Like most of Scandinavia, Norway is assuredly gay and welcoming. Same-sex marriage and adoption are legal and home to some of the world’s oldest anti-discrimination laws for our community. Citizens can apply to change their gender without any medical intervention or diagnosis. The country was even the first in the world to offer PrEP for free as part of its national healthcare strategy.
Gay Activity: Legal
Lesbian Activity: Legal
Gay Marriage: Legal
Right to Change Gender: Legal, surgery not required
Same-Sex Adoption: Legal
LGBT Discrimination: Illegal
As is the case across Scandinavia, gay travellers are entirely welcome in Norway. The country celebrates the LGBT community with annual pride in its largest cities. Being a relatively small country, gay tourists will find the majority of gay nightlife in the country’s capital, Oslo.
Gay Villages in Norway
Oslo: While the city doesn’t have a gay village per se, the central city of Oslo is where you’ll find the majority of gay bars, clubs and saunas.
Pride and Gay Events in Norway
Oslo Pride: Annually, in July
Scandinavian Ski Pride: Annually in March
Bergen Pride: Annually, in June
Best Gay Bars in Norway
Oslo: London Pub (Bar)
Oslo: Bob’s Pub (Bar & Restaurant)
Oslo: Elsker (Bar with dancing)
Oslo: Fire (Summer dance party)
Oslo: Indieseksuell (Indie dance party)
Bergen: Fincken (Bar with dancing)
Best Lesbian Bars in Norway
There are no lesbian-exclusive bars in Norway. The LGBT scene is very mixed and all gay bars mentioned above are also considered lesbian bars.
5. Lofoten Islands
Monstrous mountains erupting from the sea form Norway’s imposing and unmissable Lofoten Islands.
4. Oslo
As the official European Green Capital, 2019, Oslo is a naturally beautiful city despite its booming size. Dive into its counter-culture, ogle at the Scandinavian architecture, appreciate the contemporary art scene and drink in one of the world’s best coffee revolutions.
3. Jotunjeimen National Park
Norway is a gay adventure travellers dream. It is home to otherworldly fjords, ancient glaciers, infinite forests and ravishing ravines. All of which you’ll find at their largest and most brilliant in Jotunjeimen National Park.
2. Bergen
Dwarfed by its surrounding seven hills and seven fjords, Bergen is a pulsing UNESCO World Heritage city in the middle of what can only be described as Eden.
1. Geirangerfjord
Cascading waterfalls, fathoms of royal blue water, soaring snow-capped peaks and endless forests that cling to the rugged cliffs. Geirangerfjord is the world’s most famous fjord, and Norway’s most visited.
Best Time to Visit: Summer (July & August) is a great time to visit Norway. You can take advantage of the extra-long days but beware that the temperatures can still be crisp and cool. Be sure to pack accordingly.
Electricity: F-type sockets.
Time Zone: Central European Time (UTC +1)
Covid-19 Vaccination Requirements: We’re dedicated to ensuring our tours are safe for everyone, but it is our belief that each traveler has a responsibility to protect themselves and their fellow travellers from COVID-19. As of May 1, 2023, Out Adventures no longer requires guests to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination on most of our tours. If vaccination is a requirement for entry, or on select cruises, this will be communicated at the time a trip is confirmed to depart. Before booking, we recommend that you read our COVID-19 Information Page and our COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions to understand what we’re doing to minimize risk, and what will happen if you contract COVID-19 before or during an Out Adventures tour.
Other Vaccinations: Based on the entry requirements for Norway, there are no other vaccinations needed. To determine if you should take preventative measures to reduce the risk of illness, you should consult your doctor or a travel medical clinic, as Out Adventures cannot provide vaccination recommendations.
Visas: If your passport is from the USA, Canada, or Europe you can stay up to 90 days without a visa. There may be exceptions. Click here for more info.
Last updated on Sept 24, 2021. Disclaimer: The information provided was accurate at the time of publishing, but cannot be guaranteed.
