Does Norway have good skiing?

Southern Norway is usually known as a summer island paradise, but the region also has some great ski resorts. In Telemark – the cradle of modern skiing – you can take the cable car Gaustabanen inside Mount Gaustatoppen, and freeride down the mountainside with or without a guide.

Norway offers consistently good snow from November through to May, wide open pistes, no lift queues, friendly English speaking locals and an excellent standard of accommodation.

Traditionally, Norway has a reputation for being über expensive, but right now, the dollar is strong against the kroner, and skiing in general is much cheaper than in North America. One important detail is alcohol is highly taxed, whether you are buying beer in the store or at a bar, beware of sticker shock.

Honestly, it's not as chilly as people think. Only the very top of Norway's in the Arctic Circle, and the ski resorts are further south – the nippiest it gets around there is about -7°C in January and February, and things warm up to around 1°C in April.

If you are not dependent on vacation weeks, then we would advise you to go skiing in Norway or in Sweden in February, March or even early April: there is often even more snow than in December, with longer days and plenty of sun.

You may have heard that Scandinavia is famously expensive for tourists. High Norwegian salaries mean both the standard and cost of living in Norway is higher than many countries. While Norway does live up to its reputation of being an expensive place to visit, you can definitely enjoy an affordable Norway vacation.

The undisputed champion of the world of skiing is undoubtedly France. Its many resorts are easily accessible and are the most popular European winter holiday destination in the world. The Alps are some of the most stunning mountains you will ever be able to lay your eyes on.

Sweden vs Norway for skiing – which is best? The short answer is both have fantastic skiing. Both countries have hosted the Winter Olympics – most recently Lillehammer in Norway in 1994 – both have some great ski resorts and both have miles and miles of pistes for cross-country and downhill skiing.

You can cruise down a diamond piste, challenge yourself on jumps and rails, or chase the perfect powder further up the mountains. It's this combination of beginner's fun and action-packed slopes that make the Norwegian ski destinations so popular.

Norway is expensive because it is a rich country and there are small differences in salaries. In addition, Norway has a large range of universal health and welfare services free of charge, paid for by taxes. This means that some services are relatively expensive.

Oppdal ski centre a little south of Trondheim is the largest in Trøndelag, with a total of 35 slopes and 13 lifts. Hovden has some of Norway's best slopes for freeriders and racers, while Ådalen offers fantastic skiing on untouched snow.

Winter in Norway

If you love snow activities and don't mind the cold temperatures, you'll find the most snow between December and April. January and February are dark and the coldest months, so if you're heading to one of the ski areas in Norway, pick March.

Wind and waterproof trousers and jacket (ski pants and jacket if waterproof) Gloves/mittens (mittens will keep your hands warmer) preferably wind and waterproof, preferably 2 pairs. Woolen hat (that covers the ears) Buff or collar (to protect your neck or to cover your face)

At the Narvikfjellet mountain, you can go downhill on plenty of snow until the end of June. Depending on the snow conditions, the major mountain resorts in the south usually offer skiing until the end of April.

Snow Conditions in Oslo Winterpark

The ski season runs from December to April. With the aid of snow cannons on every run the resort can guarantee snow coverage throughout the whole season.

Because of the high mountains and the high latitude, in Norway you can find snow all year round. Jotunheimen National Park in Southern Norway, roughly in between Oslo and Bergen, is one of the perfect destinations for summer skiing.

Euro is not used in Norway. The Norwegian currency is Norwegian Kroner (NOK). 1 NOK is divided into 100 øre (cents).

English is widely spoken in Norway, and virtually every Norwegian can speak fluent (or understand a minimum of, this is mostly the elder people) English. Tourist information is usually printed in several languages.

Admittedly it's not inexpensive, and those on a tight budget may have problems varying their diet, but by exercising a little prudence in the face of the average menu (which is almost always in Norwegian and English), you can keep costs down to reasonable levels.

Our ski experts have chosen a few of the most beautiful ski resorts in the France, Austria, Switzerland and Italy.

Austria is home to some of the largest and best ski resorts in Europe. Its most popular skiing region is Tyrol, with 3,500 kilometers of slopes and its world-famous resorts such as Soelden, Ischgl, and St. Anton. The region of Salzburg is second in skiable terrain, with 1,700 kilometers of slopes.

Best Ski Vacations in the World

Verdict: Norway

Norway is, simply put, one of the most – if not the most – beautiful countries in the world top to bottom. There are endless opportunities to get outside into mountains and fjords. Sweden offers nothing that even remotely compares to Norway, so Norway is the clear winner in this category.

In general, Finland is flatter than Norway, and while it is a beautiful and impressive country, it doesn't have the dramatic scenery that you find in Norway. Finland does have many beautiful lakes that provide excellent fishing and outdoor opportunities, and Finland is known for its outdoor sports year around.

Where to go in Scandinavia in winter

Oslo is unique in its ability to offer you a combined skiing and big city experience. What other capital city can boast entire ski centres within its limits? The largest ski centre in Oslo is Skimore Oslo with 14 slopes, 6 lifts and one of the largest terrain parks in Norway - only 30 minutes from the city centre.

Best for snow-sure slopes - Norway's resorts are known for excellent snow conditions and long seasons, but the highest resorts are Beitostolen (900m) and Geilo (800m).