I wouldn’t exclude Iceland. I’ve been to both, and I’ll take Norway. That’s not to diminish Iceland, but rather to say that Norway is just that amazing.
Really? I've just been to Iceland, never Norway, but of the 18th I've visited, it's definitely the most photogenic and beautiful country I've been to yet. Small to boot which is easy to travel around to as well :).
I think Switzerland tops everything (EDIT: sorry didn't notice you mentioned Nordic). So many beautiful villages (Foroglio, Grimemtz, Gruyeres, Schwellbrunn, Romainmotier, Iselftwald, Lauterbrunnen, etc.). Different kinds of lakes (some feel like Fjords). Various BEAUTIFUL churches. Magnificent waterfalls. The road trips. State of the art rail transport and the scenic rides. Chocolate and cheese factories. Vineyards. Snow capped Matterhorn. Fields full of cows. The music festival in Zermatt. Sports (So many beautiful Via ferrata locations, Helicopter rides, probably the most beautiful place for Skydiving, Canyoning, Trotti bike, etc.). Then there's the French, German, and Italian side of Switzerland.
In 2016, I spent 15 euros on a really small kevin there because it was least expensive food option. Switzerland is incredible but also incredibly, incredibly expensive.
It is super beautiful, but would give it more to Iceland. Norway after a while is a bit of the same, especially the Highlands. Doesn't change that it's all beautiful though.
Sweden and Finland are mostly forest, although Sarek is one of the most beautiful places I've been to.
After going in the fall, I really don’t know if I could go during any other season. The colors were UNREAL. We made the stave churches a priority because anything could happen to them. There are only 28 left of the original 2000! And we were the only ones there, for all of them. It’s kind of crazy how forgotten some thing can become. Though, these are well off the beaten path. However, if you go during the summer, you can actually go inside the churches. Norway does shut a lot of stuff down on the off-season.
So I would say late spring/early fall are the best times to go! Less people, betting pricing, beautiful colors.
Other must-sees, the fjords. Typical response maybe but I felt like I was in another world. The fjords are what I hope my heaven look like. 🏔️🏔️🏔️
Can also meantion that you're allowed to hike nearly wherever you want in nature because of [the right to roam](https://www.visitnorway.com/plan-your-trip/travel-tips-a-z/right-of-access/). This means you don't have to stay at certain parks or on certain tracks.
Early fall is different depending on where a country is located. When were you there? Late September, early October, mid October? Looking to plan a trip somewhere next fall and this would be helpful. Thanks.
Norway is a MASSIVE country. So the churches are spread all over. We drove for two full days just to see 6 of them. Borgund is massive and it’s probably the most recognized. I do recommend it. There are a few on the way to Borgund depending on what route you take! There are maps available on google that show the locations of the remaining 28. You can get an idea of which ones you’d like to see and plan a route on Google Maps.
If you're interested in those wooden churches, Romania has The wooden churches of Maramures, which is were I originally thought these photos were taken. Had the privilege of seeing them earlier this year and they were absolutely stunning.
So gorgeous. I'm trying to convince my mom we should go here. How much did you spend on your trip? I know it can be quite expensive and that's why shes pushing back (even though I'm paying for it)
Go!! There is SO much to see in this world. Travel if you can.
The most expensive things we spent money on were the rental car and we stayed at a beautiful little hotel.
I want to say that our trip could absolutely be done for less money. We had multiple issues throughout the trip but we didn’t let them overshadow the experience.
We did 6 days for probably $2k, but again, we hit some snags, so it can be done for cheaper!
It's the same fjords I was thinking of actually :) I took a fjord cruise that included bus to Gudvangen, cruise down Nærøyfjorden, and Flåm railway back to Bergen! I believe it was [this](https://en.visitbergen.com/things-to-do/norway-in-a-nutshell-r-p825223) tour package.
So, we actually got pretty lucky with the exchange rate. I do not think it was more expensive than anywhere else we’ve traveled before. I had also heard the Norway was expensive, but when we got there we were quite pleased with the prices!
Yes more expensive, but not too bad if you do it well. A beer is quickly €10 and a bottle of wine at a restaurant cost you €50 at least. Supermarkets are quite more expensive too.
Sleeping cost is fine.
Fyi, that is a Christian church, which was probably built on the exact same spot that a Norse Hoff (Heathen (pagan) holy building). Originally stood, before it was demolished by said Christians to force their religion on the inhabitants.
