Tips for your trip to Norway

Welcome to a blog post with a difference. Until now, you've probably always read posts on the topic of personal development. But today, we're talking about traveling and planning a trip to the far north. I'm currently traveling in Norway and have realized that I've learned so much about the country and how best to travel here over the last few days that I just wanted to share my tips. Maybe you're also drawn to the north, in which case you'll have a good foundation to build on. I spent hours researching before my trip. I want to save you that effort. So enjoy reading!

Choosing your travel dates

What should you know before traveling to Norway? The first thing that comes to mind is that you should be aware of the travel seasons. I am here now at the end of August, beginning of September, and it is pleasantly quiet, but at the same time, many shops have already closed. This is because Norwegians have summer vacation until mid-August, and after that, the off-season begins. I found it a bit of a shame that I couldn't visit a certain café or shops in Lærdalsøyri, for example, because they had already closed. In the Lustrafjord valley, most cafés were also “temporarily closed,” as Google says. On the other hand, a huge advantage is that I have the places all to myself, there are few tourists, and I have always been able to find accommodation or a free table in a café on the spur of the moment. And, of course, the off-season prices apply, which makes it even more attractive.

Another important point: the temperatures. I had planned to travel with a tent, which I did. However, in certain areas it is already too cold for camping at this time of year, in my opinion. I was in Hardangervidda, a national park in the high mountains, where it was 7 °C during the day and at least 5 °C at night. Winter clothes were a must. Another big advantage of the later season is that the mosquitoes are mostly gone, because they don't like the cold and are most active in summer, i.e. July and August. If you want to avoid the swarms of mosquitoes, it's better to come before or after, or bring good mosquito spray with you! Nevertheless, you won't be able to escape them completely in autumn either.

So what to do? First, think about what is important to you, i.e., temperatures, prices, opening hours, etc., and then book the period accordingly. Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. I am quite happy with my period from mid-August to early September, but next time I might come a week earlier because of the temperatures. On the other hand, I like it nice and empty :-).

Next step - Plan your journey

How would you like to travel to Norway? By train? By car? By plane? There are so many different ways to get there. I can best tell you about traveling by car, since that's how I did it. I chose this option because I like to be flexible and wanted to be able to move around freely in the countryside. With public transportation, you usually can't get everywhere and are always tied to the connections. I found out at a cabin in Hardangervidda that there is only one bus a day to Stavanger and Oslo, for example, but at least that's something. As I said, I wanted to be independent, so a car was the only option. When I checked the prices for rental campers and cars, I realized that it was too expensive for me and that I would rather drive the route in my own car, especially since I could pack everything I needed or didn't need at home.

There are two ways to travel by car: by land via Copenhagen to Gothenburg and Oslo, or by ferry to Norway, for example to Kristiansand or Stavanger. There are also other ferry connections, for example to Oslo or Bergen. The longer you travel by ferry, the more expensive it will be, of course, and on some routes you will also have to book a cabin. I decided to travel from Hirtshals in Denmark to Kristiansand in Norway. The price was €106 per trip with Colorline. I recommend booking as early as possible. I once waited four days and then the price was €156 instead of €106... well, that was unfortunate. On the return trip, however, the price remained unchanged for weeks until shortly before departure. I could have waited longer. I assume that this is also related to demand and the season. The crossing took about 3 hours, plus about 1.5 hours waiting time before departure and then more waiting time while the cars were unloaded. Overall, however, the journey went quickly and everything was very straightforward. You register digitally in advance and then simply drive there. You only have to show your ID card at a counter once before you are allowed onto the premises. Incidentally, you can also book a flex ticket for an additional charge of around €25 (with Colorline) to choose your travel dates flexibly or even cancel your trip. If you want to travel overland via Copenhagen, you have to bear in mind that you also have to pay for the Öresund Bridge, which at around €60 is not exactly cheap. In terms of cost and time, the ferry is certainly a good option in comparison. Another recommendation would be to arrive at your destination the day before the ferry and find accommodation nearby so that you can travel to the ferry relaxed the next day. I always arrived at the ferry about 1.5 hours before departure, which worked out great.

Before you travel to Norway, you should definitely register your vehicle at epass24.de. This is because tolls are billed through this service. You specify a payment method and the amount is then automatically charged. It works a little differently for the ferries on the fjords. Apparently, photos are taken of the license plates and you receive an invoice in the mail a few weeks later. I have never paid anything on site and am waiting for the mail.

How and where to sleep?

Everyone would probably answer this question differently. In Norway, you can find everything from fancy accommodations for several hundred euros per night in modern or historic hotels or private apartments to free wild camping alone in the great outdoors or at a beautiful viewpoint with many other van travelers. If you're traveling by camper, you can always stop at parking bays and wake up at the most beautiful spots. Of course, you have to keep looking for these spots and also find a free space. I have sometimes seen several campers parked in every side street.

