Norway


Oslo, Norway
A Overcapitalized Capital
One of Norway's problems has been deciding how to invest the billions of euros from its record-breaking sovereign wealth fund. But even immoderate resources don't save Oslo from its social inconsistencies.
Nesbyen to Flam, Norway
Flam Railway: Sublime Norway from the First to the Last Station
By road and aboard the Flam Railway, on one of the steepest railway routes in the world, we reach Flam and the entrance to the Sognefjord, the largest, deepest and most revered of the Scandinavian fjords. From the starting point to the last station, this monumental Norway that we have unveiled is confirmed.
Magma Geopark, Norway
A Somehow Lunar Norway
If we went back to the geological ends of time, we would find southwestern Norway filled with huge mountains and a burning magma that successive glaciers would shape. Scientists have found that the mineral that predominates there is more common on the Moon than on Earth. Several of the scenarios we explore in the region's vast Magma Geopark seem to be taken from our great natural satellite.
Flam a Balestrand, Norway
Where the Mountains Give In to the Fjords
The final station of the Flam Railway marks the end of the dizzying railway descent from the highlands of Hallingskarvet to the plains of Flam. In this town too small for its fame, we leave the train and sail down the Aurland fjord towards the prodigious Balestrand.
Stavanger, Norway
The Motor City of Norway
The abundance of offshore oil and natural gas and the headquarters of the companies in charge of exploiting them have promoted Stavanger from the Norwegian energy capital preserve. Even so, this city didn't conform. With a prolific historical legacy, at the gates of a majestic fjord, cosmopolitan Stavanger has long propelled the Land of the Midnight Sun.
Bergen, Norway
The Great Hanseatic Port of Norway
Already populated in the early 1830th century, Bergen became the capital, monopolized northern Norwegian commerce and, until XNUMX, remained one of the largest cities in Scandinavia. Today, Oslo leads the nation. Bergen continues to stand out for its architectural, urban and historical exuberance.
Balestrand, Norway
Balestrand: A Life Among the Fjords
Villages on the slopes of the gorges of Norway are common. Balestrand is at the entrance to three. Its settings stand out in such a way that they have attracted famous painters and continue to seduce intrigued travelers.
Preikestolen - Pulpit Rock, Norway
Pilgrimage to the Pulpit of Rock of Norway
The Norway of the endless fjords abounds in grand scenery. In the heart of Lyse Fjord, the prominent, smooth and almost square top of a cliff over 600 meters forms an unexpected rocky pulpit. Climbing to its heights, peering over the precipices and enjoying the surrounding panoramas is a lot of revelation.
city ​​hall, capital, oslo, norway
Oslo, Norway

A Overcapitalized Capital

One of Norway's problems has been deciding how to invest the billions of euros from its record-breaking sovereign wealth fund. But even immoderate resources don't save Oslo from its social inconsistencies.
Flam Railway composition below a waterfall, Norway.
Nesbyen to Flam, Norway

Flam Railway: Sublime Norway from the First to the Last Station

By road and aboard the Flam Railway, on one of the steepest railway routes in the world, we reach Flam and the entrance to the Sognefjord, the largest, deepest and most revered of the Scandinavian fjords. From the starting point to the last station, this monumental Norway that we have unveiled is confirmed.
Van at Jossingfjord, Magma Geopark, Norway
Magma Geopark, Norway

A Somehow Lunar Norway

If we went back to the geological ends of time, we would find southwestern Norway filled with huge mountains and a burning magma that successive glaciers would shape. Scientists have found that the mineral that predominates there is more common on the Moon than on Earth. Several of the scenarios we explore in the region's vast Magma Geopark seem to be taken from our great natural satellite.
M:S Viking Tor Ferry-Wrapped Passenger, Aurlandfjord, Norway
Flam a Balestrand, Norway

Where the Mountains Give In to the Fjords

The final station of the Flam Railway marks the end of the dizzying railway descent from the highlands of Hallingskarvet to the plains of Flam. In this town too small for its fame, we leave the train and sail down the Aurland fjord towards the prodigious Balestrand.
Museum of Petroleum, Stavanger, Norway
Stavanger, Norway

The Motor City of Norway

The abundance of offshore oil and natural gas and the headquarters of the companies in charge of exploiting them have promoted Stavanger from the Norwegian energy capital preserve. Even so, this city didn't conform. With a prolific historical legacy, at the gates of a majestic fjord, cosmopolitan Stavanger has long propelled the Land of the Midnight Sun.
Traditional houses, Bergen, Norway.
Bergen, Norway

