Norway Travel Guide


The latest travel Information on Norway, includes ideas on Things to See and Do, Local Events, Consulate & Embassy Contact Addresses and much more, all from a first-time visitors point of view.

Norway Information

Overview

The breathtaking fjords of the southwest are Norway’s most dramatic scenic features, but there are many other reasons to visit this sparsely populated land on the northern fringe of Europe. The North Cape’s midnight sun is rightly famous - here, far above the Arctic Circle, lies the spectacularly situated town of Tromsø, where the sun never rises in winter, nor sets in midsummer.

Each of Norway’s four major cities offers distinct appeal - Oslo is present-day capital and financial centre, Bergen is a picturesque former Hanseatic trading port and ‘gateway’ to Fjordland, Stavanger is focal point of the Norwegian oil industry, and Trondheim is a long-established centre of Christian pilgrimage, and more recently, technical research.

In the sparsely populated wilderness that lies between the main urban centres are such delights as Jostedalsbreen, Europe’s largest glacier. There are opportunities to indulge in outdoor activities including skiing, fishing and rock-climbing. Even the less energetic can simply marvel at the awesome beauty of much of the Norwegian countryside, with its countless steep-sided valleys, high mountain lakes and unbelievable views.

Norway is foremost a land for those who love nature. However, it also offers a rich cultural experience, as would be expected of such varied history, from the Vikings of the eighth and ninth centuries, to later luminaries such as artist Edvard Munch, author Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson and composer Edvard Grieg, whose centenary Norway celebrated during 2007.

The nation, one of the world’s richest on a per capita basis since the discovery of oil in the late 1960s, has been independent since 1905, when it devolved from Swedish rule, and remains outside the European Union. Norway has developed an important role in international politics over recent decades, and is rated as the world’s most peaceful nation by the Global Peace Index.

Author

Stuart Bowden


Top Things To See

When in the capital, don’t miss Oslo ’s excellent collection of museums, including the Thor Heyerdahl Kon-tiki Museum (website: www.kon-tiki.no), the Munch Museum (website: www.munch.museum.no) and the Viking Ship Museum (website: www.khm.uio.no).

 Also in Oslo, go royal-spotting at the Kongelige Slott (Royal Palace) is open to visitors from late June to mid August (website: www.kongehuset.no), or delve into the city’s military past at Åkershus Castle (website: www.mil.no/felles/ak) which stands within walking distance of the city centre.

High above the city, the Holmenkollen ski centre (website: http://holmenkollen.wp.karbon.no) is a major attraction in its own right, all year round, boasting a skiing museum and a simulator offering visitors the chance to find out what it’s like to take off from the ski jump.

Stroll around the picturesque wooden warehouses in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bergen’s historic Bryggen area by the harbourside. Explore the fish market nearby (website: www.visitbergen.com), or take a trip out to Troldhaugen, former home of composer Edvard Grieg (website: www.troldhaugen.com).

Relive Trondheim ’s former glories as capital of Norway at the city’s magnificent Nidarosdomen (Nidaros Cathedral) (website: www.nidarosdomen.no), and visit the city’s Ringve Museum (website: www.ringve.com), home to an extensive collection of historic musical instruments.

Be sure to see one of Norway’s 28 surviving wooden medieval stave churches (website: www.stavechurch.org), dotted around the southern half of the country. The oldest is Urnes Stave Church, by Sognefjord, dating from 1130, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list (website: www.sognefjord.no).

 For those seeking a literary treat, Skien was the birthplace of Ibsen (website: www.ibsen.net) and his childhood home provides many insights into the life of this distinguished Norwegian playwright, including a multimedia exhibition.

 Røros (website: www.verdensarvenroros.no) is a small but picturesque mountain town near the Swedish border; from the 17th century until the 1980s it was a copper mining and smelting settlement. Discover the Old Town, the wooden church and the Mining Museum.

 Observe Saltstraumen , the world’s most powerful maelstrom (website: www.destinasjon-saltstraumen.com). A multimedia visitor centre is dedicated to the phenomenon. Saltstraumen is a strong tidal current located some 30km (19 miles) east of the northern city of Bodø.

Take in the views at Vøringsfossen waterfall, Norway’s best known, situated close to the main road between Oslo and Bergen. Another waterfall, Mardalsfossen, has the longest drop in northern Europe, at almost 300m (984ft) (website: www.fjordnorway.com).

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

Tourist Information


Top Things To Do

Take a ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ tour from Bergen (website: www.norwaynutshell.com). You can choose to spend between one and three days on the trip, which takes in scenic rail and bus journeys as well as cruises along Norway’s best fjords.