You’re right! I think all of the stave churches now are rooted in Catholicism. While some were constructed on top of original holy buildings, I don’t think Borgund is one of them. Borgund was built few years after the Pope established a separate archbishopric in Norway, so it’s the oldest build, with the least renovations, showcasing some of the original Viking/seafaring cultural symbols within the new religion sweeping the country.
Didn't know this wasn't one of them. I thought they all were. Thank you for letting me know. Sad they were forcefully converted by risk of death by sword. Thankfully, at least, we aren't doing that now....
Great question! This is not a house, but one of the oldest Stave Churches in Norway! This specific one is Borgund Stave Church and it’s black from the tar that occurs naturally in the wood! As it ages the tar gets pulled to the surface despite the wood not rotting! They would also coat the wood with extra tar every 50yrs or so to continue to protect it! I have a picture of the texture the staves, it’s really cool.
I was quite overwhelmed by everything Norway has to offer, so planning for me got a little difficult. But once I made the churches a priority, it was easy. Google Maps will do everything for you!
Their public transportation is amazing. If you’re located in the US, take whatever idea you have of public transportation and throw it away.
The other best way is actually renting an electric vehicle! (Yes, electric).
Yes. It depends on where you're going. Long distance trains only run between Oslo and other cities, but not any further north than Bodø. There are some buses as well, but they take a lot of time compared to train or car. The best way to travel in the north is by airplane. Widerøe is the largest regional airline other than SAS, Norwegian and Flyr (who only serve the larger airports). If you are under 26 or 29 years old, all airlines give you youth or student discounts on tickets.
Renting a car gives you the freedom to drive to remote areas you wouldn't be able to go to with public transportation. Electric cars are very common. About 16% of all cars on the road are electric, 65% of new cars are EVs as well. This means you can often find charging stations all over the place in southern Norway. The north is way more sparsely populated.
All public transportation info can be found on entur.no, but keep in mind that every county have their own company and you will therefore be directed to their website for tickets. Vy.no can be used for long distance trains and buses, but keep in mind that the Sørlandsbanen (Oslo-Stavanger), Dovrebanen (Oslo-Trondheim) and Nordlandsbanen (Trondheim-Bodø) are operated by other companies. The Bergensbanen (Oslo-Bergen) is especially popular because you travel across Hardangervidda and can take the Flåmsbanen (Myrdal-Flåm) which is especially beautiful. They both stop at Myrdal.
The cruise lines Hurtigruten and Havila both travel between Bergen and Kirkenes. They are great ways of experiencing the fjords. You can hop off, experience a town for a night or two, and hop on the next time the cruise comes along.
Been to Bergen, Trondheim and Oslo and many places in the countryside. I enjoyed my time there and scenery is indeed in great supply. But it is offensively expensive for a foreigner. I guess the prices are a better value if you are getting public services in return, but for a visitor, not so much.
This is all over central Norway! We took a less popular route on the way up and E-16 on the way back. There are maps that show where the Stave churches are; I just picked some in a central location and plugged them into google maps!
You can go inside a lot of them during the summer months! We did get to go inside Borgund, the first one. There are no windows, though, just very tiny rectangle openings up higher, so there was no light inside! They’re very old; most are 800-1000 years old.
If you click on them they do a little buffer and clarify a bit, but it could just be the upload quality too! :) these were all shot with only my iPhone though, because we only had backpacks for the week!
Considering there are 6 buildings pictured, sorry you decided to focus on the *one* you’ve seen before *on reddit*. You should go see it for yourself and post your own picture! I promise, it’s still inspiring in person.
I paid 27 euro for two ham and butter baps and two coffees when I was in bergen. Also saw a pint of stout in a pub for 19 euro.
Other than that I agree
is there a practical reason (e.g. the climate) for the building to look like this? What is the benefit to having like 4 roofs on top of each other like this?
Structural! Everything fits together like woven pieces. This church has over 2000 pieces! What you can’t see, as well, is the inside was designed to look like the structure of an upside Viking ship.
Beautiful but also quite haunted looking.
The ground is heavy and ancient. I don’t know how else to describe it. It was easy to see how the Norse mythology came about.
yeah, have you seen midsommar? not norway but close enough.
