Keep watch for the awe-inspiring northern lights

Norwegian food is typically hearty and robust during the winter months, but the cuisine can be surprisingly delicate and subtle, thanks to the innovative use of spices, fresh seafood and berries.

With such a vast coastline, seafood plays an important part in local fare. Expect to see cured salmon and smoked salmon while traveling through the region. Cod and smoked mackerel are also popular.

Norwegians celebrate Krabbe Fests (crab festivals) every autumn, when this crustacean is in season. These local events feature everything from open sandwiches to krabbelag, a Norwegian seafood boil.

Herring is another type of fish enjoyed across the region. It can be pickled, smoked or fried, and you will see it featured on nearly every menu, from breakfast to dinner. One popular way to eat pickled herring is atop rye bread with a layer of fresh, creamy butter.

Norway is also known for its beloved national dish, fårikål. This hearty, slow-cooked stew consists of bone-in lamb layered with cabbage and whole black peppercorns, allowing simple, high-quality ingredients to shine. Traditionally enjoyed during the autumn, it is a comforting and communal meal, often prepared for gatherings of family and friends. Given the region's reputation for exceptional lamb, enjoying a bowl of fårikål offers a truly authentic taste of Norwegian culinary heritage.

When it comes to Scandinavian sweets, no spice combination is more popular than cinnamon and cardamom. Throughout Norway, yeast-raised cinnamon buns are a particular favorite, and the city of Bergen is famous for its signature cardamom-scented version, known as skillingsboller.

You will also find waffles served with many accompaniments, including fresh berries, sour cream or jam. The most traditional way to enjoy waffles is with a slice of brunost, a renowned Norwegian brown cheese with a distinctive sweet and salty flavor. Waffles are so popular, there is even an International Waffle Day called Våffeldagen. Celebrated primarily in Sweden and Norway, it historically signified the beginning of spring and is commemorated, delightfully, by eating waffles all day.

The Sámi are Indigenous people from the northernmost parts of Europe. The ancestral lands of the Sámi, known as Sápmi, stretch across the northern regions of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia's Kola Peninsula. There are eleven Sámi languages, nine of which are still in use.

Traditionally, Sámi culture is deeply connected to reindeer herding. For centuries, many Sámi families have followed a semi-nomadic lifestyle dictated by the seasonal migration of their reindeer herds between winter and summer pastures. In addition to being a vital source of economic activity, reindeer herding is also a cornerstone of Sámi cultural identity, embodying a profound relationship with the land, nature and seasons.

Sámi culture is also rich in artistic traditions. Duodji is the term for traditional Sámi handicrafts, which consist of functional items made from natural materials like leather, wood and bone. They are often intricately decorated with pewter thread or geometric patterns. The Sámi are also known for joik, a traditional song form. Each joik is a deeply personal and spiritual form of expression, often dedicated to a person, animal or landscape.

Polar nights and the midnight sun are two of nature’s most mesmerizing occurrences, experienced only in the Earth's high-latitude regions, particularly above the Arctic Circle. These phenomena are driven by the planet’s axial tilt of approximately 23.5 degrees. As Earth orbits the sun, this tilt causes regions near the poles to either face toward or away from the sun for extended periods, resulting in prolonged daylight or darkness.

During the height of winter in the Arctic, the sun does not rise above the horizon for an extended period. The darkness is not absolute—there are varying degrees of twilight depending on latitude. Further north, the night becomes deeper and longer. Yet even in this extended darkness, life continues. The night skies come alive with stars and, often, the swirling greens and purples of the aurora borealis. For people living through polar nights, routines adjust. Homes glow with warm light, and cultural traditions help pass the time and combat the effects of living for days, or even months, with little to no sun exposure. The contrast between internal warmth and external darkness becomes a defining part of life in the polar world.

In the Arctic summer, the opposite occurs. The midnight sun emerges as a beacon of renewal, never setting for days or even months, depending on how far north you are. Instead, it hovers low on the horizon, casting a golden light over ice, sea and tundra, even at midnight. This constant daylight creates a surreal environment where time seems to blur, and the normal cues for sleep and wakefulness vanish. Wildlife and humans alike have adapted to this round-the-clock brightness. Migratory birds take advantage of the extended light to feed their young, and Arctic communities hold festivals and conduct activities that embrace the never-ending day. The brightness also boosts photosynthesis, supporting a short but intense growing season for Arctic flora.

These phenomena impact more than just sunlight hours. They influence human circadian rhythms, animal behavior and ecological patterns. The Arctic remains a region defined by contrast, where the extremes of light and dark shape life in profound and enduring ways.