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, 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).