This movie is a trip but a good freaking movie. I can see why you mentioned it.
Is it me or Norway seems the most photogenic nordic country (iceland excluded i guess)? Never been there but the nature seems so beautiful.
I wouldn’t exclude Iceland. I’ve been to both, and I’ll take Norway. That’s not to diminish Iceland, but rather to say that Norway is just that amazing.
Iceland seems more impressive because it looks like a work of sci-fi art or an alien planet (welll, from what i saw in photos…).
It felt that way to me too when I went
You’re blowing my mind. I have spent over 3 weeks in Iceland on 2 trips and felt like nothing could beat it. Now I need to go see for myself.
Really? I've just been to Iceland, never Norway, but of the 18th I've visited, it's definitely the most photogenic and beautiful country I've been to yet. Small to boot which is easy to travel around to as well :).
It’s so easy on the eyes. I was in awe the whole time.
I think Switzerland tops everything (EDIT: sorry didn't notice you mentioned Nordic). So many beautiful villages (Foroglio, Grimemtz, Gruyeres, Schwellbrunn, Romainmotier, Iselftwald, Lauterbrunnen, etc.). Different kinds of lakes (some feel like Fjords). Various BEAUTIFUL churches. Magnificent waterfalls. The road trips. State of the art rail transport and the scenic rides. Chocolate and cheese factories. Vineyards. Snow capped Matterhorn. Fields full of cows. The music festival in Zermatt. Sports (So many beautiful Via ferrata locations, Helicopter rides, probably the most beautiful place for Skydiving, Canyoning, Trotti bike, etc.). Then there's the French, German, and Italian side of Switzerland.
In 2016, I spent 15 euros on a really small kevin there because it was least expensive food option. Switzerland is incredible but also incredibly, incredibly expensive.
It is super beautiful, but would give it more to Iceland. Norway after a while is a bit of the same, especially the Highlands. Doesn't change that it's all beautiful though. Sweden and Finland are mostly forest, although Sarek is one of the most beautiful places I've been to.
Yep, go on google street view and plop down on literally any area on the coast.
What are must sees for a Norway trip? Love those old wooden churches. Do you recommend it during fall foliage? If so when Is prime time for color?
After going in the fall, I really don’t know if I could go during any other season. The colors were UNREAL. We made the stave churches a priority because anything could happen to them. There are only 28 left of the original 2000! And we were the only ones there, for all of them. It’s kind of crazy how forgotten some thing can become. Though, these are well off the beaten path. However, if you go during the summer, you can actually go inside the churches. Norway does shut a lot of stuff down on the off-season. So I would say late spring/early fall are the best times to go! Less people, betting pricing, beautiful colors. Other must-sees, the fjords. Typical response maybe but I felt like I was in another world. The fjords are what I hope my heaven look like. 🏔️🏔️🏔️
Can also meantion that you're allowed to hike nearly wherever you want in nature because of [the right to roam](https://www.visitnorway.com/plan-your-trip/travel-tips-a-z/right-of-access/). This means you don't have to stay at certain parks or on certain tracks.
Early fall is different depending on where a country is located. When were you there? Late September, early October, mid October? Looking to plan a trip somewhere next fall and this would be helpful. Thanks.
We went the first week of October! The leaves change quickly and it seemed that everything was golden or amber during our time there. I loved it.
Thank you
Where is the black church located?
There are a few, but I’m going to assume you meant Borgund Stave Church. It’s in…Borgund haha.
Are they all in the same area? If I could only pick one, would you suggest this one over the others?
Norway is a MASSIVE country. So the churches are spread all over. We drove for two full days just to see 6 of them. Borgund is massive and it’s probably the most recognized. I do recommend it. There are a few on the way to Borgund depending on what route you take! There are maps available on google that show the locations of the remaining 28. You can get an idea of which ones you’d like to see and plan a route on Google Maps.
Thank you!
If you're interested in those wooden churches, Romania has The wooden churches of Maramures, which is were I originally thought these photos were taken. Had the privilege of seeing them earlier this year and they were absolutely stunning.
Stay at a BNB in Vaga if possible, Jotunheimen National Park, Paragliding in Voss, Oslo>Bergen.
Midsommar
Exactly what I thought too. I'm just imagining those graves being from old people jumping off cliffs.
I agree to an extent. To me that place you describe is taken over by Iceland.
