Your first pilgrimage? This is what you need to know.

The simple answer is everyone. However, you should be in decent shape and comfortable with being in the wilderness.

No, the trails are open to everyone and are mostly part of existing paths and roads. However, most pilgrims bring a pilgrim's passport to document their journey by collecting stamps at accommodations and churches along the way. You can purchase the passport at a pilgrim center or pre-order it.

There are nine different pilgrim paths in Norway, and you can choose witch path you want to follow, and how far you want to walk. It is common to walk about 20 kilometers each day.

If you walk the last hundred kilometers to Trondheim and Nidaros Cathedral, you can recieve the Olav Letter. This can be achieved by walking either from Berkåk to Trondheim on Gudbrandsdalsleden, from Stiklestad to Trondheim on St. Olavsleden, or from Tynset to Trondheim on Østerdalsleden.

Gudbrandsdalsleden is the most popular trail, it is 643 kilometers and takes approximately 32 days to complete from start to finish.

The main season for pilgrimage in Norway is in the summer between 1 June and 1 September.

Routes that go over the mountains have an even shorter season due to snow and snowmelt (Dovre mountain on Gudbrandsdalsleden should not be crossed before mid June), and the accommodations may be closed, while some other routes are accessible and have open accommodations also in the spring and autumn.

Check with the regional pilgrim center for the area you plan to walk in, they can tell you what time of year it is recommended to walk, and how the current conditions are. It's also important to check the weather forecast along the way.

It varies. But primarily, you will be walking on trails in nature. The trails can pass through forests and over mountains, but you may also walk on gravel roads and asphalt for parts of the trip. Learn about safety precautions on the Norwegian pilgrim trails here.

If you are traveling with a group, it is always wise to book accommodation in advance. Especially during the peak season in July. It is recommended to plan your trip considering where you will take longer breaks and, most importantly, where you will stay overnight.

If you have made a reservation but change your plans, it is important to cancel so that the host does not think you might have gotten lost.

The pilgrim paths are open to everyone. In the Middle Ages, most pilgrims were religiously motivated. Today, there are many different reasons to walk the pilgrim paths. Some people come for the grand nature, others seek peace and tranquility, and some are primarily interested in the history and the people they meet along the way.

You are welcome to talk, laugh, and sing while walking as a pilgrim! However, please respect that others may be seeking silence and prefer to walk in peace. If you are walking with children, it is considerate to take a brief pause as others pass by.

There are no rules on what to wear on a pilgrimage in Norway, but you should concider both the weather, the season and the kinds of roads you will be walking on when you pack. Here you'll find some good advice about shoes and clothes for your trip.

It is free to walk on the pilgrim paths, but the prices of accommodation and meals along the way will vary. You can choose to sleep and eat at luxurious places, or find cheaper accommodation in hostels or campsites. Several places along the path have discounts for pilgrims.

Yes, you can bring a dog. There is a general leash requirement from April to August in Norway - and be aware that the trails go through pastures with other animals. Cows can easily feel threatened by a dog and may try to chase it.

Ask the accommodation in advance if you wish to have a dog in the room (many have dedicated dog rooms available).

Yes, now and then joint walks are organized as package tours on the various trails. Go to our list of recommended walks and choose Organized trips, or contact one of the regional pilgrim centers to find out more.

Many, but not all. Along the trail there is everything from hotels to hostels and simple cabins with different rooms. You can see the different accommodation options in our map, where they are marked with a bed symbol.

Yes, you may put up a tent almost anywhere in the Norwegian countryside, forests or mountains. Just make sure it's at least 150 metres away from the nearest inhabited house or cabin, and not on cultivated land, fenced areas, or farmland. If you want to camp for more than two nights in the same place, you must ask the landowner's permission, except in the mountains or in very remote areas.

That being said, there are many nice and affordable accommodations along the pilgrim paths in Norway.

The trails are generally well marked with signs. Additionally, we recommend using our digital map. Click on the position marker to see where you are on the route in real time. It also shows hotels and hostels along the way.

There are also physical maps and guidebooks about the Norwegian pilgrim paths. Be aware that information in older guidebooks may be outdated.

You can also go by boat, since one of the nine pilgrimage routes in Norway, Kystpilegrimsleia (the Coastal Pilgrim Route), follows the sea route from the city of Egersund to Trondheim.

On other routes, including St. Olavsleden, it is possible to cycle or ride on some sections of the path.