9 magical ways to experience Christmas in Norway

Bergen’s Pepperkakebyen is a sight – and scent – to behold. The town’s landmarks, trees, and houses are recreated in gingerbread, painstakingly decorated, and lit with miniature streetlamps and glowing windows. You can even glimpse lovingly designed tableaus inside some of the structures.

The display changes every year but you can probably expect to see an array of churches, a replica football stadium complete with gingerbread players and fans, and a model train chugging through the sugar-dusted scene. In the past, visitors have been treated to a gingerbread airship floating through the sky, a replica Hogwarts, and a ship docked in the recreated harbor (courtesy of Hurtigruten!). Who knows what each year will bring!

But there’s more to this set-up than sugar and spice. Pepperkakebyen is a huge community effort that’s been running since 1991. Bergen’s schools, kindergartens, and businesses contribute to the effort, and profits go to charity. To many of the people of Bergen, Christmas doesn’t begin until they’ve visited Pepperkakebyen. It’s the town’s (delicious) spirit of Christmas.

Julebad is one of Norway’s more unusual Christmas traditions. Literally translating as ‘Christmas bath’, a julebad is a plunge into ice-cold water to mark the end of Christmas preparations and the start of the celebrations. We can’t think of a fresher way to kick off the festivities!

Come Christmas morning, you can simply wade into the ocean in places like Bodø, jump into the water from a floating sauna in Oslo harbor, or take an Arctic dip before warming up in a wood-fired sauna in Træna’s oldest building.

You don’t have to wait until Christmas to take a cold-water dip. You can brave the icy waters in dedicated swim spots throughout winter – but the experience does feel extra-special when you’re wearing a Santa hat!

If that all sounds a little extreme, you can watch Norway’s chilly winter waters slip by as you bathe in a steaming hot tub on one of our ships. Much warmer, and just as special!

Mountains dusted with snow. Waterfalls frozen mid-tumble above the fjords. Twinkling lights reflected in dark waters. Your breath clouding the air as you watch it all scroll by. The Norwegian coast in winter is enchanting.

As you sail the coast with us at Christmastime, you’ll cross the Arctic Circle into the realm of the Polar Night. Entering the Arctic Circle is always momentous, but it takes on a new dimension around the time of the winter equinox. This is when the dark days and nights are warmed by fairy lights, open fires, and steaming mugs of gløgg. And the added ever-present excitement of the aurora making an appearance overhead.

The atmosphere on board is festive, too with Christmas decorations, traditional Norwegian Christmas foods, and carol singing.

Christmas in Norway is all about getting together with friends and family over good food. What’s on the table in front of you usually depends on the region of Norway, but don’t miss the chance to try ribbe (pork ribs) with redcurrant sauce; pinnekjøtt (the direct translation is ‘stick meat’, meaning mutton ribs) served with mutton sausage, boiled potatoes, and turnip sauce; and julegrøt, a deliciously creamy porridge with butter, sugar, and cinnamon. Lutefisk (cod soaked in rye) is another traditional dish served around this time of year.

Come Christmastime, our onboard restaurants serve traditional Norwegian Christmas foods, too. It wouldn’t be Christmas without them! Also, look out for your ship’s handmade gingerbread house – just resist the temptation to sample it. This one’s only meant as a feast for your eyes!