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Norway in March: Best Things to Do + What to Expect

What if you could go to a tourist destination when hardly anyone else was there?

The flights are cheaper, you could take one of the best train rides in the world with hardly anyone on it, and still see all the best sights in two different cities.

That’s Norway in March.

Norwegian flag - Visiting Norway in March

Norway is a great place to visit in summer and winter. Summer for hiking the amazing Fjords, and winter for the snow and, in the north, the chance to see the Northern Lights.

Visiting Norway in March or April is a bit of an in-between time to go, but I really think that the offseason is one of the best times to travel in Europe.

At this time of year in Norway, you’re a little early to travel to the Fjords extensively, although it is possible to see some of the more southern areas.

But there is still so much to see and do at this time of year, leaving you free to explore the Fjords more fully some other time!

There are fewer other tourists to contend with in March for the main sites, and flights at this time of year can also be cheaper than at others.

Since Norway is one of the more expensive European countries to visit, it’s a good chance to have a weekend away in Norway on a budget!

I’ve travelled to both Oslo and Bergen within a 4 day weekend, so here are my tips on what to see in Norway in March and how to get around.

I travelled most of the time with a friend, but you can also easily travel in Norway solo

Top Things to do in Oslo in March

Oslo likes to sleep in. Like many other European countries I’ve been to, a lot of places don’t open until around 10 am, so when I headed out on my first morning, I was greeted by mostly empty streets.

The only other people out were weighed down by their ski gear, heading off for a day on the nearby slopes, an option for anyone who’s in Norway in March.

It wasn’t for me, however, as my budget meant I was happy to just wander the streets and take in the sights in Oslo with no one else around.

I also discovered my favourite food of the weekend, cinnamon scrolls! I’ve lived in the US, and I know a good cinnamon bun when I have one, but these were something else!

A cinnamon bun, known as Kanelboller in Norwegian, and coffee would set me back about 50-70NOK, which is the equivalent of around €5-7Euro.

Not bad when compared to other prices in Norway and a great on-the-go option for budget food in Norway.

Of course, you’ll want to sustain yourself on more eventually, but I lived on those cinnamon buns for breakfast and snacks.

So, if you’re looking for things to do in Oslo in March you don’t need to plan to be up too early, and can take your time over breakfast.

Norway In March budget easter break

Bygdøy or Museum Island

There’s something really cool about putting all your main museums on an island in the harbour, like in Oslo. Five of Oslo’s museums are located on Bygdøy or Museum Island.

Well, technically, it’s not an island since there is a bus, but the ferry is a great and easy way to get to “museum island” from central Oslo and have fun being on Oslo Fjord at the same time!

There are also parks and forests located on Bygdøy, so you can spend a whole day wandering around the island if you want to.

We went over in the morning to see the Viking Museum and the Open Air Museum and took a walk around to see how locals live in the area.

Visiting Oslo in March meant that there was quite a bit of snow around, and much of the harbour was frozen, which was awesome to see.

Norway In March budget easter break

Viking Museum

The Viking Ship Museum in Oslo holds some of the best Viking artefacts you can see anywhere.

Before visiting the Viking Shop Museum, I thought all Vikings were buried at sea or cremated since that’s what the movies and media seem to show us.

It is true in some instances, but there have also been discoveries of fully intact ships buried with the remains of people and a wealth of goods inside.

The consensus seems to be that a ship was a person’s way to the afterlife, although no one knows quite why some people were buried in this way and not others.

For us, it means insight into the lives of the Vikings that we wouldn’t otherwise have.

The Oseberg Ship is one of the ships at the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, and it was recovered from the largest Viking burial site in the world.

Two women were buried with the ship and a number of animals. Although the area had been ransacked at some point before its rediscovery, there was a lot to be recovered from the Norwegian site.

Learning more about the Vikings, seeing these ancient and mostly intact Viking ships and imagining when the sea was full of them was one of my highlights of Norway.

