Norway's coastline is shaped by thousands of islands, abundant wildlife, and centuries of coastal life.
Norway's coastline is shaped by thousands of islands, abundant wildlife, and centuries of coastal life.
Norway is a long country with long fjords and 240,000 large and small islands. It means that Norway has the world's second longest coastline, which is teeming with birds and animals.
Lofoten
Henningsvær in Lofoten
Fosnavåg and Havlandet Herøy
Old houses on the island of Skjærvær
World Heritage; The Vega Islands
Refviksanden in Måløy
Some of the islands are large with vibrant coastal communities. Others are small and home to just one or two families. Some of the islands are connected to the mainland by bridges or underwater tunnels, but most islanders have to use a ferry or boat to get to the mainland.
The boat has been a work tool and lifeblood for the islanders. The sea has provided many Norwegians with a workplace and a livelihood. You had to have an intimate knowledge of the area to know where the best fishing spots were and to get home safely. This means that the 240,000 islands and over 80,000 islets and skerries scattered along the coast of Norway have names.
While the cities' street names are often in honour of great people, the place names along the coast are characterised by the weather, nature, formations, people's lives and legends. Names such as Langøya ("Long Island") and Kvaløya ("Whale Island") are easy to interpret. Other names have roots in the Norse language and tell us about the people and nature along the coast. One such name is Vega. The Norse word is "veiga" which means strong drink or liquid, which relates to the marshy areas of the island.
But the island municipality of Vega is known for more than marshes. In 2004, Vega was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Vegaøyan archipelago has 6,500 islands, islets and skerries, and the islanders have been making small shelters for the eider ducks to nest in for over 1,500 years, and this wild seabird is practically a domestic pet. When the nests are empty, the down is collected and used to make the softest, warmest eiderdown quilts imaginable.
This says a lot about the mindset of the islanders who live by the windswept coast, and where the smallest feather symbolises how they make the most of what nature provides.
Norway's thousands of islands are at the heart of the country's coastal identity. Scattered along one of the world's longest coastlines, they have shaped local communities, traditions, and ways of life for centuries. From lively fishing villages to remote islands surrounded by abundant wildlife, each island has its own unique story to tell.
Our featured island excursion invites you to experience this remarkable coastal landscape up close. Discover picturesque island communities, breathtaking scenery, and the deep connection between the people and the sea that continues to define life along Norway's coast.
STUN1
Snow that survives the summer slowly compacts into ice, forming glaciers that move like thick, slow rivers through the landscape.
Norway's diverse climate and landscapes are home to unique wildlife and natural beauty.
From winter’s Northern Lights to spring waterfalls, summer’s Midnight Sun, and golden autumn landscapes.