Norway: Tips and tricks for planning your trip
A notoriously expensive but famously beautiful country, Norway is paradise for those who are seeking wilderness, inspiration and adventure.
Whether conquering Norway’s rugged mountain peaks, exploring the famous architecture of Oslo or Bergen, or road tripping through majestic fjords, there are a few things you’ll need to consider before you set out.
Everybody in Norway speaks English, and
most are completely fluent. That being
said, it doesn’t hurt to know a little bit of Norwegian. I found that shopkeepers and locals will
automatically strike up a conversation in their native tongue, so 'jeg snakker ikke Norsk' is one phrase worth having up your belt, if only to show you’re
engaged with their culture.
Pronunciation is a little trickier with
Norwegian words, and there were many instances where Norwegians had no idea
what I was trying to say. When it comes to their extra vowels, here’s a (very catchy) crash course.
Bryggen, Bergen
Currency
Norway hasn’t adopted the Euro, instead
using their local Kroner. $1USD is equal
to about 5NOK. There are ATMs
everywhere and there was a surprising concentration of EFTPOS machines, so
using money was never an issue.
History
and religion
You’ll quickly notice an abundance of
churches and cathedrals throughout Norway, so it shouldn’t surprise you that
it’s a widely Christian country. The Vikings
brought Christianity to Norway from Ireland and Scotland and it was taken up
quite quickly. Stave churches are
magnificent structures that will awaken any dormant childhood beliefs in fairy
stories, so ensure to add those to your list of things to see in Norway.
Speaking of, Norway is a perfect place to
get a handle on Viking culture. Consider
visiting the Vikingship Museum on Bygdøy, the museum island, if you’re visiting
Oslo. This beautiful building houses
three of the most significant burial ships found in Norway, while giving you a
thorough overview of their culture.
A Stave Church near Holmenkollen
Mythology
Elements of Norse Mythology are still
prevalent in many aspects of Norwegian culture, with occasional references to
the old gods. Thor and Odin feature most
prominently. Keep a keen eye out...
Stories of sea monsters litter the pages
Norway’s of Norway’s history books. A
country with an extensive coastline and dramatic fjords that slash the
mainland, the ocean is central to Norwegian culture. While the monster stories aren’t capitalized
on like the trolls are, if you keep your eyes peeled, they’ll pop up!
Spend one day exploring the Norwegian
forests or mountains and you’ll be tempted to believe in trolls. These woodland giants, called Jötunn, will
turn to stone in sunlight (explaining the strange and eerie rock formations
you’ll find on your travels) and hide in the mountains. You’ll find references to trolls in any
tourist shop, whether it be the fat and friendly Moomin or ferocious and
hideous mountain trolls.
For a pretty comprehensive overview of
troll mythology, give Trollhunter a watch.
This B-grade, Blair Witch-style indie film follows a group of uni students on
their adventures with Norway’s best troll hunter.
The eerie and aptly-named Trollfjord
If you’re heading to Norway to hike, you’ve
got a very small window and you will be contending with other tourists. Don’t try to avoid the crowds by visiting in
the ‘off season’, because you’ll find a country too covered in snow to do
anything but ski. Even at the start of
June, we were being referred to ski lodges when we enquired about outdoor
activities! Late June – August will be
your best bet.
If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of the
Northern Lights, however, you’ll need to book your trip for December or
January. The Hurtigruten, a fleet of Norwegian cruise boats, offer cruises to see the lights (sometimes with a money-back
guarantee you’ll spot them). Otherwise,
head to the Capital of the North, Tromsø for long hours of darkness and low
light pollution.
Getting around
Car hire was pretty expensive in Norway, but in some instances it was completely invaluable (like our stint on the Lofoten Islands). For the most part, you can easily rely on boats and ferries. I used three different companies on my travels, and would recommend all three, depending on your needs.
Norled offer limited express ferries around Bergen
Hurtigruten service the entire coastline in luxury
Fjord1 head to some beautiful in-fjord locations, scattered about the country
Norway's trains were lovely, and relatively cheap. If you book in advance, you qualify for the 'minipris' which can get as low as 99NOK. Book as early as you can, for the best prices.
Accommodation
If hiking is on your mind, be sure to investigate the DNT huts available for use. On any multiday hiking route, you'll find a hut within a days walk. They vary from self-services huts to staffed hotel-like chalets, but are all equipped with running water and some food supplies. Most major towns have a DNT store where you can chat to more knowledgeable folk and book your stay.
I know I preach AirBnB ad infinitum, but Norway really provided the goods here. Lots of cheap, excellent, friendly accommodation. Hotels and hostels looked pricey in and out of the cities, but we were never far from an excellent AirBnB, where hosts were keen to cook for us and give us tips. Feel free to use my code and we both save $$$.
If you're after completely free accommodation, Norway have (probably) the best wild camping laws in the entire world. The rules? Don't camp next to animals or in anybody's backyard (unless they say it's ok). If 'free' doesn't excite you a little bit, here are some more reasons to try sleeping outdoors.
You might be interested in:
10 Things You Need to do in Norway
Oslo on a budget - Can it be done?
Are the Lofotens the most beautiful part of Norway?
Getting around
Car hire was pretty expensive in Norway, but in some instances it was completely invaluable (like our stint on the Lofoten Islands). For the most part, you can easily rely on boats and ferries. I used three different companies on my travels, and would recommend all three, depending on your needs.
Norled offer limited express ferries around Bergen
Hurtigruten service the entire coastline in luxury
Fjord1 head to some beautiful in-fjord locations, scattered about the country
Norway's trains were lovely, and relatively cheap. If you book in advance, you qualify for the 'minipris' which can get as low as 99NOK. Book as early as you can, for the best prices.
Cruising on the Hurtigruten
Accommodation
If hiking is on your mind, be sure to investigate the DNT huts available for use. On any multiday hiking route, you'll find a hut within a days walk. They vary from self-services huts to staffed hotel-like chalets, but are all equipped with running water and some food supplies. Most major towns have a DNT store where you can chat to more knowledgeable folk and book your stay.
I know I preach AirBnB ad infinitum, but Norway really provided the goods here. Lots of cheap, excellent, friendly accommodation. Hotels and hostels looked pricey in and out of the cities, but we were never far from an excellent AirBnB, where hosts were keen to cook for us and give us tips. Feel free to use my code and we both save $$$.
If you're after completely free accommodation, Norway have (probably) the best wild camping laws in the entire world. The rules? Don't camp next to animals or in anybody's backyard (unless they say it's ok). If 'free' doesn't excite you a little bit, here are some more reasons to try sleeping outdoors.
Camping near Bergen
You might be interested in:
10 Things You Need to do in Norway
Oslo on a budget - Can it be done?
Are the Lofotens the most beautiful part of Norway?
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