How to enjoy cabin life in Norway (and where to start for newcomers)
If you live in Norway, you’ll start hearing this a lot once spring rolls around: “vi skal på hytta".
Cabin trips (or hytteturer) are deeply rooted in Norwegian culture. Whether it’s Easter in the mountains, a spontaneous weekend in the woods, or a snowy retreat in winter, Norwegians cherish the opportunity to escape into nature!
Cabin culture in Norway is more than just a weekend tradition; it’s a reflection of the country’s deep-rooted love for nature. Whether you're new to the country or have lived here for years, learning how to take a proper hyttetur (cabin trip) is a rite of passage for anyone curious about Norwegian lifestyle and values. From forest cabins near Oslo to mountain lodges in Jotunheimen, there are countless ways to explore Norway’s landscapes—without needing your own cabin key.
The good news? You don’t need to own a cabin (or even know someone who does) to experience Norwegian cabin life! There are a growing number of ways to rent cabins across the country.
How to take a cabin trip in Norway
There are many ways to rent a cabin in Norway: private rentals, boutique Airbnbs, off-grid huts... But a great place to start is DNT (Den Norske Turistforening). DNT is a nonprofit that operates over 500 cabins and maintains a vast network of marked hiking trails across Norway, primarily run by volunteers around the country who service the cabins and keep the trails clearly marked. Thank you, DNT volunteers!
These cabins are well-maintained, often in stunning locations, and connected by well-maintained trails. Depending on your ideal cabin trip, you can find a remote location that requires a long hike (or ski), or something that’s accessible by car or public transportation.
DNT’s network of cabins is one of the most accessible and affordable options, especially for newcomers moving to Norway and looking to for a typical Norwegian cabin experience.
If you live in Norway, becoming a member of DNT is a great idea: membership gives you discounted access to this network, along with the DNT key that unlocks most self-service and no-service cabins. As a member of DNT, you can request a universal key which is used to unlock cabins around the country.
Many DNT cabins are reachable by public transport—an important detail if you don’t have a car. The DNT Oslo region, in particular, has several forest cabins within hiking distance of train or bus stops. DNT Oslo’s page on cabins accessible by public transport is a great place to start planning your first trip. There are also filter options on UT.no, DNT’s official trip planner, to help narrow things down by location, access, and facilities.
While some cabins can be booked in advance, others operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Always check the listing on UT.no or the DNT website to confirm the rules for your chosen destination. In general, DNT uses an honor system for payments: if you're staying at a self-service or no-service cabin, you'll record your stay in the guestbook and pay via Vipps or bank transfer afterward. It's a trust-based model that reflects the Norwegian belief in personal responsibility—even in the middle of the forest. :-)
What’s it like inside a DNT cabin?
Since moving to Norway, I’ve used DNT cabins a few times in the Oslo region, and was always pleasantly surprised by how clean, well-maintained, stocked, and cozy they are!
DNT cabins vary widely in size, location, and level of comfort, but they all share one thing in common: they make it easier to enjoy the outdoors, no matter your experience level.
You’ll find everything from staffed mountain lodges with meals and hot showers, to no-service cabins tucked deep in the forest, without electricity, where you carry in everything yourself. Some require long hikes to reach, while others are just a short walk from public transport.
You can filter on the DNT website by what’s important for you when searching for cabins to book.
Bear in mind that if you book, for example, 5 spots in a 10-person cabin with DNT, there’s a chance that someone will book the other 5 spots. Don’t be surprised if you see some people hiking up the trail to your front door! Instead, make the most of it and enjoy the experience.
One thing to know about staying in a DNT cabin (or any shared cabin in Norway) is that there’s a strong culture of consideration and self-reliance. You clean up after yourself, leave firewood ready for the next person, and try to keep shared spaces tidy and peaceful. Most cabins have a logbook where you can record your stay, share a message, or leave tips for future visitors. You also need to clean up after yourself and take your trash with you.
Many DNT cabins come with bedding
Depending on what kind of cabin you book with DNT, you may need to bring a sleeping bag, or sheets for bedding. When I’ve stayed at cabins before, the provided duvet and pillow were super cozy and I was warm through the night!
What to pack for a cabin trip in Norway?