Vigelandsparken or Vigeland Sculpture Park

Take a short bus ride from the centre of Oslo to Viglandsparken, a sculpture park that showcases Gustav Vigeland’s work.

I’m not normally one to go out of my way to visit parks unless there’s something else to see there, and I really enjoyed seeing the different sculptures on display here.

Plus, it allows you to enjoy the snow if you’re visiting Oslo in March!

vigelandsparken vigeland sculpture park Norway in March

Oslo Opera House

The Oslo Opera House is next to Oslo Fjord, and it’s built to look like ice rising out of the sea. This unique design means you can wander all over the roof of the building and see Oslo from all different angles.

It would be a great place to spend some time relaxing in the sun in the summer. In the winter, it gives you a chance to see Oslo from a different point of view; just be a bit careful of any ice!

Akershus Fortress

This medieval castle and fortress are located right next to Oslo Fjord in the centre of the city. It was built around the 1290s and was used to protect Oslo and later as a prison.

It’s free to enter, and you can discover more about the history of Oslo and see a part of the city how it used to be.

Fortress Oslo Norway in March

Oslo waterfront

The waterfront area near downtown Oslo is also known as Fjord City, and it has been renovated into a great area with restaurants, museums, and public spaces.

Much of the time I spent in Oslo in March was sunny, if cold, so walking along this area was a great way to get a bit of sun!

Eating out in Norway is expensive compared to other European destinations, but the food is good, with lots of fresh fish options and different cuisines.

There are a lot of restaurants along this stretch of the waterfront, and it’s worth checking the menus to see if you can find one within your budget.

fjord city oslo norway in march

Cruise of Oslo Fjord

Visiting Oslo in March means you’re just in time for the reopening of the Oslo Fjord cruises.

In winter, ice forms on the Oslo Fjord right up to the harbour and icebreaking ships have to make way for the regular ferry from Denmark, while smaller boats stop sailing altogether.

When the ice is thin enough again, the Oslo Fjord tours start. I went with Fjord Tours on a 2-hour Oslo Fjord cruise open from late March to September that leaves from the Rådhusbrygge port.

It was the first weekend of the year that the Oslo Fjord Sightseeing Cruise was open, which was lucky for me since this and the Viking Ship Museum were my favourite things to do in Oslo by far!

I’ve never been on a boat that had to break the thin layer of ice as it sailed before, and that was cool enough, but we also sailed around the archipelago, looking at the summer houses on the islands and places where people live all year round.

I added hiring a house on a Norwegian island to my list of things to do in the future!

Read More: 10 Favourite City Breaks During Winter in Europe

oslo fjord cruise norway at easter

Oslo to Bergen Train by Day and Night

If I visited Oslo at a warmer time of year, I might have considered visiting the fjords as a way to get out of the city and see more of Norway.

However, in March, there aren’t many fjord tours available, and it’s difficult to go by yourself (see more below on tour options!).

Instead, I decided to take the train to Bergen to see Norway’s other major city in the south and enjoy the views along the way.

The train from Oslo to Bergen on the west coast of Norway takes almost 7 hours and has been voted one of the best train journeys in the world.

During the train journey, you cross over Europe’s highest mountain plateau, and the countryside changes dramatically from greenery to mountains, lakes, and fjords.

The train itself has great facilities, and you can choose from many different upgrades for things like powerpoints and unlimited coffee.

It might sound like a long journey, but we definitely weren’t bored with the views to take in on the way!

Travelling in Norway in March meant the train wasn’t too busy, even on Easter weekend when we were there.

Many of the people on the train were travelling to different ski resorts and dressed in their ski gear for the journey since as they got off the train, they started skiing to their accommodation straight away.

The lack of people meant we were able to hop from side to side and change seats multiple times to take in the best views. I can imagine if it’s busy in summer, you would miss some!

train oslo to bergen norway

You could spend a few days in Bergen and then fly out from there, but since we booked return flights to Oslo, we need to get back somehow as well.

Although the journey from Oslo to Bergen was fantastic, we didn’t want to spend another day of our trip on it, so we opted for the night train from Bergen to Oslo.

