What to Consider Before Packing for Hurtigruten

Weather is the most important consideration when packing for winter in Norway. Travelling along Norway’s coastline, you can expect below-zero temperatures, rain, snow, and ice. You’re also likely to experience strong winds, especially if you spend time out on the ship’s deck. There are also limited daylight hours during winter, including the polar night in the north. You need to pack wisely in preparation for these conditions, as you will spend a lot of time outside when you are exploring the ports or viewing the Northern Lights.

There is a very casual atmosphere on board, so there’s no need to dress up, not even for dinner. It’s important to pack practical and comfortable clothes over anything fancy. Most people wear jumpers or fleeces, sweatpants, and even wear slippers to the restaurant. 

Don’t overpack, as you can easily re-wear clothing when dressing with efficient layers. There is also a laundry located onboard to freshen items up when needed. You can find out more about the laundry on board in the facilities section in my post: Hurtigruten Coastal Express Review: Everything you need to know before you book.

Hurtigruten Winter Packing List: Clothing Essentials

The number one rule when dressing for cold winters in Norway is to wear layers. Layers provide insulation against freezing temperatures and allow you to make easy adjustments as conditions change. Imagine spending the afternoon outside exploring, then returning to the ship where it’s lovely and warm, you’ll quickly want to remove a few layers. 

I’ve broken this section down into layers, following a classic three-layer system, along with some casual clothing suggestions for relaxing onboard. 

Thermal Base Layers

Thermal tops and leggings – your thermal base layers are the first layer you’ll wear to help regulate your body temperature and wick away any moisture from the skin. The best material to choose for thermals is merino wool, as it is breathable and odor-resistant, meaning you can usually wear them a few times before needing to wash them. My favourite thermals are from Icebreaker, 100% merino wool is expensive but I’ve found these to be great quality.

Insulating Mid Layers

Lightweight packable down jacket – I always travel with a lightweight packable down jacket because it hardly takes up any space, fits nicely under a larger jacket, and is perfect to throw on if the weather suddenly cools down and you need an extra layer. 

Fleece – a fleece jumper or jacket is a popular mid-layer option as they’re versatile and come in a range of fabrics and thicknesses. 

Woollen jumper – You could choose between a jumper or a fleece, as you don’t necessarily need to pack both. I tend to opt for a wool jumper if I want to look a little more stylish. If it’s in your price range, 100% merino wool is a great option for warmth, breathability, and temperature regulation.

Waterproof & Windproof Outerwear

Waterproof jacket – a good quality waterproof jacket is your most important layer for staying warm and dry in rain or snow. Make sure it’s fully waterproof, not just water resistant and includes a hood for wet and windy conditions. 

Snow pants or waterproof/windproof pants – If you don’t want to pack snow pants, at least bring a pair of pants that are waterproof and windproof. These help trap your body heat to keep you warmer and prevent wind chill.

Casual Clothing for Onboard

T-Shirts or light long-sleeve tops – the ship is kept at a lovely warm temperature, which at times was a little too warm for me with all my layers on. I wish I had packed more t-shirts and lightweight long-sleeve shirts.

Comfortable pants or jeans – I usually wore sweatpants around the ship for comfort and layered jeans over my thermal leggings at city stops like Bergen. Once we got further north, I switched to snow pants for exploring ports.

Swimwear – for the hot tub!

Best Winter Shoes for Hurtigruten

You honestly only need to pack two pairs of shoes for this trip, if you pack the right ones!

Waterproof Winter Boots

I’d recommend a pair of comfortable waterproof hiking boots with good grip, this is what I wore every day while I was in Norway. Waterproofing and good grip are essential for walking in the snow and ice, and I’d also recommend wearing snow spikes with them, which I’ve listed below under other essential items. Unfortunately, a pair of sneakers or running shoes aren’t going to cut it in Arctic conditions.

Comfortable Shoes for the Ship

For your time onboard the ship, you’ll want a pair of comfortable shoes that you can easily slip into. I was travelling very light and had also been staying in hostels prior to starting the Coastal Express, so my slip-on shoes were flip flops. I think a light pair of sneakers, slides, or even slippers would be most appropriate.

Winter Accessories You’ll Be Glad You Packed

Winter accessories are essential for keeping you cosy and warm, as well as protecting you from the wind.

Beanie or hat – I packed a few beanies, as they’re a great way to change up your outfit when you’re otherwise wearing the same winter jacket every day. Just make sure your beanie or hat covers your ears and is comfortable to wear.

Gloves – my number one tip for you is to buy a pair of gloves that you can use with your phone. You don’t want to be taking your gloves off to use your phone and take photos. Especially when you’re out on the ship deck late at night photographing the Northern Lights, trust me on this one. 

Insulated gloves, ski gloves or mittens – when it’s especially cold, you’ll want insulated or thermal gloves. In freezing or windy conditions, your phone friendly gloves likely won’t provide enough warmth. I’d recommend finding a pair of insulated gloves that you can wear over the top of your thinner gloves. I’ve been told that mittens are much better at retaining heat, but I prefer having dexterity, so choose what works best for you.

