Norway Travel Facts & Tips

ATM Availability	Available

Captial City	Oslo

Dialing Code	(00) 47

Emergency Numbers	Ambulance and fire 110, police 112

Weather	Despite its location in the far north, the climate in Norway is temperate, which is caused by the warming effects of the Gulf Stream that flows along its coast. The interior highlands are dominated by an Arctic type of climate: in the winter there is snow, strong winds and severe frosts; but during summer, the daytime temperatures can rise above 30°C with long hours of sunshine. The coastal areas have relatively mild winter conditions. Expect to get rain and clouds along the west coast, especially in winter; also, rainfall is frequent and rather heavy. In summer, the lowland area around Oslo is the driest and warmest part of Norway.

Tourist Board website	http://www.visitnorway.com

Most Famous For	Vikings, cod, Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree

Useful Phrases	Hei (hello), ya (yes); nei (no); takk (thank you)

Accommodation	All over Norway there are the usual large hotels which are part of big hotel groups. You’ll also find privately run hotels alongside the big chains, many of them still being family-run establishments. Note that there is a Nordic Passepartout which is a pan-Scandinavian card that is accepted by over 50 hotels in the country (during the main summer period and on weekends), with which you get great discounts. There is no grading system in Norway, such as the usual star-rating system that you have in most other countries, but establishments that call themselves turisthotel or høyfjellshotell must meet specified standards. Bed and Breakfasts, guest houses (pensjonat) and mountain lodges are generally smaller and offer more basic facilities than hotels; they are available throughout the country. A rorbu is a hut or shelter normally used by fishermen during the winter fishing season. They generally are equipped with all the necessary facilities, and these can be rented during the summer, providing a cheap and very unusual form of accommodation. There are over 1000 authorised campsites in Norway and these (by contrast to hotels) are generally rated in the 1 - 5 star system. Rates awarded are dependent on the standards of the campsites and available amenities. In uninhabited areas, offsite camping is permitted; however, fires are illegal in field/woodland areas between 15 April and 15 September. If you want to camp on farmland, you must ask the farmer for permission. There are over 100 youth hostels all over Norway, and some of them are open all year round, while others are open only during the summer season. Groups should always book in advance. Also, note that although everybody is welcome, members of the Norwegian Youth Hostel Association (NUH), or similar international associations have priority. These international membership cards can be bought at most youth hostels.

Business Hours	Banks are open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 08.15-15.00/15.30 and Thursdays 08.15-17.00. Shops are typically open Monday - Friday 09.00-16.00/17.00 (although on Thursdays some stay open until 18.00/20.00). Shops close earlier on Saturdays typically having opening hours of 09.00-13.00/15.00.

Visas	Americans, UK nationals, Canadians, Australians South Africans and New Zealanders do not need a visa for stays up to 90 days. Citizens of the borderless region known as the Schengen area, which includes the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden do not need a visa either.

Tipping	In Norway, a service charge is included at restaurants and bars. However, it is common to leave a tip; generally around 5-10% of the price. It is also not uncommon to tip taxi-drivers or cleaning staff at hotels. However, other service personnel almost never receive tips so don't feel under any obligation.

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