USEFUL INFORMATION
Before leaving, it is good to know the most important characteristics of the country. In addition to the question of which means of transport to take, one would also like to know some practical information. What currency do you use to pay, what do you have to consider when driving, what are the opening times of the shops?
NORWAY IN BRIEF
We have put together a range of useful information that will be of assistance to you before you leave for Norway, short for NO by abbreviationfinder. Find out more here at a glance. You can also contact us at any time if you have any questions.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION IN BRIEF
Car rental
Anyone wanting to rent a car must have a passport and a valid driver’s license and be over 21 years of age. Renting a car isn’t exactly cheap, but it’s a practical way to get to know Norway. International and local car rental offices can be found in cities and at airports. It is usually worthwhile to reserve the car before departure. Check that the prices include fully comprehensive insurance and local fees. Usually the number of kilometers is unlimited; sometimes an additional fee will be charged if you drop the car off at a location other than the rental location. Read more in our offers for rental cars in Norway.
Public holidays
January 1st New Year
May 1st Labor Day
May 17th National
Holiday May 25th / 26th December Christmas
Moving Holidays: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Ascension Day and Whit Monday.
Airports
Oslo Airport (OSL) is in Gardermoen, 53 km northeast of the city center. The airport buses (Flybussen) run between Oslo Central Station and the airport every 20-30 minutes; the journey takes 45 minutes. The express train (Flytoget) takes 20 minutes for the same distance; it runs every 10 minutes, every 20 minutes on Saturday and Sunday. Bergen Airport, Flesland, is 19 km southwest of the city. The buses leave from Hotel Radisson Blu Bryggen and take around 40 minutes. The terminals in Oslo and Bergen offer banks, duty-free shops, car rental companies, information offices and restaurants. There are also direct flights to various European cities from Stavanger and Kristiansand. Over 50 locations within Norway are connected by an efficient national flight network, including Trondheim, Bodø,
Money
1 Norwegian krone (NOK or NKr) = 100 øre.
Bills are from 50 to 1000 NOK, coins from 50 Øre to 20 NOK. You can change foreign currencies and travelers checks in banks, exchange offices, main post offices and larger hotels. Credit cards are accepted in most shops, hotels and restaurants. There are enough ATMs in cities and holiday regions. When going on excursions, you should have cash ready for tolls, etc. In general, bagel-free payment is on the rise in Norway, so that even small amounts are paid by credit card. So it is in some hotel accommodations and z. B. many taxis are no longer possible to pay with cash. EC cards may also only be accepted to a limited extent, so a credit card is recommended.
Health
Norway’s health care is excellent. EU citizens and Swiss citizens are entitled to emergency care (with low cost sharing). To do this, you need to show your (EU) health insurance card. Check out that you have taken out travel health insurance. Be sure to take sunscreen with you, even when skiing in winter. A high protection factor is recommended, as the decrease in the ozone layer in the atmosphere increases UV radiation. A remedy for mosquitoes is essential in summer and autumn; You can also buy effective products in the country.
Dress
A raincoat, hat and umbrella are essential companions. When traveling north, you will also need a warm, waterproof anorak, sturdy shoes and gloves. Good shoes are also needed for excursions along the coast. In summer you should also be prepared for hot days. Some more elegant city restaurants require the gentlemen to wear ties and jackets – by the way, Norwegians are quite casual. Beach clothing is fashionable and, weather permitting, often minimal. Most of the coastal towns in the south have a nudist beach.
Climate
The Norwegian weather is unpredictable. The average daytime temperature in Oslo in summer is 18 ° C and in Tromsø 12 ° C, but these figures should be treated with caution. It can get very hot, even if rarely, in the Arctic, but also very cold and wet. Summer is short in any case and only lasts from mid-June to mid-August. This means that spring is late and autumn is early. Both seasons are good to visit, and even in winter you can expect a number of clear, sunny days.
Communication
There are still some public phone booths, but as cell phones become more widespread, their number is decreasing. Telephone cards were abolished in 2008 and you can only pay with coins or credit cards. For long-distance calls abroad, dial 00 and the country code, the area code (without 0) and the subscriber’s number. Norway’s international code is 47. Cell phones have become indispensable for Norwegians. As a tourist in Norway, the cheapest way to make calls from your own mobile phone is to use a Norwegian SIM card. Over 95% of Norwegians have internet access. Many restaurants, hotels as well as various tourist information offices, libraries, etc. offer – mostly free – Internet access; The number of Internet cafés is correspondingly low. The postal service is good even if rather slowly in remote regions. Airmail reaches most European destinations in 3-5 days.
Media
The state TV channels are complemented by satellite and cable programs in many hotels, including BBC World, CNN and various European channels. The best known Norwegian daily newspaper is the Aftenposten. Leading German-language newspapers and magazines are usually available in the cities on the evening of the publication day.
VAT refund
A sales tax, called merverdiavgift or moms for short, is levied on most goods and services. All shops with the label “Tax free for tourists” refund this VAT to visitors from non-Scandinavian countries for an amount of NOK 315 or more (NOK 290 for groceries). To do this, you will need to fill out a tax exemption slip and show your passport. When leaving, you can use this form to claim the amount at the special counters in ports, airports and at the national border.
Manners
Norwegians are extremely polite people; especially the older generation is very careful about etiquette. Arrive on time for appointments and dress formally for business meetings. The Scandinavians have a plentiful breakfast, at lunchtime they tend to have a small snack, and the main meal is often not eaten until the afternoon at 4 or 5 p.m. the restaurants are open accordingly.
Language
Norwegian is spoken in two different variants: the formal bokmål (derived from the official language under Danish rule) and the nynorsk (New Norwegian), which is made up of regional dialects. Fortunately, both versions are so similar that users of one can understand the other form of language. The Norwegian special letters æ, ø and å can be found in dictionaries and telephone books in this order at the end of the alphabet after the z. English is understood by broad sections of the population, especially in the holiday regions and among young people, who all learn it at school.
Voltage
The mains voltage is 220V / 50Hz. The sockets are European standardized and for plugs with two round pins. With the exception of the razors, which have a marked socket, all 110V devices require a transformer and an adapter. Toilets There are clean public toilets in train and bus stations, in department stores and mostly near tourist attractions.
Tip
Service is included in hotels and restaurants; with good service you can add 5-10%. Porters are given 5 NOK per suitcase or bag. Taxi costs are rounded up by a small amount.
Time
In Norway, Central European Time (CET) and summer time between March and October apply. Note: according to countryaah, Norway is a country located in Northern Europe.
