Norway is a wide country covering several climate zones. Eastern Norway (interior around Oslo) has a continental climate (cold, dry winters, warm summers). Coastal Norway has temperate coastal climate, mild and humid all year (comparable to England or the Netherlands), to the north the coasts get progressively more arctic. Visitors are generally surprised how warm the summers (May-Aug) are, particularly in the eastern interior.

Visitors are also encouraged to learn about Norway's great variation in daylight. Although midnight sun is only above the arctic circle, even in southern Norway it is hardly dark at night during june-july. Even if you don't see the midnight sun itself (which is no big deal), the endless evenings and gentle nights is a great experience for many visitors. During winter there is a period of absolutly no sun in the north, only a vague daylight (twilight at noon), this period is simply called the dark period. Although a fascinating time if ready for it (daylight is spooky and it is easy to see the northern light), some visitors find it depressing.

Winter can be a diffcult time for visitors not used to snow and ice, however, the South-West coast (Bergen and Stavanger) only occasionaly have snow for more than a few hours in one time and frost for more than a few days. Visitors are urged to learn about climate in various parts of Norway before coming in the winter season (mid October to early April). If you don't have any experience driving on snow and ice, don't go on a car trip in winter.