Highlights of a Hurtigruten cruise in Norway
The classic Hurtigruten coastal voyage runs south to north (and vice versa) between the charming city of Bergen and the arctic town of Kirkenes. It runs year-round, making it ideal to experience the midnight sun in summer or to enjoy Hurtigruten northern lights cruises in winter.
A one-way Hurtigruten Norway cruise covering the full route takes around 6 or 7 days and the voyage stops at 34 ports of call, with a variety of shore excursions on offer.
Here are just a few of the things you can experience on coastal Hurtigruten cruises in Norway:
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Walk around the city of Ålesund and admire its renowned Art Nouveau architecture.
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Sail up the Geirangerfjord, past tumbling waterfalls like the Seven Sisters and Bridal Veil.
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Stroll past the colourful wharf houses in Trondheim, the original capital of Norway until the 16th century.
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See the beautiful Lofoten Islands, well known for its jagged mountains and quaint fishing villages.
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Visit lively Tromsø, "The Paris of the North”, where many famous 19th-century arctic expeditions began.
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Cruise along the steep bird cliffs to the scenic North Cape, the northernmost point of mainland Europe.
Other Hurtigruten excursions you could enjoy include whale watching boat trips, coach tours to the Atlantic Ocean Road and more. You also have your choice of several cabin options when booking a Nordic Visitor Hurtigruten tour. What’s more, Hurtigruten ferries are equipped with many of the amenities of larger cruise ships, such as outdoor hot tubs, a fitness room, different dining rooms and lovely indoor and outdoor viewing decks for bird watching.
Customisations for a Hurtigruten coastal voyage
The best thing about Hurtigruten cruises in Norway is the hop-on, hop-off style of travel. You can opt to embark and disembark on a Hurtigruten ferry ship at ports other than Bergen or Kirkenes, so you can enjoy a shorter cruise in addition to travel by car or train.
A hugely popular addition to Hurtigruten cruises in Norway is the Norway in a Nutshell® train journey, which connects Oslo to Bergen via the Flåm Railway. Allocate at least 8 days in Norway if you wish to enjoy a train-cruise combo trip. We can also customise any itinerary to include trips to neighbouring Scandinavian countries.
Hurtigruten is much-loved for its heritage, but it’s also possible to travel the same route on a modern Havila ship. Ask your travel consultant about exploring Norway on a Havila voyage.
— COASTAL VOYAGES
Quick facts about Hurtigruten
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Hurtigruten was founded in 1893 to transport cargo, mail and passengers between coastal towns
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In the old days, Norway’s fjords made road travel difficult and sometimes dangerous
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Hurtigruten means “fast route” in Norwegian
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Today the cruise line is considered a leader in the “slow travel” movement