Moving to Norway Forums

Norway Information · Joined: 21 Oct 2006 Posts: 17 Home Country: norway

GETTING AROUND IN NORWAY

AIR

The best way to get around Norway is to take advantage of air passes that apply to the whole region. If you're traveling extensively, special European passes are available.

SAS's "Visit Scandinavia" Fare -- The vast distances encourage air travel between Norway's far-flung points. One of the most worthwhile promotions is SAS's Visit Scandinavia Pass. Available only to travelers who fly SAS across the Atlantic, it includes up to six coupons, each of which is valid for any SAS flight within or between Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Each coupon costs 69£ or 57€ ($110), a price that's especially appealing when you consider that an economy-class ticket between Stockholm and Copenhagen can cost as much as $250 each way. The pass is especially valuable if you plan to travel to the far northern frontiers of Sweden or Norway; in that case, the savings over the price of a regular economy-class ticket can be substantial.

Within Norway -- Norway has excellent air service. In addition to SAS, two independent airways, Braathens and Wideroe Flyveselskap, provide quick and convenient ways to get around a large country with many hard-to-reach areas. All three airlines offer reduced rates available when booked outside Norway, known as "minifares."

Braathens -- In a partnership with SAS, Braathens (tel. 67-12-20-70 in Oslo, or 55-23-55-23 in Bergen; www.braathens.no) carries more passengers on domestic routes than any other airline in Norway. It has regularly scheduled flights inside Norway, linking major cities as well as more remote places not covered by other airlines. Its air routes directly link Oslo with all major Norwegian cities; it also offers frequent flights along the coast, from Oslo to Tromsø and to Longyearbyen on the island of Spitsbergen.

You might also inquire about the Northern Light Pass, which provides discounts and is valid for 1 month between May and September. There are two sets of fares. Flights between airports in northern Norway are short journeys, and the one-way fare for pass-holders is $86. Flights from south Norway to north Norway or vice versa count as long journeys, and the one-way fare is $161. The Visit Norway Pass is sold by airlines that have agreements with Braathens airlines.

SAS -- Regularly scheduled domestic flights on SAS (tel. 81-00-33-00 in Oslo) crisscross Norway. They connect Bergen, Oslo, Trondheim, and Bodø. SAS also flies to the Arctic gateway of Tromsø; to Alta in Finnmark, the heart of Lapland; and to Kirkenes, near the Russian border.

Other Airlines -- Linked to the SAS reservations network, Wideroe (www.wideroe.no) specializes in STOL (short takeoff and landing) aircraft. It services rarely visited fishing communities on offshore islands, isolated fjord communities, and destinations north of the Arctic Circle. For more information or tickets, contact SAS or local travel agents in Norway.

RAIL

Norway's network of electric and diesel-electric trains runs as far as Bodø, 100km (62 miles) north of the Arctic Circle. (Beyond that, visitors must take a coastal steamer, plane, or bus to Tromsø and the North Cape.) Recently upgraded express trains (the fastest in the country) crisscross the mountainous terrain between Oslo, Stavanger, Bergen, and Trondheim. For information and reservations, log on to the Norwegian State Railways (NSB) site at www.nsb.no.

The most popular, and the most scenic, run covers the 483km (300 miles) between Oslo and Bergen. Visitors with limited time often choose this route for its fabled mountains, gorges, white-water rivers, and fjords. The trains make frequent stops for passengers to enjoy breathtaking views.

Second-class travel on Norwegian trains is recommended. In fact, second class in Norway is as good as or better than first-class travel anywhere else in Europe, with reclining seats and lots of unexpected comforts. Of course, first-class train travel in Norway is better, though not necessarily that much better than second class. For those who want the added comforts, and can afford it, first-class is the way to go.

The one-way second-class fare from Oslo to Bergen is 670NOK ($95), plus a mandatory seat reservation of 25NOK ($3.55). Another popular run, from Oslo to Trondheim, costs 720NOK ($102) one-way in second class. First class from Oslo to Bergen costs 745NOK ($106) and from Oslo to Trondheim 823NOK ($117).

One of the country's obviously scenic trips, from Bergen to Bodø, is not possible by train because of the terrain. Trains to Bodø leave from Oslo. Express trains are called Expresstog, and you have to read the fine print of a railway schedule to figure out whether an Expresstog is much faster than a conventional train.

On express and other major trains, you must reserve seats at the train's starting station. Sleepers are priced according to the number of berths in each compartment. Children 4 to 15 years of age and seniors pay 50% of the regular adult fare. Group and midweek tickets are also available.

There are special compartments for persons with disabilities on most medium- and long-distance trains. People in wheelchairs and others with physical disabilities, and their companions, may use the compartments. Some long-distance trains offer special playrooms ("Kiddie-Wagons") for children, complete with toys, games, and books.

Norway-Rail Pass -- A restricted rail pass applicable only to the state railway lines, the Norway Rail Pass is available for 7 or 14 consecutive days of unlimited rail travel in 1 month, or any 3 days of travel within 1 month. It's suitable for anyone who wants to cover the long distances that separate Norwegian cities. The pass is available in North America through Rail Europe (tel. 800/848-7245; www.raileurope.com). The costs are $209 for adults in first class for any 3 days in 1 month; $244 in first class for any 4 days in 1 month; and $279 in first class for any 5 days in 1 month. Children 4 to 15 years of age pay half the adult fare. Those under 4 ride free.

Minirpis Tickets -- NSB's regional trains offer unlimited travel for 150NOK ($20), no matter what your destination: from Geilo, to Trondheim, to even Bodø in the north. The offer is valid for a limited number of seats. You can purchase the ticket by logging on to www.nsb.no. Tickets are often sold out, so make reservations as soon as possible. At this price, tickets are not refundable and a change of reservation is not possible. A supplement of 75NOK ($10) will grant you access to the NSB "Komfort Class" section.

BUS

Where the train or coastal steamer stops, passengers can usually continue on a scenic bus ride. Norway's bus system is excellent, linking remote villages along the fjords. Numerous all-inclusive motor-coach tours, often combined with steamer travel, leave from Bergen and Oslo in the summer. The train ends in Bodø; from there you can get a bus to Fauske (63km/39 miles east). From Fauske, the Polar Express bus spans the entire distance along the Arctic Highway, through Finnmark (Lapland) to Kirkenes near the Russian border and back. The segment from Alta to Kirkenes is open only from June to October, but there's year-round service from Fauske to Alta. Passengers are guaranteed hotel accommodations along the way.

Buses have air-conditioning, toilets, adjustable seats, reading lights and a telephone. Reservations are not accepted on most buses, and payment is made to the driver onboard. Fares depend on the distance traveled. Children under 4 travel free, and children 4 to 16 and seniors pay half price. For the Oslo-Sweden-Hammerfest "Express 2000," a 30-hour trip, reservations must be made in advance.

For more information about bus travel in Norway, contact Norway Buss Ekspress AS, Karl Johans Gate (tel. 81-54-44-44; www.nor-way.no) in Oslo.

CAR & FERRY

Dazzling scenery awaits you at nearly every turn if you drive through Norway. Some roads are less than perfect (dirt or gravel are frequent), but all are passable (you'll even be able to drive to the North Cape). Most mountain roads are open by May 1; the so-called motoring season lasts from mid-May to the end of September. In western Norway hairpin curves are common, but if you're willing to settle for doing less than 240km (about 150 miles) a day, you needn't worry. The easiest and most convenient touring territory is in and around Oslo and south to Stavanger.

Bringing a car into Norway is relatively uncomplicated. If you own the car you're driving, you must present your national driver's license, car registration, and proof that the car is insured. (This proof usually takes the form of a document known as a "Green Card," which Customs agents will refer to specifically.) If you've rented a car in another country and want to drive it into Norway, be sure to verify at the time of rental that the registration and insurance documents are in order -- they probably will be.

If you're driving through any of Norway's coastal areas, you'll probably have to traverse one or many of the country's famous fjords. Although more and more bridges are being built, Norway's network of privately run ferries is essential for transporting cars across hundreds of fjords and estuaries. Motorists should ask the tourist bureau for the free map Norway by Car and a timetable outlining the country's dozens of car-ferry services. The cost for cars and passengers is low.

Rentals -- Avis, Budget, and Hertz offer well-serviced, well-maintained fleets of rental cars in Norway. The major competitors' prices tend to be roughly equivalent, except for promotional deals scheduled from time to time.

The prices quoted here include the 23% government tax. At Budget (www.budget.com), the cheapest car is a cramped but peppy Ford Ka that rents for $421 a week with unlimited mileage. Hertz (www.hertz.com) charges $429 a week, with unlimited mileage, for its VW Lupo. Avis (www.avis.com) charges around $473 for its cheapest car, a Hyundai Altso. Despite pressure from the telephone sales representative, it pays to ask questions before you commit to a prepaid reservation. Each company maintains an office at the Oslo airport, in the center of Oslo, and at airports and city centres elsewhere around the country.

Note: Remember that prices and the relative merits of each company can and will change during the lifetime of this edition, depending on promotions and other factors.

Winter Motoring in Norway--If you're going to drive in Norway in winter, you must be prepared for the conditions. Most of the main roads are kept open by snowplows year-round, but the road surface will often be hard-packed snow and ice. Journey times will be much longer than in summer, 50km (31 miles) per hour is a typical average, and in bad weather there can be long delays over mountain passes. Most Norwegians use winter tires with metal studs, which cope well in most conditions and come with all rental cars. Temperatures as low as 25°F (-3°C) are common. A good ice scraper and snow brush are essential, as is a diesel engine.

Taxi --There are different taxi companies in Norway and the service is good. All taxis in Norway accept the most common credit cards such as Visa, American Express, Diners Club, and Eurocard/Mastercard. There is a set price from Oslo International Airport to the city centre.

SEA

The fjords of western Norway are among the most beautiful sights in Europe. For a seagoing view, nothing beats the indomitable steamer ships that carry mail, supplies, and passengers. If you have the time and enjoy an offbeat adventure, you can book a 12-day, all-inclusive round-trip steamer trip from Bergen to Kirkenes (one of the northernmost ports). It covers some 4,023km (2,500 miles) of jagged, scenic coastline.

Because of the long distances, steamers are equipped with cabins similar to those on a transatlantic liner. Depending on the accommodations and the time of year, cabins cost $1,250 to $6,538 per person, double occupancy, for the 12-day round-trip excursion. Because sailings in June, July, and August are the most expensive, many visitors choose a spring or autumn trip. All meals are included in the price. Children under 12 receive a 25% discount on round-trip voyages. During special periods travelers over age 67 may be eligible for discounts. Steamers make scheduled stops in hamlets and cities along the way, ranging from half an hour to half a day. Passengers who prefer to spend more time in selected cities usually choose port-to-port tickets, for which children under 12 receive a special rate. Be warned, however, that booking cabins on a port-to-port basis from May to August is often extremely difficult because of the popularity of these cruises. Cruises are available even in winter -- the Norwegian coast is famous for remaining ice-free all year.


Regions South America North America Middle East Europe Eastern Europe Asia Pacific Africa Countries Spain Netherlands Ireland France England Others Contact Us Advertise with Us Policy Norway News Send This Page