Oslo
Norway is a Scandinavian country with approximately 5.2 million people. It has been named numerous times as one of the best places to live or visit for travel in the world.
Norway is easily one of the most beautiful countries on earth, so it’s no surprise that it’s an appealing destination for many travelers. Are you dreaming of one day visiting Norway? Maybe you’ve already planned your trip and have your flights booked. Regardless of the stage you’re at in this process, here are some key travel tips to keep in mind when visiting Norway.
More about Norway
Norway is a Scandinavian country with approximately 5.2 million people. It has been named numerous times as one of the best places to live or visit for travel in the world. Norway is not a large country and it is part of Scandinavia which comprises of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, which are located in Europe.
Common misconceptions
There are plenty of common misconceptions about Norway – one being that polar bears walk the street, but that isn’t true. You won’t find any wild polar bears in mainland Norway; in fact, it is a very modern and civilized country. If you want to see polar bears, you can visit Svalbard; a Norwegian archipelago located between Norway and the North Pole, where there are more polar bears than there are people.
You’ll pay in Norwegian Krone
The currency used here is Norwegian Krone (NOK). So, don’t travel here with only Euro as you won’t get far, although they are sometimes accepted. Recently, the Norwegian Krone has been weakened, so you’re likely to be able to exchange dollars, pounds or Euro for cheaper than you would expect just a couple of years ago. And, bear in mind that paying with cash in Norway is becoming less and less common. You can get pretty much anything with a credit or debit card – including food from stalls, or booking a taxi.
English is widely spoken
If you don’t know any Norwegian, then don’t worry – it’s hard to find a native here who isn’t fluent in English as well. The majority of Norwegians will speak English well, although it can be nice to learn a few basic words – many will appreciate it if you’re able to say hello, please or thank you to them in their native language.
It’s one of the safest countries worldwide
Norway is well-known as one of the safest countries in the world, with crime rates extremely low even in the major cities like Oslo, Trondheim, Bergen, and Stavanger. As with any urban area, it's worth taking some precautions, but there’s absolutely no reason to be afraid. Even walking along during the night is relatively safe and there’s a low risk of becoming a victim of a crime.
Try a cruise if you want to see as much as possible
Norwegian cruises have become increasingly popular recently and for good reason; there’s so much that you can see from a ship! Norway cruises offer a wide range of options with something available for everybody whether you want to see the fjords, try and catch a viewing of the Northern Lights or explore the various ports around the country.
Explore by rail
If staying on the land is more for you, then it’s worth checking out the Norwegian rail networks. You can get a train to pretty much anywhere in the country for a reasonable price and there are even trains running on Norwegian Railways to other Scandinavian countries, if you want to extend your trip. Sweden is just a few hours away by train – easy for a day trip!
With stunning fjords, glaciers and amazing countryside scenery, it’s no surprise that many people will agree that Norway is one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