Travelling by night was another experience altogether! You can just sit/sleep in the aeroplane-style seats, but we opted for a cabin for not much extra cost.

I’ve travelled on overnight trains in South-East Asia, but this was another level. We had our own small cabin that contained a small bunk bed, places to store our luggage and room to get ready in the morning.

It was a really fun way to get back to Oslo and cost-effective since it was a night of accommodation too!

Fares for the Oslo to Bergen and back train are definitely cheaper the further you book in advance, so check out the NSB website for fares and times.

train oslo to bergen norway 2

Top Things To Do in Bergen in March

Bergen is located on the west coast of Norway, and it seems worlds away from Oslo.

If you have to choose between the two, then I would say Bergen is the best place to go in Norway, because while Oslo has some great sights and museums to see it feels more like a business area than the more relaxed and arty Bergen.

There are plenty of things to do in Bergen in winter and some other great alternatives in summer too.

Bryggen UNESCO World Heritage Area

Bryggen is Norwegian for ‘Wharf’, and this area on the Bergen Fjord was historically the commercial area of Norway.

The warehouses here now date back to around 1754 when they were rebuilt after fires, although some cellars are from the 15th century, and the actual site has been used for much longer.

The buildings now house various restaurants, museums, and shops.

Bryggen is one of the highlights of visiting Bergen and a great place to just wander and check things out.

Bryggen UNESCO Norway at Easter in March

Mount Floyen Funicular

From the middle of Bergen, you can take a cable car up Mount Floyen to see incredible views of Bergen and the Fjord.

There are lots of walks in the area, and here you can find traces of Norwegian folklore, with carvings to trolls peppering the landscape.

For those in Norway on a budget, you can walk up Mount Floyen instead of taking the cable car, or you can opt to walk one way and cable car the other.

This was the snowiest place we found in Bergen in March, with lots of ice and snow about!

Mount Floyen Bergen Norway at easter in march

Bergen Waterfront

Like most places, the Bergen Waterfront has many restaurants and pubs, but you’ll find the food on the expensive side once again.

Soup is generally the cheapest option, and on a cold night, a generous bowl of soup was delicious and filling, especially the fresh seafood chowder option.

The cost is around €10, which makes it one of the cheapest meals out you could have in Norway.

Eating Norwegian food at Pingvinen

Trying local foods is one of my favourite things to do in a new country, and while the cinnamon rolls and soup were awesome, I couldn’t live in Norway on those alone.

In Bergen, we headed to a restaurant called Pingvinen, Norwegian for penguin. It’s a really cute little restaurant featuring traditional Norwegian food cooked homestyle.

I loved the lingonberries with the meat and fresh vegetables, and while I didn’t try reindeer here, it is sometimes on the menu for those wanting to try something different.

Read More: How to Pack for Winter Travel with Carry On Only Luggage

norway in march budget easter break

Norway Weather in March

So what’s the weather in Norway in March like? The weather is starting to warm up at this time as spring looms closer.

However, it can be a little changeable and vary from year to year; for the most part, this time of year is still considered winter.

Expect around -3°C and 6°C (27-43F) and be prepared with both warm and wet weather clothes because it can be sunny but chilly, and rain isn’t uncommon.

We were lucky to have sunshine for most of the time we were there, which helped it feel much warmer than it was! 

Visiting the Norway Fjords in March

Can you visit the fjords in Norway in March? It’s definitely possible!

The popular “Norway in a Nutshell” tour is run year-round between Oslo and Bergen with stops in the Fjords. It used to only be the summer months, but I guess they saw the demand was there.

You do the tour on your own with their guidance, and connections are all arranged for you. It’s possible to do in one day, but they recommend overnight stops if you want to make the most of the experience. 

We considered it at the time but opted to take the train and see the cities instead, as we wouldn’t be able to do all the things we wanted to in the fjords like hiking and kayaking, and we were on a tight budget!

boats near islands in oslo fjord in norway in march

Where else to go in Norway

Sticking to the southern regions of Norway in March means you’ll have warmer weather and more daylight hours, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider heading further north at this time of year. 

