How to stay warm and cozy this winter
Anyone who has ever taken a trip to Norway during the winter season knows just how vicious the Norwegian winters have the potential to be. This is especially true for Northern Norway where you can find really cold temperatures. So how do Norwegians tolerate the cold and long winter? With the “philophy of koselig” of course.
3 min readUpdated: Mar 4, 2026By: The Fjord Tours team
How Norwegians stay happy during dark winters
Somehow, despite frigid temperatures and seemingly endless darkness, Norwegians remain some of the happiest people in the world. This has many people from more temperate climates wondering what it is about the Norwegian lifestyle that allows them to remain in high hopes and good health throughout the dreaded winter season.
One of the main factors that helps Norwegians tolerate the winter is the "philosophy of koselig". This is a concept that many foreigners struggle to comprehend because it does not have a direct translation in most languages. A fairly close translation is “cozy.”
How to create koselig: A guide to Norwegian winter coziness
But "cozy" fails to fully encompass exactly what it means to have it koselig. Koselig is more than just being cozy, and essentially includes any object, activity, or another element that provides inner joy or provokes warm, fuzzy feelings.
Most Norwegians have mastered how to get koselig by the time they are young adults, which is what allows them to make it through the dark and gloomy winters every year. Here is how you can manage to stay warm and koselig this winter season.
Get comfortable and warm winter clothing
The idea of picking fashion over function when it comes to winter clothing is completely foreign to most Norwegians. This is because the cold winter weather makes looking trendy a difficult task during the coldest months of the year. That is why almost all Norwegians strive to own several pieces of winter clothing that are incredibly comfortable and great at keeping out the cold.
Having a sufficient amount of winter clothing helps keep you warm and happy. No one can possibly feel koselig when either their feet, face, or hands, are almost frozen solid. However, purchasing a fancy pair of winter gloves or being given a really soft scarf is a great way to help someone feel warm and koselig in the winter.
Introduce a bit of fire to your life
What better way is there to warm up during the winter season than with a fire? This obviously does not mean that you should wander out into the brush and start campfires whenever you feel like it. This would be a good way to accidentally start a forest fire, which is not koselig at all—in fact, you can’t get further from koselig than a forest fire. However, when used properly, candles and fireplaces can be some of the most helpful tools on someone's journey to koselig.
This goes far beyond their ability to provide warmth, although that is a big benefit, especially during the winter season. They also provide a distinctive ambiance that creates a very peaceful and romantic feeling. So, whether you are with your family, work friends or your significant other, setting up candles and utilizing a fireplace can be the perfect way to help you achieve warmth and koselig in the winter.
Experience winter in Norway
View a selection of our winter tours.
Norway in a Nutshell® Winter
From: 1 day
Winter magic on Norway's most popular tour
Experience Norway in a Nutshell® in winter. Ride the winter rails on two of the top train journeys in the world and cruise the snowy fjords on a quiet electric fjord cruise. Start from Oslo or Bergen.
From 2270 NOK
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Geirangerfjord in a Nutshell™ Winter
2 days +
Geirangerfjord winter adventure
Cruise the famous Geirangerfjord in winter, with panoramic view points, visit charming Ålesund and ride the Rauma Railway and Dovre Railway. Start from Bergen or Ålesund.
From 4295 NOK
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Early Bird Summer Rates
Cities and Coastal Cruise with Norway in a Nutshell®
4 day tour of Oslo, Bergen & Trondheim by train and coastal cruise
Experience Norway's cultural cities, scenic rail journeys and Coastal Cruise on this roundtrip. Start from Oslo or Bergen.
From 11803 NOK
View map
Norway in a Nutshell® Winter
From: 1 day
Winter magic on Norway's most popular tour
Experience Norway in a Nutshell® in winter. Ride the winter rails on two of the top train journeys in the world and cruise the snowy fjords on a quiet electric fjord cruise. Start from Oslo or Bergen.
From 2270 NOK
View map
Geirangerfjord in a Nutshell™ Winter
2 days +
Geirangerfjord winter adventure
Cruise the famous Geirangerfjord in winter, with panoramic view points, visit charming Ålesund and ride the Rauma Railway and Dovre Railway. Start from Bergen or Ålesund.
From 4295 NOK
View map
Early Bird Summer Rates
Cities and Coastal Cruise with Norway in a Nutshell®
4 day tour of Oslo, Bergen & Trondheim by train and coastal cruise
Experience Norway's cultural cities, scenic rail journeys and Coastal Cruise on this roundtrip. Start from Oslo or Bergen.
From 11803 NOK
View map
Get to know the Norwegians
The typical Norwegian cherishes nature and embraces the great outdoors. Minimalist in design and lifestyle, they prioritize practicality. Norwegians honor heritage and folklore, fostering a vibrant, inclusive society that blends tradition with a modern, open-minded outlook while embracing sustainability.