Go skiing - Norway has thousands of kilometres of marked trails, plus the 1994 Winter Olympics complex at Lillehammer (website: www.lillehammerturist.no) is just a couple of hours north of Oslo by road.

Experience the midnight sun at the North Cape in the far Arctic - and enjoy the coastline from the comfort of the Coastal Express cruise liner (website: www.hurtigruten.com), which calls at a number of ports on the voyage north.

Take a cablecar or funicular railway ride to the summit of one of the seven mountains surrounding the former Hanseatic port of Bergen (website: www.visitbergen.com), with its UNESCO World Heritage Site-designated historic wooden wharfside buildings.

Pay a visit to the world’s most northerly brewery, university and cathedral, and revel in the scenic surroundings of Tromsø, Norway’s most northerly city (website: www.destinasjontromso.no), only a two-hour flight from Oslo.

Take a hike on Jostedalsbreen, mainland Europe ’s largest glacier, and centrepiece of a large national park (website: www.jostedal.com), offering other activities such as mountain kayaking and the Glacier Bus.

Experience traditional Norwegian folk culture, music, dance and food at regular summer events in the Norske Folkemuseum (website: www.norskfolke.museum.no), an open-air collection of historic buildings on Bygdøy Island outside Oslo.

Enjoy the annual festival celebrating Christianity’s arrival in Norway in 1030 at Stiklestad, a little over two hours’ drive northwest from Trondheim. Centrepiece of the July event is the St Olav Drama, an open-air recreation of events (website: www.stiklestad.no).

Get away from it all and spend a few days in a lakeside mountain hytte, or cabin, enjoying fishing and nature walks. But beware of elk and other large wildlife (website: www.novasol.com).

Learn about the culture of the semi-nomadic Sami people of Norway’s northern Lapland at the new Varjjat Sámi Musea (website: www.varjjat.org) at Varangerbotn in eastern Finnmark. Or stay in a Sami tepee on an organised tour of Lapland (website: www.sami-siida.no).

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.


Going Out

Food and Drink

Norway has a long history of fishing, although much of the high quality shellfish and other species caught off the coast are exported. However, fish remains a staple, along with meat, potatoes and other root vegetables, although tastes have altered in recent years to encompass a wider international choice, including pizzas and burgers. The favourite traditional hot snack is the pølse, a form of sausage, sold at numerous outlets.

The roadside kro (traveller’s restaurant) is a good choice if one wants to sample traditional Norwegian fare.

Breakfasts are often enormous with a variety of fish, meat, cheese, sweet whey cheese and bread served from a cold buffet with coffee and boiled or fried eggs. Open sandwiches are topped with meat, fish, cheese and salads. Popular dinner dishes include meatballs (kjøttboller or karbonader) with boiled potatoes, boiled fish and bacalao, a spiced dried cod stew. Alcohol tends to be limited in availability and expensive, although beer and wine are generally available in restaurants. Licensing laws are strict and alcohol above 4.7% ABV for home consumption is sold only by the state through special monopoly stores. Beer and cider is sold in general stores. Illegal moonshine spirit is widely consumed.

National specialities:
• Brunost (a sweet brown cheese made with whey).
• Roast wild elk, or reindeer.
• Lutefisk (baked preserved cod).
• Grøt (a form of porridge).
• Multer (cloudberries - a summer delicacy).

National drinks:
• Aquavit (schnapps).
• Pils (light lager).
• Lagerøl (lager with less than 2.5% volume)

Legal drinking age: 18 (beer, wine and other drinks up to 22% ABV), 20 (drinks over 22% ABV).

Tipping: Waiters expect a tip of no more than 5% of the bill.

Nightlife

Traditionally, due to the scattered nature of the population, entertainment in rural areas is largely home-based, but this has been changing in recent years. Most villages of any size have at least one cafe/restaurant where it is possible to eat and drink out.

In the bigger towns and cities, the story is quite different, with a thriving arts scene including theatre, music and cinema. Restaurants and nightclubs tend to be concentrated in city centres, while in recent years the pub culture has been gradually arriving in Norway, often pioneered by the international ‘Irish’ pub phenomenon. Cities like Bergen, Oslo, Stavanger and Trondheim are nowadays well supplied with a wide choice of watering holes, many of which offer food that is competitively priced compared to the restaurants.

Oslo’s nightlife centres on the Aker Brygge waterside area, the city centre, and the Majorstua district.

Most Norwegians tend to go ‘out on the town’ only on Fridays and Saturdays, the rest of the week being fairly quiet. This is in no small part due to the high prices of food and drink, and the fact that the working day starts early. And at weekends, it is normal for the Norwegians to enjoy a forspiel (drinks at home), before venturing out as late as 2300.

