oslo, you experience a vibrant and life-filled culture. That’s where using a Norway Travel Guide Book comes in handy. But even for Norway, there is too much of them. What is the best Norway travel guide book?
Check out this article: Norway Travel Itinerary: Between Fjords and Nature
It’s not easy. Even though I wrote about most parts of Norway, like the Lofoten Islands, Bergen, Trondheim, and Tromso, there are many other things I didn’t cover in a single blog post. You should use a Norway travel guide book and get something good. Based on my and other’s experience, I created a list of the 5 best Norway travel guide book lists to help you in your trip to Norway. Whether you’re looking for practical tips, cultural insights, or picturesque itineraries, these Norway travel guide books are essential resources.
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Fodor’s Essential Norway – Best Norway Travel Guide Book for on a budget
Fodor’s Essential Norway is an extremely detailed Norway travel guide that shows the country’s stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage with full-color photographs. It helps you to see where you are going in more detail and know what to expect. Fodor created each chapter with great organization. You can find every little thing you need in each chapter. He starts from the must-see attractions and goes down to the little, local, and hidden gems. If you are unsure of what you are going to see or what activities you want to do, this could be a great guide for you to see all the available options and create your Norway travel itinerary.
What makes this Norway travel guide unique is not these little details, though. The guide goes beyond the sightseeing and things to do. It gives you practical advice on transportation, dining, and accommodations. Thos tips include helping you cut costs without sacrificing too much. It has up-to-date recommendations and detailed maps. It was published in April 2023, so it’s still quite fresh. That’s why this book is great for those on a budget and who don’t know what they expect from their trip.
Rating: 4.4/5
Pages: 320
Language: English
Publication Date: April 11, 2023
Pros
- Great for self-guided tours
- Full-color photos throughout
- Comprehensive planning tools
- Comprehensive coverage of major cities and regions
- Many itineraries to choose from
Cons
- Too heavy to carry around
- It’s not as deep as you may want it to be for each city/region
Rick Steves Scandinavia – Best Travel Guide for Scandinavia Overall
Rick Steves’ “Scandinavia” guidebook is an essential guide book for overall Scandinavia. It may seem out of place here on a Norway travel guide book blog post but I think it still covers Norway enough to be a good Norway travel guide. It offers an in-depth look at Scandinavia’s history, landscapes, and cultures. Steves’ approachable writing style makes navigating everything from the streets of Stockholm to the beautiful fjords of Norway enjoyable and easy to read so that you don’t get lost in words. The book is well-organized, with practical tips on transportation, accommodations, and local dining options. It doesn’t have as many photos as Fodor’s Guide, but it still covers a lot of areas quite well.
The unique detail of this book lies in the already created detailed itineraries for the entire Scandinavia. There are a lot of different ones, from adventure-based itineraries to calmer and family-friendly ones. If you are going to Norway, you may go to Sweden or Denmark, so that’s why it’s also valuable to have all of them in one place. There are some photographs and maps that make it easier to understand the itineraries and where you are going, but as I said, I think photographs are not enough.
Rating: 4.5/5
Pages: 888
Language: English
Publication Date: July 9, 2024
Pros
- Includes several large cities as well as rural areas
- Covers all of Scandinavia, from Denmark through Norway
- Great for first-timers
- Witty, engaging writing
- Great for first-time visitors
Cons
- Too few photos
- Heavy
- It focuses on Scandinavia, which makes it too long, too detailed, and missing the focus in Norway sometimes.
Lonely Planet Norway (Travel Guide) – Best Overall Norway Travel Guide
If you’ve ever used any travel guide to learn about a city or country, you must be familiar with Lonely Planet and their guides. They have one for Norway, too, and it’s definitely a hit. This is probably one of the best overall Norway travel guides you can get. It’s filled with detailed information about various regions—from the breathtaking fjords of the west coast to the vibrant streets of Oslo. You can find practical insights and off-the-beaten-path recommendations. There are a lot of good photographs and useful maps to help you navigate.
One thing that’s always been good about Lonely Planet travel guides is that they delve into the history, culture, traditions, and food. You can find those little local things here. Although, since Lonely Planet is extremely famous, some “local” parts aren’t local anymore. You have to be careful there and get the latest information before you go.
