Travel guides: Norway

Norway is, by any standards, one of the most beautiful countries on earth. It has the midnight sun, Nordcapp - usually referred to as the northernmost point of Europe, spectacular fjords, high mountains, trolls, a beautiful coast, and tons of places to visit.

This page has references to and short reviews of good travel guides and books providing historical information about The Kingdom of Norway that improves understanding and appreciation of the country and its people for people wanting to travel there.

Some quick facts about Norway: Norway is a constitutional monarchy. Is has zero external debt, in one of the 2-4 richest countries in the world, low unemployment, has 42 weeks of full pay maternity leave for working parents, the population is 4.5 million, it ranks #1 on 2006 UNDP Human Development Index, and has a life expectancy of 82.46 years (women) and 77.04 years (men).

The main cities in Norway:

• Oslo - the capital and largest city of Norway, with great museums, the Vigeland Park, a beautiful setting and lively nightlife and cultural scene.
• Bergen - an old Hanseatic trading center with a rich culture and dramatic scenery, Norway's second largest city. Wonderfully cute wooden buildings, a magnificent mountain setting and tons of nightlife and atmosphere. The city has been dubbed "the rainiest city in Europe" with an average of 250 days of rainfall a year. Bring an umbrella.
• Bodø - The gateway to the magnificent Lofoten islands. And the place of Saltstraumen, the worlds strongest maelstrom.
• Drammen - an enjoyable side trip from Oslo.
• Kristiansand - The jolly and beautiful capital of the South.
• Stavanger - the oil capital of Norway. The wooden, cobbled central area is one of the most charming places in Norway. Home to one of Norway's medieval churches and Iron Age homes, stone age caves, and sites where the Viking kings fought. Stavanger is where Erik the Red was born.
• Tromsø - A magnificent, modern cathedral (no polar bears) - beautiful.
• Trondheim - Famous for its stunning cathedral (Nidarosdomen). Wonderful riverside wharfs, wooden buildings.

One of Norway's famous and spectacular fjords:

	Title/author	Description	Order from:
	Insight Guide Norway	This is an excellent guide book. It contains good picture, descriptions and maps, lots of background information. The background articles are good, and will help you to get an understanding of the country and its people. I liked the new 'Best of' and 'Places' sections a lot - they feature recommendations on many exclusively Norwegian experiences, such as the best views, best drives, best geographical points of interest, and places in each region. They even have some useful money-saving tips.	Amazon US, Amazon UK
	Norway (Eyewitness Travel Guides)	Norway (Eyewitness Travel Guides), written by Snorre Evensberget, is an inspiring guide to a lot of the best of Norway: stunning fjords and solitary mountains, wooden stave churches and small fishing villages. It has features on Vikings, wildlife and Sami culture, as well as lots of practical information on local transport, outdoor activities and entertainment in Norway. A good and handy guide!	Amazon US
	Living in Norway, by Elisabeth Holte	Living in Norway is a beautiful pictorial tour throughout Norway, with the grand fjords and the majestic mountains, as well as the cities and the cultural landscape. It is is divided into the four seasons: fall, winter, spring and summer. You can experience the beauty of Norway through all seasons. This book offers hundreds of color photographs, but don't forget to read the text, it is a fantastic tour of Norway. You will also find a rich selection of Norwegian homes, interior and exterior, modern or antique. This is an excellent gift or a beautiful book for your coffee table.	Amazon US
	Grieg: Complete Music with Orchestra [Box Set]	Norwegian-born Edvard Grieg has created many works for the orchestra, and this 6-CD box set contains almost all of them. Neeme Jarvi handles the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and the choirs very well. The sound is crystal clear and has the perfect digital sound for every CD player/stereo.	Amazon US

Some useful links about Norway:

• Places to go in Norway and more places
• The Wiki travel guide
• See Norwegian wildlife
• Wildlife safaris
• Visit Norway - official travel guide to Norway
• Muskoxen and Their Hunters: A History (Animal Natural History, 5)