Scandinavia in summer is unlike anywhere else on earth. When the midnight sun refuses to set and Oslo’s forests are accessible by metro from the city centre, when Stockholm’s archipelago stretches 30,000 islands into the Baltic and Bergen’s funicular climbs directly to mountain trails above the Bryggen wharf, the entire region becomes the world’s most extraordinary walking destination. This tour captures the singular experience of Norway’s midnight sun — that soft, golden light that never quite becomes darkness — filmed in 4K above the fjords of Oslo during the height of summer.
About This Walking Tour
WeAreMapped’s midnight sun Oslo walk captures one of the most unusual atmospheric experiences available to any urban walker — the phenomenon of a major European capital city where night never fully arrives in midsummer. Filmed in 4K during the height of the Norwegian summer, the video shows Oslo’s waterfront, parks, and city centre bathed in the distinctive amber-gold light that characterises the midnight sun: low, warm, and shadowless in a way that transforms familiar architecture into something dreamlike.
The walk covers Oslo’s harbour front and the Aker Brygge waterfront precinct — the converted 19th-century shipyard that is now one of the city’s most popular public spaces — as well as the Opera House, the Munch Museum, and the residential streets of the city. The midnight sun footage is the core of the video: viewers see the sky at what would be 11pm or midnight in a normal climate, the sun still visibly above the horizon or just below it, casting light across the water and the quiet streets. WeAreMapped’s style is observational, letting the extraordinary light conditions tell the story without heavy narration.
Highlights of Scandinavia in Summer
Oslo offers the unique combination of a walkable, compact European capital and immediate access to one of the world’s great forest wilderness areas. The Oslomarka — 2,600 square kilometres of forest — begins at the end of the city’s metro line, reachable in under 20 minutes from the centre. The T-bane carries hikers directly to trailheads at Frognerseteren and Holmenkollen, where marked trails extend for hundreds of kilometres through pine forest.
Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), accessible as a day trip from Stavanger, is Norway’s most photographed viewpoint: a perfectly flat 25 by 25 metre rock platform standing 604 metres above the surface of the Lysefjord. The 3.8-kilometre trail climbs through boulder fields and across open mountain, reaching the cliff edge where the fjord appears in full below. The platform formed approximately 10,000 years ago when the retreating ice-age glacier pulled away from the cliff face. Stockholm’s archipelago of 30,000 islands extends 60 kilometres into the Baltic Sea and is reachable by ferry directly from the city centre. Helsinki’s Suomenlinna sea fortress — a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by the Swedish Empire between 1748 and 1772 — sits on islands a 15-minute ferry ride from the market square and houses around 800 permanent residents today.
A Brief History of Nordic Walking Culture
Norway’s concept of friluftsliv — outdoor life — is not a trend but a cultural cornerstone that shapes Norwegian society from childhood. The allemannsretten, or right to roam, is enshrined in Norwegian law and gives every person the legal right to walk freely through any uncultivated land regardless of who owns it. This principle dates from medieval common-law tradition and was formally codified in the 1957 Outdoor Recreation Act. The result is a society in which urban walking, forest hiking, and mountain trekking are considered normal daily activities rather than special pursuits.
Stockholm’s archipelago has been a destination for summer walking, swimming, and sailing since the Stockholm bourgeoisie began building summer houses on the islands in the 19th century. The archipelago spans approximately 24,000 square kilometres and contains islands ranging from bare skerries to large forested islands with permanent communities. Ferries operated by Waxholmsbolaget have served the archipelago since 1869 and remain the primary means of island access today. Preikestolen’s fame as a hiking destination grew rapidly in the 2000s — annual visitor numbers grew from around 800 in 1990 to over 300,000 by 2019, making it one of the most popular single hikes in Scandinavia.
Practical Tips
The midnight sun is most intense in late June, with the summer solstice on June 21 offering the longest day. For Oslo, June through August gives the best walking conditions — long evenings, warm temperatures, and full access to the Oslomarka trails. Carry layers even in summer as Scandinavian temperatures can shift quickly. Oslo’s T-bane metro reaches the forest edge at Frognerseteren (Line 1) and is included on the standard transit pass. For the Stockholm archipelago, Waxholmsbolaget ferry passes offer unlimited travel and are available at Strömkajen pier. Preikestolen requires driving or a boat shuttle from Stavanger to the trailhead at Preikestolen Mountain Lodge; the hike is rated moderate and takes 2–3 hours each way. Waterproof footwear is advisable for any Nordic trail walking.
Watch & Explore More
WeAreMapped covers Scandinavia and beyond with high-quality walking content. For more Nordic inspiration, visit @walkingtoursvideoscom on YouTube. This site also has the Reykjavik walking tour from the Old Harbour to Hallgrímskirkja and the Oslo walking tour through Aker Brygge and Vigeland Park.