Poles Have Fallen in Love with Norway. Huge Surge in Bookings
Norway has entered the TOP 10 summer destinations chosen by Poles. The number of bookings increased by 66.6% year-on-year, with interest peaking during the Football World Cup. Both the largest cities and Erling Haaland’s hometown of Bryne have gained popularity.
Bergen has seen a bigger rise in popularity than Oslo.
Fot. Adobe Stock, licencja standardowa
For the first time in history, Norway advanced to the quarterfinals of the Football World Cup. The national team’s performance, Erling Haaland’s fame, and the interest of fans during the tournament have made Norway appear more often in holiday plans. This shift is evident in booking data. Katarzyna Hauton from the online travel agency eSky.pl points out that global sports and pop culture events can quickly influence travelers’ choices.
Bookings Are Growing Fast. The World Cup Boosted Searches
According to Kiwi.com data, the number of travel bookings to Norway increased by 66.6% year-on-year. The number of passengers also rose by 65.3% in the same period, allowing Norway to enter the TOP 10 most popular summer destinations among Poles. The greatest interest was recorded during the World Cup, with a particularly sharp increase after the Norway vs. England match.
A week after this match, the number of flight searches from Poland to Norway was 34% higher than the previous week. The growth did not stop with the tournament, as the average daily number of searches in July was 32.8% higher than in June. The change is also visible year-on-year: between July 1 and 20, searches for connections to Norway increased by 32.3% compared to the same period last year.
A week after this match, the number of flight searches from Poland to Norway was 34% higher than the previous week. The growth did not stop with the tournament, as the average daily number of searches in July was 32.8% higher than in June. The change is also visible year-on-year: between July 1 and 20, searches for connections to Norway increased by 32.3% compared to the same period last year.
Bergen turned out to be the growth leader.Photo: Fotolia
Bergen Leads the Growth. Tourists Follow in Haaland’s Footsteps
Bergen recorded the highest increase in passenger numbers, up 261.1% year-on-year, compared to 94.6% for Oslo, 93.9% for Narvik, 73.2% for Alesund, and 69.4% for Tromso. eSky.pl is also seeing more bookings, with the number of Flight+Hotel packages in Norway rising by nearly 90% compared to 2025.
Interest has also reached Bryne, Erling Haaland’s hometown with a population of 12,000. For cruise passengers arriving in Stavanger during the summer, tours of sites connected to the footballer have been organized, including the Bryne FK stadium and venues featured in his social media posts. The route also includes souvenir shops, Arne Johannesen’s bakery, and the Wen Hua House restaurant. The restaurant displays a signed Manchester City shirt, and red shirts with the inscription “Braut Haaland” start at around $20.
Interest has also reached Bryne, Erling Haaland’s hometown with a population of 12,000. For cruise passengers arriving in Stavanger during the summer, tours of sites connected to the footballer have been organized, including the Bryne FK stadium and venues featured in his social media posts. The route also includes souvenir shops, Arne Johannesen’s bakery, and the Wen Hua House restaurant. The restaurant displays a signed Manchester City shirt, and red shirts with the inscription “Braut Haaland” start at around $20.
The increased interest in Norway is also linked to the coolcation trend—trips to destinations with cooler climates. In 2026, Norway, Finland, Lithuania, and Estonia already account for 13% of flight bookings on eSky.pl. Direct connections from many Polish cities and tickets sometimes available for less than 100 PLN round-trip make travel easier.
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