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People tend to relocate for a variety of reasons. Some are seeking to increase their income, while others may just be hoping to find a steady job. People living in urban areas, especially in other regions of the world, often choose Norway because of its long standing number 1 position on the United Nation’s list of the world’s safest country’s to live in. Finally, there are those nature lovers to consider people seeking to find respite from urbanization, by relocating to an area that is known for its gorgeous scenery and natural environment. When approaching this article then, all of these viewpoints were considered. The resulting list provides a little something for everyone, regardless of the reason for relocation.

1. Top Place to Find Employment

Looking to find work in Norway? Tromsø tops the list of best places to find employment in the country. With the lowest unemployment rate in Norway, this large island metropolis offers a variety of opportunities for work. You are likely to find job openings in any number of areas, including health, engineering, hospitality, education, business, communications and technology. Add to that the fact that, while this urban area is commonly referred to as the “Capital of the Arctic”, local temperatures are commonly higher than those recorded in surrounding areas. Offering diverse cultural activities, historically rich architecture, and ample opportunity for outdoor recreation and nature exploration, Tromsø certainly deserves a place on our list, as one of the top five places to live in Norway.

2. Safety 

Norway, considered by the UN to be the safest country in the world, has a lower rate of violent crime than any other country, European or otherwise. For those looking to escape city life and the hazards that often come along with it, Longyearbyen, in Svalbard, may be just the destination you have been searching for. While this location is by no means a booming metropolis, it does have a population of more than 2,000, and yet the crime rate is virtually non-existent. You may be surprised to discover that this small, northern Norwegian town boasts a University Campus, offering courses which focus primarily on Arctic studies, and a range of businesses and services, from churches to night clubs. You’ll find a variety of shops, a cinema, sports complex and much more, all without the risks associated with living in a large city.

3. Highest Income

With the highest income per capita in the country, the municipality of Bærum was also voted as “Norway’s Best Town” in 2011. According to an article which appeared in “Dagbladet”, a popular Norwegian tabloid newspaper, the municipality provides the highest level of satisfaction to citizens, in areas that include public services and effective governance. The area has a population of approximately 106,000 people, with an average yearly income of $343,795. With a thriving business and service sector, coupled with a range of scenic environments, including  fjords, beaches, forests and hills, all at the borders of the nation’s capital city,  it’s clear why this area ranks in the top five.

4. Most Scenic

While it is difficult to say definitively that any one location is more beautiful than another, especially when comparing areas of a country like Norway, which consists of an almost unlimited variety of scenic locations, there is one small village which has retained the title of “Norway’s most Beautiful Village” for over forty years. The small village of Reine, located in Moskenes municipality, had a population of only 342 people in the year 2005. Located above the Arctic Circle, surrounded by miles of beautiful coastline and offering spectacular mountain views, this remote location might the perfect place to relocate, if you are really looking to “get away from it all.”

5. Best Cultural Offerings

From the Royal Residence to the Museum of Pop and Rock, Trondheim boasts an amazingly diverse assortment of museums and cultural activities and events. The Archbishop’s Palace Museum is strikingly beautiful and provides an interesting array of artifacts and original artworks, from the Nidarosdomen Cathedral. The Science Center, on the other hand, offers a variety of hands on activities, promising “revelations for kids of all ages”. Possibly because of its position as a University town, the area has a multitude of fine dining establishments,

Thank you to a guest blogger for submitting this wonderful information about the top 5 places to live in Norway!

offering a diverse range of cuisine from pizza to tapas and more. A cinema complex, symphony orchestra, concert hall and more, all provide outstanding opportunities for cultural experience, in this final destination on our list of the five best places to live in Norway.

What is your opinion? Where do you think is the best place to live in Norway, and why? Tell us about it in a comment below!

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“It’s our dream to inspire and uplift you. It is our wish for you that everyday living in Norway begins to look more like that dream you first had when you moved here.”

Oslo, Norway, February 17, 2012 - Aimed at helping expats adapt to their new lives in the Kingdom of the North, the premier issue of Our Amazing Norway is now available for free to anyone living in the country. Published in both English and Lithuanian, the annual expat magazine is also available to people living anywhere in the world for a shipping and handling fee. Featuring a variety of insightful and informative articles, as well as a view of the stunning Norwegian terrain, Our Amazing Norway gives expats and foreigners an inside look at The Land of the Midnight Sun and helps them feel at home in Norway.

According to Statistics Norway, it is estimated immigrants and those born in Norway to immigrant parents account for 12.2 percent of the 5 million residents in Norway.

Our Amazing Norway provides expats with everything they need to know about living in Norway and making it a true home, including extensive information about the country’s most interesting cities, Norwegian news, local cuisine, health and happiness, socializing and making Norwegian friends, a beautiful photographic tour, adjusting to a new way of life, a cultural overview, and a multitude of local business, restaurant and service listings.

The inaugural issue also focuses on helping expats find their dream job and work in Norway. This special “Work Issue” provides readers with information such as popular job site listings, how to write a cover letter, important Norwegian job terms to know, holiday time and pay, and even a list of job opportunities.

According to one of the magazine’s Editors, Kristie Dugan, the goal of Our Amazing Norway is to make foreigners feel more like locals and less like outsiders.

“We know all the struggles that come from being a foreigner living in Norway. We know the disillusionment that happens when all the magical fairy dust fades away and reality strikes. So we wanted to offer you our experience, our knowledge and what we have learned the hard way and hope it makes your life in Norway easier,” said Dugan. “Whether you just moved to Norway or you have been here for 20 years, there is something in this magazine for everyone. It’s our dream to inspire and uplift you. It is our wish for you that everyday living in Norway begins to look more like that dream you first had when you moved here.”

People who are new in Norway, are looking to immigrate to Norway, and especially those who already live in Norway can request a free copy of the premier issue of Our Amazing Norway by visiting OurAmazingNorway.com. IOS apps for the iPad and iPhone will also be available very soon.

To offset some of the costs of this remarkably free publication, people can donate as much or as little as they wish on the site in support of the magazine’s mission to unite expats from all walks of life. For more information or to request a free copy, visit http://www.OurAmazingNorway.com

About Our Amazing Norway:

Recently launched, Our Amazing Norway is a free, bilingual magazine aimed at helping expats adapt to their new lives in Norway, the Kingdom of the North. Published in both English and Lithuanian, the annual magazine features a variety of insightful and informative articles, as well as a view of the stunning Norwegian terrain giving expats and foreigners living in Norway an inside look at how to make The Land of the Midnight Sun their home.

http://www.ouramazingnorway.com/