When students think about studying abroad, places like London, Madrid, and Paris come to mind. Norway is most often skipped. However, Norway is a wonderful place to study abroad. The country is full of historical sites, big cities, spectacular fjords, and huge mountain ranges. The people are welcoming and the food is amazing. I can't think of any reason why Norway shouldn't be on the list for the most popular places to study abroad.

Most often, when you think about Norway, Vikings are most likely the first thing to come to mind. This is a popular theme. The stories of how Viking were ruthless people who plundered the world and looked up to the Norse gods like Thor or Odin. Everywhere you go, there are Viking merchandise: cups, cheese cutters (famous in Norway), hats, and chocolate. However, none of that compares to seeing Viking artifacts. One of the most popular tourist attractions is the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo. This museum consists of three unearthed Viking Ships along with the treasures in each one. They are the definition of "larger than life."

Norway consists of many beautiful cities; the one to make sure to visit is Bergen. Bergen is located on the fjords of western Norway. The city is famous for being a trading town. It was a famous port that was part of the Hanseatic League which shaped Bergen's culture. The famous row Hanseatic commercial buildings along the harbor are one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. They are falling apart, in fact, the buildings are tilted to their side. Construction is still being done in order to keep them preserved. Another popular spot is to go on the funicular railway to Mount Fløyen where you can see the entire city along the harbor. It is a breathtaking view. The people are very welcoming and friendly. They love talking to the tourist and are very open to giving suggestions on things to do.

Norway also has views outside of the cities. The National Parks and mountain ranges are nature's paintings. There are miles of mountain ranges which are all wonderful for hiking trips. A wonderful place to go hiking is Jotunheimen National Park. The entire park has trails all over, and places to rest for the night. Jotunheimen is famous because legends say that it is the home to the giants and trolls. Hiking through Jotunheimen does look like it could be a place where trolls are up to mischief and giants are waiting for a battle. Over every mountain, there is a new view that looks like it doesn't belong on Earth.

There are many popular hikes in Norway. A couple include Preikestolen and Kjeragbolten. Preikestolen is a hike to the cliff's edge that is falling off the side of the mountain. It looks out into an endless fjord, and it isn't every day that you can eat lunch off the edge of a cliff. The hike is not long. It is about 2.5 miles, but it is very steep. So make sure to have good hiking boots. Kjeragbolten is the hike where you can see the boulder placed in between the two cliffs. This is a 10-mile hike but there are many ways to get to this spot such as boat or bus. Since these hikes are very popular, you will meet many people. It is fun to meet someone who either has the same goals or are from the same city.

Norway is a wonderful country. There is no doubt that it can't present a wonderful experience, especially to a student who wants to study abroad. With its Norse myths and numerous hiking spots, students can experience a new culture and explore an unreal part of the globe.