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Norway is known for its soul-stirring fjords and snow-covered Arctic landscapes.
But the chilly Scandinavian country harbours a secret – it’s home to some of the world’s most spectacular beaches, some of which look like they belong in the Caribbean.
Sceptical?
Scroll down and feast your eyes on the evidence – images of some of the choicest beaches Norway has to offer, from one described as ‘a slice of paradise’ to a strip of sand that ‘feels like it could be at the edge of the Earth’.
They’re guaranteed to spark wanderlust for exploring a coastline second in length only to Canada’s, stretching for 63,000 miles (101,000km).
That’s long enough to circle the world two and a half times over.
Scroll down to see breathtaking photos that will leave you itching to discover more…
Sommaroy island (foreground), in northern Norway, is home to a small fishing village and, says Visit Tromso, is ‘known for its beautiful beaches and opportunities for outdoor activities’. Sommaroy translates to ‘Summer Island’ as historically, it has tended only to be visited during the summer. It’s connected by a bridge to the island of Hillesoya (centre, with the rounded hill) in one direction and to the island of Kvaloya and the rest of Norway by another bridge
Above is an eye-catching beach on Bear Island, located on the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago
Bleik Beach, on Andoya island in the Vesteralen archipelago, ‘is one of the longest and most spectacular beaches in Norway’, says Visit Vesteralen, which adds: ‘With its white sands and endless dunes, it is more reminiscent of a tropical paradise than an Arctic landscape’
Haukland Beach on Norway’s Lofoten Islands is so special it made Lonely Planet’s list of the 100 best beaches in the world. The guide described the spot as ‘a blinding stretch of luscious sand’, adding: ‘The sea doesn’t really creep higher than around 59F (15C) and that’s in August, but the spectacular natural setting still makes this one of the most unbelievably beautiful spots among Norway’s thousands of beaches’
Kvalvika Beach is ‘one of the most stunning places in the Lofoten Islands’, says Visit Norway, which also remarks that it ‘feels like it could be at the edge of the world’. Visitors will witness ‘turquoise waves crashing on the sand and steep rock faces rising into the clouds’
The beach at Unstad village is the ‘best-known surfing spot in Lofoten’, according to Visit Lofoten, which describes the spot as being ‘flanked by a right and left pointbreak’ and having a stony bottom. Also, as this picture shows – it’s an eye-catching location
Bunes Beach is one of the Lofoten Islands’ ‘most beautiful beaches’, according to Visit Lofoten. The tourist board points out that you can only reach it by boat, and adds: ‘The beach faces the open sea, surrounded by the mountains Helvetestinden and Storskiva on each side’
Ramberg Beach is a ‘real gem’ in the Lofoten Islands, says Visit Lofoten, which points out that it’s ‘easy to access from the road’, with plenty of nearby hiking trails
Behold Eggum Beach. This Lofoten Islands strip of sand is described by travel blogger ‘The Smooth Escape’ as a ‘slice of paradise’ with ‘barely any visitors’
Sola Beach is close to Stavanger in the south of Norway and it’s a popular spot for families. Norwegian Air says: ‘With fine golden sands that stretch for 2.5km (1.5 miles) and slope off gently into shallow waters, Sola beach (aka Solastranden) is an ideal holiday spot for families. Even on busy days there’s plenty of room to spread out’
Mjelle Beach, in northern Norway, is famed for its red sand, which is caused by minerals – namely garnet particles – from the beach’s rocks. Visit Bodø says: ‘The red sand beach at Mjelle is a stunning place, and maybe northern Norway’s most romantic midnight sun spot’
This winding road leads to gorgeous Hoddevik beach, a ‘true surfer’s paradise’, says Norwegian Air. The team says it’s ‘rarely crowded’ and has ‘soft white sand, clear blue waters and towering cliffs either side of the bay’ with ‘views stretching out over the North Atlantic Ocean’
