Boost your stay by being well prepared, and don’t be shy to ask local tourist offices for their updated tips and advice. Here is your quick guide to useful information.
Alcohol
To buy wine or beer in Norway, the minimum age is 18 years. For spirits, it is 20 years.
Beer can be found in most shops, but is only sold before 8 pm on weekdays or 6 pm on Saturdays. For wine, spirits or strong beer, you must visit one of the Vinmonopolet outlets, found in most large cities and towns.
Visit Norway has replaced printed travel information by this comprehensive website. Here, you will find numerous travel tips, information about destinations, maps and a route planner, directions on how to get around, as well as useful facts for a soft landing in the land of the fjords and the midnight sun.
The official travel app for Norway gives you information about travel businesses nearby when you are in Norway. You can also use it as a planning tool before you travel to Norway.
Dial "00" followed by your two or three digit country code, the area code and phone number.
On most mobile phones, using "+" instead of "00" will also work.
If you are calling home on a mobile phone, buying a local pre-paid SIM-card (called "kontantkort") may be the cheapest option.
Customs and regulations
Dynamic Variation:
Daylight Saving Time
Also known as summer time, DST always starts on the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Sunday in October.
Time is adjusted one hour forward in the summer, to move an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening.
Disabled?
In general, airlines, trains, buses, ferries and shops in Norway are accessible for everyone. But some advance planning will still make it easier for you to get around. Read more about travelling in Norway with disabilities.
Drinking water
Tap water is universally drinkable in Norway, and tastes great. So no need to buy bottled water.
Most running water in the mountains and forests of Norway is clean enough to drink, but avoid water running through pastures or runoff from glaciers, as this may contain harmful microorganisms.
Driving
Norway is the longest country in Europe, and it takes about 30 hours to drive from Kristiansand in the south to Hammerfest in the north. The E-roads are the main roads and connect cities and regions. Read more about driving in Norway.
Along 18 selected roads called the Norwegian Scenic Routes, natural wonders are amplified by art, design, and architecture meant to bring you closer to nature in new and surprising ways.
Drones
Dynamic Variation:
All such flight activity must always be performed with concern and respect for the surrounding people, birds, other animals, private properties, public spaces and tourist spots like viewing points. Please check with your destination for local, deviating regulations and military or other special restricted areas where all the aforementioned activities are forbidden by law. Read more about use of drones on Civil Aviation Authority Norway’s website.
Electricity
220 volts AC (50 Hz) is the Norwegian standard.
Norway uses the continental European standard socket.
1412 TDD (textphone for the deaf or hearing impaired)
Foreign languages
Most Norwegians speak passable English, especially the younger crowd.
Many have also learned German, French or Spanish at school, but skill level may vary.
Getting here
By plane or by train, by bus or by boat, we can help you getting to Norway.
Internet access
Internet access is good in most towns and cities, either through mobile data, or public wifi in cafés and other public areas. Mobile data coverage will be patchy in sparsely populated areas. Most hotels have free Internet access in the rooms, but if it is important to you, it’s best to ask the hotel before you book. Many buses, express buses and trains offer free onboard wifi, but this will often require registration and have limited capacity.
LGBT
Most LGBT venues and offers are found in the big cities like Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim.
Dogs, cats, and ferrets from all EU countries must have pet passports and ID marking. Unless from Sweden, the animal also needs valid anti-rabies vaccination. In addition, dogs from most EU countries must be given approved tapeworm treatment minimum 24 and maximum 120 hours before arrival. Small rodents, cage birds, and rabbits must have valid import permits issued by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.
Certain dog types are prohibited in Norway. Norway is amongst few rabies-free countries thanks to high awareness and strict rules.
Additional rules apply to non-EU countries. For further information not found on the Norwegian Food Safety Authority’ website, please contact the Norwegian Embassy or Consulate in your country.
Public holidays
Norwegian public holidays are New Year's Day (1 Jan), Labour Day (1 May), Constitution Day (17 May), Christmas Day and Boxing Day (25-26 Dec). Movable holidays are Easter, Ascension Day, Whit Sunday, and Whit Monday.
Most shops will be closed on public holidays, and public transit may run with reduced frequency and capacity. Many restaurants and bars will be open, except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Many museums are open on Sundays and some public holidays, but will often be closed on the following Monday.
Indoor smoking in most public places is prohibited. This includes hotels, bars, restaurants and all other establishments where food and beverage are served.
You must be over 18 years to buy tobacco in Norway.
E-cigarettes that contain nicotine are prohibited in Norway, but can be imported for personal or medical use. Citizens from the EU/EEA area can enter the country with a maximum quantity of one year's consumption. Citizens from outside of the EU/EEA are only allowed to import a quantity that doesn't exceed three months of consumption. When importing e-cigarettes that contain nicotine, it's a good idea to bring along documents, such as a prescription or medical certificate that proves that the products were legally bought for personal use.
The Norwegian Directorate of Health states that in the course of 2020 a new regulation of e-cigarettes should come into force, that would allow nicotine e-cigarettes in Norway. Until this regulation has been approved, it is forbidden to produce, trade and import e-cigarettes and e-liquids with nicotine in Norway.
Storage of luggage
You will find storage lockers for your luggage at Oslo S/Oslo Central Station. You are welcome to keep your belongings in the lockers at all hours but you will not be able to access the same lockers when the station is closed between 01:10 am and 04:30 am. Make your payment for the use of storage lockers by cash, Visa or Mastercard.
Time zone
All of Norway uses Central European Time (CET), which is one hour ahead of Coordinated Universal time (UTC+1).
Visitors from the Schengen countries do not need a passport or visa when entering Norway, but must show valid and sufficient ID. A European Union ID-card or passport is recommended.
Citizens of some countries outside the EU/EEA have to apply for a visitor's visa. You can easily check if this is required for you at udi.no.
The regulations concerning entry to and residence in the Svalbard Islands are different from the regulations on the Norwegian mainland. Svalbard is not part of the Schengen area. Norwegian authorities do not require a visa for visiting Svalbard, but as most transport links connect Svalbard with Norway, foreigners with visa requirements to Norway/the Schengen area will need a valid visa to travel through the Schengen area. Please read more about entry to Svalbard at sysselmannen.no
The European Health Insurance Card is not valid in Svalbard. It is therefore strongly recommended to purchase travel insurance before you go there.
Norway is far larger than most people realise. We recommend focusing on one region at a time, If you only plan one trip to Norway, take your time as you travel; make the journey itself your destination.
Cutting edge architecture and old wooden houses, fascinating street art and modern museums, Nordic cuisine and pavement cafes – on a weekend trip to a Norwegian city, you’ll get big experiences with a small town vibe.
Greener, cleaner – and more authentic. Visit a sustainable destination on your next adventure! Here, they are taking extra good care of the environment, their unique culture, the local community and last but not least – you!
Understanding the language will help you along a great deal, not least due to the sympathy you'll elicit from the locals, who are only too happy to help a visitor out. This list will give you a firm foundation.
Yes = Ja
No = Nei
Thank you = Takk
Excuse me = Unnskyld meg
Hello = Hallo
Train = Tog
Bus = Buss
Metro = T-bane
Tram = Trikk
Station = Stasjon
Airport = Flyplass
Due to the temperate waters of the Gulf Stream, Norway has a much milder climate than other parts of the world at the same latitude, such as Alaska, Greenland, and Siberia. Still, Norway has a lot of weather.
Modern conveniences have made it much easier to get around in Norway. These days, trains, boats, roads, and a network of large and small airports are all making it quite practical to see any part of the country.