There are plenty of ski fields for winter activities and some lovely villages along the western end of the Fjords or north of Oslo. 

The Lofoten Islands in the north are a picturesque and popular destination, especially for those looking to see the Northern Lights, which is still possible at this time of year. Much like Iceland, it’s never guaranteed, however!

Many of the walking trails will be closed at this time due to snow, and you’ll need to allow plenty of time in case of ferry cancellations, so if you’re short on time and budget, it may be best to stick to the south. 

Read More: 27 Best Places to Visit in Europe in Spring

Packing for Norway in March

Packing for Norway in March is like packing for any other European destination in winter.

Sticking mostly to the cities means you’ll just need warm clothes and waterproof and warm shoes/boots but no special clothing as such.

I wore the same clothes I’d wear in the UK in winter but with an extra underlayer if needed. If you’re venturing anywhere that might have more snow, you’ll want snow boots!

Mount Floyen Funicular Bergen Norway

Budget for Norway in March

This time of year in Norway is considered the shoulder season, as it’s sort of between winter and spring.

This makes it a great time to visit as there are likely to be fewer crowds, but it’s easier to get to many attractions without as much snow and longer daylight hours.

It also makes it a more budget-friendly time to visit Norway since it’s definitely on the more expensive end of the spectrum when it comes to European destinations. Hotels and flights are generally cheaper at this time, although expect to see a slight uptick if it’s the Easter Break. 

Norway In March budget easter break

An impulse decision to visit Norway in March because the flights were cheaper turned out to have even more benefits.

We were able to visit the most popular places at a less busy time and take advantage of all the top things to do in Oslo and Bergen during winter.

If you have more time and it’s warmer, then the Fjords near Bergen would definitely be a great addition, but the best thing is, it’s possible to have a weekend away in Norway in March on a budget!

Sonja x

Read more: Expat Stories: Moving to Norway

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Norway In March budget easter break

19 thoughts on “Norway in March: Best Things to Do + What to Expect

  1. Kristine says:

    Happy to see this post! I’ll be heading to Bergen a few months time though I won’t be able to take the famous train journey down 🙁 10 euros for a bowl of soup and it’s the cheapest option? I need to increase my travel budget then ?

    As for travelling during off season, I went Santorini during its low season and it was so empty and I loved it! Quietness is my preferred style of travels, can’t deal with crowds too well!

    • Migrating Miss says:

      I hope you have an amazing time! I loved Bergen :). If you have time you may be able to go to the Fjords which includes part of the train journey. We were there just before they started tours for the year! You can get cheaper food in supermarkets and of course 7/11 haha, but that was around the cheapest we found to eat out!

  2. Juliissa says:

    Your blog has inspired me; I found a cheap flight from my hometown of Los Angeles to Oslo, but a little concerned about how expensive Norway is and the cold weather. I love museums and walking around enjoying the sights…..with many coffee sounds heavenly.

    • Migrating Miss says:

      Thanks so much!!! It is more expensive than some other European countries but you can still do it on a budget! Eating out is quite expensive so that’s where you can shop at the supermarket or bakeries instead :). Just be sure to bring a good coat and shoes for the weather! Hope you have a great trip.

    • Linda says:

      Hello Juliissa. My friends and I also just booked travel from LAX to Oslo. Our travel dates are March 1st – 8th 2018. Maybe we’ll be on the same flight?

  3. Ann says:

    Was in bearable at this time? Considering a trip late march/early april and concerned about the weather. Would be traveling with kids as well. I keep reading that its cold, and we are from Southern California. Just wanted to make sure we can walk around outdoors and still have a good time.