Rating: 4/5
Pages: 360
Language: English
Publication Date: April 16, 2024
Pros
- Detailed itineraries with scenic train routes
- Comprehensive coverage of Norway
- Good coverage of the whole county, not just the major cities
- Great information and inspiration for planning a trip
Cons
- It’s got pictures but not enough
- Doesn’t cover Svalbard
- Because Lonely Planet is extremely famous, some local and off the path recommendations are not so empty anymore.
Moon Norway: Best Hikes, Road Trips, Scenic Fjords – Best Norway Travel Guide for Outdoor Adventures
“Moon Norway: Best Hikes, Road Trips, Scenic Fjords” is an exceptional Norway travel guide for finding the best hike routes or other outdoor activities. In most Norway travel guides, you can’t find enough hiking routes, mountains to walk in, or rare outdoor activities. Moon Norway is great for this – it’s the perfect Norway travel guide to find your outdoor activities.
The book has many detailed descriptions and practical advice, even for smaller areas like the Lofoten Islands and Geirangerfjord. I mean, this is where you can find great outdoor activities, anyway. Additionally, the detailed maps and expert tips help a lot in creating your outdoor adventure itinerary. It’s great for both first-timers and experienced in Norway.
Rating: 4.7/5
Pages: 392
Language: English
Publication Date: December 5, 2023
Pros
- Lots of detailed itineraries for road trips
- Practical tips for traveling in Norway that go beyond the basic
- Good coverage of Norway’s outdoor offerings
- Great for outdoor activities
- Comprehensive coverage of outdoorsy activities throughout Norway
Cons
- Few color photos
- Lacks detail on cities and cultural attractions
Norway Travel Guide 2024: Insider Tips for Exploring Fjords, Urban Gems, and Outdoor Adventures with Expert Itineraries and Budget-Friendly Advice – Best for Norway’s Everything
Finishing this list with the “Norway Travel Guide 2024” is a great way to do so. This Norway travel guide is exceptional- it has everything about Norway. From indoor activities, places to stay, and local cuisine to outdoor activities, insights, and tips. It mixes insider tips and expert itineraries to create the most optimal guide. Like the first travel guide I reviewed, you will get a detailed exploration of the country’s iconic fjords, charming urban gems, and thrilling outdoor adventures for a comprehensive understanding of what Norway offers. The guide also provides budget-friendly advice, along with other budget types.
The unique thing about this guide is that the layout is user-friendly. It has well-organized sections that manavigatingate through various regions and activit simpleies. Each chapter has good practical information, including travel times, cultural insights, and essential tips for making the most out of your Norway trip.
Rating: 4.8/5
Pages: 120
Language: English
Publication Date: September 23, 2024
Pros
- Great itineraries for all types of travelers
- Expert level of details and helpful advice
- Comprehensive itineraries for different trip lengths
- Tailor-made for outdoor enthusiasts
- Expert tips and itineraries
Cons
- Only available in paperback
- It covers the entire country, which is nice, but easy to get overwhelmed with unnecessary details.
Why should you buy a travel guide for Norway?
Creating a Norway travel itinerary is complicated if you want to see more than one city. You need to thoroughly prepare for it and create a good itinerary. A Norway travel guide book provides essential information about the destinations and gives you hidden gems that you might otherwise miss. However, you need to find a good Norway travel guide book because you need the right details, not a list of overcrowded destinations. A well-structured Norway travel guide book offers detailed maps, suggested itineraries, and expert tips on transportation and accommodation,
Is it worth buying a travel guide for Norway?
When planning a trip to Norway, many travelers wonder whether purchasing a travel guide is worth the investment. I get it. You have the internet, my blog (yes!), Google/Apple Maps, and social media. You have unlimited options, why spend money on a Norway travel guide book? Well, when you are on the road, especially in Norway, where you will be in the mountains more often than not, you may not have service, you may not have your phone handy, or you simply want some local gems. A travel guide for Norway will get you those little local and hidden gems you can’t get on the internet easily. It lowers the noise.