Photo by Trym Ivar Bergsmo | Hurtigruten
Fall in love with Norway on the Norwegian Coastal Express
Trade traffic noise for ocean rhythm and discover the art of going somewhere slowly – and loving every minute of it.
There’s a certain kind of magic that happens when you swap airport security and traffic jams for salty air, quiet mornings, and the majestic glide of a ship grazing Norway’s rugged coastline.
Welcome to the Coastal Express – Norway’s most beautiful commute.
Known to Norwegians as Hurtigruten (and now shared with newcomer Havila Voyages), this historic journey spans 12 days, sailing from Bergen to Kirkenes and back, with 34 ports and about a million reasons to gaze out of the window along the way.
You can also experience segments of this iconic 12-day voyage as a scenic mode of transport on many of our tours. Think of it as Norwegian travel hack – you get all the jaw-dropping coastal scenery while actually going somewhere useful. Sail the stretch from Bergen to Trondheim, where the landscape shifts from island-hopping paradise to medieval charm. Or perhaps the Arctic passage from Trondheim to Tromsø is more your style, where the wilderness gets wilder and the northern lights start doing their thing.
It’s part ferry, part day expedition, and part national treasure – and it’s absolutely not your average cruise. For instance, there are no dancing waiters, no towel swans, and no aggressive bingo hosts (well, almost none).
Instead, you get something much rarer: authenticity and history. And the scenery? It’s ridiculous – in the best possible way.
From mail route to living postcard
When the first ship departed Trondheim all the way back in 1893, its task was simple: to deliver post, cargo and passengers to remote coastal communities that had no roads, no railways, and definitely no airports.
Hurtigruten literally connected the country, from the urban bustle of southwestern Norway to the wide skies of the Arctic north.
These days, the ships still carry cargo and locals. Newer to the game are curious travelers who’ve figured out that slowing down is the new luxury.
Photo by Hurtigruten Museum
So many stops, so little stress
Let’s face it: Norway isn’t exactly low on jaw-dropping scenery. However, few other journeys let you see so much of it – and so effortlessly.
Each of the ports the Coastal Express stops by has its own flavor. Bergen, the gateway to the fjords, kicks things off with its colorful wooden houses at Bryggen, lively harbor atmosphere, and a near-constant chance of rain.
Grab a coffee on the pier in Florø, climb to a cinnamon bun-worthy view in Ålesund, or glide into Geiranger or Hjørundfjord for textbook fjord drama.
In Trondheim, you’ll find Gothic spires and microbreweries co-existing in perfect harmony, while Rørvik keeps things cozy with a surprisingly pleasant-smelling fishing museum.
Photo of Hjørundfjorden
Further north, Brønnøysund offers Torghatten, a mountain with a hole in it (yup, seriously). Bodø boasts eagle safaris and extreme plane-spotting, and Lofoten’s stops – Stamsund and Svolvær – serve cod racks, Viking sagas and scenery that’ll exhaust your camera roll.
In Tromsø, you may pet a reindeer if you’re lucky. Honningsvåg leads you to Nordkapp for a contemplative gaze into the Arctic void, and Kirkenes wraps things up with a hotel made entirely of ice, king crabs and serious “end of the world” vibes.
And the best part? You don’t have to unpack once. Now, that’s true bliss.
Excursions and enchantments
Sure, the scenery is breathtaking – but it’s the excursions that turn this voyage into a full-blown experience.
One day you’re chasing the Northern Lights across a frozen sky, the next you’re biking under the Midnight Sun like some kind of coolcation dream. (Well, not in the same season. Not even Norway is that magical.)
Photo by Tromsø Friluftssenter
You might find yourself on a Sea Eagle Safari watching these majestic birds soar overhead, sharing fire-grilled Arctic char in a Sámi lavvu, or wandering through a coastal museum where the stories smell faintly of salt and diesel.
Some stops offer cobbled streets and brown cheese; others offer nothing but sea, sky, and the perfect deck chair to remember what stillness feels like.
Traditions and renewal
By the time you reach the end of the journey, you’ll have done more than simply travel. You’ll have followed the rhythm of a coastline that still pulses with history, weathered beauty, and people who casually refer to storms as “a bit of weather.”
You’ll have seen how traditions survive not by standing still, but by setting sail again and again. Whether you're aboard a Hurtigruten ship with a century of explorer stories in its wake, or a sleek Havila vessel gliding silently on battery power, you're part of something that keeps evolving without ever rushing.
And no, it’s not a cruise. It’s a connection, a floating front porch and a cultural mainline that delivers mail, memories, and the occasional reindeer sighting.
In other words: It’s Norway, served slowly. Just the way we like it.
Photo by Fredrik Ahlsen | Visit Norway
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