Traditional Norwegian food
Norway has a lot of interesting traditional food, and any travelers visiting Norway would do well to sample some of the local cuisines. Culinary traditions in Norway have been dominated by meat, fish, and seafood that could be hunted or caught. These days the Norwegian food space represents an interesting mix of old and new due to culinary influences from all over the world.
Why Norway Is Perfect for Adventure Travelers
Norway is often referred to as a dream destination for adventure travelers. The varied Norwegian landscapes provide adventurers with a rich diversity of outdoor activities to choose from throughout the year, including hiking, biking, skiing, kayaking, and rock climbing, to name a few. There's no shortage of thrilling experiences to be had in Norway's great outdoors!
The 17th of May – Norway’s National Day
The 17th of May is Norway’s national day — and what a party it is! While many countries mark their national day with military parades, Norway’s celebration is lighthearted and joyful, with a special focus on kids enjoying the festivities.
Why a Scanditour is the New Eurotour
Done the whole Eurotrip thing? Looking for some fresh insight into where your next travel adventure should be? Head over to Scandinavia, and Norway in particular.
What is ‘slow travel’ and why Norway ticks all the boxes
Have you ever felt more exhausted after a trip than before you left? Then you have probably done the exact opposite of slow travel! When slow traveling, there is no need for a vacation after your vacation.It is not about "likes" that generate hotspots on Instagram and overwhelmingly long bucket lists.
How to stay warm and cozy this winter
Anyone who has ever taken a trip to Norway during the winter season knows just how vicious the Norwegian winters have the potential to be. This is especially true for Northern Norway where you can find really cold temperatures. So how do Norwegians tolerate the cold and long winter? With the “philophy of koselig” of course.
Learn Norwegian words and phrases before your trip
If you’re planning a trip to Norway, you might be interested in learning a few Norwegian words and phrases. It can be really helpful to have some handy phrases up your sleeve for communicating with locals during your upcoming trip to Norway, so we’ve prepared a great guide that will help you learn the lingo before you arrive!
How can you travel eco-friendly in Norway?
Fjord Tours is Norway's largest tour and activity provider. As a sustainable travel agency, we take our commitment to more eco-friendly travel seriously. By focusing our impact on mainly four areas, we strive daily to make it easy for visitors to travel and explore Norway in a better way!
Traditional Norwegian food
Norway has a lot of interesting traditional food, and any travelers visiting Norway would do well to sample some of the local cuisines. Culinary traditions in Norway have been dominated by meat, fish, and seafood that could be hunted or caught. These days the Norwegian food space represents an interesting mix of old and new due to culinary influences from all over the world.
Why Norway Is Perfect for Adventure Travelers
Norway is often referred to as a dream destination for adventure travelers. The varied Norwegian landscapes provide adventurers with a rich diversity of outdoor activities to choose from throughout the year, including hiking, biking, skiing, kayaking, and rock climbing, to name a few. There's no shortage of thrilling experiences to be had in Norway's great outdoors!
The 17th of May – Norway’s National Day
The 17th of May is Norway’s national day — and what a party it is! While many countries mark their national day with military parades, Norway’s celebration is lighthearted and joyful, with a special focus on kids enjoying the festivities.
Why a Scanditour is the New Eurotour
Done the whole Eurotrip thing? Looking for some fresh insight into where your next travel adventure should be? Head over to Scandinavia, and Norway in particular.
What is ‘slow travel’ and why Norway ticks all the boxes
Have you ever felt more exhausted after a trip than before you left? Then you have probably done the exact opposite of slow travel! When slow traveling, there is no need for a vacation after your vacation.It is not about "likes" that generate hotspots on Instagram and overwhelmingly long bucket lists.
How to stay warm and cozy this winter
Anyone who has ever taken a trip to Norway during the winter season knows just how vicious the Norwegian winters have the potential to be. This is especially true for Northern Norway where you can find really cold temperatures. So how do Norwegians tolerate the cold and long winter? With the “philophy of koselig” of course.
Learn Norwegian words and phrases before your trip
If you’re planning a trip to Norway, you might be interested in learning a few Norwegian words and phrases. It can be really helpful to have some handy phrases up your sleeve for communicating with locals during your upcoming trip to Norway, so we’ve prepared a great guide that will help you learn the lingo before you arrive!
How can you travel eco-friendly in Norway?
Fjord Tours is Norway's largest tour and activity provider. As a sustainable travel agency, we take our commitment to more eco-friendly travel seriously. By focusing our impact on mainly four areas, we strive daily to make it easy for visitors to travel and explore Norway in a better way!