Another option is to book regular accommodation, but I can tell you that this is expensive in Norway, especially if you don't share it. Cheaper options are cabins at campsites. These start at around €60 per night (give or take) and are quite simply furnished. If you decide to go for this option, don't forget to bring your own bedding and sheets, otherwise you'll have to rent them for around €7 per set.

Another option is to sleep in a camper or tent at a campsite. Pitches here usually cost around €18–25 per night. There are beautiful campsites here surrounded by nature, right by the water, where you don't feel like you're at a campsite. My first spot was very special and I was really lucky to be able to camp in a small bay all to myself. The spots are usually very spacious, Norwegians keep their distance, and I was free to choose where I wanted to stay. 

Another option is to spend the night in your car or tent in the great outdoors, known as wild camping. That sounds easier than it is, because finding suitable spots is not that easy, at least in my experience. But I may be able to report on that in more detail in a separate post, as there is a lot to tell.

One last option that comes to mind is the larger staffed cabins with lots of beds or the cabins in the great outdoors run by the Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT), which you can book. I'll definitely report on that separately as well. I stayed at a large hut near Haukeli in Hardangervidda and really enjoyed it, especially the sauna and hot tub with a fantastic view, right by the mountain lake!

Driving in Norway

Now that we've covered sleeping, let's talk about driving. There are a few things to keep in mind. When traveling in Norway, you will encounter tunnels that are several kilometers long. I have also driven through the Lærdal Tunnel, the longest road tunnel in the world at 25 km. This is certainly not for everyone, especially if you are prone to claustrophobia. Some tunnels go through the mountains and some go under the fjords. You'll also find yourself driving up and down steep switchbacks, and in some places the roads are so narrow that only one car or truck can pass at a time. I once had to back up into a wider section of the road so that a truck could pass me. I don't want to scare you, it wasn't a problem for me, but if you're renting a camper for the first time and don't feel comfortable with the dimensions, you should be aware that you'll have to squeeze past trucks and cars every now and then. However, most roads are quite “normal” and well-maintained, and I only experienced this in some places in the mountains.

Another important point: take speed limits seriously. Norwegians tend to drive very precisely according to the speedometer, and the reason for this is the relatively high fines here in Norway. A Norwegian told me that the fine here is around NOK 1,000, i.e. around €80, and if you exceed the speed limit by 20 km/h, the fine rises to around €400. In Germany, it doesn't hurt your wallet quite as much. My cruise control makes it easier for me, as I unfortunately tend to exceed the speed limit ;-). We'll see in a few weeks if I've been caught – fingers crossed. People generally drive much slower here than in Germany. On country roads and highways, the speed limit is 110 km/h, but usually 80 km/h, and in the city it's always 50 km/h. In tunnels, the speed is often reduced to 70 km/h. So be sure to stick to it!

The topic of refueling should also be addressed. Norway is quite sparsely populated compared to Germany, so it can sometimes take a while to find the next gas station. And if you're unlucky and the gas station only accepts Visa and you only have a Mastercard, then you'll have to drive on and hope that the next gas station will accept your card. I therefore recommend having several credit or debit cards and bearing in mind that a sum equivalent to a full tank of fuel will be “blocked” on the card. This means that when you go to refuel, the machine assumes that you want to fill up and reserves the corresponding amount on your card. The next day, the amount of your actual fuel purchase is usually debited, and then it takes a few more days or even weeks (yes, I'm currently waiting for two cancellations...) for the reserved amount to be released again. So if you fill up four times and it reserves around €100 each time and then debits the actual amount you spent, it adds up. So be sure to factor this into your budget!

And one more point on the subject of refueling: the further north you go, the fewer gas stations there are. I once heard the recommendation to simply refuel when the tank is half empty, just to be on the safe side. That has worked well for me so far. Because when you're driving up and down in the mountains, the tank empties even faster. If I had driven further north, I would have taken an empty fuel canister with me (empty, because a full one would certainly not be welcome on the ferry) and filled it with 10 liters. Just in case of an emergency. I read about someone who once had to take a very long detour because a pass by the fjord was closed. And then they ran out of gas. So just think ahead.

And the pricing here is a mystery. It varies greatly from gas station to gas station, even when they are right next to each other. I'm talking about differences of 20 cents or more per liter. I just made sure to fill up when the tank was about half empty and it was cheaper. Cheap would be the wrong word here! The price was usually around 220–260 NOK for a liter of E10, which corresponds to about 1.90–2.25 €, and in the cheapest case, 190 NOK, which is what I saw. Driving a car here is an expensive hobby!

