The start of the year is pretty cold and dark in Norway, even on the southwest coast in Bergen, and if you’re planning on visiting in January and February make sure you wrap up warm especially if you’re heading for cross country ski trails or in search of the Northern Lights.

March is the best time to go to Norway for maximising daylight hours and snowfall in winter sports resorts and as April turns to May you’ll find an abundance of wild flowers and blossom appearing in country meadows as well as a fair amount of slushy snow underfoot.

June, July and August are certainly the best months to go to Norway in terms of temperatures and daylight hours although prices will be at a premium as will midges and other bitey insects in and around the marshlands towards the north of the country.

After the school holidays in mid-September and October, Norway becomes slightly more affordable as it’s caught between summer and winter with several outdoor attractions starting to shut up shop with the onset of snow and bitter winds.

November days are cold and dark with not much going on apart from snow clouds culminating on higher grounds and the Northern Lights starting to respond to conditions. It’s really December when things start to turn pretty with snow flurries, frozen lakes and Christmas festivities lighting Norway up like the preverbal spruce.