Norway Weather in March 2025: Travel Tips for First-Timers

March is cold in Norway's low elevations in the south where the big cities are, and nights are freezing. In the high elevations and in the north, it is almost always freezing. You can tour the cities with low season prices and ski in the mountain ski resorts with moderate to low prices.

Read on for our weather information and travel advice including average temperatures and rainfall, places to go, and travel tips…

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• 1. Weather Overview
• 2. Best Places to Visit
• 3. Crowds and Costs
• 4. What to Wear

Norway Weather in March: Overview

Averages:

• Temperature range: -1–5°C (30–40°F)
• Total rain/snow: 10 cm (4 inches)
• Days with rain/snow: 13
• Humidity: 76%
• Sunshine hours/day: 4 hours

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March Climate Comparison (Averages) for Norway's Top Tourism Areas

Norway's weather is usually cold during the day in March in the far south where Oslo and other big cities are. This region has about 4 hours of sunshine and about 12 hours of daylight on average. It may feel gloomy. The ski resorts are in moderate to low season.

Southern region: The big cities such as Oslo, Stavanger, and Bergen are near the southern coast at about 60° degrees latitude where there are almost 12 hours of daylight on average. The highs are an average of 5°C (40°F). The average nightly low is -1°C (30°F). There is moderate rainfall.

Northern region: Arctic tourism towns such as Tromsø are within the Arctic Circle and north of latitude 69°. The average daily highs are about 0°C (32°F) or below. The lows average -5°C (23°F) or below depending on the latitude. There is moderate snowfall and about 12 hours of daylight on average.

The Best Places to Visit in Norway in March

Touring in March features a median 12 hours of night during which you might see auroras. Though it is cold, you could tour the cities and enjoy winter sports during the day. It is low season, but the end of the ski season at the ski resorts, and the northern arctic adventure towns have a mix of activities.

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1. Oslo — Experience Norwegian Culture and Visit the Highlights

In the Norwegian Capital, the daily high is 4°C (39°F), and the average low is -2°C (28°F). The low snowfall and long days make sightseeing and touring more pleasant. There are 11 hours of daylight at the beginning of March and a little more than 13 hours at the end.

The low snowfall/rainfall and the approximately 12 hours of daylight make shopping and seeing the highlights such as the Viking Ship Museum easier. There are 9 days of low rainfall/snowfall. Except during Easter holidays, March is low season with about the lowest touring prices in the year.

During low season, as the weather permits, you could visit Oslofjord for a cruise in the 100 kilometers (62 miles) long fjord near Oslo. At Nordmarka on the fjord, you could do winter sports. The average humidity is 77% and this means much frost.

2. Stavanger — See Quaint Norwegian Buildings, Amazing Natural Rock Formations, and Beautiful Fjords

The strong, warm Gulf Stream current makes Stavanger, Norway's third largest city, warmer than most other Norwegian cities and towns. The average highs are 7°C (45°F), and the lows are 1°C (34°F). There is low to moderate rainfall/snowfall. Beautiful fjords spread north and south and are natural highlights.

Norwegian houses and buildings are traditionally colorful, and the colors burst forth in Stavanger that has more old construction and less modernization than other cities. It rains or snows an average of 13 days each March, but when it is inclement you can still happily stroll and shop in the city center.

Four hours of sunshine on average and the long, cool days make it suitable to go to see the striking, picturesque fjords such as Lysefjord where you might be able to hike in solitude to rock formations such as Pulpit Rock if the ground and weather conditions permit.

3. Tromsø — Enjoy Both the Northern Lights and Daylight Adventures

In March, there is about an equal number of hours of daylight and nighttime, so that feels normal. It is still one of the best months for seeing the auroras because there are approximately 12 hours of night. The average daily high is -2°C (28°F). The nightly lows are -6°C (21°F).

In March, Tromsø has an attractive mix of moderate prices compared to the peak travel times and more light for outdoors activities. You can experience how quickly the daylight replaces the night hours and feel the long soothing hours of eerie twilight that also provides light for your outdoors activities.

The hotel and restaurant facilities are well developed. You can dine on gourmet international cuisine or eat the local arctic Sami food. You could do snowshoe hikes, dog sledding, or reindeer sledding. Norwegians love to ski cross-country, but you can also downhill ski at Tromsø Alpinpark.

4. Lillehammer — Do Winter Sports in One of the Best Ski Resort Areas in Scandinavia and Eat Wild Norwegian Food

In March, the temperature is still usually freezing, and the highest ski resorts such as Hafjell are operating normally. Hafjell is considered the best of the five ski resort choices. Hafjell offers night skiing until about the 21st of March.

Another benefit of approximately 12-hour days is that long cross-country skiing treks, for which the area is renowned, can be done in daylight. There are about 4 to 5 hours of bright sunshine daily on average too. The daily average high in Lillehammer is 4°C (39°F) and the low is -5°C (24°F).

March is a good time to come for those who want to tour on a moderate budget and enjoy great skiing because compared to other skiing months, there is moderate tourism unless there are Easter holidays. Hafjell offers Olympic-quality facilities that were built for the 1994 Olympics.

Crowds and Costs for Traveling in March

March provides a comfortable 12 hours of daylight and low season prices for flights and hotels. Touring and travel costs may be about the least in the year. However, when Easter holidays and the spring school break are in March, prices increase, and many Norwegians use the airports to travel internally or internationally.

Most of Norway's tourist highlights are in low season in March, and many of the best ski resorts, such as those around Lillehammer, are in moderate tourism season.

The urban areas are in low tourism season, but some of the far north arctic adventure towns are in more moderate season with people still enjoying the northern lights before the short nights or midnight sun from April to September. Prices for Arctic Circle trips are moderate.

You might want to book ahead if you are planning to go to a ski resort town or one of the arctic towns. For the lowest prices and crowds, avoid the Easter holidays.

The Easter holidays sometimes occur in April as they do in 2025. Many Norwegians use the three public holidays afforded to go on week-long vacations. Many go on their last ski trip before the temperatures rise in April and May.

Public holidays in March:

Norway's 5-day Easter holiday dates vary from year to year. Easter 2025 is in April. Banks close from Thursday to Monday, so transactions may not clear until Tuesday.

• Maundy Thursday is April 17, 2025. It is a national holiday, and schools and businesses close. It commemorates Jesus and his disciples eating the Passover Seder.
• Good Friday is April 18, 2025. It is a national holiday that commemorates Jesus' crucifixion.
• Easter Monday is April 21 in 2025. It is a national holiday, and business and offices close. It commemorates the day after the resurrection of Jesus.

What to Wear in March

For comfort, dress in layers with a heavy outer coat. Since the weather is milder along the southwest coast due to the Gulf Stream, if you are going there, bring rain gear.

The longer daylight hours favor longer hiking treks, but even along the southwest coast such as at Lysefjord, there may still be snow and ice on the ground making hiking dangerous. So, for hiking in snow and ice, make sure you have boots with good traction that are water resistant and suitable hiking equipment.

Here is a packing list for a few essentials in Norway:

• Warm hat
• Comfortable shoes with good traction
• Warm waterproof boots with good traction. You might wear them in-flight to travel lightly.
• Heavy winter coat
• Rain gear
• Swimwear for hot springs and spas
• Cardigans or thermals
• Gloves
• Polarized glasses to reduce the glare

Monthly Weather and Travel Information for Norway

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