Wandering Well · Country

Norway.

Less-touristed places, sorted by Wander Well Score.

Henningsvær, Norway
Gold
Coast & island escapes

Henningsvær

Nordland/Nordlánnda · Norway

Little fishing village on several islands off the Lofoten archipelago in northern Norway, Henningsvær is known for its traditional fishing architecture and a…

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Svolvær, Norway
Gold
Mountain villages

Svolvær

Norway

This little town on the island of Austvågøya serves as the main hub of the Lofoten archipelago, where abrupt mountain peaks rise directly from the ocean alon…

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Honningsvåg, Norway
Silver
Mountain villages

Honningsvåg

Finnmark/Finnmárku/Finmarkku · Norway

The main gateway village for North Cape — the northernmost point in Europe reachable by car — Honningsvåg sits on the water along the southeastern shore of M…

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Hamar, Norway
Gold
Inland waterside towns

Hamar

Norway

This lakeside town on the shores of Mjøsa, Norway's largest lake, Hamar has a walkable centre with a good spread of cafés and restaurants, and scenic surroun…

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Stokmarknes, Norway
Bronze
Mountain villages

Stokmarknes

Nordland/Nordlánnda · Norway

Stokmarknes, a small town on the northern coast of Hadseløya island in Norway's Vesterålen archipelago, is the headquarters of the Hurtigruten coastal expres…

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Trondheim, Norway
Silver
Mountain villages

Trondheim

Trøndelag/Trööndelage · Norway

Founded in 997 as a trading post, Trondheim served as Norway's capital through the Viking Age and remains the site of Nidaros Cathedral, the country's great…

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Sandefjord, Norway
Gold
Coast & island escapes

Sandefjord

Vestfold · Norway

Sandefjord, on the Skaggerak coast of southern Norway, is the self-styled whaling capital of the world — home to the only whaling museum in Europe and the si…

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Balestrand, Norway
Gold
Quiet rural escapes

Balestrand

Norway

A pocket-sized fjordside village on the northern shore of the Sognefjorden in western Norway, Balestrand has drawn tourists since the 1800s and still offers…

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Floro, Norway
Silver
Mountain villages

Floro

Vestland · Norway

Norway's westernmost town, Florø sits on the island of Florelandet in Vestland, founded by royal decree in 1860.

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Steinkjer, Norway
Gold
Mountain villages

Steinkjer

Trøndelag/Trööndelage · Norway

Sitting where the Steinkjerelva river meets the Trondheimsfjorden in Trøndelag, Steinkjer is a little Norwegian county seat with a compact centre of cafés an…

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Haugesund, Norway
Bronze
Mountain villages

Haugesund

Rogaland · Norway

This coastal town on the Karmsundet strait in southwest Norway, Haugesund has a compact centre with a concentration of cafés and restaurants within walking d…

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Sogndal, Norway
Silver
Mountain villages

Sogndal

Vestland · Norway

Compact town on the Sogndalsfjorden — a branch of the great Sognefjord — Sogndal sits where a river meets the water, with mountain terrain rising around it a…

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Norheimsund, Norway
Bronze
Coast & island escapes

Norheimsund

Vestland · Norway

Steinsdalsfossen, one of Norway's most-visited natural attractions, sits just outside this modest Hardangerfjord town in Vestland, where the waterfall leads…

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Stamsund, Norway
Silver
Mountain villages

Stamsund

Nordland/Nordlánnda · Norway

A fishing village on the southern shore of Vestvågøya in Norway's Lofoten archipelago, Stamsund sits where mountain terrain meets the Vestfjorden.

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Volda, Norway
Bronze
Mountain villages

Volda

Møre og Romsdal · Norway

A modest Norwegian town on the northeastern shore of the Voldsfjorden, with mountain terrain rising around it and scenic viewpoints in the surrounds.

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Hemnesberget, Norway
Bronze
Coast & island escapes

Hemnesberget

Norway

Tiny village on the Hemnes peninsula along the southern shore of the Ranfjorden in Nordland, Norway, with a working modest-boat harbour and walking access to…

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Oppdal, Norway
Silver
Mountain villages

Oppdal

Norway

Compact Norwegian valley town ringed by broad forested slopes and high bare-topped mountains, Oppdal serves as a practical base for upland hiking and skiing,…

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Rjukan, Norway
Bronze

Rjukan

Telemark · Norway

Rjukan, a pocket-sized town in Telemark's Vestfjorddalen valley, is best known for the World War II heavy water sabotage operations at the nearby Vemork hydr…

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Holmestrand, Norway
Gold
Coast & island escapes

Holmestrand

Norway

A compact Norwegian fjordside town where a large marina packed with sailboats sits below wooded rocky bluffs, with a walkable waterfront core offering cafés…

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Os i Østerdalen, Norway
Silver
Mountain villages

Os i Østerdalen

Innlandet · Norway

A little village in Norway's Østerdalen valley, Os sits along the upper Glåma river with the mountain Håmmålsfjellet rising nearby to the south.