Shopping

Most towns and resorts have a shop where typical Norwegian handicrafts are on sale. Silversmiths and potteries are numerous and worth visiting. Traditional items include printed textiles, woven articles, knitwear, woodcarving, silver, enamel, pewter, glass and porcelain. VAT, known as MOMS, is levied at 25% on most goods. Tax-free cheques can be obtained from any of the 3,000 shops carrying the sticker ‘Tax free for tourists’. These shops save visitors 11 to 18% of the price paid by residents. VAT refunds are paid in cash at airports, ferries, cruise ships and border crossings.

Shopping hours: Mon-Wed and Fri 0900-1700/1800, Thurs 0900-2000 and Sat 0900-1300/1500. Supermarkets are normally open 0900-2000 on weekdays, and 1000-1800 Saturdays. Kiosken (small shops offering limited essentials) and petrol station shops are open late in the evenings and on Sundays.


Climate

Coastal areas have a moderate climate owing to the Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift. Inland temperatures are more extreme with warm summers and often very cold winters (November to March). In general, the lowlands of the south and the inland mountains experience colder winters than the coastal areas. Rain is distributed throughout the year with frequent inland snowfalls during the winter. The northern part of the country inside the Arctic Circle has continuous daylight in midsummer, and twilight all day during winter.

Required Clothing

European according to the season. Light- to medium-weights are worn in summer. Warmer clothing, gloves and hats are necessary during the winter. Waterproofing is advisable throughout the year.


Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day. 
20 Mar Holy Thursday. 
21 Mar Good Friday.
24 Mar Easter Monday.
1 May May Day. 
1 May Ascension.
17 May Constitution Day. 
12 May Whit Monday. 
25-26 Dec Christmas.

2009
1 Jan New Year’s Day. 
9 Apr Holy Thursday. 
10 Apr Good Friday.
13 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May May Day.
17 May Constitution Day.
21 May Ascension. 
1 Jun Whit Monday. 
25-26 Dec Christmas.


Health

Diphtheria

Special Precaution: No

Hepatitis A

Special Precaution: No

Malaria

Special Precaution: No

Rabies

Special Precaution: No

Tetanus

Special Precaution: Yes

Typhoid

Special Precaution: No

Yellow Fever

Special Precaution: No

Health Care

Standards of health care are high, but there are charges for visits to both doctors and dentists. Chemist shops are called Apotek. In an emergency, you can get treatment from the nearest public hospital. Hospital in-patient treatment, including necessary medication, is free of charge, but insurance is recommended.

Further Health Information

We advise you to check health requirements for the country you are traveling to with your GP, practice nurse or travel health clinic as health requirements and vaccinations can change at short notice.

Money

Currency

Norwegian Krone (NOK; symbol Kr) = 100 øre. Notes are in denominations of Kr1,000, 500, 200, 100 and 50. Coins are in denominations of Kr20, 10, 5 and 1, and 50 øre.

Currency Exchange

Available at banks and bureaux de change.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

All major credit and debit cards are widely accepted. ATMs are widely available.

Traveller's Cheques

Accepted in banks, hotels, some shops and by airlines.

Banking Hours

Mon-Thurs 0900-1600, Fri 0900-1700 and Sat 0900-1200.


Passport/Visa

British

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

Australian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

Canadian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

USA

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

Other EU

Passport Required: 1
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

Passport Note

On 25 March 2001 Norway became a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement.

Passports

Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except:
1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.

Visas

Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days.

Visa Note

Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).


Contact Addresses

Royal Norwegian Embassy in the UK

25 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8QD, UK
Tel: (020) 7591 5500 or  09065 540 725 (24-hour visa appointments service).
Website: www.norway.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1600 (general enquiries); 0900-1000 and 1400-1500 (answers phonecalls); 1000-1200 (consular section).

Innovation Norway in the UK

5th floor, Charles House, 5 Lower Regent Street, London SW1 4LR, UK
Tel: (020) 7839 6255.
Website: www.visitnorway.com

Royal Norwegian Embassy in the USA

2720 34th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 333 6000.
Website: www.norway.org

Innovation Norway in the USA

655 Third Avenue, Suite 1810, New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: (202) 885 9700.
Website: www.visitnorway.com


Travel Advice

Warning

Most visits to Norway are trouble-free but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate international terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

Travellers should not become involved with drugs of any kind. Possession of even small quantities can lead to heavy fines and/or imprisonment.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organisations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel




Disclaimer
We've tried to make the information on this page as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information with the relevant authorities before you travel.