Mountains. Glaciers. Coastal Fjords. Dense green forests. The Northern Lights. A shimmering cosmopolitan capital. Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Scandinavian country filled with surprising and beautiful natural delights. Norwegians are friendly, full of life, and willing to show visitors a good time. After a visit to Norway, you’ll understand why it’s considered one of the world’s happiest and most prosperous countries. While it definitely isn’t the most budget friendly nation to visit, I recommend not overlooking this country because of sticker shock.
Getting There And Around
Oslo is the major entry point into Norway from abroad, unless you are arriving to Norway from a neighboring Schengen country. Planes, trains, and boats arrive and depart from Oslo, giving travelers numerous options to choose from. Flights to Norway can be incredibly affordable on the country’s budget carrier, Norwegian. I’ve flown with them many times and absolutely love their services!
Getting around Norway is easy with its abundance of public transportation and inter-city flights. If you’re limited on time, it’s affordable and quick to fly from city to city on Norwegian or SAS. If you have a bit of time to explore, I highly recommend taking one of Norway’s beautiful train rides (on a luxurious and comfortable train). One of the most scenic routes in Norway is the train ride from Oslo to Bergen. The train passes by white-tipped mountains, fjords, and rushing rivers.
Money
The Norwegian krone (NOK) is the official currency used in Norway. There are four coins currently in circulation (1,5,10,20), and the banknotes range from 50-1000. Each banknote varies by color and size, with the smallest bill being the 50 kroner.
Food
Norwegian cuisine is heavily influenced by the country’s landscapes, climate, and strong relationship with the sea. Many traditional dishes are a result of long winters, and focus on game and seafood. Some dishes to try while visiting Norway are: kjøttkaker (meatcakes), kjøttboller (meatballs similar to the Swedish style, served with mashed potatoes and cream saucs), svinekoteletter (pork chops), svinestek (roast pork served with pickled cabbage), fårikål (the national dish of Norway is a mutton stew), rakfisk (fermented trout), torsk (poached cod with melted butter), and a wide variety of open-face sandwiches. Make sure to ask if the meal is prepared warm, as it is very common for Norwegians to eat cold meals!
Housing
Accommodations in Norway are readily available and come in a great variety. You can rent a luxurious cabin in the wilderness on Airbnb (link) or grab a room in Oslo’s city center. The options are endless. You can even spend the night in a hotel made entirely of ice (LINK). Accommodations can be quite pricey in Norway (it’s definitely not the most affordable place to travel), but if you book in advance and watch out for deals on sites like Booking.com (LINK), Norway can be much easier on the wallet.
Save Cash
Norway isn’t the cheapest country to travel to, but there are still ways to save bit of cash during your visit. Always book accommodations with breakfast included. You’ll be able to fuel up early and start your day off right without spending any additional cash. Booking accommodations in advance will also save you money. Many hotels and Airbnb rentals raise prices based on availability. While traveling during the off-season (winter months) offers reduced prices, it also means much colder weather.
Stay Fit
Believe it or not, Norway is one of my favorite places in the world for outdoor adventure. Pulpit rock is one of Norway’s most famous hikes, taking you through the Lysefjord. The reward at the end of the hike is the ability to stand on a rock that is stuck between two rock formations. But there is more adventure in Norway than this well-known rock – climbing glaciers, white water rafting, fishing, skiing, and much, much more. You name it, Norway has it for you.
Stay Connected
Staying connected in Norway’s main destinations is effortless. Nearly all accommodations, restaurants, and bars offer Wi-Fi free of charge for customers. Prepaid SIM cards are available at local mobile stores and at places in the airport, but keep in mind that an unlocked phone is required for foreign SIM cards to work properly.
Standard European type-C/F 220V, two prong electrical outlets are used in Norway.