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Innbygda, Norway
Gold
Inland waterside towns

Innbygda

Norway

Compact Norwegian village on the Trysilelva river in Innlandet county, Innbygda serves as the base for the Trysilfjellet skiing area, which sits directly alo…

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Hammerfest, Norway
Gold
Mountain villages

Hammerfest

Finnmark/Finnmárku/Finmarkku · Norway

Claiming the title of northernmost town in the world, Hammerfest sits on the northwestern coast of Kvaløya island in Norway's Finnmark county, above 70° lati…

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Neskollen, Norway
Bronze
Quiet rural escapes

Neskollen

Norway

This compact Norwegian village of red-roofed houses set among forested upland country and open farmland, Neskollen offers a quiet base close to nature with l…

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Førde, Norway
Gold
Mountain villages

Førde

Norway

This tiny Norwegian town sits where the river Jølstra meets the Førdefjorden, with a compact centre along the harbour that holds cafés, restaurants, and two…

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Måløy, Norway
Bronze
Mountain villages

Måløy

Vestland · Norway

One of Norway's most important fishing ports, Måløy sits on the island of Vågsøy in Vestland county, connected to the mainland by the Måløy Bridge.

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Dombås, Norway
Silver
Mountain villages

Dombås

Norway

This small mountain village in Norway's upper Gudbrandsdalen valley, Dombås sits at the junction of two major European highways — the E6 linking Oslo and Tro…

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Stjørdalshalsen, Norway
Silver
Mountain villages

Stjørdalshalsen

Norway

This waterfront town in Norway's Trøndelag region, Stjørdalshalsen sits where the rivers Stjørdalselva and Gråelva meet the Trondheimsfjorden, with mountain…

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Drammen, Norway
Gold
Mountain villages

Drammen

Buskerud · Norway

A port city on the Drammenselva river in southeastern Norway, Drammen has a walkable centre with a dense café and restaurant scene and sits within easy reach…

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Stanghelle, Norway
Bronze
Mountain villages

Stanghelle

Norway

Tiny Norwegian village on the Veafjorden, where the Hellestraumen branch meets the main fjord, Stanghelle sits in mountain terrain in Vestland county with sc…

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Bugøynes, Norway
Gold
Coast & island escapes

Bugøynes

Norway

A modest fishing village on the Varangerfjorden — a broad bay off the Barents Sea — in Norway's far northeastern Finnmark county, Bugøynes sits well above th…

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Kristiansand, Norway
Gold
Mountain villages

Kristiansand

Agder · Norway

This coastal city on Norway's southern tip with a walkable downtown centred on Markens Street, Kristiansand draws summer visitors to its city beach at Bystra…

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Voss, Norway
Bronze
Mountain villages

Voss

Vestland · Norway

This modest Norwegian town set on a lake amid mountain terrain between the Sognefjord and Hardangerfjord, Voss has a café and restaurant scene that punches a…

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Risør, Norway
Gold
Coast & island escapes

Risør

Agder · Norway

Risør, on Norway's Skagerrak coast, draws visitors with its waterfront setting, surrounding lakes and hills, and a lively summer calendar that includes an an…

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Eidsberg, Norway
Bronze

Eidsberg

Norway

Momarken trotting track, one of Norway's most active harness-racing venues with around 50 race days a year, is the main draw in Eidsberg, a former municipali…

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Lysebotn, Norway
Silver

Lysebotn

Norway

At the far end of Lysefjorden, Lysebotn is the gateway to Kjerag — a mountain draw for hikers and BASE jumpers alike — and receives well over 100,000 visitor…

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Ballstad, Norway
Bronze
Mountain villages

Ballstad

Norway

One of the larger fishing villages in Norway's Lofoten archipelago, Ballstad sits on a small island at the southwestern tip of Vestvågøya where Buksnesfjorde…

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Bodø, Norway
Gold
Bustling market & commercial towns

Bodø

Nordland/Nordlánnda · Norway

This walkable Arctic town on a peninsula between two fjords in Nordland county, Bodø sits just north of the Arctic Circle and serves as the county's administ…

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Tønsberg, Norway
Gold
Charming old-world towns

Tønsberg

Vestfold · Norway

Generally regarded as the oldest city in Norway, Tønsberg traces its origins to at least 871 and was mentioned by Snorri Sturluson in Harald Hårfagre's saga.

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Ikornnes, Norway
Bronze
Mountain villages

Ikornnes

Møre og Romsdal · Norway

A modest village on the Sykkylvsfjorden in Møre og Romsdal, Ikornnes is home to Ekornes, Norway's largest furniture manufacturer.

