When one imagines Norway, one imagines fjords, yet some of the most stunning scenery in the country is inland, reflected in still lakes fed by glaciers. These are expansive, dramatic landscapes with mountains, forests, and open skies. Norway has an unexpected range of lake experiences, whether it is lakes in Norway that are more than 100 kilometers long, or isolated wilderness basins that have never been visited by a tourist.
This guide is devoted to the most important, picturesque, and beautiful lakes characterized by size, clearness, and the beauty of nature. And this is where you will find that quiet, postcard-perfect Norway.
Section 1: The most iconic and largest lakes in Norway
1. Mjosa -The largest Lake in Norway
Mjosa is not only the largest lake in Norway, but it is also a hub of life in the interior of Norway. It is more than 100 kilometers long and links towns like Hamar, Gjovik, and Lillehammer to form a unique combination of nature and culture. The size of the lake is such that it seems almost like an inland sea, and the shoreline is long enough to be explored by bicycle, kayak, and leisurely. It is a peaceful, contemplative beauty, despite its size, particularly in early mornings when the water reflects the landscape around it. Mjosa is not about dramatic cliffs, but about space, openness, and the silent rhythm of Norwegian life.
Stay at Scandic Hamar for a comfortable lakeside base with easy access to the water and town life.
2. Rossvatnet – Great Wilderness in the North
It is in Rossvatnet that Norway starts to become really distant. Being the second-largest lake in the country, it is located in a rugged terrain in Nordland, which is not a common tourist destination. The landscape here is primitive and wild, with vast horizons, sparse woods, and a feeling of space. It is not a location of dramatic perspectives, but a location of immersion, in which the size of the surroundings gradually unfolds.
The primary attractions are fishing, hiking, sailing, and just being in nature. Rossvatnet is a place that attracts people who want to be quiet and in the wilderness, where the experience is characterized by space with only a handful of people around.
Choose Fjellfolkets Hus (Hattfjelldal) for a simple, local stay close to the wilderness.
3. Femund- Lake Pristine National Park
Located on the Swedish border, Lake Femund is a place that seems to be a portal to one of the remaining wilderness regions in Norway. Being the third-largest lake in the country, it is the center of Femundsmarka National Park, an area of untouched forests and endless waterways. The lake is also a good place to canoe, fish, and have a multi-day outdoor adventure due to the clear waters and natural environment.
Femund is not as easily accessible as other destinations, which is precisely what makes it so special. It is a destination where nature takes over, and the experience is more of exploration than tourism.
Stay at Femund Fjellstue for an authentic, nature-focused experience right by the lake.
4. Randsfjorden – Long and Scenic Oslo area
Randsfjorden is a great compromise between nature and accessibility. It is the fourth-largest lake in Norway, and a favorite getaway destination when people want to leave the city behind and enjoy the open water and the serene environment. The lake is long and narrow and has a diverse landscape, which includes wetlands, forests, and small communities.
Birdwatching is especially fruitful here, in the sheltered delta regions. Although it is close to the capital, Randsfjorden is hardly ever overcrowded, so it is a perfect place to spend a relaxing and scenic time without going too far.
Book the Thorbjørnrud Hotel for a scenic lakeside stay with a strong local food experience.
5. Tyrifjorden – Forest-Framed Beauty
Tyrifjorden is unique in its form and serene environment. Diverging in several directions, it forms a topography of lee shore, wooded shores, and little, sandy beaches. It is not very far away in Oslo, and it provides easy access to nature without losing the sense of escape.
The forests around it make the landscape even more attractive, and hiking and silent exploration are particularly attractive. The beauty of Tyrifjorden is not as dramatic as the beauty of more dramatic alpine lakes in Norway. It is the sort of place to take your time, trace the coastline, and enjoy the more subdued and subtle scenery of Norway.
Stay at Sundvolden Hotel for a historic base surrounded by forest and lake views.
Section 2: Glacier Lakes and Unreal Colors
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6. Lovatnet – Turquoise Masterpiece
Lovatnet is nearly unreal, its bright turquoise hue formed by fine glacial sediment suspended in the water. The lake is fed by the meltwater of the glaciers that surround it, and is located in a narrow valley between steep mountains and thick forests, making it a dramatic and secluded landscape. During summer, the colors are even more vivid when the glaciers melt.
