The 15 Historical Tours in Norway That Earn Their Price

1.Reindeer Camp and Sami Cultural Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 3,326 reviews · 4 hours · from $141Our pick

Ride from Tromsø to a Sami reindeer camp near Krokelvdalen, feed a herd of about 300 reindeer, and warm up with hot drinks, cookies, and lunch. Sami hosts such as Johannes, Inga, Igna, and Daniel share stories, explain reindeer herding, and perform traditional songs around the fire.

“The Tromsø Reindeer Camp and Sami Cultural Tour with Lunch was an absolutely beautiful and unforgettable experience. Being so close to the reindeer was magical—they are gentle, fascinating animals, and learning about their role in Sami life made the experience even more special. The landscape was breathtaking: snowy plains, mountains, and a peaceful Arctic atmosphere that felt straight out of a postcard. Meeting the Sami people and learning about their culture, traditions, and history was incredibly interesting and authentic. Their stories and connection to nature made the tour feel meaningful, not just touristic. The lunch was delicious and warm, perfect after spending time outdoors in the ...”

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2.Historic Myths & Legends Evening Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 408 reviews · 2 hours · from $42

Walk from Oslo City Hall to Christiania Torv, Akershus Fortress, and Bankplassen with an English-speaking guide. Expect Norse myths, trolls, nisse, huldra, Viking beliefs, prison stories, medieval justice, and famous thefts. Guides such as Maria and Anastasia bring the city’s lesser-known past to life.

“Very informative guide. Was nice to learn about Oslo, and see things we wouldn’t normally have seen”

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3.Fjord History Cruise with Snack and Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 364 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $156

Spend 2.5 hours aboard the restored 1917 Hermes II with Norwegian and English-speaking hosts. Cruise Tromsø Sound and nearby fjords, hear the boat’s remarkable story from guides such as Natalie and Maren, and watch for eagles, seals, reindeer, and sea birds. Warm fish cake, hot drinks, blankets, and thermal suits are included.

“Is was a very nice boat ride, the crew were very friendly, it was a great way to explore around the city guided by locals. The only suggestion would be to include vegetarian options for snacks instead of the fish cake. Definitely recommend doing this tour.”

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4.Sightseeing Cruise of Bergen’s Historic Landmarks

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 194 reviews · from $28

Set out from central Bergen aboard the 92-passenger Eric the Red, with outdoor seating, a panoramic deck, indoor lounge, and English commentary. In one hour, you’ll see Bryggen, Bergenhus Fortress, Skuteviken, Sandviken, Nordnes Sjøbad, and U-Boot Bunker Bruno from the water. Drinks and snacks are sold onboard.

“It was quiet and easy going worth spending a nice hour on the water in the sunshine”

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5.History, Art and Secrets Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 62 reviews · from $41

Spend three to four hours walking Oslo with a local guide in a group of no more than 10. From the Royal Palace and Aker Brygge to Akershus Fortress, the Opera House, and the Munch Museum, you’ll hear stories of fire, art, architecture, and everyday city life. Guides may include Anders, Radu, Magnus, Luis, and Michael.

“That was really a great tour! Thank you, Luis, for the experience!”

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6.Fjord & History Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 62 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $149Top rated

Sail Tromsø’s harbor and nearby islands aboard the 108-year-old wooden Hermes II. Your local crew shares the boat’s story and points out landmarks such as the Arctic Cathedral and Tromsø Bridge. Expect a small group of up to 18, photo stops, hot drinks, and thermal suits when the Arctic air turns sharp.

“Beautiful boat. Wonderful experience. !!! Amazing and very friendly crew. 😊 Definitely l am recommending the trip on the 108 years old Hermes Il 🚢. Thank you Captain. Leila from London 😊😊”

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7.1 Hour Photo & History Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 57 reviews · 1 hour · from $93

Spend one hour aboard Hermes II, a restored 1917 cargo boat, with English or Norwegian hosts, hot drinks, warm blankets, and views of Tromsø, Fjellheisen, Polaria, and Tromsø Bridge. The crew shares the boat’s story and may let children try the wheel. Departures run Tuesday to Friday at 14:30.

“Really nice experience, beautiful views and really kind personnel”

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8.Oslo City Walks – Historic River Walk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $53

Follow a guide from Oslo Visitor Center along the Akerselva River, the waterway tied to the city’s industrial past. You’ll hear how old buildings now house cafés and galleries, stop at Mathallen for food options, and finish at Beierbrua beside a waterfall. The walk is in English, lasts about two hours, and suits moderately fit walkers.

“A short and very nice walk along the river while learning about Oslos industrial past and how the buildings have been transformed for today’s modern life.”

