Discover the Most Beautiful National Parks in Norway

Norway is a country shaped by powerful natural forces-glaciers, mountains, and vast wilderness areas that remain remarkably untouched. While fjords often receive the most attention, the country’s protected landscapes offer an equally breathtaking experience. Exploring the national parks of Norway allows travelers to discover dramatic mountain scenery, unique wildlife, and some of the most pristine nature in Europe.

Last updated: 16.03.2026

How many national parks are there in Norway?

Norway currently has 47 national parks, including parks on the mainland and several in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard. These protected areas preserve fragile ecosystems, mountain landscapes, and important wildlife habitats while allowing visitors to experience Norway’s wilderness responsibly.
Many of the Norway national parks are located in remote mountain regions shaped by glaciers thousands of years ago. Because conservation is the main priority, development inside these parks is minimal. Rather than large visitor centers or tourist infrastructure, visitors will find marked hiking trails, small mountain cabins, and vast natural landscapes that feel almost untouched.
A key reason these areas remain accessible to travelers is Norway’s long-standing tradition known as allemannsretten, or the “right to roam.” This principle allows everyone to hike, explore, and camp on uncultivated land as long as nature is respected. As a result, visiting the parks often feels like stepping into an immense natural playground where adventure and solitude exist side by side.

Jotunheimen National Park – Norway’s most famous mountain wilderness

When travelers ask what is the most famous national park in Norway, the answer is usually Jotunheimen National Park. The name translates to “Home of the Giants,” and the park lives up to this dramatic description with its towering mountains and expansive glaciers.
Located in southern Norway, Jotunheimen contains the highest peaks in Northern Europe. Two of these mountains, Galdhøpiggen and Glittertind, rise above a landscape of glaciers, alpine lakes, and rugged valleys that attract hikers and mountaineers from around the world.
One of the park’s most famous routes is the Besseggen Ridge, a spectacular trail that follows a narrow ridge between two lakes of different colors and elevations. The hike offers panoramic views that highlight the dramatic contrasts of Norway’s alpine environment.
Jotunheimen is also known for its network of traditional mountain lodges managed by the Norwegian Trekking Association. These lodges allow hikers to travel through the park over several days, moving between remote valleys and high mountain passes while enjoying comfortable overnight stays. For many visitors, this combination of rugged landscapes and well-organized hiking routes makes Jotunheimen the ultimate introduction to Norway’s mountain wilderness.
Glaciers play a defining role in shaping the park’s dramatic scenery. Over thousands of years, massive ice sheets carved the deep valleys and sharp peaks that characterize Jotunheimen today, creating a landscape that feels both powerful and timeless. Travelers exploring Norway’s natural wonders can include these alpine landscapes in a customizable journey, which combines vibrant Nordic cities with some of the region’s most breathtaking fjord and mountain scenery.

Rondane National Park – Norway’s first protected national park

Another remarkable destination among the best national parks in Norway is Rondane National Park, which became Norway’s first national park in 1962.
Rondane’s landscape feels vast and open compared with the dramatic peaks of Jotunheimen. The park features rounded mountains rising above wide alpine valleys, creating a distinctive skyline that appears almost sculpted by glaciers. Ten peaks in the park reach elevations above 2,000 meters, providing impressive views and rewarding hiking opportunities.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Rondane is its wildlife. The park is home to one of the last remaining populations of wild

reindeer in Western Europe. These animals migrate across the mountains in search of food and shelter, and lucky visitors sometimes spot them grazing in the high valleys.
Hiking is the most popular activity in Rondane, with well-maintained trails leading through peaceful valleys and across mountain passes. Travelers often plan multi-day hikes that connect a series of mountain lodges, allowing them to experience the landscape at a slower pace. The quiet atmosphere and wide horizons make Rondane one of the most relaxing and scenic national parks to explore. Planning your adventure? Discover helpful insights and travel tips in our Tips for Your Norway Trip blog.

Hardangervidda National Park – Europe’s largest mountain plateau

Among the most unique landscapes in the national parks in Norway is Hardangervidda National Park, which covers a vast highland plateau in southern Norway.
Hardangervidda is the largest mountain plateau in Europe, stretching across hundreds of square kilometers of open tundra, lakes, and rolling hills. Unlike the steep fjord landscapes many travelers associate with Norway, this region feels expansive and almost Arctic in character.
The plateau supports a wide range of wildlife, including Europe’s largest population of wild reindeer. In summer, the landscape becomes dotted with colorful alpine flowers and small lakes reflecting the surrounding mountains.
Visitors traveling across Hardangervidda often stop to see Vøringsfossen, one of Norway’s most famous waterfalls. The waterfall plunges dramatically into the nearby Måbødalen Valley, creating one of the country’s most memorable natural viewpoints.
Because the plateau lies along popular travel routes between Oslo and western Norway’s fjords, Hardangervidda is often included in scenic road trips. Travelers crossing the region experience a completely different side of Norway—one defined by vast skies, open landscapes, and peaceful wilderness.

Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park – home of the musk ox

For travelers interested in wildlife and remote mountain landscapes, Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park offers a truly unique experience.
The park is famous for its population of Musk ox, powerful Arctic animals that resemble prehistoric bison. These remarkable creatures were reintroduced to the region in the early twentieth century and now roam freely across the high plateaus.
Guided hikes allow visitors to observe musk ox from a safe distance while learning about the fragile ecosystem that supports

them. Seeing these massive animals moving slowly across the tundra is one of the most memorable wildlife experiences in Norway.
The park’s landscape is equally impressive. Wide valleys, rocky ridges, and distant peaks create dramatic scenery, particularly around Snøhetta, one of Norway’s most prominent mountains. The region also holds cultural significance, as it has served as an important mountain crossing between eastern and western Norway for centuries.

A fascinating fact about musk ox is that their underwool, called qiviut, is one of the warmest natural fibers in the world. It is about eight times warmer than sheep’s wool and incredibly soft, yet lighter than cashmere. Musk ox naturally shed this undercoat every spring, and in Arctic communities it is carefully collected and spun into extremely rare and valuable yarn.

Which national parks in Norway have the best mountain landscapes?

Travelers searching for dramatic alpine scenery often wonder which parks offer the most impressive mountain views. Several destinations stand out for their rugged terrain and unforgettable panoramas.
Jotunheimen National Park remains the top choice for classic high-mountain landscapes. Its concentration of glaciers and towering peaks makes it one of the most spectacular places in Northern Europe for hiking and mountaineering.
Rondane National Park offers equally impressive scenery, with distinctive pyramid-shaped mountains rising above wide valleys that feel almost untouched by time. Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park combines dramatic mountain terrain with Arctic wildlife, while Reinheimen National Park provides some of the most remote and rugged landscapes in the country.
Each of these parks reveals a different side of Norway’s mountainous interior, showing why the country’s wilderness is considered among the most beautiful in Europe.

The national parks in Norway reveal some of the country’s most spectacular natural landscapes, from towering mountains to vast wilderness areas shaped by glaciers. Exploring these protected regions offers a deeper connection to Norway’s wild beauty and unique ecosystems.
Whether hiking through alpine valleys or admiring dramatic mountain scenery, each experience feels truly unforgettable. With Tours to Norway, travelers can discover the country’s most remarkable natural destinations through thoughtfully designed journeys that showcase the very best of Norway’s wilderness.