Buff or neck gaiter – a buff is great for wind protection keeping your neck warm. It’s also good to pull up over your face to keep your nose warm. 

Scarf – like beanies, I packed a couple of scarf options, as wearing a scarf is a nice way to mix up your outfit when you’re always wearing the same outerwear. On really cold days, I wore my scarf over the top of my buff.

Sunglasses – yes, the sun can still be shining, even in winter

Socks – pack a few pairs of good quality socks. I’d recommend merino wool or a synthetic thermal blend.

Other Essential Items for a Hurtigruten Winter Cruise

Besides clothing, here’s a list of other essential winter items you’ll be glad you added to your Hurtigruten packing list.

Travel plug converter – you’ll need a plug converter to a european plug, known as type C with the two round pins.

Drink bottle – you can drink water straight from the tap in your cabin onboard Hurtigruten.

Tripod – I highly recommend bringing a lightweight tripod to take photos of the Northern Lights. To capture the best photos, you need to hold your phone or camera completely still during a long exposure. This is really difficult onboard a moving ship and with the strong winds on deck but a tripod definitely helps.

Shoe spikes – you won’t need to use these all the time, but you’ll want to use them when it’s icy to prevent slipping over. When I first arrived in Bergen, I definitely needed them. By the time I returned 12 days later, I didn’t as the ice had melted.

Travel sickness tablets – I wish I had packed more travel sickness tablets. There were very limited options available for purchase in Norway. If you have a specific tablet preference, bring these from home.

Lanyard for passenger card – your passenger card is used to scan in and out of the ship, as the key to your cabin and to charge expenses to your onboard account.

Rechargeable hand warmers – I really liked having hand warmers inside my pockets to warm up my cold hands, especially during long stretches out on deck taking photos of the Northern Lights.

Portable phone charger – phone batteries drain more quickly in the cold weather, it can be helpful to carry a portable charger so you don’t run out of battery.

Thermal mug – I recommend packing a thermal mug with a lid so you can make hot drinks onboard and take them with you while exploring ports. Norway is expensive, and the cost of hot drinks can quickly add up.

Lip balm and hand cream/moisturiser – cold weather can cause dry lips and skin, so make sure you pack a lip balm and moisturiser to protect your skin.

Backpack – having a backpack to take when exploring ports or going on excursion is really helpful for carrying your extra layers, if you’re taking them off or putting them back on. It’s also useful for carrying things like your ice spikes in case you need them.

Where to Buy Things in Bergen

If you’re planning to buy some items when you arrive in Bergen, here are a few stores I’d recommend visiting: 

Fretex – a popular charity shop in Bergen. I always find something to buy whenever I visit. Before joining the Coastal Express, I picked up snow pants, a beanie and a pair of winter boots here.

Stormberg – a Norwegian brand selling winter and hiking clothing. They had a great range of waterproof and windproof jackets and pants, as well as thermals, along with plenty of discounted items.

Spar Kjøp – a variety store selling a wide range of items, including some affordable merino wool thermals and accessories like hats and gloves. I bought a pair of cheap insulated gloves here.

Cubus – another Norwegian brand with a good range of merino wool items. These were at a higher price point but high quality. 

If you’re looking to buy spikes for your shoes, you’ll find them available at a range of stores. Most pharmacies (Apotek) stock them, as well as many tourist souvenir shops. I did see them on sale for a cheap price at Spar Kjøp, although they had a very limited range of sizes available. 

Hurtigruten Winter Packing Checklist (Quick Version)

Download printable version (PDF)

Thermal & Core Layers

⬜ 2 thermal tops
⬜ 2 thermal leggings/bottoms
⬜ 2-3 t-shirts or lightweight long-sleeve top

Insulating Layers

⬜ 1 lightweight packable down jacket
⬜ 1 fleece jumper or jacket
⬜ 1 wool jumper (optional if choosing fleece instead)

Waterproof & Windproof Outerwear

⬜ 1 waterproof jacket with hood
⬜ 1 pair snow pants or waterproof/windproof pants

Casual Onboard Clothing

⬜ 1-2 pairs comfortable pants or sweatpants
⬜ 1 pair jeans
⬜ Swimwear (for the hot hub!)
⬜ Sleepwear

Shoes

⬜ Waterproof winter hiking boots
⬜ Slip-on shoes, sneakers or slippers for the ship

Winter Accessories

⬜ 2 beanies/hats
⬜ 1 buff or neck gaiter
⬜ 1-2 scarves
⬜ 1 pair phone-friendly gloves
⬜ 1 pair insulated gloves or mittens
⬜ 3-4 pairs warm socks (merino wool or thermal blend)
⬜ Sunglasses

Other Items

⬜ Plug converter (European Type C)
⬜ Reusable drink bottle
⬜ Lightweight tripod
⬜ Shoe spikes/ice studs
⬜ Travel sickness tablets
⬜ Lanyard
⬜ Portable phone charger
⬜ Thermal travel mug
⬜ Lip Balm
⬜ Hand cream/moisturiser
⬜ Day backpack