Cover picture © Credits to Flickr/Christoph Strässler
Cover picture © Credits to Flickr/Christoph Strässler

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Exciting and traditional Norwegian towns

2 minutes to read

I will show you towns in Norway that are not big and touristy and where you can do the things that Norwegians chose to do instead of what the tourists would like to see. These are truly authentic things to do in Norway. The first Norwegian places you'll hear about are Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, and maybe Tromsø. These are relatively remote places in Norway and are surprisingly excellent towns!

I could include Bouvet island in Antarctica that is owned by Norway. That would require quite the effort for the traveller and you will instead get to know places which are easier to visit

Kautokeino

In Kautokeino, you find Sami culture far up north in Norway. Most of the people who speak the Sami language in the world live in Kautokeino. How they have been operating for hundreds of years is by using reindeer. Today, the traditional way is still a strong tradition. The summers include fishing in the best places of Norway, and the winters include snowmobile driving to cinemas, reindeer sledging, and playing hockey and mini golf on ice. The wild west for Norwegians is in Kautokeino where they throw lassos and capture reindeer. You can join the modern version of the game by throwing a lasso from the snowmobile. The Easter festival is essential to Kautokeino and you have artists performing yodelling, as well as the Sami grand prix with snowmobiles and reindeer.

Easter festival in Kautokeino
Easter festival in Kautokeino
Baktevarri 3, 9520 Kautokeino, Norge

Geilo

Picture © Credits to Fjordtours/Emil Eriksson
Picture © Credits to Fjordtours/Emil Eriksson

A winter village famous to Norwegians for the Alpine centre large enough for around 500 people, and not too famous in the outside world. The restaurants in Geilo reflects the ''Bygdemannskultur'' (village men culture) and ''Husmannskost'' (house cooking) that is prevalent in the mountains of Norway. The most traditional and typical Norway is found up in this area. The most important money machine for Geilo is the Ski resort. It was my dream to visit Geilo one day to experience the off-piste tracks and amazing snowboard park in the ski village.

Geilo ski resort
Geilo ski resort
Vesleslåttvegen 13, 3580 Geilo, Norge

Voss

Picture © Credits to Alpin anleggene/Voss Resort Fjellheisar AS
Picture © Credits to Alpin anleggene/Voss Resort Fjellheisar AS

Every year, there's a whole week of extreme sports going on in Voss from June 23rd to June 30th. Parachute jumping, paragliding, going down rivers in canoes, and downhill biking are a few of the many activities people enjoy in Voss. An hour from Bergen and like Geilo, it has an astonishing ski resort. Off-piste skiing is a big thing in Norway and Voss has some of the best slopes in the country. Narvik mountain has the best according to multiple European ski magazines with their off-piste slope called ''Mørkholla'', while Voss gets a well deserved second place. A little fun fact, the famous Voss bottled water that is crazy expensive is tapped in the same location!

Voss ski resort
Voss ski resort
Voss ski- og tursenter, Skutlesvegen x, 5709 Voss, Norge

Å

Picture © Credits to Flickr/Christoph Strässler
Picture © Credits to Flickr/Christoph Strässler

The history of the fish is the most essential thing in Å in Lofoten. North-Norwegian culture comes from this part of Norway. Gathering fish, meeting friends at the local ''Kro'' (Kro means Tavern), talking about the technicalities of their boats and fishing equipment. The amazing thing about Å is that it's located in Lofoten. In Lofoten, every little place you find is stunning and you have endless eye-material for the perfect sensory experience.

Å in Lofoten
Å in Lofoten
Å, Norge




The author

Kai Bonsaksen

Kai Bonsaksen

I'm Kai from Norway. I always follow that little voice in my head that tells me to go and explore new places … and on itinari, I talk about the ones I know the best!

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