General information about Norway

Norway has a lot to offer visitors all year round. In the winter, tourists can enjoy fabulous skiing areas for both downhill and cross country skiing. The summer has long light nights and enjoyable activities in beautiful scenery. 

Facts about Norway

Norway is a member of the Schengen agreement, which allows you to travel between Schengen countries without passport controls. 

Norway is one of the few countries in the world that actually has four seasons, which creates opportunities for many interesting adventures and makes Norway an attractive destination all year round. Temperature variations are great, especially in the North. The annual mean temperature in Norway ranges from about 8°C on the west coast to below 0°C in the high mountains. The coldest time of the year is January and February, and the warmest period is mid-July, although it will be somewhat later on the coast and the mountains than inland.

Norway’s climate is different from the rest of Scandinavia, particularly because of the high mountains. The mountain range that cuts through mainland Norway, makes the climate in the eastern part much drier and gives it a more continental feel than the actual distance from the coast would suggest.

Compared with other places of the same latitude, such as Alaska, Greenland and Siberia, Norway has a rather mild climate thanks to the Gulf Stream. 

Public right of access to the outdoors is part of Norway's cultural heritage, set forth in the Outdoor recreation act of 1957.

The Act permits various activities on untilled land (not cultivated fields, pasture or new stands of trees) and also imposes obligations. Observing its straightforward provisions ensures continued public right of access.

You are allowed to:
- Walk and hike in summer and ski in winter on land and sail along the coast year round.
- Pick berries, flowers and mushrooms.
- Pick nuts eaten on the spot.
- Camp for two days at one place.
- Bathe and swim in the sea and in lakes.
- Ramble on foot or cycle on trails and roads.
- Build a fire in winter (15 September - 15 April).
- Children up to age 15 need no licence to fish in fresh water and, with some restrictions, may fish with tackle in salt water. 

You should not:
- Litter or discard rubbish outdoors.
- Break off branches or otherwise damage live bushes or trees.
- Cross or stay on tilled land, meadows, garden, house plots or farmyards in summer.
- Build a fire in wooded areas in summer (15 April - 15 September).
- Disturb animals or birds, including nests and nestlings.
- Take eggs from nests.
- Protected areas and preserves can have restrictions that protect plant and animal life by prohibiting access or picking. 

Contact the landowner
It's wise to contact the landowner if you plan an organized trip crossing or intend to camp several days at one place on his/her land. Several associations have benefited by taking along the landowner as a local tour guide.

Further information
The Directorate for Nature Management website at www.dirnat.no (click on "English") offers further information on the Public right of access, including seven downloadable (PDF format) brochures in English.

The currency is Norwegian Kroner (NOK).

Bureaux de Change at Stavanger Airport: Sparebank 1 SR-Bank. ATMs dispense Norwegian money and foreign money.

Use of credit cards is very widespread in Norway, and they are accepted almost everywhere. Eurocard, Visa, American Express and Diners Club are the most common. However, not all petrol stations accept them, so make sure that you carry an appropriate amount of cash. Also consult your credit card company for where it can be used and for other services.
Travellers’ cheques are accepted, and should be bought before departure.

Norwegian is the official language of Norway, but English is generally understood and Swedish and Danish are good. Most younger people have very good command of spoken English. Some basic French and German are not unusual either. In Finnmark signs and public information are also in Sami. 

Most shops in Norway are open 10 am – 5/6 pm Monday to Friday, and 10 am – 3/4 pm on Saturday. Closed Sundays. In most cities smaller shops are open to 7 pm on Thursdays. Shopping centres are open 10 am – 8 pm Monday to Friday, and 10 am – 6 pm on Saturdays. 

Banks are usually open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 3.30 (often 9 am – 5 pm on Thursdays). From mid-May to the end of August some banks close at 3 pm. Banks are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. 

Norway has 220V AC of 50 Hertz. Electric appliances use round, continental style two pin plugs.

In emergencies you can call:
110 Fire
112 Police
113 Ambulance

Smoking is prohibited in all restaurants, pubs, clubs and public areas in Norway, but many have outdoor seating during the summer. In the winter there are often patio heaters and shelter from the weather. 

Tax free quota of alcohol: 2 litres of beer, 1 litre of spirits (maximum 60%) and 1 litre of wine (maximum 22%).
OR: 2 litres of beer and 2 litres of wine (but no spirits).

Tax free quota of tobacco: 200 cigarettes or 200 cigarette papers and 250 grams of rolling tobacco.

NB! You have to be over 20 years of age to import spirits, and over 18 years old to import wine, beer and cigarettes.

A maximum of 3 kilograms of meat can be brought from EEA countries. The meat must be labelled with country of origin. You can import up to 10 kg of agricultural produce (dairy, grain, flour, feedstock, fruit, berries, vegetables, hay and plants). Potatoes and plants for growing cannot be imported without a special permit. You can bring medicines for personal use, and you should bring a statement from your doctor to show that you require the medicine.

The Directorate of Customs and Excise can provide more information on customs regulations. 

Source: Oslo Lufthavn AS