Social ConventionsNormal courtesies should be observed. It is customary for the guest to refrain from drinking until the host toasts their health. Casual dress is normal. Lunch generally takes place between 1200 and 1300 and dinner usually takes place at 1700. It is customary for an invited guest to offer gifts to the host/hostess of a meal. Punctuality is expected if invited out for dinner. Smoking is prohibited in all public places.
International Travel:Getting There by AirNorwegian air travel is served by
Braathens SAFE (BU) (website:
www.braathens.no) and
SAS Scandinavian
Airlines (SK) (website:
www.sas.se).
Departure TaxNone.
Main AirportsOslo International Airport (OSL) (Gardermoen) (website:
www.osl.no) is 47km (30 miles) north of Oslo.
To/from the airport: The high-speed airport express trains
Flytoget leave to/from Oslo’s central station (journey time – 20 minutes). Buses serving the airport include the
SL buses and
Bussekspress which stop in front of the terminal building and take approximately 45 minutes to Oslo. There is a new bus station for regional services located within walking distance of the terminal. There is a taxi rank at the terminal building. Travelers are advised to order a taxi from the airport reception and ask for a fixed price. Otherwise, prices will vary. In addition to regular taxis, there are ‘airport taxis’, cheaper taxis which must be ordered in advance by groups of up to three people, and wheelchair taxis.
Facilities: Duty-free shopping, banks/bureaux de change, restaurants and cafes, car hire, lost luggage, information kiosks as well as laundry/dry cleaning, shoe repair and key-cutting services.
Stavanger (SVG) (Sola) is 14.5km (9 miles) southwest of the city.
To/from the airport: Buses go to the city (journey time - 20-30 minutes). Taxi services are available to the city with a surcharge after 2200 (journey time – 15 minutes).
Facilities: Duty-free shops, bar, restaurant, snack bar, many shops, tourist information, post office, banks/bureaux de change, left luggage, lockers and car hire.
Bergen (BGO) (Flesland) is 19km (12 miles) south of the city (journey time – 25 minutes).
To/from the airport: Bus services (
Flybussen) leave for the city regularly. Return is from various points in the city center. Taxi services are available to the city, with a surcharge after 2200 (journey time – 25 minutes).
Facilities: Left luggage, lockers, banks, bureaux de change, post office, duty-free shops, bar, cafes, shops, tourist information, nursery and car hire.
Getting There by WaterMain ports: Bergen, Kristiansand, Larvik, Oslo and
Stavanger.
The main
sea routes from the UK, operated by
Fjord Line and
DFDS Seaways respectively, are from Newcastle to Bergen (journey time – 25 hours 30 minutes) and to Kristiansand (journey time – 19 hours). Services from Newcastle to Bergen via Stavanger are also operated by
Fjord Line, a Norwegian line operating a number of
fjord cruises within Norway (tel: 0191 296 1313, in UK; website:
www.fjordline.co.uk).
Fjord Line also operates services from Bergen to Hanstholm (Denmark).
Smyril Line operates services from Bergen to Iceland via the Shetland Islands and the Faroe Islands in the summer (tel: (298) 345 900; website:
www.smyril-line.no).
Getting There by RailConnections from the UK are from London via Dover/Ostend (via Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands and Sweden) or Harwich/Hook of Holland, or from Newcastle to Bergen via Stavanger. There are two principal routes to Sweden, with daytime and overnight trains from Copenhagen, Malmö and Stockholm.
Rail PassesInterRail: offers unlimited first- or second-class travel in up to 30 European countries for European residents of over six months with two pass options. The
Global Pass allows travel for 22 days, 1 month, 5 days in 10 days or 10 days in 22 days across all countries. The
One-Country Pass offers travel for 3, 4, 6 or 8 days in 1 month in any of the countries except Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro. Travel is not allowed in the passenger’s country of residence. Travelers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children’s tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on
Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from
Rail Europe (website:
www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).