The cabins that I’ve been to have come with everything from firewood, bedding, and cookware, to candles, matches, board games, and one even had a guitar! We brought our own food in backpacks (so keep that in mind when planning how long you’ll hike for), but everything we needed to cook and eat with was already there. The bed had pillows and super comfy, warm duvets, so we just brought our own sheets, duvet covers, and pillowcases.
The DNT website will tell you which amenities are included in each cabin before you book, but I’ve experienced some positive surprises along the way. One cabin said there wouldn’t be electricity, but there was!
There is usually no running water in the DNT cabins I stayed in—just a tap connected to a well outside—and yes, the toilet was an outhouse! But it wasn’t bad at all. Bring a headlamp for the night, and you’ll be fine.
It’s a good idea to pack extra toilet paper and warm layers as well, because it can get cold in the forest at night.
If it’s your first trip, I’d recommend bringing:
Sheets or a sleeping bag liner (some cabins provide pillows and duvets)
Your own food and snacks (and remember you’ll have to carry your trash back the way you came!)
Warm layers, especially if you're going outside of summer
A headlamp, just in case you need to find the outhouse at night :-)
Extra toilet paper and hand sanitizer
You don’t need hiking boots for all cabins—but sturdy shoes are a good idea, especially in wet or muddy conditions. If you’re going further out, you might also want to pack a basic first aid kit and some emergency snacks.
How to enjoy a Norwegian hyttekos
Because cabin culture is so important in Norway, one word that you might hear is hyttekos, or ‘cabin coziness’. Cabin trips in Norway are all about unwinding and disconnecting, enjoying quality time with friends and family, spending time in nature, and enjoying the simple pleasures of life.
On a typical cabin trip in Norway, people spend their time reading, playing board games, knitting, hiking, fishing, skiing, swimming in a lake, and other activities depending on the season.
As long as you are enjoying yourself and doing something that gives you pleasure, you’re doing hyttekos correctly!
And before you leave, don’t forget to sign the guest book—another time-honored tradition (as well as a safety precaution).
Some cabins even allow you to bring your four-legged friends!
Check out DNT Oslo’s list of 12 dog-friendly cabins in Oslomarka.
How to learn more about friluftsliv in Norway
Friluftsliv, literally translating to ‘open-air living’, is a very important concept in Norway, and embodies the Norwegian love for all things outdoors.
If you’re new to hiking or camping in Norway, DNT also offers beginner-friendly courses throughout the year. I recently took part in a ferskingkurs on overnighting in the forest, where I got to sleep in a hammock for the first time!
We started with an evening session at the DNT Oslo office to learn the basics—how to use a map and compass, what gear to bring, and what to expect. A few days later, we met up in Marka (the forested area outside of the city) and hiked to a forest campsite, practicing navigation along the way, then learned fire-building and outdoor cooking skills, and shared our meals around the fire!
I actually slept well in a hammock (my first time trying it all night!), despite the chilly air and a few unsettling dreams about spiders, hehe. Waking up in the middle of the forest to quiet and fresh air was worth it.
The course also gave me a better understanding of allemannsretten, or the ‘right to roam’. This law gives everyone the right to access uncultivated land in Norway—including forests, mountains, and beaches—for hiking, camping, and exploration. There are a few common-sense rules (like staying 150 meters from houses and cleaning up after yourself), but overall it makes the outdoors more accessible and welcoming for everyone.
The course helped me feel far more confident about spending nights outside, understanding local rules and safety, and knowing where to go next.
Beyond my experience of cabins in Oslomarka, some popular areas for cabin trips in Norway include Rondane, Femundsmarka, Hardangervidda, and Jotunheimen. These areas often connect multiple cabins along marked routes, making it easy to plan multi-day hikes or ski trips in winter.
Whether you're living in Norway for a year or a lifetime, cabin life is one of the best ways to connect with the landscape (and with the people who live here). So gather some friends, pack your bag, and try it for yourself!
If you’re looking for more local insights into life in Norway, you’re in the right place! Unlock Norway is a platform and community that brings internationals and locals alike together. We focus on providing internationals in Norway with the resources they need to deepen their understanding of and connection to the country and their neighbors.