Although Lovatnet is beautiful, it has a strong history, and the past rockslides caused tsunamis that transformed the region. It is now a serene place where one can kayak, cruise, or just enjoy the contrasting beauty of the bright water and dark mountain walls.
Choose Hotel Alexandra in Loen for stunning views and easy access to lake activities.
7. Oldevatnet – Reflector of the Mountains
Oldevatnet is a lake that seems to be made to be reflected in. Its smooth surface is frequently almost perfectly reflected in the steep, green mountains and the cascading waterfalls that surround it. The lake is situated close to the renowned Briksdal Glacier, which adds accessibility to a feeling of remote solitude.
You can feel like you are in the scenery, not looking at it, whether you are rowing over the water or standing on the shore. Oldevatnet does not depend on dramatic scale; it is the harmony of water, mountains, and light that makes it so memorable.
Stay at Olden Fjordhotel for a peaceful base close to the lake and surrounding glaciers.
8. Oppstrynsvatnet – Deep Fjord-Like Lake
Oppstrynsvatnet is a long, narrow fjord, whose waters are fed by glaciers and which cuts through a valley between towering peaks. The lake is said to be deep and clear, and icy rivers and glaciers flow into it on all sides. This forms an ever-changing palette of greens and blues based on the light and season.
The nearby environment provides a combination of hiking, kayaking, and silent exploration, which is not always crowded with people, as in the nearby fjord destinations. It is a location where the size of the landscape is dramatic and accessible simultaneously.
Book Hjelle Hotel for a charming historic stay right on the water’s edge.
9. Blåisvatnet – Electric Blue Lake
Blåisvatnet is a lake that is even more colorful than the other lakes in Norway. It has a surreal look, almost electric blue in color, due to the glacial runoff, which makes it look more like something tropical than Arctic. Accessible via a fairly simple hike, it has grown in popularity, yet it still feels like a discovery compared to more well-known destinations.
The lake is located under the Lenangsbreen glacier, which contributes to the already impressive water with a strong visual effect. On a sunny day, the mixture of steep mountains, snow fields, and bright colors makes one of the most photogenic scenes in Norway.
Stay at Fox Cabin for a remote, scenic lodge experience near the trail.
10. Bondhusvatnet – Glacier Reflection Lake
Bondhusvatnet is a combination of accessibility and some of the most iconic glacier scenery in Norway. The lake is accessible by a short stroll along an ancient gravel road and is located at the foot of the Bondhusbreen glacier, which is a section of the Folgefonna ice cap.
Its transparent water mirrors the cliffs and ice around it with amazing accuracy, and it is a popular subject among photographers. Although it is popular, the experience is calm, particularly when you go past the main viewing points. The simplicity of the landscape, water, rock, and ice makes the setting look powerful and perfectly balanced.
Choose Hardanger Hotel in Odda for convenient access to the hike and the surrounding fjords.
Section 3: Alpine and High Mountain Lakes
11. Gjende – Emerald Lake of Jotunheimen
Gjende passes through the center of Jotunheimen National Park like a ribbon of rich emerald green, the color of which is formed due to the presence of glacial minerals in the water. It is enclosed by mountains that are more than 2,000 meters high, and it is one of the most recognizable alpine sceneries in Norway. The lake is most famously the beginning of the Besseggen Ridge hike, where the green water of Gjende and the deep blue of the surrounding lakes make one of the most iconic scenes in the country. Gjende is still huge and wild, even though it is popular, particularly when viewed through the water or at dawn.
Stay at Gjendesheim Turisthytte for direct access to hikes and the Besseggen Ridge.
12. Bessvatnet- Blue Contrast Lake
Bessvatnet, a lake just above Gjende, is the antithesis of the lake. Gjende is green, and Bessvatnet is deep blue, which makes a very impressive visual contrast and has become one of the most photographed natural phenomena in Norway. The color contrast is due to glacial runoff in Gjende, whereas Bessvatnet is clearer and deeper.
The lakes are observed as a dramatic natural composition when viewed collectively through the narrow ridge of Besseggen, which emphasizes the variety of the alpine environments in Norway. Bessvatnet is smaller and less frequented, and a more peaceful high-mountain experience.
Base yourself at Memurubu Mountain Lodge for a unique stay deep in Jotunheimen.