Eurailpass: offers unlimited first-class train travel in 17 European countries. Tickets are valid for 15 days, 21 days, 1 month, 2 months or 3 months. The
Eurailpass Saver ticket offers discounts for two or more people traveling together. The
Eurailpass Youth ticket is available to those aged under 26 and offers unlimited second-class train travel. The
Eurailpass Flexi allows either 10 or 15 travel days within a two month period. The
Eurail Selectpass is valid in three, four or five bordering countries and allows 5, 6, 8 or 10 travel days (or 15 for five countries) in a 2-month period. The
Eurail Regional Pass allows 4 to 10 travel days in a 2-month period in one of nine regions (usually two or more countries). Children receive a 50% reduction. The passes cannot be sold to residents of Europe, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, or the Russian Federation. Available from
The Eurail Group (website:
www.eurail.com).
ScanRail: pass can be used for extensive travel for five or 10 days in 2 months or 21 consecutive days across Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Payment of a supplement is required on some trains. Seat reservations, couchettes, sleeper or cabin charges are not included in the cost of the pass and are payable at the normal rate. The
ScanRail pass also entitles holders to free travel on some ferry and bus routes as well as up to 50% discount on ferries, buses and private railways throughout Scandinavia, free or discounted admission (up to 50% off) to railway museums in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden and reduced room rates at 160 hotels throughout Scandinavia. Available from
Rail Europe (website:
www.raileurope.co.uk/railpasses/scanrail.htm).
Getting There by RoadThe only international routes are from Sweden or Finland in the far north. Camping trailers up to 2.3m (7.5ft) wide, with number plates, are permitted on holiday visits.
Eurolines (tel: 0870 514 3219, in the UK; website:
www.eurolines.com) and
National Express (tel: 0870 580 8080, in the UK; website:
www.nationalexpress.com) run regular coach services from the UK to Norway and other European cities.
Passes: Travelers can either choose Mini-Pass breaks or book a 15-, 30- or 60-day pass. The six Mini-Passes give travelers the freedom to visit three cities, with prices starting from £55. Travelers can stay as long as they like in each city.
OverviewThe following items can be imported into Norway without incurring customs duty by:
(a) Residents of European countries:
200 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco products and 200 leaves of cigarette paper (travelers over 18 years of age); 1l of spirits and 1l of wine or
2l of wine and 2l of beer (travelers over 20 years of age); other goods to the value of NOK3000-6000; a small amount of perfume and eau de cologne.(b) Residents of non-European countries:
400 cigarettes or 500g of tobacco products and 200 leaves of cigarette paper (travelers over 18 years of age); 1l of spirits and 1l of wine or
2l of wine and 2l of beer (travelers over 20 years of age); 50g of perfume and 50cl of eau de cologne; other goods (not to be resold) to the value of NOK3000-6000.Spirits over 60 per cent volume (120 per cent proof), certain foodstuffs (including eggs, potatoes, meat, meat products, dairy products and poultry), narcotics, firearms and explosives.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirDomestic flights are run by
Braathens ASA (BU),
Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY),
SAS Scandinavian Airlines (SK) and
Widerøe’s Flyveselskap (WF). A total of 50 airports with scheduled services exist in the fjord country of western Norway and along the remaining coast. Charter sea or land planes are available at most destinations. Reduced airfare tickets are available for families, children under 12 years of age (who pay half price), groups and pensioners. For further information, contact
Widerøe Flyveselskap A/S (tel: 8100 1200; website:
www.wideroe.no).
Getting Around by WaterAll coastal towns are served by ferries, catamarans and hydrofoils. The Hurtigruten (express) from Bergen to Kirkenes (near the Russian border) takes 12 days round trip, leaving daily and stopping at 34 ports on the west coast. Various ferry trips are available (half price in spring and autumn). There are also numerous companies operating cruises on Norway’s spectacular fjords, one of which is
Norway Fjord Cruise AS, Sagnefjordvegen 40, N-6863, Leikanger, Norway (tel: 5765 6999; website:
www.fjordcruise.com).
