Norway Travel Guide

Browse the Norway Photo Gallery

Shopping

Most towns have shops selling Norwegian handicrafts. 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. You can obtain tax-free checks 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 Mon-Fri 0900-2000 and Sat 1000-1800. Shops are closed on Sunday. Kiosken (small shops offering limited essentials) and petrol station shops are open late in the evenings and on Sundays.

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 bureau de change.

Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and ATMs

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

Travelers Checks

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

Currency Restrictions

The import and export of local and foreign currency is restricted to Kr25,000. Amounts above this sum must be declared.

Banking Hours

Mon-Fri 0900-1530 (1500 in summer), Thurs 0900-1700.

Exchange Rate