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Kabelvåg, Norway
Silver
Mountain villages

Kabelvåg

Nordland/Nordlánnda · Norway

Founded as "Vågan" in the early 12th century by King Øystein Magnusson, Kabelvåg is a village on the southern shore of Austvågøya in Norway's Lofoten archipe…

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Eina, Norway
Bronze
Mountain villages

Eina

Norway

Tiny Norwegian village on the north shore of lake Einavatnet, in Innlandet county, with the river Hunnselva running north through it toward the large lake Mj…

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Kongsvinger, Norway
Gold
Inland waterside towns

Kongsvinger

Norway

Tiny Norwegian town on the River Glomma, Kongsvinger sits roughly 30 kilometres from the Swedish border in Innlandet county, with a compact central core of c…

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Orkanger, Norway
Silver
Mountain villages

Orkanger

Trøndelag/Trööndelage · Norway

At the head of the Orkdal Fjord, an arm of the Trondheimsfjord, Orkanger is a small Norwegian town in Trøndelag with mountain terrain rising around it and wa…

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Sjøholt, Norway
Bronze
Mountain villages

Sjøholt

Møre og Romsdal · Norway

This little village on the northern shore of Storfjorden in Møre og Romsdal, Sjøholt sits in mountain terrain roughly halfway between Ålesund and Molde along…

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Berlevåg, Norway
Silver
Coast & island escapes

Berlevåg

Finnmark/Finnmárku/Finmarkku · Norway

A fishing village on the Barents Sea coast of Norway's Varanger Peninsula, Berlevåg is one of the largest fishing settlements in Finnmark, with fish processi…

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Vadsø, Norway
Silver
Coast & island escapes

Vadsø

Finnmark/Finnmárku/Finmarkku · Norway

The administrative centre of Finnmark county, Vadsø sits on the southern shore of the Varanger Peninsula along the Varanger Fjord, with part of the town occu…

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Andenes, Norway
Bronze
Coast & island escapes

Andenes

Norway

Andenes, on the northern tip of the island of Andøya in Norway's Nordland county, is a little fishing village facing the North Atlantic, with a lighthouse bu…

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Aroysund, Norway
Bronze
Coast & island escapes

Aroysund

Norway

A small Norwegian coastal village on the island of Nøtterøy, where forested rocky shores meet a sheltered sound busy with small boats, making it a popular su…

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Brumunddal, Norway
Gold
Inland waterside towns

Brumunddal

Norway

Mjøstårnet, the world's tallest glulam timber structure, stands in this small Norwegian town on the eastern shore of Lake Mjøsa, a short distance north of Ha…

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Bryne, Norway
Silver
Charming old-world towns

Bryne

Norway

A compact Rogaland town set among rolling green farmland, Bryne offers a walkable central core with cafés and restaurants, easy rail access from Stavanger, a…

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Brattvag, Norway
Bronze
Mountain villages

Brattvag

Møre og Romsdal · Norway

Modest village on the west side of Samfjorden in Møre og Romsdal, Brattvåg sits where mountain terrain meets the water on Norway's west coast.

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Grimstad, Norway
Gold
Coast & island escapes

Grimstad

Agder · Norway

A walkable coastal town on the Skagerrak in southern Norway, Grimstad sits along the Groosefjorden between Arendal and Lillesand, with a centre full of cafés…

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Seljord, Norway
Bronze
Inland waterside towns

Seljord

Telemark · Norway

Small Norwegian village on Lake Seljord in Telemark, known for two things above all: the Dyrsku'n market, held annually since 1866 and drawing large crowds e…

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Nybergsund, Norway
Bronze
Mountain villages

Nybergsund

Norway

Nybergsund, a pocket-sized hamlet on the Trysilelva river in Norway's Innlandet county, is best known as the hiding place of the Norwegian royal family and C…

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Rørvik, Norway
Silver
Coast & island escapes

Rørvik

Trøndelag/Trööndelage · Norway

A pocket-sized coastal town on the island of Inner-Vikna in Norway's Trøndelag region, Rørvik sits within the Vikna archipelago and is home to the Norwegian…

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Kristiansund, Norway
Gold
Mountain villages

Kristiansund

Norway

Spread across three islands in Norway's Møre og Romsdal county, Kristiansund has one of the most densely built compact-city centres in the country, with a wa…

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Tynset, Norway
Silver
Mountain villages

Tynset

Innlandet · Norway

Small town on the Glåma river in the mountain terrain of Innlandet, Tynset serves as the administrative centre of Tynset Municipality and sits roughly midway…

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Jessheim, Norway
Silver

Jessheim

Norway

Jessheim is a small Norwegian town in Ullensaker municipality, Akershus, that has grown rapidly since the mid-20th century and now serves as a regional shopp…

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Avaldsnes, Norway
Silver
Coast & island escapes

Avaldsnes

Norway

Known as "Norway's oldest capital," Avaldsnes is a little village on the Karmsundet strait in Rogaland where Harald Fairhair — who unified Norway into a sing…

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Follebu, Norway
Bronze
Inland waterside towns

Follebu

Norway

Follebu, a village in Gausdal Municipality in Norway's Innlandet county, is home to Aulestad, the farm of the Norwegian writer Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, and to…

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More places in Norway below the top of the list — pagination coming.