High prices and unpredictable weather: what you need to know before traveling to Norway

t was hard to imagine what could go wrong while traveling in Norway. It is one of the safest countries in the world with a high standard of living, the most friendly and tolerant people, incredible nature and developed tourism. Of course, all of this is true. As well as the fact that there are very high prices for everything, unpredictable weather, high seasonality of travel, many unusual rules and few options to get around them. So here are a few tips on how not to ruin your dream tour of the Scandinavian country.

Book bus and train tickets online

Norway is famous for its extensive public transportation system. Wherever you want to go, you can get there by bus or train. But it should be noted that it is not cheap at all. Therefore, experienced tourists use several life hacks that save them considerable amounts of money.

The first and foremost tip is to always book tickets online. This gives you the opportunity to monitor prices for several days and grab promotional tickets at a lower cost. To do this, you should take care of this issue in advance (at least a month in advance).

Choosing a carrier will be equally important. Not all transport companies in Norway are state-owned, there are many private ones that offer more favorable fares. In particular, the company "Lavprisekspressen" has established itself as a very budgetary company.

Even though bus travel is cheaper, you should take a train ride at least once. This is an incredible experience that you will remember for a long time. The Norwegian railroad network stretches along spacious fjords, dense forests, amazing coastline and high hills. It's well worth a look.

Consider the seasonality of tourism

While most European countries have a high season from May to October, Norway has a much narrower timeframe. Thus, only the period from July to August is suitable for long hikes. In particular, at this time, the most popular national park in the country, Jotunheimen, receives up to 30 thousand tourists.

The same applies to cycling and rafting, which are available only in summer. This is due to the fact that at other times the weather in the country often deteriorates and tourists can face great difficulties on their way, such as stormy winds, rain, sudden cold snap, etc.

Winter sports and entertainment are also quite limited in time. For example, most ski resorts are open only from January to February. Of course, there are exceptions, of course.

As for "hunting" for whales or the northern lights, it also depends on the season. Therefore, ask in advance when this or that entertainment will be available so that you are not left with nothing.

Take a sleeping mask with you

In Norway, in some months, daylight lasts as long as 24 hours a day. This means, first of all, that it will be very uncomfortable for you to sleep. This is especially true in spring and summer.

As a reminder, melatonin, the sleep hormone, is released only in the dark. And not only the duration but also the quality of our rest depends on it.

So don't forget to take an eye mask with you. Make sure it's comfortable, doesn't press down, and doesn't rub. All these seemingly insignificant details are actually very important. They determine how well you will get enough sleep.

Although it should be noted that most hotels in Norway provide their guests with comfortable living conditions. Their rooms have special lightproof curtains that do not let in bright rays. But they don't guarantee complete darkness either.

Do not test the tolerance of Norwegians

The people of Norway are very tolerant and polite. They are always understanding of tourists and the fact that they may not know all the local rules and customs. However, there is no need to test this character trait. If you listen to music loudly at night or speak rudely to the cashier in a store, you will at least be reprimanded. In addition, ordinary passers-by who notice that you are somehow disturbing someone's peace may call the police.

Save money on food

On average, one main course in a more or less decent restaurant in Norway will cost you 50 euros. You must admit that the amount is quite impressive. However, the food here is so delicious that it's worth spending all your money.

But if you have a limited budget, use the following tips. First of all, choose hotels that include breakfast in the room rate. This way, you'll get a large portion of something delicious and won't have to think about food until lunch. Second, you can buy fast food at local markets. It's different from anything you've eaten before because they sell unusual fish and seafood dishes. Another way to save money is to have snacks at gas stations, which always have hot dogs in their shops. And no one has canceled the prepared foods department in supermarkets.

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