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Norway

Overview

The breathtaking fjords of the southwest are Norway’s most dramatic features, but there are many other reasons to visit this sparsely populated land on the northern fringe of Europe. The North Cape’s midnight sun is rightly famous – here, far above the Arctic Circle, lies the spectacularly situated town of Tromsø, where the sun never rises in winter, nor sets in midsummer. And each of Norway’s three major cities offers distinct appeal –Oslo as present-day capital, Bergen as major trading port and Trondheim as long-established centre of Christian pilgrimage.

In the wilderness that lies between the main urban centres are such delights as Jostedalsbreen, Europe’s largest glacier. There are opportunities to indulge in outdoor activities including skiing, hunting, fishing and rock-climbing. Even the less energetic can marvel at the awesome beauty of the Norwegian countryside, with its countless steep-sided valleys, high mountain lakes and unbelievable views.

For those who hike this stunning landscape, there emerges a thrill from following the footsteps of Norwegian ancestors. The known history of the country begins in the 9th century AD. Norway is foremost a land for those who love nature. However, it also offers a rich cultural experience, as would be expected of such varied history, from the Vikings to later luminaries such as artist Edvard Munch.

The Norwegians officially and peacefully dissolved from the Swedish in 1905, finally achieving true independence.

Author

Stuart Bowden

General Information

Northern Europe, Scandinavia.

Area

323,759 sq km (125,004 sq miles).

Population

4.6 million (UN estimate 2005).

Population Density

15 per sq km.

Capital

Oslo. Population: 795,000 (UN estimate 2003).

Government

Constitutional monarchy. Declared independence from Sweden in 1905.

Norway is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by Finland, the Russian Federation and Sweden, to the south by the Skagerrak (which separates it from Denmark) and to the west by the North Sea. The coastline is 2,735km (1,700 miles) long, its most outstanding feature being the fjords. Most of them are between 80 to 160km (50 to 100 miles) long, and are often very deep and surrounded by towering mountains. Much of northern Norway lies beyond the Arctic Circle and the landscape is stark. In the south, the landscape consists of forests with many lakes and rivers.

Language

Norwegian (Bokmål and Nynorsk). Sami is spoken by the Sami population in the north. English is widely spoken.

Religion

Approximately 86% Evangelical Lutherans; plus other Christian denominations.

Time

Norway Mainland: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October). Jan Mayen Islands, Svalbard: GMT + 1.

Social Conventions

Normal courtesies should be observed. It is customary for the guest to refrain from drinking until the host toasts their health. Casual dress is normal. Lunch generally takes place between 1200 and 1300 and dinner usually takes place at 1700. It is customary for an invited guest to offer gifts to the host/hostess of a meal. Punctuality is expected if invited out for dinner. Smoking is prohibited in all public places.

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are of the European round two-pin type.

Head of Government

Prime Minister Kjell Jens Stoltenberg since 2005.

Head of State

King Harald V since 1991.

Passport / Visa

YesNoNoYesNoNoYesNoNoYesNoNo1NoNo

Passport Note

On 25 March 2001 Norway became a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement.

Passports

Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals of countries referred to in the chart above except:
1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.

Note: EU nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU Member State. This evidence can take the form of a valid national passport or national identity card. Either is acceptable. Possession of a return ticket, any length of validity on their document, sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit should not be imposed. Evidence of sufficient funds my be requested of other nationals of countries referred to in the chart above.

Visas

Not required by nationals of countries referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days.

Visa Note

Nationals of countries not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Money

Currency

Norwegian Krone (NOK) = 100 øre. Notes are in denominations of NOK1,000, 500, 200, 100 and 50. Coins are in denominations of NOK20, 10, 5 and 1, and 50 øre.

Currency Exchange

Available at banks and bureaux de change.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

All major credit and debit cards are widely accepted. ATMs are widely available.

Traveller's Cheques

Accepted in banks, hotels, shops and by airlines.

Banking Hours

Mon-Thurs 0900-1600, Fri 0900-1700 and Sat 0900-1200.

Exchange Rate Indicators

Date	Jul 07
£1.00=	NOK11.72
$1.00=	NOK5.82
€1.00=	NOK7.92

Transport

Getting Around By Air

Domestic flights are run by Braathens ASA (BU), Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY), SAS Scandinavian Airlines (SK) and Widerøe’s Flyveselskap (WF). A total of 50 airports with scheduled services exist in the fjord country of western Norway and along the remaining coast. Charter sea or land planes are available at most destinations. Reduced fares are available for families, children under 12 years of age (who pay half price), groups and pensioners. For further information, contact Widerøe Flyveselskap A/S (tel: 8100 1200; website: www.wideroe.no).

Getting Around by Water

All coastal towns are served by ferries, catamarans and hydrofoils. The Hurtigruten (express) from Bergen to Kirkenes (near the Russian border) takes 12 days round trip, leaving daily and stopping at 34 ports on the west coast. Various ferry trips are available (half price in spring and autumn). There are also numerous companies operating cruises on Norway’s spectacular fjords, one of which is Norway Fjord Cruise AS (tel: 5765 6999; website: www.fjordcruise.com).

