What to buy in Norway: souvenirs, knitwear, brown cheese and where to shop

Updated 27.09.2026. Facts checked against Visit Norway, Store norske leksikon and Sámi Trademarks.

Short answer: Typical souvenirs from Norway are knitwear, trolls, glass and jewellery by local designers, sheep and reindeer skins, and food such as brown cheese (brunost), fenalår and local cheeses and beers. Norwegian inventions like the cheese slicer also make popular gifts. For genuine Sámi handicraft, look for the Sámi Duodji label. Most shops are open Monday–Saturday 10–17 and closed on Sundays. More than 4,000 shops offer a VAT refund (tax free).

Key facts

What applies to you?

• You want a typical Norwegian gift: see what to buy.
• You want to take food home: see brown cheese and aquavit.
• You want Sámi handicraft: see Sámi Duodji.
• You want to know where to shop: see Oslo, Bergen, Tromsø and Lofoten and our directory.

What to buy in Norway

• Traditional souvenirs: trolls, glass design, local jewellery and sheep and reindeer skins, available at most tourist destinations (Visit Norway).
• Knitwear: Visit Norway calls Norwegian knitwear some of the world’s finest. Norwegian fashion design is known for functionality, minimalism and bright colours.
• Food: sausages, fenalår (dried and salted leg of lamb), award-winning cheeses and local brews travel well (Visit Norway).
• Design: items by local designers in wood, leather and wool.
• Norwegian inventions: the cheese slicer – see below.

Source: Visit Norway, shopping in Norway (checked 27.09.2026).

Brown cheese (brunost): what is it, and which types are there?

Brunost is a caramelised concentrate of whey, with milk and cream added (Store norske leksikon). The main types:

• Geitost – goat whey with goat milk and cream;
• Fløtemysost – cow whey with cow milk and cream;
• Gudbrandsdalsost – cow whey with milk, cream and some goat milk;
• Prim – a spreadable version with more than 30 % water.

The modern brown cheese was developed by dairymaid Anne Hov in Gudbrandsdalen in the 1860s, and Tretten dairy started production in 1908 (Store norske leksikon, updated 03.10.2025). You will find brunost and other cheeses in grocery stores.

The cheese slicer: a Norwegian invention

The cheese slicer was invented by Thor Bjørklund, who patented it in 1925 and founded the company Thor Bjørklund & Sønner in 1927 (Store norske leksikon, design historian Mats Linder, updated 13.06.2025). A cheese slicer and a block of brunost make a simple, typically Norwegian gift.

Sámi handicraft: how to recognise the real thing

The Sámi Duodji label shows that a product is made by a Sámi craftsperson following traditional materials, form, techniques and use. Machines may be used as tools, but factory-made goods cannot carry the label. The Saami Council owns the label on behalf of the Sámi people, and in Norway Duodjeinstituhtta is the licensing office (Sámi Trademarks, checked 27.09.2026).

Look for the label on the product. Sámi and local souvenirs from the north: souvenirs from Lofoten.

Aquavit and alcohol as a souvenir

Aquavit, wine and spirits over 4.7 % are sold only at Vinmonopolet – rules and opening hours are in our guide to alcohol in Norway. How much you can bring into and out of Norway is in our guide to tax free and duty-free allowances.

Where to buy souvenirs in Oslo, Bergen, Tromsø and Lofoten

• Oslo: Visit Norway mentions Norwegian design shops such as Norway Designs and Pur Norsk, the area around Egertorget and Akersgata, and Holzweiler.
• Bergen: independent local fashion shops, including Norwegian Rain’s flagship store (Visit Norway). More: gifts and aquavit in Bergen and Oslo.
• Tromsø and Lofoten: local markets and crafts – see markets in Tromsø and Lofoten.
• Stavanger and Trondheim also have local brands (Visit Norway).

Source: Visit Norway, shopping in Norway (checked 27.09.2026).

When are shops open?

Most shops are open Monday–Saturday 10–17, and most are closed on Sundays (Visit Norway, checked 27.09.2026). Shopping centres and grocery stores often stay open longer. Which shops may open on Sundays and public holidays is explained in our guide to Sundays and holidays. See also: late-night shopping.

Tax free: getting your VAT back

More than 4,000 shops in Norway offer a VAT refund for tourists (Visit Norway). Minimum amounts, forms and where to get your money back are in our tax-free guide.

Souvenir shops, markets and shopping centres in your city

Photos: souvenirs, markets and shopping streets

People also ask

• What to buy in Norway?
• What are typical Norwegian souvenirs?
• What to buy in Bergen?
• Where to buy souvenirs in Bergen?
• What to buy in Oslo?
• Where to buy souvenirs in Tromsø?
• What to buy in Lofoten?
• What is Norwegian brown cheese made of?
• Who invented the cheese slicer?
• How do I know Sámi handicraft is genuine?
• Where can I buy aquavit in Norway?
• What are shop opening hours in Norway?
• Are shops open on Sundays in Norway?
• How do I get tax free in Norway?

Sources

All links checked 27.09.2026.

• Visit Norway: shopping in Norway
• Store norske leksikon: brunost (updated 03.10.2025, in Norwegian)
• Store norske leksikon: ostehøvel (Mats Linder, updated 13.06.2025, in Norwegian)
• Sámi Trademarks: about Sámi Duodji

Readers’ experiences

What did you bring home from Norway, and where did you find the best souvenirs? Tell us in the comments at the bottom of the page. We use your experiences when we update this guide.