Travel and tourism in Norway - statistics & facts
From visiting vast fjords to exploring mountains for alpine tourism, Norway has emerged as a favored destination among travelers, with tourist arrivals of 5.6 million in 2024. The number of arrivals is expected to steadily grow from 2024 to 2029, with a 1.6-million increase. Most of the tourists who visit Norway come from Europe, with Germany making up for the highest number of international overnight stays, with 2.3 million.
Comparably, Norwegian tourists frequently take the opportunity to stay in neighboring Sweden, with over 800,000 overnight stays recorded in the third quarter of 2024. Sweden appears to be the most popular outbound travel destination for overnight trips by Norwegians. However, in the fourth quarter, many Norwegian tourists sought the warmer climates, leading to a higher number of overnight stays in Spain. Moreover, the number of domestic tourists in Norway peaked at nearly 26 million nights spent during 2023.
Norway attracts travelers with its compelling landscapes, ranging from the midnight sun that does not set to the polar nights in Svalbard, along with the country’s rich city life. Whether it is discovering the bustling cities like Oslo and Bergen or escaping to catch a glimpse of the northern lights, tourism in Norway is well-adept in catering to many diverse travel preferences.
Comparably, Norwegian tourists frequently take the opportunity to stay in neighboring Sweden, with over 800,000 overnight stays recorded in the third quarter of 2024. Sweden appears to be the most popular outbound travel destination for overnight trips by Norwegians. However, in the fourth quarter, many Norwegian tourists sought the warmer climates, leading to a higher number of overnight stays in Spain. Moreover, the number of domestic tourists in Norway peaked at nearly 26 million nights spent during 2023.
Outdoor and expedition tourism
The Norwegian cruise tourism has experienced a noteworthy growth, with visitor numbers reaching a high of over 1.5 million cruise passengers in 2023. This was a recovery from the sharp decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, but also a lift from the pre-pandemic cruise passenger numbers. While international cruises have seen substantial development, domestic cruise lines like Hurtigruten have maintained steady passenger numbers. Hurtigruten, which ferries people from Bergen to the town of Kirkenes in northeastern Norway close to the Finnish and Russian border, had over 100,000 local passengers in 2023, which was slightly fewer than in the previous year. In addition, the number of nights spent on camping sites was nearly eight million, demonstrating that trips for the purpose of experiencing outdoor recreation were of great interest.Holiday and alpine accommodations
Norway's appeal as a winter destination is evident in the rising number of holiday houses over the past decade. The number of holiday houses reached over 451,000 by January 2025. Innlandet and Viken led this trend with approximately 88,600 and 87,600 holiday houses, respectively, in 2023. This growth in accommodations aligns with the increasing demand for alpine tourism experiences. SkiStar, a Swedish alpine tourism company, generated 517 million Swedish kronor in hotel operations from 2023 to 2024, with Norway contributing the lion's share at 333 million Swedish kronor from their hotel operations in Norway.Norway attracts travelers with its compelling landscapes, ranging from the midnight sun that does not set to the polar nights in Svalbard, along with the country’s rich city life. Whether it is discovering the bustling cities like Oslo and Bergen or escaping to catch a glimpse of the northern lights, tourism in Norway is well-adept in catering to many diverse travel preferences.