The Great Hanseatic Port of Norway

Already populated in the early 1830th century, Bergen became the capital, monopolized northern Norwegian commerce and, until XNUMX, remained one of the largest cities in Scandinavia. Today, Oslo leads the nation. Bergen continues to stand out for its architectural, urban and historical exuberance.
Balestrand townhouse, Norway
Balestrand, Norway

Balestrand: A Life Among the Fjords

Villages on the slopes of the gorges of Norway are common. Balestrand is at the entrance to three. Its settings stand out in such a way that they have attracted famous painters and continue to seduce intrigued travelers.
Preikestolen, Pulpit Rock, risky throne
Preikestolen - Pulpit Rock, Norway

Pilgrimage to the Pulpit of Rock of Norway

The Norway of the endless fjords abounds in grand scenery. In the heart of Lyse Fjord, the prominent, smooth and almost square top of a cliff over 600 meters forms an unexpected rocky pulpit. Climbing to its heights, peering over the precipices and enjoying the surrounding panoramas is a lot of revelation.

Map


How to go


VISA AND OTHER PROCEDURES

Portuguese and Brazilian citizens must have a passport valid for at least another six months, in order to enter Norway for tourist purposes and with a stay of up to 90 days.

HEALTH CARE

Apart from the essential care with protection from the extreme cold in the winter months, there are no health concerns worth worrying about in what is one of the most developed countries on Earth. On the coldest days in northern Norway, but potentially across the country, temperatures can easily drop below -30°C. 

For more information on traveling health, see the Health Portal of the Ministry of Health and Tropical and Traveler Medicine Clinic. In FitForTravel find country-specific health and disease prevention advice (in English).

TRIP TO NORWAY   

A TAP (tel: 707 205 700) flies from Lisbon directly to Oslo for starting at €100. The flight takes about 4 hours.

Must Do's


  • Oslo
  • Norwegian fjords
  • Tromso
  • Bergen
  • Trondheim
  • Svalbard Island
  • Stavanger and Lysefjord
  • ​Kystriksveien coastal route
  • Alesund
  • Sognefjord
  • ostfold
  • hardangerfjord
  • ​Sami culture in the far north
  • ​Aurora borealis sighting

Explore


INTERNAL FLIGHTS

The eccentric configuration of Norway's relief makes traveling by car and even by train take longer than expected. This factor makes domestic flights the most popular form of travel, especially for journeys from the south to the north and between places in the greater north. The main airlines are the SAS, a norwegian e Wideroe.

If you plan to fly several flights in Norway, consider the Explore Norway ticket from Wideroe

TRAIN

Norway's railway system is operated by NSB (Norwegian State Railway) with several daily connections centered on Oslo and most other cities with the exception of the fjord area between Stavanger and Trondheim and the northern end of Bodo. Trains are modern, well maintained and very expensive. To cut costs with rail travel, you can choose to purchase a Norwegian Rail Pass or even one Inter-Rail One Country Pass which you can use fully in Norway. 

Purchased well in advance, individual tickets can cost as little as €25 online, but this will always be an exception made in short promotions. If the site does not accept bookings from foreign citizens for the destination you want, you will have to call the NSB Contact Center and pay an additional 6€ per ticket, for the telephone reservation.

SHIP

With its surface so crisscrossed by fjords, rivers and lakes, it is only normal for Norway to be outfitted with countless ferries built to carry dozens of cars on board. Many of them are part of the road system. On the main roads, these ferries ensure passage to another bank at least every 30 minutes.

Along the entire length of the hyper-cut coast between Stavanger and Tromsø, there is an extensive network of express catamarans that connect smaller towns and villages on the mainland with each other and with several offshore islands. These vessels charge similar or slightly higher prices than trains. One of the most reputable companies is the Hurtigruten which operates with several stops between Bergen and Kirkenes in a trip that lasts about 5 and a half days. The scales are: Mountains, florø, Miloy, Torvik, Ålesund, Geiranger (Summer), Mold, Kristiansund, trondheim, rorvik, Bronøysund, Sandnessjoen, nesna, Ornes, Bodo, stamsund, svolvaer, stokmarknes, sortland, Risoyhamn, Harstad, finnsnes, Tromso, Skjervoy, Øksfjord, hammerfest, Honningsvag, kjollefjord, Meham, Berlevug, Btsfjord, Vardo, Vadso and Kirkenes.

Cabins are mandatory for several days of travel but also quite expensive. Deck seats are much more accessible. 50% discount if an Inter Rail ticket is presented. If traveling on deck, you can count on luggage storage rooms, showers, 24-hour café and a launderette. The price of the trip includes meals that are served in a dining room. When night comes – something that doesn't happen in the endless days of June and July – it is normal for passengers to extend their sleeping bags and try to sleep, which is not easy due to the activity of other less sleepy passengers. Don't expect that shutting up the rest will work.

