The reason being that in winter the coast of Norway is washed by the famous warm North Atlantic drift which does not let the temperature of Norway get very cold. On the contrary in summer Norway is lucky enough to be visited by cool ocean currents that keep its summer temperature in check. Therefore summer in Norway is normally bright and very pleasant. In the north of Norway the days are so long in summer that there is no night and even in the south, the daylight lasts from 0400 hours to 2300 hrs. No doubt then that Norway is rightly called “The land of midnight sun”. In winters the converse is true and most of Norway has twilight conditions.

In short, the climate of Norway is very mild for its latitude. The summers are cool and pleasant while winters are not as cold as those of Alaska or Canada.

On May 17th in 1814, Norway moved away from Danish rule and formed an alliance with Sweden which lasted for almost a century.

To mark this momentous occasion in the country’s history, the nation comes alive with dancing, singing, drinking and dancing on May 17th – but the best events and festivals are definitely in the capital city of Oslo, which is also the largest metropolis in Norway.

The national day celebrations are particularly noted for the children’s parades common across the country. Most of the marches are dominated by the younger generation, who walk proudly through the streets holding their national flag.

Traditional Norwegian dress is also an interesting feature you might be interested to see. Outfits worn for the National Day of Norway are often intricately sewn with lace and beading and are usually brightly coloured.

The Oslo parade is definitely the best one for you to see on a break to Norway, as the country’s royal family often wave to the crowds below as the procession passes under the balcony of the palace.

Culture vultures will find more than enough to keep them occupied once the parade is over. Oslo is home to some world-class museums, including the National Gallery, the Munch Museum, the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

If you love winter sports then you’ll love Norway. There is plenty of snow here to get your ski fix. The slopes are wonderful and scenic. The 1952 Winter Olympics were held in Oslo, Norway. Many winter sports competitions are held here each year. If so is what you want this you won’t be disappointed as snowfall usually occurs during the months of November to April each year.

As Norway is not as crowded as many of the other European countries you won’t feel overwhelmed by all the other tourists. You can actually see the sights and not feel stressed. You can take a scenic ferry ride to see the natural wildlife and outdoors. It is close enough to take a day trip by ferry to Germany and Denmark if you miss your population fix.

Water is a natural beauty here. You can go scuba diving or river rafting. You can even take a tour of the fjords of Norway. What exactly is a fjord you might ask? It is a piece of land that was shaped into being by the abrasion of glaciers. They will have a diamond or triangular cut into the bedrock of the land. This is something that you won’t generally see elsewhere.

For those that want to experience something a little different. You can come see the Northern Lights also known as the Aurora Borealis. This is the wonderful display of oxygen and nitrogen emissions in the sky which can be viewed in colors of blue, red, green or brown. As Norway is in the northern hemisphere you can have the experience of seeing the actual magnetic poles in effect. You might go to light shows that are artificially created but this is a natural beauty that is not manmade.

If you are traveling with your family you might want to take your kids to see the reindeer. Every child wants to know where Santa gets reindeer for his sleigh. You can visit them and watch their eyes fill with wonder and amazement. It will bring the stories to life for them. They might actually wonder if Santa might make an appearance.