Food and eating out

As I said, Norway is an expensive country, but it also has high standards. On my first day, I hesitated in the supermarket and bought almost nothing because I was so shocked by the prices. My plan was to live on oatmeal and pasta for the next few weeks. A cucumber for €2.20, a handful of cherry tomatoes for €4! Are you serious? In the meantime, I've come to terms with it. I also visited five supermarkets in one day, all of which were only a few minutes apart, and saw how they differed. The assortment was surprisingly different in all of them. For example, I only found my oat milk at Spar. If you're vegan, you'll have a particularly hard time here, at least if you're looking for substitute products. It seems to me that there is significantly less choice overall and that certain things are simply not available. That means improvising and creatively making the best of what's available.

So how can you save money on food? The cheapest option is still to cook for yourself. The classic camping meal of pasta with tomato sauce costs the same here as it does in Germany. I brought a whole basket of food with me from home, although I have to say that oatmeal, rice, and pasta are not the main focus. Fruit, vegetables, and sweets, on the other hand, are expensive. A bag of Haribo costs around €4 here, and classic chocolate cookies cost almost €6. So I would pack sweets if that's important to you. This is certainly related to the “sugar tax” in Scandinavia, which is added to the regular price. Health is a big deal here, and what's bad for your body should come at a price. On the other hand, it's cheaper to pick out your own gummy bears and the like at the “self-service stand” with a scoop. There, 100g costs €1.50, for example, which is more than fair. Plus, you can try everything out here.

Eating out here is ***expensive (please fill in yourself). At the cabin where I stayed, a vegetarian (!) burger would have cost at least €20, and even a pizza was almost the same price. I have since found out that these were actually very good prices. My breakfast there cost me about €15—I treated myself. Eating out here is a luxury compared to German prices. Even in a café, you pay about €4 for a cinnamon bun and probably the same again for coffee. As I said, everything is just more expensive.

Network coverage, roaming, and apps

The internet is extremely important to me! I love staying in touch with friends and family and posting my articles and stories here. I absolutely need the internet. The internet here is fantastic, and you can even get 5G coverage in most tunnels. Amazing! To be honest, I've never had no signal here, except occasionally in a tunnel or deep in the mountains, far away from roads. You can also check the network coverage online at Telia, Norway's largest network provider. You'll be surprised at how good it is and wish we had the same in our cities in Germany!

You can tell that the internet is very important to Norwegians. Wi-Fi has never been an issue here, except here in my cabin. Poor reception, but okay. So if you come to Norway, I would simply make sure you have enough data volume with you, because with the roaming regulations you can usually use it for free. The most beautiful login passwords I've come across: “Ta der roig” = “Take it easy” and ‘Levlivet’ = “Live your life!”. For my tips in the mountains, I've also equipped myself with a GPS device that I can use to send text messages and emails, just in case. But more on that in my other blog post on hiking in Norway.

There are a few apps (for iPhone) that I can recommend. I would definitely start by downloading an offline map from Google Maps to your phone to save your data allowance. I always enter the places I want to see so that I can flexibly pick something suitable, like from a menu. I also have the ADAC Drive app so that I can see gas stations in addition to Google Maps and compare prices in Germany. For the weather, I recommend the “JR” app from the Scandinavian Weather Institute, which I've seen many people using here. I always have “Ventusky” with me, as I like the map display and especially the radar. My friends know that I like to dodge thunderstorms with it ;-).

For booking accommodation, I have “Airbnb” and “Booking.com” with me. I usually picked something at short notice when it was too cold for me to camp. “Park4Night” might be interesting for you if you are looking for campsites with your camper. Some wild camping sites are even listed by users. I even tested one of them and found it to be very good!

To book larger or smaller cabins from DNT, the Norwegian Hiking Association, I have the “UT” app with me so I can view cabins and hiking routes. You can then book the cabins using the “Hyttebetaling” app. I also discovered the “Norgeskart” app, which provides a good overview of Norway and includes an option to download maps offline.

To keep track of my travel expenses, I use “Tripcoin” and am very happy with it because I can also assign my expenses to categories. I just love good evaluations and graphics. This helps me keep track of things and can be very effective in maintaining control over my own actions.

About the weather and temperatures

Yes, the weather. I don't have THE experience in Norway yet, but I can report on my last 2.5 weeks here. I've had everything from 19 degrees and sunshine with swimming in mountain lakes and feet in the sea, to 5 degrees Celsius, wrapped up in fleece and a winter hat... and also swimming in mountain lakes – haha, no joke. You have to know that Norway is very, very mountainous, and the higher you go, the colder it gets. The temperatures vary enormously here. I found that it was warmest on the coast and by the fjords, e.g., 16 °C, and at the same time it was coldest on the plateau, e.g., only 8 °C. So you should definitely bring a variety of clothes, from moderately warm to freezing cold.

