How to experience autumn in Norway the Nordic way

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Autumn in Norway is pure magic. I’ve always loved the season; every year as summer comes to an end, I feel myself brimming with anticipation and excitement for cosy season ahead. For books and candles and tea, for Halloween parties and pumpkin pie. As a child, September 1st meant the start of ‘Harry Potter movie marathon’ season, and I imagined myself getting on the Hogwarts Express to start a new term at wizard school. 

Though I’m too old for trick or treating now, autumn is still a season of cosiness for me, for slowing down and appreciating the changes in nature as the temperature drops. I still find magic in the way the trees shift from green to gold to brown, as they prepare for the long winter ahead in this endless cycle of death and rebirth. 

For the past few autumns, I’ve been in Bergen. A city that was easy to fall in love with because it celebrates cosiness in all forms, and is built for this season. Mid October is the best time to see the colours in Norway, as it’s when the trees are their most brilliant golden. I truly think one of the most euphoric feelings in life is getting up early on a sunny autumn morning to walk through a forest, admire the trees and breathe in the crisp, clean air. Something about it makes me feel wide awake and connected to the world, reminding me that time is constantly marching forwards.

During my time here, I’ve chatted to my Norwegian friends and other locals about their favourite autumn traditions, as well as creating some of my own. So here’s just a few ideas for how to celebrate autumn the Nordic way. 

Norwegians love to hike, and autumn is no exception. Though finding a day when it’s not raining is harder, the temperature in autumn is much nicer for hiking as you can wear layers without getting too hot. Plus, the scenery is stunning. 

The trees in southern Norway are a mix of deciduous and evergreen, so the mountains are often a colour palette ranging from forest green to ochre yellow. These are contrasted against the bare rocky mountain tops and pristine alpine lakes, making for some gorgeous landscapes. I absolutely love being outdoors during this season.

Norwegians love to stay in their mountain cabins, called hytte, often passed down through the generations within families. These cabins can range from luxurious holiday homes to simple wooden huts on the mountainside where you can camp out for a night or two. 

One of my favourite memories of my first autumn in Norway was spending the night in a mountain cabin owned by the hostel I was staying in. We hiked up in the evening and chopped firewood to build a cosy little log fire inside the cabin’s wood burner. We toasted lefse, a traditional Norwegian snack that tastes like a delicious cinnamon waffles, over the fire and played games all night.

The mossy Norwegian forests look like they could be a scene from Lord of the Rings. I love how lush and wild they are. Growing up in England, most of the nature I encountered was farmland or cultivated in some way, unlike the wilderness you see here.

In Norway, you can find wild blueberries growing everywhere. And, of course, the native lingonberries, which are red tart berries that grow on evergreen shrubs native to boreal forests. Lingonberries taste a bit like cranberries, and are often used to make jam. They’re a little sour, but pair really well with cheese and crackers, or hotdogs. 

Norwegian forests are also home to many edible mushroom species which you can forage for in the autumn. Be careful though! Only forage with an expert who knows what they’re doing, you don’t want to end up accidentally poisoning yourself. 

My partner and I have an autumn ritual of baking a pumpkin pie in October every year (using a butternut squash as pumpkin puree is difficult to find here). He’s American, so it’s a childhood nostalgia thing for him, and a cute romantic thing for both of us as we baked a pumpkin pie together on our second ever date!

For something a little more traditionally Nordic though, I suggest baking an almond cake. It’s autumnal, delicious and such a fun autumn activity to do with your loved ones. I found this amazing apple almond cake recipe from a fellow Bergen blogger who I follow. 

While most people think of winter as being Northern Lights season, you can definitely see them in autumn too! From September onwards as the days get shorter, the possibility of seeing the aurora increase. I wrote about my first time seeing the aurora in Reykjavik, but the strongest Northern Lights I’ve ever seen have actually been in Bergen.

It’s pure luck of course, but as the sun’s solar cycle peaks in 2025/2026, now is probably your best chance to see them. I use the ‘my aurora forecast’ app to send me phone alerts when the KP index peaks, meaning that the Northern Lights are putting on a show! Sometimes that’s happening behind the clouds unfortunately, but it’s always worth looking north on a clear night and trying to spot them. 

Norwegians are, at their heart, introverts. They love being indoors and cosy, and even have a word for it: ‘koselig’. It’s a similar concept to the Danish word ‘hygge’ and basically means warmth, comfort, cosiness, intimacy, relaxation and self-indulgence. 

Koselig is about self-care and inner warmth, that feeling of contentment you get in your chest when all the chores are taken care of, you’re sitting by the fire surrounded by your favourite people, and a cat is purring on your lap. 

Autumn is the perfect season for getting cosy, for curling up on the sofa under a blanket and cracking open a new book, with a hot drink steaming next to you. I also love to light a scented candle which really adds to the mood. In my old life in the UK, I actually started a small business selling literary-themed soy candles, so I’m a big fan of them. 

I love to read, especially on days when it’s cold and rainy outside. Reading transports you to a different world. I’m not particular about genres; I’ll read anything with a good story, from fantasy to romance. I recently decided that I wanted to find more people who shared my love for reading so I joined a book club in Bergen. 

It’s an amazing feeling to meet up with a bunch of other inspiring women and discuss the same book, and also motivates me to read more. You can also start your own book club with friends! Getting together and chatting about book boyfriends for a few hours over biscuits and tea is a pretty perfect way to spend an autumn evening in my opinion. 

Dugnad is a Norwegian word describing communal volunteer work for a shared purpose. Often, it’s an activity where the residents of a local neighbourhood, housing association or apartment building get together to spend a day cleaning the shared communal areas. This normally happens twice a year, in autumn and spring. 

The idea behind Dugnad is easy to implement wherever you live in the world. Norwegians have a strong sense of social cohesion and responsibility which I really admire, so why not try finding a local community volunteering project to get involved with this autumn? It’s also a great way to make new friends!

Creativity is such a nice way to connect with the season, and I love having ‘painting date nights’ with my partner even though neither of us can paint. Last autumn, we actually tried a high-effort craft project and made our own autumn leaf trinket bowls out of hobby clay, using real autumn leaves for the shape and texture. I’m really proud of the result! 

This year, I’m taking a painting class with a professional artist to finally learn the real technique. Prepare for the next Picasso, everyone. 

Hot drinks are an important part of cosy season, and coffee and tea are widely embraced by Norwegian society. But if you want to try something a little different, why not make your own spiced apple cider? It’s super easy to make, non-alcoholic, and very much a comfort drinks. 

All you need to do is buy some apple juice and simmer it in a pot while stirring in slices of oranges and lemons, and all your favourite spices: cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg etc.. The result is a delicious warming spiced drink that’s perfect to drink on it’s own, or turn into an alcoholic punch for parties. 

Historically, autumn would be a time when Norwegians would be preparing for winter by pickling, salting and preserving fresh food. While there is less of a need for this in the modern day, you can still go to a local food market to buy fresh ingredients and cook up a warming lamb or mutton stew. 

Cooking together as a family is a cherished tradition in Norway, and autumn is the perfect season for vegetable soups, stews, salted cod, and other traditional meals that warm you from the inside out. 

Are there any traditions that you would add to the list?