In summer (mid-April to mid-September) all Norwegian ferries fares are considerably more expensive than in winter. 

The Hurtigruten company itself organizes excursions to emblematic and spectacular places along the coast. More information at: Hurtigruten

TRUCK

The long-distance bus service is very comprehensive and provided by modern, comfortable and punctual vehicles. The most extensive network is the Nor-Way Bus Sex Press that travels between villages, from the extreme south of the country to the extreme north. It also has official entrances to various national parks in the country as destinations.

A Veolia Transport North and fjord1 . Another network with tickets more affordable is that of lavprisekspressen (in Norwegian). More information and travel planning in Norway at Ruthbok.

As an example, the journey between Oslo and Bergen costs around 18€ with Lavprisekspressen. With Nor-Way Bussekspress, it costs around €80.

CAR RENTAL

Car rental costs from €40 per day for rental of utilitarian vehicles or economic cars for periods of one week or more. Despite Norway being one of the countries with the largest oil production in Europe, fuel is extremely expensive, at around €1,72 per liter of gasoline.

Many companies rent excellent caravans and Norway is a country that rewards those who travel it calmly. There are numerous camp-style facilities that accommodate this type of vehicle. Many have bathrooms, showers, electricity, small grocery stores, communal kitchens and even tourist information. Most are in natural settings but not all. Expect to pay between €17 to €40 per night.

There are also tolls on the main roads that can be prepaid via CarPass where you can register the registration of the vehicle in question, credit 300 Norwegian kroner (+ or – 35€) which will then be debited from the users' bank accounts each time. 

Finally, count on the expenses arising from some ferry crossings where vehicles have substantially higher prices than passengers.

In Norway, the transit is organized and quiet but the driving in the winter months – when almost all the roads are icy – ​​it is very demanding and requires a period of training and getting used to for those who come from countries without snow. In addition to the roads becoming slippery due to its dramatic relief, Norway is full of very steep stretches. 

OTHER

You can always use taxis, but if you do, be prepared to pay a bill (probably much more than one).

When to go


Norway is a nearly year-round destination, with the exception of late November to mid-March when the cold is at its worst – down to -40°C in Norwegian Lapland, almost guaranteed to be below 0°C in Oslo – and the daily light period is the shortest, with darkness setting in at 15 pm in Oslo or remaining 20 to 22 hours out of 24 hours in the country's highest latitudes

The equinox months of September and March are considered the best months to admire the Northern Lights above the Arctic Circle but you can always see them in August and late April.  

Norwegian autumn includes another period – short and usually without snow – very interesting to visit the country, are the days of golden yellow foliage. Depending on the latitude in the country and weather conditions it can take place anywhere from September to mid-autumn.

The end of spring and summer bring warmer temperatures. In a very different way, these are other good times to explore Norway. More information on met.no e Aurora Service.

Money and costs


The currency of Norway is the Norwegian Krone (NOK). Norway has one of the highest costs of living in the world. You'll find ATMs everywhere and practically all establishments have sophisticated payment systems. Credit card payments are widespread.

ACCOMMODATION

Norway has a good network of youth hostels they charge between €25 and €35 ​​per person, per night, without bed linen and towels and require you to leave everything immaculate before you leave. 

The hotel's double room less expensive, in Oslo, it will cost you €80 or €90 and it will be one of the most basic in the capital. These values ​​soften slightly in other cities. Camping and mountain cabins can cost between €20 to €75 the first for several people and, in the case of mountain cabins, the price is per person.

In the case of Norway, if you travel with more people it is always an excellent alternative to look for private houses on international rental websites. In many cases, they have a single affordable price that you can share.
 

FOOD

As with everything else, food is expensive with the cheapest complete meals - those of fast food – costing between €8 to €10, and a mere sandwich in a cafe or convenience store or service station can cost the same or more.

Eating a traditional Norwegian meal – based on salmon or other types of fish, reindeer, moose or other types of meat – in an average restaurant means you are guaranteed to pay between €30 to €60 per person, significantly more if the restaurant is sophisticated or has some fame. Alcohol in general has very high prices. A simple glass of wine or beer it will cost you €9 or €10, a substantial part of the total price of the meal.

INTERNET

Free Wi-Fi networks are everywhere – hotels, bars and cafes, shopping centres, service stations, public libraries, camping sites, etc etc – and make the existence of internet cafes, as such, rare, illogical . 

Almost 100% of the Norwegian population has access to the internet, usually at high speed.

The offer of mobile internet hardware and tariffs is vast but, as a rule, expensive. More information at Norwegian Prepaid Internet