Spring in Norway is a time of remarkable transformation, where the stark landscapes of winter gradually give way to vibrant life and colors. From late March through May, Norway begins to thaw, revealing the first signs of green in the south, while the northern parts start their slow emergence from winter's grip.
This season offers a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural festivities, making it an ideal time for exploring the Norwegian landscapes through cruise, train and bus tours.
Spring fjord & waterfall tours
Cherry blossom seasons tour
The north-south divide
Spring moves up Norway at about 5 kilometers per day, which means Bergen gets cherry blossoms while Tromsø is still buried. In March, southern cities might hit 8-10°C while northern regions stay well below freezing. By May, the gap closes but never disappears - Oslo sits around 15-18°C while Tromsø manages 8-12°C.
The mountains ignore the calendar completely. Snow lingers at altitude through May and sometimes June, which means ski resorts stay open while valleys bloom. This creates Norway's strange spring phenomenon: you can hike to a waterfall through green meadows, then ski down a mountain 30 kilometers away on the same afternoon.
Weather that keeps you guessing
Spring weather in Norway gives you multiple seasons in a single day, which means you might experience more in one week than you would during a predictable summer month. A warm March afternoon convinces everyone to sit outside in t-shirts, then April delivers a snowstorm that reminds you winter's still got moves. Temperature swings of 15°C within 24 hours happen regularly - morning frost gives way to afternoon sun hot enough for sunbathing on snow.
The variation creates opportunities summer tourists miss. You get dramatic fjord scenery without the crowds, powerful waterfalls at peak flow, and the chance to ski in the morning then hike in a t-shirt by afternoon. The locals dress in layers not out of pessimism but practicality - they know "nice weather" might arrive without warning and they want to be ready for it.
Bergen gets particularly wet in spring, with April and May seeing 190-250mm of rainfall. The western fjords follow the same pattern. But this rain feeds those thundering waterfalls everyone comes to see, and between storms you get crystal-clear days when the light turns the fjords electric blue. Eastern Norway stays drier but colder, with lingering snow at higher elevations keeping temperatures down and ski seasons extended.
Spring rail & scenic journeys
Spring city breaks & culture
When waterfalls wake up
This is why you come in spring. Snowmelt from the mountains feeds every waterfall in the country, turning modest cascades into thundering walls of water. The famous ones - Vøringsfossen, the Seven Sisters, Steinsdalsfossen - reach peak flow in May and early June. But you don't need famous names; every mountain valley has its own unnamed falls that only locals know about.
The sound changes the landscape. Rivers that ran quiet all winter suddenly roar. You hear waterfalls before you see them. The meltwater turns milky white with glacial flour, painting the fjords in shades of turquoise that don't exist in summer's clearer water.
For hiking, this means trails at lower elevations open up while high mountain routes stay snowed in. Most marked trails above 800-900 meters remain inaccessible until June. But valley hikes become spectacular - you get the waterfalls without the summer crowds.
Vøringsfossen Waterfall. Photo by Aditi Surana
Cherry blossoms and Constitution Day
Bergen's cherry trees bloom in late April or early May, transforming the city into something that doesn't look particularly Norwegian for about two weeks. The Hardangerfjord region follows shortly after, when thousands of fruit trees - apples, pears, cherries, plums - explode into white and pink blossoms against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains and deep blue fjord water. It's a narrow window, maybe three weeks total, but it defines spring in western Norway.
May 17th - Constitution Day - is Norway's biggest celebration. Every town and village holds parades, people wear traditional bunad costumes, flags appear everywhere, and the streets fill with marching bands and children eating ice cream regardless of temperature. Oslo and Bergen put on the largest shows, but smaller places offer a more intimate version of the same national enthusiasm.
The timing matters: if cherry blossoms coincide with Constitution Day, Bergen becomes especially photogenic. But the blossoms don't wait for convenient scheduling. They follow their own calendar based on temperature, which means some years they peak two weeks early and by May 17th they're already gone.
A family in bunad celebrating 17.mai. Photo by Fredrik Ahlsen | Maverix Media | Visit Norway
Easter in the mountains
Norwegians treat Easter as the last hurrah of winter. Families head to mountain cabins for what they call påskeferie - Easter holiday - which combines spring skiing, sunshine (when it cooperates), and the kind of extended outdoor drinking session that only makes sense when you have 12+ hours of daylight and the snow reflects enough warmth that sitting outside in ski gear feels reasonable.
The ski resorts get packed. Hemsedal, Trysil, and other major areas experience their second-highest season after Christmas. The snow is often perfect - still deep enough to ski on, but spring sunshine creates corn snow that's more forgiving than winter's icy hardpack. People ski in t-shirts. The après-ski scene reaches summer-festival energy levels despite being surrounded by snow.
For non-skiers, Easter means empty cities. Oslo and Bergen quiet down as everyone leaves for the mountains. This makes it an excellent time to visit if you want the cities to yourself, but it also means many shops and restaurants close for the holiday.
Photo by Fredrik Ahlsen | Maverix Media | Visit Norway
Dressing for confusion
The fundamental challenge: dressing for three seasons at once. Mornings might be 2°C, afternoons reach 15°C, then temperature drops again by evening. Rain arrives without warning. Sun breaks through just as suddenly.
Locals wear layers and carry a shell jacket everywhere. Spring in Norway means accepting that you'll overdress for part of the day and underdress for another part, and there's no way around it. Waterproof hiking boots make sense even in cities - rain and wet snow create puddles and slush that sneakers can't handle.
The cherry trees in Bergen are in full bloom during the transition between April and May.
Breakdown of spring months in Norway
March: winter's final stand
Ski season peaks mid-March, then gradually winds down. Days lengthen noticeably - you gain about 5 minutes of daylight per day, which adds up to over two hours more light by month's end. Snow remains reliable in the mountains but coastal areas start seeing more rain than snow.
Temperatures: -5°C to 5°C in southern Norway, -10°C to 0°C in the north, colder at altitude.
April: the actual transition
This is spring's messiest month. Easter dominates, usually falling somewhere between late March and late April depending on the year. The mountains stay snowy while valley floors turn green. Waterfalls begin their transformation from frozen ice to flowing water.
Temperatures: 2°C to 10°C in southern Norway, -2°C to 6°C in the north, but with significant daily variation.
May: leaning toward summer
By May, spring finally commits to its story. Trees leaf out, grass grows aggressively, flowers bloom everywhere at once. The landscape explodes in green. Constitution Day on the 17th anchors the month, and Norwegians treat it as the unofficial start of summer regardless of actual weather.
Temperatures: 8°C to 16°C in southern Norway, 4°C to 12°C in the north, occasionally warmer during sunny spells.
See our Best time to visit Norway-guide for a more detailed breakdown.
Dive deeper: more spring stories