Visiting Norway in... April
April is a month of transition, as the dark winter nights are replaced by milder weather and never-ending days. Find out what to expect when you explore Norway in April.
The arrival of April brings a flurry of events and longer, warmer days. This is a month of reawakening and of comforting Norwegian traditions.
There are plenty of things to see and do at this time of year as we cast off our winter layers and turn our faces to the first rays of sun.
As you voyage along the coastline, you’ll see all stages of spring, from its first tentative steps in the north to its rush towards warmer weather in the south.
Central Norway
In central destinations like Trondheim, the weather remains mild with highs around 50°F, similar to the south. It’s worth noting that Norway’s fjords have their own microclimates, which can be very variable and hard to forecast.
Northern Norway
Above the Arctic Circle – in places like Tromsø and Svalbard – you can expect temperatures close to freezing, with up to 18 hours of daylight. Come the end of the month, the days will get even longer, with the Midnight Sun arriving in the northernmost parts.
Why visit Norway in April?
Easter traditions
April is typically the month of Easter, a time of year when Norwegians like to retreat to a cabin with their loved ones … and a crime novel. Why crime, you ask? This is a uniquely Norwegian tradition called Påskekrim (Easter crime), dating back over 100 years. And instead of chocolate eggs, we’re more likely to enjoy Kvikk Lunsj wafer chocolates and a glass of Solo orange soda.
These traditions may sound unusual to visitors. But, to us Norwegians, Easter simply wouldn’t be Easter without them.
(Image copyright: Fredrik Ahlsen, Maverix Media)
Sámi Easter Festival
Sámi – the indigenous people of northern Norway – hold a spectacular Easter festival in Kautokeino, a settlement where Sámi language and culture remain part of the community.
From DJ sets to reindeer sledding, you’re guaranteed to have a great time joining a diverse calendar of events held over a week-long celebration.
Lundkommer’s Day
Every April, puffins return to our shores. Their arrival is so predictable that, every April 14, Lovund island, near Nesna, celebrates Lundkommer’s Day, which translates as ‘The-puffins-are-coming Day’. As the name suggests, this is when the first Atlantic Puffins return for mating season, before departing once again in the summer months.
These seabirds are loved throughout Norway, with their arrival marking the start of spring and brighter days ahead.
Ski like a Norwegian
With wintery conditions around for longer in the north, April is a time for Vårskiturer, or ‘spring skiing’. The snow-capped peaks still have pristine powder, while the longer days allow for more time on the slopes.
For the avid skier – as most of us Norwegians are – this presents the last chance to get out into the mountains until the following winter.
(Image copyright: SeilNorge)
Fjords and waterfalls
As temperatures start to rise, the Norwegian fjords emerge from under a blanket of snow, starting with the thawing lowlands. The snowmelt causes the rivers to swell, creating spectacular cascading waterfalls – one of Norway’s most awe-inspiring spring sights.
Destinations like Geiranger and Flåm are not to be missed, as the fjords and valleys transform from winter to spring before your eyes.
See the Northern Lights
With the days getting longer, this is your last chance to see the Northern Lights before the nights draw in again later in the year. But where nature takes with one hand, it gives with another.
From late April, you can witness the famous Midnight Sun in the Arctic Circle, experiencing 24 hours of non-stop daylight.