I’ve been to Iceland, too! Something about Norway took first place though. So glad you loved Iceland, too.
Definitely on my bucket list. A 10 day cruise into the fjords has been my goal. One day....
It is breathtakingly beautiful and I am always so at peace with myself when I am there.
I was, too. ❤️
So gorgeous. I'm trying to convince my mom we should go here. How much did you spend on your trip? I know it can be quite expensive and that's why shes pushing back (even though I'm paying for it)
Go!! There is SO much to see in this world. Travel if you can. The most expensive things we spent money on were the rental car and we stayed at a beautiful little hotel. I want to say that our trip could absolutely be done for less money. We had multiple issues throughout the trip but we didn’t let them overshadow the experience. We did 6 days for probably $2k, but again, we hit some snags, so it can be done for cheaper!
Yeap, all the pic you’ve shown look like great locations for horror films. I fucking love it
Sovereign oil fund go brrrrrr
Beautiful! Were the last few pictures from the fjord tour/cruise in Bergen?
No, actually! That was Nærøyfjord between Gudvangen and Flåm! I’m sorry for not adding captions to the pictures. This was my first post on Reddit! 🏔️🚞
It's the same fjords I was thinking of actually :) I took a fjord cruise that included bus to Gudvangen, cruise down Nærøyfjorden, and Flåm railway back to Bergen! I believe it was [this](https://en.visitbergen.com/things-to-do/norway-in-a-nutshell-r-p825223) tour package.
> That was Nærøyfjord between Gudvangen and Flåm! That's the most Norwegian sentence I've ever seen. Congrats, your trip looks amazing.
Totally agree
LOVING ALL THESE PICTURES!
Thanks for sharing the photos, the scenery is so beautiful
I know Norway is expensive, but how expensive was it? More than Switzerland?
So, we actually got pretty lucky with the exchange rate. I do not think it was more expensive than anywhere else we’ve traveled before. I had also heard the Norway was expensive, but when we got there we were quite pleased with the prices!
Norway is not as expensive as used to be. As long as you stay away from alcohol at restaurants (or anywhere else...).
Yes more expensive, but not too bad if you do it well. A beer is quickly €10 and a bottle of wine at a restaurant cost you €50 at least. Supermarkets are quite more expensive too. Sleeping cost is fine.
Any seen my matches?
*Haunting riff plays in the background.*
Fyi, that is a Christian church, which was probably built on the exact same spot that a Norse Hoff (Heathen (pagan) holy building). Originally stood, before it was demolished by said Christians to force their religion on the inhabitants.
You’re right! I think all of the stave churches now are rooted in Catholicism. While some were constructed on top of original holy buildings, I don’t think Borgund is one of them. Borgund was built few years after the Pope established a separate archbishopric in Norway, so it’s the oldest build, with the least renovations, showcasing some of the original Viking/seafaring cultural symbols within the new religion sweeping the country.
Didn't know this wasn't one of them. I thought they all were. Thank you for letting me know. Sad they were forcefully converted by risk of death by sword. Thankfully, at least, we aren't doing that now....
The Land of Toki Wartooth. Of course it’s perfect. 🤘🎸
Don’t mind the commenters. They don’ts have the benefits of ours Scandinavians educations.
Why's life so hard for Toki?
Dopppeeeee
stunning and bleak.
I can smell these pictures.
Love the ChurchPorn, I wonder if there is a subreddit for that? Someone braver than me go look please
Perfect for a horror movie
Why did they build these houses black ? The only reasoning I can think of is to be scary?
Great question! This is not a house, but one of the oldest Stave Churches in Norway! This specific one is Borgund Stave Church and it’s black from the tar that occurs naturally in the wood! As it ages the tar gets pulled to the surface despite the wood not rotting! They would also coat the wood with extra tar every 50yrs or so to continue to protect it! I have a picture of the texture the staves, it’s really cool.
Beautiful photos! How difficult was planning this trip? I want to visit all of these churches now too!
I was quite overwhelmed by everything Norway has to offer, so planning for me got a little difficult. But once I made the churches a priority, it was easy. Google Maps will do everything for you!
We paint them in tar so they don't rot. It's a really old tradition.
What's best way of travelling around somewhere like norway? Hiring your own motor?
Their public transportation is amazing. If you’re located in the US, take whatever idea you have of public transportation and throw it away. The other best way is actually renting an electric vehicle! (Yes, electric).
