Winter
Dec → Feb1 to 2°
nights -3 to -2°
- 19 rainy days · 200 mm
- sea 7°
When is the best time to visit the Norwegian Fjords?
- Jan1°not recommended
- Feb2°not recommended
- Mar4°not recommended
- Apr7°not recommended
- May12°fair
- Jun18°recommended
- Jul20°recommended
- Aug19°recommended
- Sep16°recommended
- Oct10°fair
- Nov4°not recommended
- Dec2°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in the Norwegian Fjords, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1° | -3° | 228 mm | 20 d | 6° | |
| February | 2° | -3° | 152 mm | 18 d | 6° | |
| March | 4° | -1° | 147 mm | 18 d | 6° | |
| April | 7° | 1° | 134 mm | 15 d | 6° | |
| May | 12° | 5° | 102 mm | 15 d | 10° | |
| June | 18° | 11° | 110 mm | 18 d | 14° | ✓ |
| July | 20° | 13° | 179 mm | 22 d | 15° | ✓ |
| August | 19° | 12° | 167 mm | 21 d | 16° | ✓ |
| September | 16° | 10° | 169 mm | 18 d | 16° | ✓ |
| October | 10° | 4° | 209 mm | 18 d | 13° | |
| November | 4° | -1° | 155 mm | 14 d | 10° | |
| December | 2° | -2° | 221 mm | 20 d | 8° |
The four seasons in the Norwegian Fjords, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Geirangerfjord) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May4 to 12°
nights -1 to 5°
- 16 rainy days · 128 mm
- sea 7°
Summer
Jun → Aug18 to 20°
nights 11 to 13°
- 20 rainy days · 152 mm
- sea 15°
Autumn
Sep → Nov4 to 16°
nights -1 to 10°
- 17 rainy days · 178 mm
- sea 13°
Book early for June to September
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in the Norwegian Fjords, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 19h43 of daylight, in December 5h10, a difference of 14h34.
6h04Jan
8h44Feb
11h32Mar
14h41Apr
17h40May
19h43Jun
18h48Jul
15h57Aug
12h48Sep
9h46Oct
6h52Nov
5h10Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Geirangerfjord" (62.10°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in the Norwegian Fjords, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
EventsHardanger blossomMayBergen International FestivalMay to JuneMidnight sunMay to JulyNorthern lightsOctober to MarchDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Long days: April, May, June, July, August
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in the Norwegian Fjords, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- MayHardanger blossom
In May, the apple and cherry orchards of the Hardangerfjord blossom right down to the water's edge, beneath snowfields still in place.
- May to JuneBergen International Festival
In late May, Bergen lines up concerts, theatre and dance for two weeks, even in Grieg's house at Troldhaugen.
- May to JulyMidnight sun big crowds
North of the Arctic Circle, the sun no longer sets: the fjords stay lit at night and hikes stretch on endlessly.
- October to MarchNorthern lights
From October to March, the northern fjords, around Tromsø and the Lofoten, offer the best nights for catching a glimpse of them.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended1°-3° at night
- 228 mm · 20 d
- sea 6°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended2°-3° at night
- 152 mm · 18 d
- sea 6°
Low season, lower prices
March
Not recommended4°-1° at night
- 147 mm · 18 d
- sea 6°
Low season, lower prices
April
Not recommended7°1° at night
- 134 mm · 15 d
- sea 6°
Low season, lower prices
May
Fair12°5° at night
- 102 mm · 15 d
- sea 10°
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended18°11° at night
- 110 mm · 18 d
- sea 14°
High season, book early
July
Recommended20°13° at night
- 179 mm · 22 d
- sea 15°
High season, book early
August
Recommended19°12° at night
- 167 mm · 21 d
- sea 16°
High season, book early
September
Recommended16°10° at night
- 169 mm · 18 d
- sea 16°
Busy, without the crush
October
Fair10°4° at night
- 209 mm · 18 d
- sea 13°
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended4°-1° at night
- 155 mm · 14 d
- sea 10°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended2°-2° at night
- 221 mm · 20 d
- sea 8°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Deep winter: 1 °C at the warmest of the day, -3 °C at night. A very wet month, 228 mm of rain over 20 days. Sea at 6 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Deep winter: 2 °C at the warmest of the day, -3 °C at night. A very wet month, 152 mm of rain over 18 days. Sea at 6 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Deep winter: 4 °C at the warmest of the day, -1 °C at night. A very wet month, 147 mm of rain over 18 days. Sea at 6 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Deep winter: 7 °C at the warmest of the day, 1 °C at night. A very wet month, 134 mm of rain over 15 days. Sea at 6 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Cool: 12 °C at best, 5 °C at night. Frequent rain: 102 mm over 15 days. Sea at 10 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
June. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 110 mm over 18 days. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
July. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 179 mm over 22 days. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
August. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 167 mm over 21 days. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
September. Cool: 16 °C at best, 10 °C at night. Frequent rain: 169 mm over 18 days. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Cool: 10 °C at best, 4 °C at night. Frequent rain: 209 mm over 18 days. Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. Deep winter: 4 °C at the warmest of the day, -1 °C at night. A very wet month, 155 mm of rain over 14 days. Sea at 10 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Deep winter: 2 °C at the warmest of the day, -2 °C at night. A very wet month, 221 mm of rain over 20 days. Sea at 8 °C, too cold to swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Norwegian Fjords?
June to September: over these months, recorded highs range from 16 to 20 °C, with 20 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Geirangerfjord).
Which month should you avoid in the Norwegian Fjords?
January: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 228 mm over 20 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Geirangerfjord).
What is the hottest month in the Norwegian Fjords?
July, with 20 °C on average in the afternoon and 13 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Geirangerfjord).
What is the coldest month in the Norwegian Fjords?
January, with 1 °C at best during the day and -3 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Geirangerfjord).
What is the driest month in the Norwegian Fjords?
May: 102 mm over 15 days of rain, against 228 mm in January, the wettest month.
When can you swim in the Norwegian Fjords?
The water stays cool all year (warmest 16 °C in August, measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast, Lysefjord and Preikestolen): swimming is for the brave.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Norwegian Fjords guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Norway: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: INDU BIKASH SARKER / Pexels · Arlind D / Pexels · Lars Böttcher / Pexels · Nils R / Pexels · Dom Con / Pexels · Nguyen Ngoc Tien / Pexels