Wondering what to wear in Norway and pack for your big trip? The final step before jetting off on your travels is figuring out the necessities to bring with you. We recently spent one week on an epic road trip through the fjords. Below we share the best clothes for Norway, fun tips, and our ultimate packing list!
Our Ultimate Norway Packing List
Luggage For Your Norway Adventure
Picking the right luggage is the first key to having a great vacation. Personally, we travel with carry-on luggage only and found that to be the best choice for Norway. For years, we’ve been using travel backpacks which have lasted us an incredibly long time.
The best companies for high-quality travel bags are Osprey, Thule, & The North Face! We even wrote a review of the new Osprey Daylite Duffel 45 you can check out.
The benefit of having carry-on only luggage is that it will somewhat force you to pack light and only bring the essentials. Also, our itinerary had us moving around every day. This was another reason it was so important to be able to transport our bags easily.
→ Norway Itinerary: Amazing 7 Day Fjord Road Trip from Oslo
Best Clothes for Norway
When leaving to travel around Europe for the summer we didn’t actually plan to visit Norway! After island hopping in Greece and drinking wine in Tuscany, we were looking for the best flight deal back home to visit family in the United States. That’s when we found a new route by Norse Airlines.
The flight was almost 1/3rd of the cost from other European destinations to the U.S. at this time! It was because of this deal that we changed our travel plans and ended up spending the last week of our trip in Norway.
Honestly, we didn’t have the proper clothes for Norway but were able to pick up some stuff before leaving for Scandinavia. We traveled to Norway in early August which is still considered summer and a popular time to visit the country.
While the weather was warm and sunny in Oslo, it was quite chilly as we traveled through the fjords. We were also super surprised by how much snow we saw at high altitudes! Hopefully, our experience gives you an idea of what to pack for Norway, what to skip, and some extra tips for exploring fjord country.
→ Planning a Trip to Norway: 10 Step Easy to Follow Travel Guide
What to Wear in Norway
Rain Jacket
No matter how much you can hope for good weather you don’t want to be unprepared. As we mentioned, even Norway in late summer can be rainy, windy, and cold. Specifically, if you are visiting the fjords rain will be inevitable.
Now don’t let that deter you from having an amazing visit! The rain and clouds made the scenery completely unique and beautiful. Also, it was fast moving along our drive so we had plenty of clear and sunny points between showers.
Regardless, a rain jacket is a must for your Norway packing list. We always travel with a high-end raincoat with our favorite brands being The North Face, Patagonia, and Columbia.
Sneakers or Hiking Shoes
When looking for what to wear in Norway, having a sturdy pair of shoes is so key. If you plan to do any hiking in the country you’ll want to bring the appropriate footwear. At the bare minimum you should add sneakers to your Norway packing list!
We didn’t find the need for flip flips except for when we were walking down to our hotel sauna. You do not specifically need waterproof boots for this journey. However, if you already love outdoor adventures you may want to purchase some for Norway.
We took the famous Flam train and bike ride which ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. Yet, our sneakers were SOAKED completely through and we needed to use a hair dryer to fix them in the morning.
→ Flam Norway Railway: Why You Should Take the Train & Bike Back
More of What to Wear in Norway
Warm Layer
There is a reason winter coats are sold at the rest stops in Norway year-round! If you are visiting fjord country or plan to go hiking, make sure to have a warm layer under your raincoat. Even in the first week of August, we had fleeces under our jackets and it was just barely warm enough.
We almost didn’t pack this because we assumed visiting in the summertime would be fine. Yet, if we didn’t then we definitely would have joined in with the tourists and been purchasing more Norway clothes for layers!
Shirts & Longsleeves
Obviously, having some layers to put on and take off is important. We have already talked extensively about all best warm clothes for Norway. And hopefully, your trip will be warm and sunny.
That means plenty of lightweight Norway clothes are perfect. One thing that we always travel with and love is a long sleeve SPF shirt that we can throw on quickly and protect ourselves from the hot sun.
Pants & Shorts
We almost made the mistake of not having pants for Norway coming from the sunshine of Italy. We suggest you don’t do the same! Many of the areas we visited still had snow and it was very cold.
Having pants or at least leggings will come in handy if you plan to drive any of the routes through the mountains.