And before I left, I got a great tip from a Norwegian. He recommended that I plan my route spontaneously and see which side of the mountain range has better weather. This is because Norway is crossed from north to south by a high mountain range. And it was indeed the case that the weather was really bad on the west coast for a long time, whereas on the east side of the mountain range, where I was, it was great. Unfortunately, that changed after about a week. In any case, the tip was worth its weight in gold. So it's best to check a weather app with a map display from time to time to see where the weather is “stuck” and then choose your itinerary flexibly.

Since it can rain heavily in Norway, I definitely recommend a good rain jacket or, for hiking, rain pants or a rain hat. And waterproof shoes. My everyday shoes always get soaked through after a while, which isn't very pleasant.

Oh, and another important thing: if you're traveling to Norway in the fall, expect snow in the highlands. That means winter tires are definitely better than summer tires. And in winter, there are also many areas where you'll need snow chains. I've seen signs for places to put on chains again and again.

Do I need cash?

The question I asked myself at the beginning, and one I am asked again and again: Do I need cash in Norway? You have to understand that since I lived in Copenhagen, I have never gone back to using cash. As a result, I am chronically “broke” – ask my friends and family, who I ask for cash when I need it ;-). Electronic payments are just too convenient. And Scandinavians love electronic payments. This means that you NEVER need cash and it's rather unusual if you want to pay in cash. There are even restaurants that have explicitly written on the door that you CANNOT pay with cash here. This is the exact opposite of Germany, where it often says: No card payments possible.

The only exceptions I encountered on my trip were coins for showers at campsites or for lockers at the swimming pool in the form of 1 krone. And a friend who loves Norway recommended that I take some cash with me, as there are always campsites where you have to pay in cash in an envelope because they are not personally supervised. I haven't come across a campsite of this kind yet, but I was prepared for it. I can imagine that this becomes more common the further north or the more remote you go. I'm now taking my cash home with me again, or rather, I tried to “get rid of” it at the supermarket. This is one of the few places that still accepts cash.

As mentioned, ferries and toll stations are recorded electronically via a camera. And for parking spaces, you can pay via the “EasyPark” app or autopay.no. With Autopay, you have to register in advance. The advantage is that there is probably no processing fee, as is the case with Easypark. This means you simply drive into the parking garage and later enter your license plate number into the machine. Then you drive out again and the fee is charged electronically. I highly recommend installing the Easypark app, because it is becoming increasingly common in Germany and Austria, as I have experienced myself. As someone who is chronically “cashless,” I am very happy about this development.

A few leisure tips

I'm not referring to specific attractions here, but rather tips on equipment so that you can experience everything Norway has to offer. I really wanted to spend the night in a cabin or even go on a cabin tour, i.e., a tour from cabin to cabin, instead of visiting a tourist hotspot. If you want to immerse yourself in nature and experience silence, this would definitely be something for you. As I said, more about hiking in a separate post.

There aren't many baths, but there are some here and there. I heard from a friend that swimming caps were mandatory in one of the baths, but that wasn't the case in the last bath I visited. It seems to vary from municipality to municipality. That means it's better to pack one if you already have one.

You should definitely bring swimwear for the sauna. I haven't seen people go naked in the sauna here, as is usually the case where I come from, where swimwear is even prohibited. You should also remember to bring a large sauna towel and slippers, and possibly a hat for the hot tub at the mountain lake.

What I couldn't get enough of here were freshly baked kanelbullar! Oh my God! So good! They were made fresh every day at my cabin and then served from 10 a.m. The whole restaurant smelled of them. A few days ago, I went to a bakery to drink coffee and spontaneously bought some freshly baked carrot bread. They know how to bake here, and you can get coffee everywhere.

If you have a stand-up paddleboard at home, be sure to pack it. There are so many beautiful fjords and mountain lakes with calm waters here that you would regret not going out on the water in this breathtaking setting. Otherwise, you can always rent boards and boats. And in winter, of course, pack your skis or snowboard, because there are fantastic ski resorts here! I definitely want to come back here to ski again.

Go with the flow

In general, I would recommend not planning everything in advance, but rather being open to whatever comes your way and being a little more flexible. There are so many beautiful places here that you might want to stay longer. Or the weather might change for the better and you might decide to go on that hike in the mountains after all. I would also allow plenty of time for the journeys from A to B, as everything is so beautiful that you will certainly want to stop at least 10 times along the way to enjoy the view and take photos. There are numerous viewpoints along the roads where you can park easily, some of which have toilets and benches for resting. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration also has a map showing beautiful scenic routes (https://www.nasjonaleturistveger.no/de/). There are also frequent signs along the way pointing out beautiful routes and viewpoints. I can definitely recommend them!

So, that's it from me with what is probably the longest blog post I've ever written. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it and that it helps you prepare for your trip to Norway. Feel free to leave a comment below or ask any questions you may have. Sending you warm greetings from Norway!