🌍 Tourism and hospitality: the season from the fjords to the north

If you enjoy working with people and dream of spending a season by the fjords or under the northern lights, this guide is for you. We'll break down when the peak hiring season is and where there are more vacancies, what is expected of front office/F&B/housekeeping/camping staff, how shifts are organised, and where to look for accommodation during the peak season. At the end, you'll find a quick itinerary and FAQs with specific details.

📅 Seasonality and locations — summer/fjords and winter/north (Geiranger, Lofoten, Tromsø)

The summer peak on the ‘west coast’ lasts from May to September: cruises/ferries to Geiranger run on schedule from April to October, with the main flow from mid-May to mid-September (see the official PDF timetables for the Geiranger–Hellesylt ferry and the cruise from Alesund).

Lofoten lives for the ‘polar summer’: there are extra ferries on the Bodo–Moskenes route during the summer period from 30 May to 31 August; you can also get there by express routes, with a summary timetable published by Visit Lofoten.

The winter peak is the ‘Arctic capital’: in Tromsø, the hunt for the Northern Lights lasts from late August to early April, which is also the window for mass recruitment of guides and service personnel by local operators.

👩‍💼 Roles and requirements — front office, F&B, housekeeping, campsites; Language and schedules

Where to look: FINN Jobb (filter ‘reise/turisme’), Arbeidsplassen/NAV (you can select ‘Engelsk’ as the working language), EURES for cross-border job fairs/seasonal vacancies. Large chains recruit on their websites (Strawberry, Thon Hotels).

Typical roles: reception/night auditor, waiter/bar, housekeeping, general camping assistant (check-in/cleaning/breakfast). For reception, experience with PMS is useful (OPERA/VisBook are common in the north).

Language: in tourist areas, English is often sufficient in summer (especially Lofoten/Geiranger), while in Tromsø in winter, many guide roles explicitly require English; the ‘Engelsk’ mark is also visible in the NAV filters for reception.

Shifts: hotels operate in shifts; the legal framework stipulates breaks of > 5.5 hours between shifts and a minimum of 30 minutes for shifts of ≥ 8 hours (Arbeidstilsynet/Norwegian labour law).

🚍 Logistics and accommodation — how to live during peak season and how to get there

Geiranger. You can get there by bus + ferry: the regional FRAM publishes current routes, Visit Norway and Visit Geiranger have summary timetables (including the Hellesylt–Geiranger ferry). Many local hotels advertise staff housing in their listings.

Lofoten. In summer, take the Bodo–Moskene ferry (Torghatten Nord) with a special summer schedule; some lodges/campsites offer accommodation.

Tromsø. From the airport to the city centre: red Airport Express (Best Arctic) and city buses 40/42; fares/timetables are updated for the season (check dates).

✅ Mini checklist (quick route)

• Set up alerts: FINN and NAV (+ filter Engelsk) for ‘reise/turisme/overnatting’.
• Make a ‘package’ in EN: CV, contacts, availability dates, brief section about PMS/cash register.
• Choose a location and time frame: May–September (fjords/Lofoten) or late August–early April (Tromsø).
• Plan your logistics: Geiranger — ferry/bus (FRAM/timetables at Visit Geiranger/Visit Norway); Tromsø — Airport Express or buses 40/42.
• Plan your accommodation in advance: ask about staff housing in your response (Geiranger/Lofoten often offer this).

Tourism in the ‘land of fjords’ is highly seasonal and the entry roles are clear. If you have basic English, are willing to be flexible and are accurate in your PMS, your chances are high. Decide on the season and location, check schedules and accommodation, put together a ‘package’ — and start looking for vacancies this autumn/spring.