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9.A Well Balanced History and Food Tour with Focus on the Scandinavian Kitchen

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 29 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

Join local guide Tanya-Lisa for a three-hour Oslo walk linking Norwegian history with food stops. See the Opera House, Aker Brygge, City Hall, and Akershus Fortress, then sample salmon, fish soup, meats, local beer, and other traditional foods. Tastings cost extra, and Sunday or late-evening choices are limited.

“The food we tasted on this tour was amazing - local dishes with quality ingredients. Our tour guide took us around the downtown area, pointing out important sites and making recommendations. She was very informative and had great communication leading up to the tour. Please note that the cost of the food is extra and not included in the posted price.”

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10.The Tromsø Food Walk, Taste your way through local history

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $166

Walk central Tromsø with a guide such as David or Daniel, stopping for seafood, a Norwegian snack, local meats and cheeses, and a full lunch in a private dining room. The three-hour English tour serves local ingredients, coffee, tea, and water for up to 12 people. Dietary needs must be noted in advance.

“This is one of the best food tours I have ever taken! It was a wonderful experience to sample so many foods from the region. Daniel does an outstanding job engaging the foodies. I loved it!”

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11.Jewish Heritage Tour in Oslo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Walk central Oslo with Rami Kafarov, tracing Jewish life from Jernbanetorget to the Royal Palace and Oslo Synagogue. You’ll connect city landmarks with Jewish shops, parliament, wartime events, and the first synagogue built in Norway. The private, English-language tour lasts about two hours, though synagogue entry is not always possible.

“The tour was absolutely amazing. Rami was so knowledgeable about everything and was so thorough in his detail! Highly recommend everyone take this tour if they can! He also personalized it according to what I was interested in and kept those interests in mind, which was deeply appreciated!”

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12.Svolvær and Henningsvær Sightseeing and History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 15 reviews · from $121

Spend five hours with a professional photographer guide, including Dave, exploring Svinøya, Lofoten Cathedral, Kabelvåg, Henningsvær, and Gimsøy Church. You’ll see fishing villages, stockfish racks, Viking and WWII sites, coastal scenery, and have time for lunch or coffee in Henningsvær.

“It was a very good experience to learn some history of the lofoten fishermen life. All stop points got beautiful scenary, views from bunker, beach, n viewpoints top looking at the ocean and town. We saw big stockfish hung for drying. Our guide is mr Dave and he showed us the lovely scenary. we highly recommended this tour. thank you, Dave.”

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13.Downtown Oslo: Self-Guided Highlights and History Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 10 reviews · 40 minutes (approx.) · from $9Best value

Walk central Oslo at your own pace with a VoiceMap audio tour lasting about 40 minutes. You’ll connect Aker Brygge, the Nobel Peace Center, the Royal Palace park, Karl Johan Avenue, and Østbanehallen, with offline maps and narration in English. Bring your own smartphone, and note that entry fees and refreshments are not included.

“The best part was turning of your completely out of date information and just walking and reading the signs. Waste of time and money.”

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14.Trondheim’s Regalia Self-Guided Tour of Norway’s Historic Centre

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $9

Start near Clarion Hotel Trondheim and follow an English GPS audio tour through Trondheim’s centre. Hear about Rockheim, the Nidelva River, Nidaros Cathedral, Bakklandet, and more before finishing at Kristiansten Fortress. Plan about an hour of walking, download the app and tour in advance, and bring your own phone and headphones.

“Good introductory tour for someone new to Trondheim, and for guests on Havila or Hurtigruten voyages. This tour gives an introduction to the city, its history, people, activities and culture. It shows you places you could chose to visit another time, helps you get your bearings in the City centre and fits perfectly into the stopover for the northbound leg of a coastal voyage. If you've not used the app before, allow time beforehand to download it. We only had WiFi on the boat so downloaded both the app and the tour the evening before, and it worked really well the next morning. Based on this tour, I will look…”

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15.History Fjordcruise Around The Isle Of Tromso – Luxury Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $140

Set out from central Tromsø at 2 pm on a two-hour luxury catamaran cruise with Captain Håken. You’ll circle the waters around Tromsø, pass Kvaløya and two bridges, hear local history, and enjoy coffee, tea, snacks, indoor seating, a toilet, and outdoor viewing areas.

“A thoroughly enjoyable experience. The boat was well equipped and comfortable. We were provided with hot drinks and snacks. There was a heated indoor seating area with a toilet. There was plenty of opportunity to go outside on the boat to soak up the sea breeze and get a better view of the interesting scenery. We were even able to sit in the helm to enjoy the outside views when it rained. The boat was equipped with plenty of safety features, and we were given a thorough safety briefing before setting off. Our guide was very knowledgeable about Tromsø, local history, sailing and travel as a whole. He was incredibly…”

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