Getting Around by RailAll services are run by
NSB (
Norwegian State Railways) (tel: 8150 0888 (dial ’4’ for an English-speaking operator); website:
www.nsb.no). The main internal rail routes are: Oslo–Trondheim (
Dovre Line); Trondheim–Bodø (
Nordland Railway); Oslo–Bergen (
Bergen Railway); and Oslo–Stavanger (
Sorland Railway). There are also services to Charlottenburg (Stockholm) and Halden (Malmö) on routes to Sweden. Seats on express trains must be reserved. There are buffet/restaurant cars on some trains, and sleepers on long-distance overnight services. Heavy luggage may be sent in advance. Children under four years of age travel free; children four to 14 years of age pay half fare. For further information, contact
NSB (
Norwegian State Railways) (telephone number above) or Innovation Norway (see
Top Things To Do).
Rail PassesInterRail’s
One-Country Pass offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within Norway. Travel is not allowed in the passenger’s country of residence. Travelers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children’s tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on
Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from
Rail Europe (website:
www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).
Getting Around by RoadTraffic drives on the right. The road system is of variable quality (especially under freezing winter conditions in the north), but supplemented by numerous car ferries across the fjords.
Bus: Principal long-distance internal bus routes are from Bø (in Telemark) to Haugesund (travel time – eight hours); and from Ålesund–Molde–Trondheim (travel time – eight hours) with links to the Bø line in the north.
Inter-Nordic runs from Trondheim to Stockholm. There are also extensive regional local bus services, some of which are operated by companies with interests in the ferries. Visitors can contract
NOR-WAY Bussekspress AS for seat reservations and route information (tel: 8154 4444; website:
www.nor-way.no). The official
Rutehefte is a must for anyone using public transport, and gives extensive timetable information and maps of all bus, train, ferry and air routes.
Taxi: In most cases, fares are metered. Taxis can be found at ranks or booked by telephone. It is not customary to tip taxi drivers.
Car hire: Available in airports and most towns, but costly; in general, problems of cost and parking make public transport more practical and convenient. It is also possible to hire bicycles.
Regulations: The minimum age for driving is 18. Tolls, ranging from NOK5-50, are charged on certain cross-country roads, underwater tunnels and in certain cities such as Bergen, Oslo and Trondheim. There are severe penalties for drink-driving and illegal parking. Seat belts are compulsory. Children under 12 years of age must travel in the back of the car. It is obligatory for all vehicles to drive with dipped headlights at all times, even on the brightest summer day. This includes motorcycles and mopeds. Carrying spare headlight bulbs is recommended. Speed limits are 80 to 90kph (49 to 56mph) outside built-up areas and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas. Snow chains or studded winter tires are advised during the winter. Petrol stations are numerous, although tourists are only able to use credit cards in some of them. The contact for AIT (Alliance Internationale de Tourisme) is the Norwegian Automobile Association (NAF), PO Box 6682 Etterstad, 0609, Norway (tel: 2234 1400; website:
www.naf.no).
Documentation: International Driving Permit or national driving license and log book are required. A Green Card is strongly recommended (for those with more than Third Party cover on their domestic policy). Without it, visitors with motor insurance in their own countries are allowed the minimum legal cover in Norway; the Green Card tops this up to the level of cover provided by the visitor’s own policy. The maximum legal blood to alcohol ratio is 0.5 per cent.
Getting Around Towns and CitiesGood public transport systems operate in the main towns. Oslo has bus, rail, metro and tramway services. Tickets are pre-purchased and self-cancelled, and there is one hour’s free transfer between any of the modes. Meters on taxis are obligatory.
Journey TimesThe following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from
Oslo to other major cities/towns in Norway.
| | Air | Road | Rail |
| Bergen | 0.35 | 9.00 | 8.00 |
| Stavanger | 0.35 | 7.00 | 8.00 |
| Tromsø | 1.40 | 20.00 | - |
| Trondheim | 0.40 | 10.00 | 8.00 |
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