    • Migrating Miss says:

      Hi Ann! Yes it definitely was, but we were coming from the UK so a bit more used to it. It’s not the height of winter but you will definitely want good coats, hats, scarves, and warm shoes (boots) etc. If you’re prepared you’ll have no problem! 🙂

  4. Julie says:

    Hi, Your trip has given us hope to see and do alot in a short time. We will be in Oslo March 8 and depart March 14.. Well I have a question well more like guidance.. lol I wanted to know if it is possible to do the 2 hr. Fjord tour and also have time to go to “museum island” in one day and enjoy the viking museum and well pretty much see everything you saw in one day? We are catching another flight as soon as we get to Oslo to get to Bergen so we have more time and taking the train ride back to Oslo ,, you mentioned visiting Bryggen but how can we get there from main Bergen and is it a short trip… bc we are planning to only have two and a half days there one day to go to Mt Floyen and ride the funicular another to visit Bryggen then the next day go to Oslo since like you we are flying back home from there and decided to end our trip there for less stress. You mentioned preferring to stay more days in Bergen than Oslo because of nature we feel the same but don’t know of anything else to do there with the limited of time we have …
    Also we were planning on buying the City pass park for Bergen and Oslo do you think its worth it considering our itinerary or should we just pay for the museums individually? one last think do you know if they accept American debit cards or should we just use nok. I read that they do but figured I’d confirm with someone..hehe . I know I am asking a lot of questions but we have never been there my daughter is planning to go to university there and has to take a test so we decided to make a trip together 🙂 We are from Florida!! and have never seen snow or been that cold so we are a little apprehensive,, we will be purchasing ski jackets with extra lining hopefully these will work. Thanks sooo sooo much.. for your reply in advance.. My daughter thinks you have her dream job..lol her dream is to travel and see the world..she just has to figure out how to do both travel but still make money…lol a big thanks!!!

    • Migrating Miss says:

      I think you’d be able to do the Fjord tour and the Viking museum in one day for sure. Bryggen is basically in the middle of Bergen so it’s easily walkable from the harbour. You’ll see it when you arrive :). It sounds like you’re pretty much sorted for what you’re doing in Bergen. It’ll depend on the weather but there are some great walks around the top of Mt Floyen. I would add up how much the museums you want to visit are separately, as it might be worth it just to pay individually. I haven’t used the card myself sorry! You will be able to use a credit card (your debit card on the credit option) if they are accepted, but you can also just withdraw money at an ATM and pay for things in cash too. That’s often what I do! I would recommend getting some warm underlayers (check out my post on packing for winter) and make sure you have good waterproof shoes and thick socks because cold feet isn’t fun! Think hiking boots or lined leather boots, although sometimes these aren’t as good in snow. Hope you have an amazing trip! And there are definitely ways to earn money and travel, I started by moving from place to place and getting a job wherever I went and then switched to working online :).

  5. Bridget Z says:

    Thank you for this blog. My husband and I head off to Oslo for a 4 day weekend trip from Washington DC! We arrive on a Friday morning. Would you suggest the train to be on Saturday or Sunday? We will return at night as well. Thanks for your tips.

    • Migrating Miss says:

      I don’t think it makes too much of a difference, although if you want to stay over in Bergen for a night then probably the Saturday? (I’m assuming you would be returning on the Monday!)

  6. Shelley Hedrick says:

    Thank you so much for this info! It’s really been helpful in planning my upcoming trip to Oslo (March 23-April 1). I was wondering if you think snow boots are required if you are sticking to the city & maybe a (2) hour fjord tour? Or are just good hiking boots acceptable? We’re not doing any major outdoor winter excursions.

    • Sonja - Migrating Miss says:

      You’re welcome! I don’t think you would necessarily need snow boots, hiking boots should suffice for that time. I actually just wore my normal boots I wear in the city in Scotland, although I didn’t go on a fjord tour! We wore hiking boots in Iceland in November in the snow and I found they worked really well so I wouldn’t go out of your way to buy snow boots if you don’t need them for anything else!

  7. Peter Wilson says:

    Thank you for your review. We are planning a trip to Norway in March. Did you stay overnight in Bergen? or did you return to Oslo that evening? Thank you.

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