Seven days on Norway's Viking coast, Oslo to Lofoten
Norway's Viking sites are strung along a thousand kilometres of coast. This route uses two flights to join Oslo, the south-west coast, the fjords and Lofoten in a week, and shows which festivals fall in June and August.
The shape of it
Norway does not do day trips. Each region here is a destination, and the route joins them with a domestic flight or two. Do it in June for Avaldsnes and Hafrsfjord, or in August for Lofotr, Borre’s Midgardsblot and the long northern light.
Day 1: Oslo
The Historical Museum for the VÍKINGR exhibition and the Gjermundbu helmet, since the ships at Bygdøy are closed until the Museum of the Viking Age opens, planned for late 2027. Afternoon in the city.
Day 2: Borre
Train or car ninety minutes south to Horten. The Borre mounds, the largest group of monumental Viking Age burials in Scandinavia, and the Midgard Viking Centre with its reconstructed great hall. In early July the Borrekaupangen market; in mid-August, Midgardsblot. Back to Oslo for the night, or on to Sandefjord Torp for an evening flight west.
Day 3: Avaldsnes
Fly Oslo to Haugesund, an hour. Avaldsnes, twenty minutes from the airport: Norway’s first royal seat, the Nordvegen History Centre, St Olav’s Church and the Viking farm on Bukkøy island. In the first week of June this is the largest Viking festival on the west coast. Stay in Haugesund.
Day 4: Hafrsfjord and Stavanger
Drive south through the Boknafjord tunnel to Stavanger, ninety minutes. Møllebukta on the Hafrsfjord, where the sea battle of 872 is said to have united Norway, marked by the three bronze swords of Sverd i fjell. The Hafrsfjord Viking Market here in mid-June. Stavanger’s old town in the afternoon.
Day 5: Gudvangen
A long day by car north along the coast and inland to the Nærøyfjord, about five hours, or fly Stavanger to Bergen and continue by bus and fjord boat on the Norway in a Nutshell route. Njardarheimr Viking village at Gudvangen, staffed daily in season. Stay in Flåm or Gudvangen.
Day 6: Lofotr
Return to Bergen, fly north to Bodø and on to Leknes, or Bergen to Evenes and drive. This is the long transfer of the week; leave a full day for it and arrive in Lofoten in the evening light. Stay in a rorbu, one of the fishermen’s cabins.
Day 7: Borg
The Lofotr Viking Museum: the 83-metre longhouse, the film, the ship on the lake with rowing, archery and axe throwing in summer. In early August, the Viking festival. Fly home from Leknes via Bodø, or stay on. Most people stay on.
When to go
June for the festivals in the south-west and the longest days; August for Lofotr’s festival and Midgardsblot. July has the fewest Viking events in Norway but the best fjord weather.
Costs
Norway is expensive. Two domestic flights, six nights and admissions for one adult run well over 15,000 NOK before food. Cards everywhere; cash is unnecessary.
Related events
Last updated 2026-09-06. Prices and opening hours change; check the venue before you go. Back to Plan your trip or the festival calendar.