13. Djupvatnet High Altitude Glacier Lake
Djupvatnet is in the mountains above Geiranger, where the air is thinner, and the landscape seems more naked. The lake is frequently covered with snow, even in early summer, and it looks almost Arctic in its appearance. The blue water is very deep and contrasts with the white snowfields and dark rock to produce a remote and dramatic scenery.
It is easily reachable by road, and one of the few high-altitude lakes in Norway where you can enjoy this sort of environment without a lengthy hike. Djupvatnet is not so much about action as it is about the air, cold, raw, and striking to the eye.
Stay at Hotel Union Geiranger for comfort paired with easy access to the high mountain route.
14. Ringedalsvatnet – Dramatic Cliffside Lake
Ringedalsvatnet is most famously referred to as the lake below Trolltunga, but it is worth mentioning on its own. Located in the Hardanger highlands, it is enclosed by cliffs and rugged terrain that make it look powerful and even intimidating. The dark and still waters of the lake mirror the harshness of the landscape instead of softening it.
The hike to the best viewpoints is strenuous, and this, of course, restricts the number of visitors. This attempt makes it a more dramatic experience, with the size and solitude of the setting being as memorable as the well-known rock formations overhead.
Choose Trolltunga Hotel in Odda as a practical base for exploring the area.
15. Hornindalsvatnet – the Deepest Lake in Europe
Hornindalsvatnet is characterized by extremes. It is the deepest lake in Europe, more than 500 meters deep, but the water is as clear as you will find in Norway. The lake is close to Nordfjord and is encircled by steep mountains that protrude sharply at its edges, adding to the effect of depth and scale. During clear days, the surface is nearly perfectly reflective and forms a mirror effect, which contributes to its visual attractiveness. Hornindalsvatnet is a unique blend of clarity, depth, and silent intensity, whether seen above or felt in the water.
Stay at First Hotel Raftevold for a lakeside setting with beautiful mountain views.
16. Snåsavatnet Wide Scenic Landscapes
Snåsavatnet presents another type of beauty, which is characterized by openness and not dramatic elevation. Being one of the largest lakes in Norway, it covers a wide area of low hills, forests, and sandy beaches. The mood here is relaxed and spacious, and is best suited to those who like space rather than intensity.
The lake is popular with boating, fishing, and casual outdoor activities, and is less alpine than the rest of the country. Snåsavatnet is not so much about spectacle as it is about atmosphere, in which the simplicity of the surroundings is the primary attraction.
Book Grana Bryggeri Hotel for a cozy stay near the lake and the surrounding nature.
17. Tunnsjoen – Remote and serene giant
Tunnsjoen is a small Norwegian village in Trondelag, well out of the way of the main traffic, and it is a place that gives you a feeling of stillness, which is becoming more and more of a rarity. The lake is expansive and close simultaneously with its transparent waters and wooded environment. It is especially popular with the angler, who has healthy stocks of trout and pike, but otherwise it is little known.
The terrain around is conducive to leisurely exploration, either by foot or boat. Tunnsjoen does not attempt to impress, but merely exists, serene and undisturbed, as a reward to those who find the quieter side of Norway.
Stay at Tunnsjø Gård for a quiet, rustic experience close to the water.
18. Limingen – Large Northern Lake System
Limingen is not a lake, but a great system of interlaced waters, extending over a rough topography in the north. Its size and complexity make it seem almost infinite in size, with curving coastline and changing vistas at every turn. It is famous for good fishing and boating conditions, and it is a place where people can immerse themselves in nature.
The wilderness surrounding it contributes to the experience, and there are few indications of development and long stretches of undisturbed land. Limingen embodies the spirit of the Norwegian lakes in the north, wild, vast, and silent in strength.
Choose Limingen Gjestegård for a simple, authentic stay in a remote, romantic setting.
Final Thoughts
The lakes of Norway do not rival the fjords, but are their complements. The fjords attract the masses, but the lakes have something to offer in their turn: space, calmness, and a closer relationship with the landscape.
Out of the great inland waters and glacier-filled pools that gleam in blue and green, every lake has a different tale of the geography and character of Norway. Look deeper, and you will discover that some of the most memorable scenes in the country are not made by the sea, but kept in secret in the country.
How did you like this guide to the most beautiful lakes in Norway? Did you ever visit any of them? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
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