Norway recommended by New York Times

The New York Times recommends the "Stunnig Lyngen Alps" in Northern Norway as one of the "31 places to Go in 2010", and asks "Who needs a penthouse suite when you can book a lighthouse on a private island?" The US newspaper writes that with an acclaimed new opera house and plenty of high-end dining options, Oslo is already a must-visit urban destination.

- Having convinced the world that its fjords and southern coastline make the country a great summer getaway, Norwegians have begun showcasing its charms as a winter destination

The paper says that specialized trekking and ski tours can open up pristine areas of the north like the stunning Lyngen Alps, with high-speed boats to shuttle across the fjord to ski trails that would otherwise be inaccessible.

And the country’s indifference to trendy boutique hotels and splashy resorts — long the lament of global tourism professionals — is just what appeals to a more discerning clientele. "Who needs a penthouse suite when you can book a lighthouse on a private island?" writes New York Times correspondent Andrew Ferren.

Stein Morten Lund, 11 January 2010

Additional information

In Norway you find some of the longest, deepest, narrowest and most beautiful fjords in the world. And in Norway there are thousands of them!

The most popular fjords for tourists are Geirangerfjord and Romsdalsfjord in More & Romsdal, Møre & Romsdal, Aurlandsfjord, Nærøyfjord and Fjærlandsfjord in Sogn & Fjordane, Hardangerfjord in Hordaland and Lysefjord in Rogaland.

Sognefjord is the longest one with a length of 204 kilometres. Some places the Sognefjord is more than 1300 meters deep, with the surrounding mountains as high as the fjord is deep. The longest fjords in Western Norway are: Sognefjord: 204 km Hardangerfjord: 179 km Storfjord: 110 km Nordfjord: 106 km Romsdalsfjord: 88 km