Good Time to Visit

Weather

Norway has an Arctic winter climate (November to March) in the interior highlands, with snow, strong winds and severe frosts; comparatively mild winter conditions exist on the coast owing to the Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift. The southern lowlands experience warmer, drier summers and colder winters than the coastal areas. The northern part of the country inside the Arctic Circle has continuous daylight at midsummer, and twilight all day during winter.

In Oslo, (elevation 96 m), the capital of the country, average temperatures are at their lowest in January at -5°C (with a minimum of -7°C and a maximum of -2°C), and their highest in July at 17°C (with a minimum of 13°C and a maximum of 22°C). Rainfall averages from 3 to 9.5 cm a month, with the greatest amounts falling from July to October (over 7 cm a month), with the least (less than 5 cm) falling from February to May. Between November and January, the city receives 1 hour of sunshine a day; sunlight hours reach their peak in May and June, with 8 hours per day. Humidity is at its lowest in May and June (60-62%), rising to a high of 86% in November and December.

In Bergen, (elevation 45 m), which is surrounded by tall mountains, average temperatures are at their lowest in January at 1°C (with a minimum of 0°C and a maximum of 3°C), and their highest in July and August at 15°C (with a minimum of 12°C and a maximum of 18°C). Rainfall averages from 8 to 24 cm a month, with the greatest amounts falling from September to December (over 20 cm a month), with the least (less than 10 cm) falling in May. Between November and January, the city receives 1 hour of sunshine a day; sunlight hours reach their peak in June, with 6 hours per day. Humidity is fairly constant all year, ranging from 71-80%.

On the Svalbard archipelago (which lies midway between Norway and the North Pole), average temperatures are at their lowest in March at -12°C and only rise above 0°C from June to September. They reach their peak of 5°C in July and August. Rainfall averages from 1 to 4.5 cm a month, with the greatest amounts falling from August to December (4 cm a month or more), with the least (2 cm or less) falling in April and May. Humidity is fairly constant all year, ranging from 82-89%.

More detailed information about the Norwegian weather may be found in Climate in Norway.

Festivals

The people of Oslo gather at the Royal Palace, in traditional dress, as part on the Constitution Day celebration on 17 May. Skiers come to the city for the Holmenkollen Ski Festival in March. Arts festivals are also held, including the Oslo International Jazz Festival in August, the film festival in October, and the Inferno Metal Festival in April. Bergen hosts its own International Festival over twelve days at the end of May, featuring dance, music, and folklore events.

Common Christian holidays are also celebrated, the most important being Christmas (called Jul in Norway after the pagan and early Viking winter solstice) and Easter.

Jonsok (St. John's Passing), or St. Hans (St. John's Day) on 24 June, is also a commonly revered holiday. It marks midsummer and the beginning of summer vacation, and is often celebrated by lighting bonfires the evening before.

Public Holidays

The following table shows the public holidays celebrated in Norway: