Norway, due to the fact that there is a polar day from May to July, is sometimes called the "Land of the Midnight Sun". This, of course, is a mysterious and even somewhat romantic name, but it does not cause a strong desire to come to this country. However, Norway is not only the Land of the Midnight Sun. First of all, Norway is the Vikings, amazingly beautiful fjords, some of which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and, of course, prestigious ski resorts.
Geography of Norway
Norway is located in the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. In the northeast, Norway borders on Finland and Russia, in the east - on Sweden. In the northeast, Norway is washed by the Barents Sea, in the southwest by the North Sea, and in the west by the Norwegian Sea. The Skagerrak Strait separates Norway from Denmark.
The total territory of Norway, including the islands of Svalbard, Jan Mayen and Bear in the Arctic Ocean, is 385,186 square kilometers.
A significant part of the territory of Norway is occupied by mountains. The highest of them are Mount Gallhöppigen (2469 m) and Mount Glittertinn (2452 m).
There are a lot of rivers in Norway, the longest of which are Glomma (604 km), Logen (359 km), and Otra (245 km).
Norway is sometimes referred to as the "Lakeland". This is not surprising, given that there are several hundred lakes in it. The largest of these are Mjøsa, Rösvatn, Femunn, and Hornindalsvatnet.
Capital
The capital of Norway is Oslo, which is now home to more than 620 thousand people. It is believed that Oslo was founded in 1048 by the Norwegian king Harald III.
Official language of Norway
The official language in Norway is Norwegian, which consists of two dialects (Bokmål and Nynorsk). Most often, Norwegians speak Bukol, but for some reason Nynorsk is popular with Norwegian Internet users.
Religion
More than 80% of Norwegians are Lutherans (Protestants) belonging to the Church of Norway. However, only about 5% of Norwegians go to church every week. In addition, 1.69% of Norwegians are Muslims and 1.1% are Catholics.
State structure of Norway
Norway is a constitutional monarchy in which the head of state, according to the Constitution of 1814, is the King.
The executive power in Norway belongs to the King, and the legislative power belongs to the local unicameral parliament - the Storting (169 deputies).
The main political parties in Norway are the liberal-conservative Progress Party, the social democratic Norwegian Labor Party, the Christian Democratic Party and the Social Left Party.
Climate and weather
Norway is at the same latitude as Alaska and Siberia, but this Scandinavian country has a much milder climate. In late June - early August in Norway, the weather is warm and the days are long. At this time, the average air temperature reaches + 25-30C, and the average sea temperature - + 18C.
The warmest and most stable weather is always observed on the southern coast of Norway. However, even in the north of Norway in summer the air temperature can exceed +25C. However, in the central regions and in the north of Norway, the weather often changes.
In winter, most of Norway tends to turn into a real snow paradise. In winter in Norway, the air temperature can even drop to -40C.
Sea in Norway
In the northeast, Norway is washed by the Barents Sea, in the southwest by the North Sea, and in the west by the Norwegian Sea. The Skagerrak Strait separates Norway from Denmark. The total coastline of Norway is 25,148 km.
Average sea temperature in Oslo:
- January – +4C
- February - +3С
- March - +3С
- April - +6С
- May - +11С
- June - +14C
- July - +17С
- August – +18C
- september - +15С
- October - +12C
- November - +9С
- December - +5C
The real beauty of Norway is the Norwegian fjords. The most beautiful of them are Naeroyfjord, Sognefjord, Geirangerfjord, Hardangerfjord, Lysefjord, and Aurlandsfjord.
Rivers and lakes
There are a lot of rivers in Norway, the longest of which are Glomma in the east (604 km), Logen in the southeast (359 km), and Otra in Serland (245 km). The largest Norwegian lakes are Mjøsa, Rösvatn, Femunn, and Hornindalsvatnet.
Many tourists come to Norway to fish. In Norwegian rivers and lakes, salmon, trout, whitefish, pike, perch and grayling are found in large numbers.
History of Norway
Archaeologists have proven that people on the territory of modern Norway lived as early as the 10th millennium BC. But the real history of Norway began in the Viking Age, whose cruelty is still legendary on the coast of Great Britain, for example.
From 800-1066, the Norse Vikings became known throughout Europe as brave warriors, ruthless invaders, cunning merchants and inquisitive seafarers. The history of the Vikings ended in 1066, when the Norwegian king Harald III died in England. Olaf III became King of Norway after him. It was under Olaf III that Christianity began to spread rapidly in Norway.
In the XII century, Norway captured part of the British Isles, Iceland and Greenland. It was the time of the greatest prosperity of the Norwegian kingdom. However, the country was greatly weakened by competition from the Hanseatic League and the plague epidemic.
In 1380, Norway and Denmark entered into an alliance and became one country. The union of these states lasted more than four centuries.
In 1814, Norway, according to the Treaty of Kiel, became part of Sweden. However, Norway did not submit to this and the Swedes invaded its territory. In the end, Norway agreed to be part of Sweden if they were left with the constitution.
Throughout the 19th century, nationalism grew in Norway, and this led to a referendum in 1905. According to the results of this referendum, Norway became an independent state.
During the First World War, Norway remained neutral. Second world war Norway also declared its neutrality, but it was nevertheless occupied by German troops (for Germany this was a strategic move).
After the end of World War II, Norway suddenly forgot about its neutrality, and became one of the founders of the NATO military bloc.
Culture of Norway
The culture of Norway differs markedly from the cultures of other peoples of Europe. The fact is that this Scandinavian country is located far from such European cultural centers as Florence, Rome and Paris. However, tourists will be pleasantly impressed by the Norwegian culture.
Many Norwegian cities have annual music, dance and folklore festivals. The most popular of them is the international cultural festival in Bergen (music, dance, theater).
It cannot be said that the Norwegians have made a huge contribution to world culture, but the fact that it was significant is undeniable. Most famous Norwegians- polar explorers Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen, composers Varg Vikernes and Edvard Grieg, artist Edvard Munch, writers and playwrights Henrik Ibsen and Knut Hamsun, as well as traveler Thor Heyerdahl.
Cuisine of Norway
The main products of Norwegian cuisine are fish, meat, potatoes and other vegetables, and cheese. Norwegians' favorite traditional snack is pölse (potato cake with sausage).
- Fenalår - dried lamb.
- Fårikål - lamb stew with cabbage.
- Pinnekjøtt - salted ribs.
- Roast of wild elk or deer.
- Kjøttkaker - fried beef meatballs.
- Laks og eggerøre - smoked salmon omelet.
- Lutefisk - baked cod.
- Rømmegrøt - sour cream porridge.
- Multekrem - cloudberry cream for dessert.
The traditional alcoholic drink in Norway is Aquavit, which is usually 40% ABV. The production of aquavita in Scandinavia began in the 15th century.
Sights of Norway
Norwegians have always been distinguished by the fact that they are very careful about their history. Therefore, we advise tourists to visit Norway to see:
Cities and resorts
The largest Norwegian cities are Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, and Stavanger.
Norway is famous for its great ski resorts. Every winter in Norway there are different championships in skiing. The top ten Norwegian ski resorts include, in our opinion, the following:
- Trysil (Trisil)
- Hemsedal (Hemsedal)
- Hafjell (Hafjell)
- Geilo (Geilo)
- Tryvann (Tryvann)
- Norefjell
- Oppdal (Oppdal)
- Hovden (Hovden)
- Kvitfjell (Kvitfjell)
- Kongsberg (Consberg)
Souvenirs/Shopping
We advise tourists from Norway to bring a real Norwegian wool sweater, toy trolls, modern dishes, wooden kitchen utensils, silverware, ceramics, jerky, brown goat cheese, and Norwegian vodka - aquavit.
Office Hours
Holidays in Norway, the fjords of Norway
Norway is one of the 4 Scandinavian countries that are located in the northern expanses of Europe. In the east it borders on
and n in the west it is washed by the Norwegian Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, in the north by the Barents Sea, and in the south by North Sea. The total area of the country is 386,958 sq. km. Norway is an elongated and narrow country, more than 30% of its territory is covered with forests, many rivers and lakes. More than half of the country's area is occupied by mountain ranges.
The population of Norway is about 4.3 million people. About 30 thousand inhabitants belong to the ethnic minority - the Saami. The Saami have their own culture, traditions and language. Most of the Sami population lives north of the Arctic Circle.
Where about 500,000 people live. Here is the Government of the country. Oslo is also the business and cultural center of Norway. Norway is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government. The monarchy has a strong position in the state, and the reigning king Harald V is very popular and respected among the inhabitants of the country.
The per capita income in Norway is one of the highest in the world. Oil and gas deposits in the North Sea are one of the foundations of the Norwegian economy. Other leading industries include fishing, timber, paper, mining and shipbuilding.
A large number of small Norwegian settlements were united in the 9th century into larger communities, and around 900 King Harald the Fair-Haired united them into a kingdom and became its first supreme ruler. In the Middle Ages, the Norwegian Vikings settled in England, France, Ireland and Iceland. Subsequently, Norway came under the rule of Denmark and was in union with her in the period from 1380 to 1814. During the Napoleonic Wars, Norway was united with Sweden, adopting a modern constitution along the way. In 1905, the union between Norway and Sweden was peacefully dissolved, and since then Norway has been an independent state.
Norway is a member of NATO and an associate member of the Western European Union.
Through the UN, whose first secretary-general was the Norwegian Trygve Lie, Norway is working at various levels. The Norwegians take part in the army of the UN peacekeeping forces involved in the settlement of conflicts in the hot spots of the planet. Norway contributes to peace in other ways as well. For a long time, Norway has been actively cooperating in the field of solving various political and economic issues with other Scandinavian countries. The inhabitants of Scandinavia for a long time enjoy the possibility of visa-free travel on the territory of the peninsula.
A common labor market has been created in the Scandinavian countries, and cooperation in the field of social security is underway. In 1960 Norway became a member of the EFTA (European Free Trade Association). In 1994, the European Community and EFTA created the European Economic Area (EEA). In 1994, the majority of Norwegians voted against the country's accession to the European Community.
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On the numerous islands of Norway, northern exotic awaits tourists:
with white sandy beaches, emerald waters, oddly shaped mountains and picturesque fishing villages, they are among the three most beautiful islands in the world.
Here you can throw a fishing rod into the sea right from the window of a fishing house and enjoy the freshest catch. Tourists will be able to get acquainted with the Viking Age and taste mead with their leader at the Lofotr Museum, built on the ruins of the largest Viking building in Norway and all of Europe.
Vega- the island of waterfalls in the necklace of thousands of small islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These places have been inhabited since the Stone Age, and the people who lived here for 1500 years and were engaged in agriculture and fishing created a unique cultural landscape. The 70-million-year-old plesiosaur skeleton found on the island is one of the best-preserved in paleontological history and confirms that the climate of the Arctic was once much warmer.
Svalbard, an arctic island cut by fjords, where more than half of the territory is national parks, nature and bird sanctuaries, and the polar bear is the true owner. Svalbard is the top of the world, from where you can reach the North Pole.
norwegian city Kirkines is located on the coast of the Barents Sea, just 8 km from the Norwegian-Russian border, and this is the most "Russian" city in Norway: there is a Monument to Soviet Liberator Soldiers and many Russians among the population. Kirkenes is the northernmost port on the sea route of the famous liner "Hurtiruten", which starts in Bergen and calls at 34 ports along the picturesque coast of Norway. The well-known travel guide "Lonely Planet" awarded this cruise in Norway the title of "The most beautiful sea trip in the world."
In Northern Norway, it is also worth visiting the Alta open-air museum - the rock paintings of ancient people will not leave anyone indifferent. The Alta rock paintings, which were created over a period of almost 5,000 years, show many cultural changes in human life.
For a noisy nightlife, you should go to the "Northern Paris" - Tromsø, the largest university city in the world, located above the Arctic Circle. Tremse is the “gateway to the Arctic”, it was from here that many polar expeditions, including those of Nansen and Amundsen, departed
Cape North Cape- the northernmost point of the European continent and a place of pilgrimage for tourists from all over the world.
Archipelago Vesterålen will delight you with a sea safari, in which, if you're lucky, you can take a whale fountain with a camera. Here, like nowhere else in Norway, you can watch whales so close to the coast, and in Andenes, the largest town on the islands, there is even a whale center-museum.
A bright event in my impressions is a trip to Karasjok. Here you can get acquainted with representatives of the indigenous population of Norway - the Saami, learn their culture and life "from the inside", ride reindeer and share dinner with them.
The northern waters of Norway are widely known for their abundance of fish. Fishing in Norway is ridiculously easy and you don’t even have to look for a place to do it: the sea that does not freeze all year round off the coast, the cleanest lakes and rivers abounding in fish make Norway a real fishing paradise. Exceptionally varied and year-round sea fishing in the fjords, in coastal waters and on the high seas is very popular and does not require a license. Cod, pollock, salmon, halibut, monkfish, crabs, scallops and mussels are just a few of the possible catches. Freshwater fishing on the salmon rivers Tana, Alta, Gaula and Logen is also interesting, and the Namsen River has been considered the queen of all rivers in which salmon lives for more than a century. Fishing in Norway will appeal to both experienced anglers and beginners. Fishing bases and cottages are located both on the coast of the country and in areas remote from the sea, offering services for a comfortable stay for the whole family.
Holidays in Norway
Holidays in Norway for families with children are outdoor activities, visits to educational excursions and amusement parks that are of interest to children of all ages. In Norway, great attention is paid to children's leisure and the traveler does not have to think about where to buy baby food, how to get on the bus with a stroller, where to go to make the whole family interested.
You can write a lot about the sights of Norway, but it's better to see once, and even better - many times.
Travel company tour operator "Enibi Travel" offers a wide range of excursion tours to Norway from Moscow or St. Petersburg, combined tours, with visits to other Scandinavian countries: Finland - Sweden - Norway and Finland - Sweden - Norway -; air tours to Norway and on ferries of various durations.
Kingdom of Norway
Kingdom Norway occupies the western and northern parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula, the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic Ocean and Jan Mayen Island in the North Atlantic Ocean. Norway is washed by the North and Norwegian Seas. In the northeast it borders on Finland and Russia, in the east - on Sweden.
The name of the country comes from the Old Norse Norreweg - "northern road".
Capital
Square
Population
4503 thousand people
Administrative division
Norway is divided into 18 counties, which are governed by governors. Traditional division: Northern Norway, which includes three historical and geographical regions (Nurland, Troms, Finnmark), and Southern Norway, which combines four regions: Trennelag, Vestland (West), Estland (East) and Sør-lann (South).
Form of government
A constitutional monarchy.
head of state
supreme legislative body
Storting (Parliament), consisting of 2 chambers: Lagting and Odelsting, elected for a period of 4 years.
Supreme executive body
State Council.
Big cities
Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger, Narvik.
Official language
Norwegian.
Religion
87.8% are Lutherans.
Ethnic composition
95% Norwegian.
Currency
Norwegian krone = 100 ore.
Climate
In coastal areas, due to the influence of the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Current, there is a temperate maritime climate (subarctic in the far north). In the interior, especially in mountainous areas, the climate is continental - hotter in summer and colder in winter. In the northern part of the country, beyond the Arctic Circle, at the height of summer there is a polar day, and in winter the polar night dominates. January temperature ranges from + 2°C in the southwest to -12°C in the north, July - from + 15°C to + 6°C, respectively, although sometimes the air warms up to + 25°C even in the north. Precipitation falls from 300 mm per year in the east of the country to 3000 mm on the western slopes of the mountains.
Flora
Forests occupy more than a quarter of the country's territory: mainly taiga and mountainous. These are conifers (spruce, pine). Birch grows above 1100 m in the south and below 300 m in the north. In the extreme south there are forests of broad-leaved species (beech, oak). Tundra and forest-tundra prevail in the north and mountain tops.
Fauna
The following representatives of the animal world are found in the forests of Norway: lynx, red deer, marten, weasel, badger, beaver, ermine, squirrel. The white and blue fox, lemming (Norwegian mouse), and reindeer live in the tundra. Hare and fox are found everywhere in large commercial quantities, while the wolf and bear are practically exterminated. Norway has a large number of birds: capercaillie, black grouse, gulls, eiders, wild ducks, geese. Huge bird colonies nest on the coastal cliffs. In sea waters there are a large number of fish, of which traditionally commercial: herring, cod, mackerel. Trout, salmon, salmon live in rivers and lakes.
Rivers and lakes
The largest river in Norway is the Glomma, 12 km from the mouth of which there is a waterfall 22 m high. There are more than 200 lakes, which occupy about 4.5% of the country's territory.
Attractions
Wooden churches in Urnes and Hedal (wooden architecture is generally typical for Norway), the cathedral in Trondheim, the cathedral in Stavanger, the "royal hall" in Bergen, the Atrehus fortress, the Royal Palace and the Kon-Tiki Museum in Oslo, Viking ships (one of they are 1100 years old), the oldest ski jump in the world with a Ski Museum.
Useful information for tourists
Night clubs, discos and other places of entertainment have a clear gradation regarding the age of visitors, the range of alcoholic drinks offered and opening hours. Therefore, a passport may be required to enter many of them. Entrance to most museums is free.
Smoking is prohibited in all forms of public transport and on board aircraft, as well as in most public buildings, offices, etc. In hotels, bars and restaurants, all common areas are non-smoking, and a third of the tables are mandatory for non-smokers. Hotels follow the same policy - up to 50% of hotel rooms are non-smoking only, and this should be taken into account when choosing a hotel. Cigarettes are only sold to persons over the age of 18.
All parking in Norway is paid. You can't park outside the parking lots - only cars of residents living in the surrounding houses can be there.
It is believed that the name of this distinctive country and one of the most breathtaking places on our planet was given by the Old Norse word Norðrvegr, which literally means "the way to the north." The Norwegians themselves call themselves that: nordsmenn, that is, a northerner or a person from the north.
General information
The main part of Norway is located in the “head” and then stretches out in a narrow strip, indented by fjords, along the entire ridge or “back of the tiger” for 2 thousand kilometers. It is with him, this harsh and beautiful, but rather a southern predator, that we have been accustomed to since school times to compare the outlines of the Scandinavian Peninsula and thus recognize it on the map of Europe.
For more than one and a half thousand kilometers, Norway borders on Sweden, its border with Finland stretches for 736 km, and about two hundred kilometers of the border line separates the country from Russia.
State and administrative structure
Norway has a constitutional monarchy, nominally ruled by King Harald V. The seat of government is located in Oslo.
The country covers an area of 385 thousand square meters. km. Main administrative unit in Norway - a county (a kind of analogue of regions, provinces or provinces in other countries), which are internally divided into communes. There are 432 communes in the country.
Trondheim
At one time, it was the first capital with a royal residence and the main Christian landmark of Norway, the Nidaros Cathedral. An architectural sign of the new time is a tall TV tower with a revolving restaurant. There are many suitable places for excellent fishing in the surrounding rivers and lakes. The city of Trondheim is described in detail in.
Lillehammer
An ancient Norwegian city, mentioned in ancient sagas. In modern times - the center of winter sports. In 1994, the Winter Olympic Games were held here, which gave another impetus to the development of mass sports in the country and made it possible to update its infrastructure. In 2016, the Winter Youth Olympic Games were held here. Read .
Geiranger fjord
The top of the 15-kilometer Geirangerfjord pierces into the high mountains like an arrow. And in the place where the waters of the mountain river Geirangelva flow into it, near the mountain road, to the rocks overgrown with forest, a picturesque village with only a few hundred inhabitants has stuck. A deep bay, high mountains - all this splendor, like many other places in Norway, is on the list of UNESCO world natural heritage sites. Geiranger is visited annually by thousands of tourists from different countries peace. Read .
Rock of the Preacher (Preikestolen)
Almost square, a huge stone platform from the side really looks like a professorial chair. But people did not put their efforts into its creation - everything was done by nature. From the 604-meter cliff, thrill-seekers will see amazing panoramic views of the surrounding area. The only way to get to the plateau is on foot along a picturesque but difficult mountain path. See details on how to do this.
Fish is the basis of the Norwegian diet
Rakfisk - fermented trout Fish and seafood have been the main food on the Norwegian table for centuries. In Norwegian coastal waters, they are caught and bred by more than two hundred species - a wide variety of fish and shellfish. If you list only the usual ones in alphabetical order, those that are well-known, the list will turn out to be impressive: from Arctic char and catfish to common and silver saithe. You can count two dozen valuable and tasty varieties of fish that are found in sea and river Norwegian waters.
Norwegian cod, crabs and smoked salmon are famous all over the world. And, of course, herring, salmon and trout. Whale meat is also eaten here, for which there are quotas for Norwegian whalers.
Currency
NOK is the Norwegian krone, the currency of Norway. 1 crown = 100 ore (ore). Coins in circulation: the largest is 20 crowns. In addition: 10, 5, 1 crown and 50 ore. Paper banknotes are issued in denominations of 1000, 500, 200, 100 and 50 crowns.
There are exchange offices in banks, airports and train stations, in all Forex offices and post offices, but not in all hotels. You can pay with credit cards, but you also need to have some cash with you.
There are ATMs even in the smallest villages. We accept Visa and MasterCard, as well as Diners and Amex.
Tipping in Norway is usually left in the amount of 5-15% of the order value.
Transport
You can move around the country by air, rail, road and sea.
Airports
Domestic air traffic is one of the most important in passenger traffic across the country, stretched for 2.5 thousand km and with such a difficult terrain. AT winter time the plane is sometimes the only way to get to the islands or mountains.
53 airports serve the international and domestic lines of Norway. The most significant in big cities: Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger, Ålesund and Tromsø.
The website of the air ports service (www.nor-way.no) provides detailed current information about each of them and the flight schedule.
Compare accommodation prices using this form
Roads and road transport
atlantic ocean road Norwegian roads are among the best in the world. Their total length is more than 100 thousand km. All highways have a hard surface and are cleared of snow drifts in winter. The roads are often winding, there are many sharp turns in the mountains. Here at any time of the year you need to drive with the headlights on, in some areas there are restrictions on driving with trailers. The maximum allowable speed on the highway is 80 km / h, in settlements 30-50 km / h.
18 national tourist roads with a total length of about 2000 km run through picturesque landscapes in the fjord region, along the west coast, in the mountains in the south and north of Norway. They have a convenient infrastructure, original engineering and architectural solutions with viewing platforms and recreation areas.
Car rent
if you have international law, then you can rent a car in Norway. You also need an identity card and medical insurance. Approximate rental price is 780 NOK and depends on the car class. A prerequisite is to use seat belts and have a warning emergency sign in the trunk. Norway has the highest fines for traffic offenders in Europe.
Parking lots are paid. Approximately 50 road sections are also paid, on average about 20-30 NOK, on some it is even more expensive.
Buses in Norway
Bus routes connect all large and small cities, all airports of the country and ferry terminals. 200 large and comfortable buses with air conditioning, dry closets and comfortable seats carry passengers to the farthest corners of the country. On some routes, the trip can last more than a day.
Routes, fares and schedules of all bus carriers have a single Norwegian booking network (www.nor-way.no) Bus tickets are expensive, sometimes including the cost of crossing, but more often, anyway, it is more profitable than traveling by train or the cost of air travel. In addition, there is a system of identical discounts and tickets that are valid throughout the country. In addition to the possibility of buying a ticket at the box office and travel agency, you can simply buy it from the driver before departure.
Railway transport
The infrastructure of Norwegian railways is slightly behind the level of technical equipment of other modes of transport in the country. Therefore, one and a half times more funds were allocated for the modernization of this sphere in 2014-2023 than in the previous decade.
The total length of Norwegian railways is 4114 km. Slightly more than half of them are electrified. On the high-speed line Oslo - Oslo Airport - Eidsvol (64 km), the Flytoget express train travels at a speed of 210 km/h.
On NSB Railways - State railways 775 tunnels have been laid and 3,000 bridges built, many of which are toll-free.
The trains are equipped with 1st and 2nd class cars and run in four main directions:
- south: Oslo-Stavanger;
- to the north: Trondheim-Bodø (Nordlandsbanen);
- to the central regions: Oslo-Trondheim (Dovrebanen) and the side branch Dombos-Ondalsnes (Raumabanen).
Two branches have a railway connection with Sweden.
Traveling by train in Norway is not cheap, but the company constantly sells tickets for various promotions. There are also discounts for early bookings and for privileged categories of the population.
You can also save money by purchasing travel tickets: they can be purchased for 3 days, for a week and for 3 weeks. Tickets are sold at railway ticket offices at stations and at www.nsb.no. You can pay by credit card.
Important. Smokers need to be patient. There is a strict ban on smoking in trains and railway station buildings in Norway.
Water transport in Norway
All islands, small towns and big cities along the Norwegian coast are connected by car ferries and express boats.
About a dozen large ferry companies operate in the fjord region. Everywhere at the piers there are private boats, they also take travelers on fishing trips and excursions. Tickets - at the box office of ferry terminals or on the websites of carrier companies.
Leading carriers: Senja Ferries, Kolumbus, Tide, Rodne Fjordcruise, Fjordline, and Hurtigruten. The price is high, but there are ways to save money: early booking, sales and promotions.
Sea travel lovers can choose the most beautiful thing to their taste on this site - www.hurtigruten.com.
Public transport
There are 5 metro lines with 101 stations in the capital, there is a developed network of bus, tram and ferry routes, however, as in other large cities. For all modes of transport, a one-time ticket of the same cost (approximately 15 NOK), daily 40, for a week - 140 NOK. Tickets are not valid at night.
For tourists, the Oslo Card is beneficial, which can be bought at the hotel, travel agency and newsstand for 150 - 200 - 250 NOK for a day, two or three, respectively. Children's Oslo Card is half the price. It is beneficial in that, in addition to travel by all types of public transport (except for some ferries), holders of such a card visit museums for free and pay only half the cost for car rental, bus and most ferry excursions. In addition, the card has a discount on purchases in some stores and payment for orders in restaurants.
Here it is an expensive mode of transport and works only in the city. You can pay by card. Travel 1 km costs 1.3 euros, and the price at landing is 5. Very expensive waiting fee. According to tourists, the highest taxi prices are in Trondheim, and the lowest in Bergen.
The largest taxi company in Norway is NorgesTaxi. Its website contains detailed tariffs and phone numbers for ordering a taxi in any city.
Visas (for citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus)
Citizens of Russia and Belarus to enter Norway must have a valid Schengen tourist or visitor visa. Citizens of Ukraine with a biometric passport do not need a visa to visit Norway for up to 90 days (for any purpose other than work and study).
Before everyone travels foreign citizens you need to take out medical insurance.
Cellular and Internet
There is roaming from all major operators, but it is not cheap. It is better to buy a local SIM card, they are sold of all types (regular, mini- and nano-) in the offices of local operators, in mobile phone stores, in mini-markets (7-Eleven network).
Norway has GSM 900/1800 standards. The three most famous Norwegian mobile phone companies - Telenor, Tele2 and Lebara Mobile offer two types of cards to non-resident tourists: with a prepaid tariff and without a contract. You don't need a passport to buy cards.
The last company has 4 types of cards:
- Lebara Mobile World: beneficial for international calls
- Lebara Mobile Norgespakken: around Norway
- Lebara Mobile EU-pakken: across Europe
- Lebara Mobile Norden: for calls to Denmark, Sweden and Finland
With the World card (250 NOK) a call to Russia costs 0.99 NOK/min. to mobile and 0.69 NOK/min. to a city number. A call within Norway is also 0.99 NOK/min.
The tariffs of the other two companies are not very different in cost from Lebar Mobile. Unless the quality of communication with the Norwegian giant Telenor is always on top: both on a high mountain and in the subway. You can replenish the balance with a scratch card or a bank card on the Lebara Mobile website.
You can also call with Skype, Wi-Fi is available in almost all restaurants, cafes, hotels, Internet cafes, but not everywhere is free.
Free (within 30 minutes) you can use a desktop computer in libraries: read the mail, search for the necessary information.
You can also go online from your mobile, Beeline and Megafon have GPRS roaming. But at the same time, it is cheaper to connect an Internet package, you can consult about them in the communication shops on the spot.