Hat & Gloves
We didn’t have hats and gloves but wish we did! They take up almost no room and will come in handy when jumping in and out of the car on a cold day. Definitely include these when deciding what to pack for Norway.
Norway Packing List Essentials
Black Out Eye Mask
This is huge! If you didn’t know Norway has an unreal amount of daylight hours in the summer months. There are some times when it even stays light for all 24 hours. We always travel with a blackout mask for sleeping so it was a no-brainer to bring it to Norway.
You can buy an eye mask three-pack which is inexpensive and can make all the difference. They are also great for sleeping on a flight when you eventually head home. While many hotels have blackout shades, it’s always best to come prepared when considering what to wear in Norway!
Reusable Water bottles
Having a water bottle is a must while visiting Norway. You can refill them with clean drinking water at almost every rest area. Over the years, we have always used Nalgene. Just recently we switched to a collapse water bottle to save space.
Norway is also known for having some of the cleanest rivers and lakes in the world. If you are going on any remote hikes you should plan to bring a filtering water bottle just to be safe. Make sure not to use the water from the fjords as it’s actually a mix of fresh and ocean that can make you very sick.
Bathing Suit
Yes, that’s right! Even in the winter you should bring a suit when packing what to wear in Norway. You can swim in the ocean, jump into a sauna, or enjoy a hot tub from your hotel overlooking the fjord.
We’re not going to lie… The water in Oslo and the Fjords was pretty chilly. However, that did stop some people from jumping in. There is even a beach right in Oslo where you can swim if you want.
→ 13 Fun Things to do in Oslo Norway On Your First Visit
Folding Backpack
We never travel anywhere without our folding backpack. It allows us to keep everything we need for the day in one easy-to-reach spot as we jump in and out of the car. In a place like Norway, it came in handy when we would go on a bike ride or hike.
Sunscreen & Lip Balm
When the sun is out and strong the air is actually quite dry in Norway. Even on cloudy days make sure to cover yourself in strong SPF and have some lip balm with you.
International Adaptor
When abroad we always use one international adaptor box. This has plugs that fit all over the world in one box. It’s great because we don’t need to carry multiple pieces around or buy new chargers when we arrive.
Have any questions about what to wear in Norway or want to share your own favorite clothes for Norway you packed? Let us know in the comments below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
Where in the world are we? Follow our daily adventures on Instagram @nothingfamiliar!
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More Norway Tips
- 12 Best Tips To Know Before Exploring the Norway Fjords
- Flam Norway Railway: Why You Should Take the Train & Bike Back
- Undredal Norway: One Night in the Fairy Tail Fjord Village
- Geiranger Fjord Guide: 10 Helpful Things to Know Before Your Visit
- 9 Important Things to Know Before Renting a Car in Norway
Norway Travel Planning
Flights: We always find deals using Skyscanner and Kayak. That’s how we got flights from Italy to Prague for under $40 USD!
Rental Car: We use Discover Cars when abroad. It is especially popular to rent a car and spend one week cruising between the Fjords.
Accommodation: Compare competitive sites for hotels such as Booking.com and Agoda. Also, Hostelworld should be your go-to source if you’re traveling on a budget.
Tours: Check out Get Your Guide for activities all over Norway. You can book everything from an Oslo pass for museums and transportation to a Bergen Fjord tour and even take a famous Tromsø Aurora Borealis Tour!
Travel Insurance: Never travel abroad without being covered. We’ve been using SafetyWing for the last few years on the road and they are there when we need them.
Packing Lists: Here’s all the inspiration you need with our Amazon packing lists! Including electronics and camera gear, must-have medical items, and long flight essentials!
What shoes do you recommend for the bike ride? Thanks.
Author
We used our regular running/hiking sneakers which we had for the rest of our trip. You won’t need anything too specialized for this one!
Okay. I asked because you mentioned that your shoes were soaked after the ride. Seems I might just need to have a dry pair handy. Thanks!
Author
Yes, or waterproof would be ideal. You never know in Norway!
I’m heading to Norway soon and I’m honestly clueless about what to bring. I’m planning to explore the fjords so I’m definitely bringing my most comfortable sneakers for hiking! Thanks for the tips!
Author
No problem glad we could help! Dress warm (-: