Visiting Norway in... May
May sees Norway burst into bloom, as the white winter landscape is replaced by the vibrant colours of spring. Find out what to expect when you visit Norway during this most majestic of months.
May is a time of roaring waterfalls, verdant fjords, and rugged peaks. A time when we Norwegians venture outdoors to hike in the hills, celebrate our country, and soak up the scenery beneath the Midnight Sun.
A time of renewal, beauty, and endless possibilities for things to see and do.
What’s the weather like in Norway in May?
Southern Norway
In southern Norway, spring has well and truly arrived by this time of year. It’ll become increasingly milder throughout the month, with highs reaching 16°C. The sun sets around 10pm, so you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the outdoors or sip a beverage on a terrace.
Central Norway
Much like the south, you’ll see highs of 15°C, with night-time lows around 4°C. Along the coast, you can expect showers to blow in from the Norwegian Sea, with occasionally foggy weather.
Northern Norway
Inside the Arctic Circle, the temperature can reach highs of around 10°C and drop to lows close to freezing. This is the land of the Midnight Sun, where you’ll experience 24-hour daylight from May until August.
Why visit Norway in May?
Celebrate Constitution Day
On 17th May, Norwegians come out in force for our biggest national holiday: Constitution Day. The streets are filled with parades and plenty of flag-waving.
Many of us wear our traditional bunad: our national costume based on the old folk clothing once worn in farming communities across the country.
(Image copyright: Fredrik Ahlsen/Maverix Media AS)
Say skål to spring
After months of freezing temperatures, we Norwegians cherish the simple pleasure of enjoying a drink outside. In fact, the year’s first outdoor beer – known as utepils – is an almost ceremonial occasion.
Make sure you join the locals as they toast the season with a glass of something amber while soaking up the spring sun. Skål to that!
Hiking haven
When Norwegians aren’t skiing, we’re hiking. Come May, you can lace up your walking boots and head to the mountains stretching along the coastline. In the north, the rugged trails across the Lofoten Islands lead to stunning panoramic views.
Or to the south, famous fjord villages like Flåm attract nature lovers from around the world, with walking routes that’ll make any hiking tourist happy.
Blossoming fjords
Every spring, the Norwegian fjords come alive with cherry and apple blossom, the orchards a symphony of pink and white. The Sognefjord region is a popular spot for seeing this most picturesque of spectacles.
And don’t forget to try the fresh apple juice, called eplemost. We may be biased, but we think it’s the best in the world.
(Image copyright: Per Eide - VisitNorway.com)
Trondheim Jazz Fest
With origins dating back to 1980, the Trondheim Jazz Fest is an internationally renowned four-day event. Whether it’s your music genre of choice or not, you can’t help but feel the buzz in the city, with many venues showcasing established and up-and-coming acts on the jazz scene.
Midnight Sun
From early May, the north of Norway is bathed in constant daylight – a remarkable phenomenon that continues until the sun drops below the horizon in late August.
Days merge into one, as Norwegians stay out into the early hours chatting or just soaking up the scenery. No trip to Norway in May is complete without experiencing it for yourself.