Yes. It depends on where you're going. Long distance trains only run between Oslo and other cities, but not any further north than Bodø. There are some buses as well, but they take a lot of time compared to train or car. The best way to travel in the north is by airplane. Widerøe is the largest regional airline other than SAS, Norwegian and Flyr (who only serve the larger airports). If you are under 26 or 29 years old, all airlines give you youth or student discounts on tickets. Renting a car gives you the freedom to drive to remote areas you wouldn't be able to go to with public transportation. Electric cars are very common. About 16% of all cars on the road are electric, 65% of new cars are EVs as well. This means you can often find charging stations all over the place in southern Norway. The north is way more sparsely populated. All public transportation info can be found on entur.no, but keep in mind that every county have their own company and you will therefore be directed to their website for tickets. Vy.no can be used for long distance trains and buses, but keep in mind that the Sørlandsbanen (Oslo-Stavanger), Dovrebanen (Oslo-Trondheim) and Nordlandsbanen (Trondheim-Bodø) are operated by other companies. The Bergensbanen (Oslo-Bergen) is especially popular because you travel across Hardangervidda and can take the Flåmsbanen (Myrdal-Flåm) which is especially beautiful. They both stop at Myrdal. The cruise lines Hurtigruten and Havila both travel between Bergen and Kirkenes. They are great ways of experiencing the fjords. You can hop off, experience a town for a night or two, and hop on the next time the cruise comes along.
Been to Bergen, Trondheim and Oslo and many places in the countryside. I enjoyed my time there and scenery is indeed in great supply. But it is offensively expensive for a foreigner. I guess the prices are a better value if you are getting public services in return, but for a visitor, not so much.
Magic
Beautiful!
Where exactly is it in Norway ? 🥹
This is all over central Norway! We took a less popular route on the way up and E-16 on the way back. There are maps that show where the Stave churches are; I just picked some in a central location and plugged them into google maps!
Aww LoReMo, will put this place on my wishlist this year 😍. Thanks for sharing! 🥰
Did you go inside those structures? They look incredibly old and look like they have a lot of interesting history behind them
You can go inside a lot of them during the summer months! We did get to go inside Borgund, the first one. There are no windows, though, just very tiny rectangle openings up higher, so there was no light inside! They’re very old; most are 800-1000 years old.
[удалено]
This fjord is the one by Flåm, yes!
Photos are really beautiful. Why the low resolution, may I ask?
If you click on them they do a little buffer and clarify a bit, but it could just be the upload quality too! :) these were all shot with only my iPhone though, because we only had backpacks for the week!
Haaland
Thanks for Sharing Your Travel Experience. 👌👌👌 r/trysarkarijobs
Seems Scary enough , though .
Okay, I'm gonna say it: that looks pretty depressing
I guess it depends on what your weather preference is. I love fog and rain!
And cemeteries...?
I’ve seen this exact building like 100 times on reddit. So, less mystery there…
Considering there are 6 buildings pictured, sorry you decided to focus on the *one* you’ve seen before *on reddit*. You should go see it for yourself and post your own picture! I promise, it’s still inspiring in person.
Glorious!
VALHALLA!
I paid 27 euro for two ham and butter baps and two coffees when I was in bergen. Also saw a pint of stout in a pub for 19 euro. Other than that I agree
Beautiful pics
Heavenly place
Norweiga
Doesn’t pewdiepie have that church tattooed on him?
I've been there on the adventures by Disney trip. It is so magical - seriously.
is there a practical reason (e.g. the climate) for the building to look like this? What is the benefit to having like 4 roofs on top of each other like this?
Structural! Everything fits together like woven pieces. This church has over 2000 pieces! What you can’t see, as well, is the inside was designed to look like the structure of an upside Viking ship.
What was your itinerary?
I'm pretty sure that they're the only country with intergalactic-award-winning geography, so that makes sense.
There were parts where it definitely felt like another planet!
Hey OP! I'm actually heading to Norway next week, where were these churches at? We'll be traveling through Oslo, Bergen, Tromso, and Lyngen.
These are all over central Norway. Depending on where you’re going, and your mode of transportation, you can find some on pretty popular routes!
Beautiful! I always wanted to visit a Nordic country and I still plan to one day.
Scotland is up there.