Getting Around by Rail

All services are run by NSB (Norwegian State Railways) (tel: 8150 0888 (dial ’4’ for an English-speaking operator); website: www.nsb.no). The main internal rail routes are: Oslo–Trondheim (Dovre Line); Trondheim–Bodø (Nordland Railway); Oslo–Bergen (Bergen Railway); and Oslo–Stavanger (Sorland Railway). There are also services to Charlottenburg (Stockholm) and Halden (Malmö) on routes to Sweden.

Seats on express trains must be reserved. There are buffet/restaurant cars on some trains, and sleepers on long-distance overnight services. Heavy luggage may be sent in advance. Children under four years of age travel free; children four to 14 years of age pay half fare.

Rail Passes

InterRail One-Country Pass: offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within Norway. Travel is not allowed in the passenger’s country of residence. Travellers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children’s tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from Rail Europe (website: www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).

Getting Around by Road

Traffic drives on the right. The road system is of variable quality (especially under freezing winter conditions in the north), but supplemented by numerous car ferries across the fjords.

Bus: Principal long-distance internal bus routes are from Bø (in Telemark) to Haugesund (journey time – 8 hours); and from Ålesund–Molde–Trondheim (journey time – 8hours) with links to the Bø line in the north. Inter-Nordic runs from Trondheim to Stockholm. There are also extensive regional local bus services, some of which are operated by companies with interests in the ferries. Visitors can contract NOR-WAY Bussekspress AS for seat reservations and route information (tel: 8154 4444; website: www.nor-way.no). The official Rutehefte is a must for anyone using public transport, and gives extensive timetable information and maps of all bus, train, ferry and air routes.

Taxi: In most cases, fares are metered. Taxis can be found at ranks or booked by telephone. It is not customary to tip taxi drivers.

Car hire: Available in airports and most towns, but costly; in general, problems of cost and parking make public transport more practical and convenient. It is also possible to hire bicycles.

Regulations: The minimum age for driving is 18. Tolls are charged on certain cross-country roads, underwater tunnels and in certain cities such as Bergen, Oslo and Trondheim. There are severe penalties for drink-driving and illegal parking. Seat belts are compulsory. Children under 12 years of age must travel in the back of the car. It is obligatory for all vehicles to drive with dipped headlights at all times. This includes motorcycles and mopeds. Carrying spare headlight bulbs is recommended. Speed limits are 80 to 90kph (50 to 56mph) outside built-up areas and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas. Snow chains or studded winter tyres are advised during the winter. Petrol stations are numerous, although tourists are only able to use credit cards in some of them. More information on driving in Norway is available from the Norwegian Automobile Association (NAF) (tel: 2234 1400; website: www.naf.no).

Documentation: International Driving Permit or national driving licence and log book are required. A Green Card is strongly recommended (for those with more than Third Party cover on their domestic policy). Without it, visitors with motor insurance in their own countries are allowed the minimum legal cover in Norway; the Green Card tops this up to the level of cover provided by the visitor’s own policy.

Getting Around Towns and Cities

Good public transport systems operate in the main towns. Oslo has bus, rail, metro and tramway services. Tickets are pre-purchased and self-cancelled, and there is one hour’s free transfer between any of the modes. Meters on taxis are obligatory.

Journey Times

The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Oslo to other major cities/towns in Norway.

	Air	Road	Rail
Bergen	0.35	9.00	8.00
Stavanger	0.35	7.00	8.00
Tromsø	1.40	20.00	-
Trondheim	0.40	10.00	8.00

Entertainment

Food and Drink

Breakfasts are often enormous with a variety of fish, meat, cheese and bread served from a cold buffet with coffee and boiled or fried eggs. Open sandwiches are topped with meat, fish, cheese and salads. Alcohol tends to be limited and expensive, although beer and wine are generally served in restaurants.

Things to know: Bars have table and counter service. Licensing laws are strict and alcohol is sold only by the state through special monopoly. Licensing hours are also enforced.

National specialities:
•Koldtbord (cold table), with smoked salmon, fresh lobster, shrimp and hot dishes.
• Roast venison.
• Ptarmigan in cream sauce.
• Wild cranberries.
• Multer (a berry with a unique flavour).

National drinks:
•Aquavit (schnapps).

Tipping: Waiters expect a tip of no more than 5% of the bill.

Nightlife

Several hotels and restaurants in Oslo stage cabaret programmes and floor shows. Venues change so it is best to check in the local newspaper. Theatres, cinemas, nightclubs and discos are located in major centres. Resorts have dance music, and folk dancing is popular.

Shopping

Most towns and resorts have a shop where typical Norwegian handicrafts are on sale. Silversmiths and potteries are numerous and worth visiting. Traditional items include printed textiles, woven articles, knitwear, woodcarving, silver, enamel, pewter, glass and porcelain. Tax-free cheques can be obtained from any of the 3,000 shops carrying the sticker ‘Tax free for tourists’. These shops save visitors 11 to 18% of the price paid by residents. VAT refunds are paid in cash at airports, ferries, cruise ships and border crossings.

Shopping hours: Mon-Wed and Fri 0900-1700/1800, Thurs 0900-2000, Sat 0900-1300/1500.

Top things to see

•Oslo is Norway’s most populous district, providing a home for more than one-tenth of the country’s inhabitants in a mere 700th of its total area. The city has a strong arts culture, with a good choice of museums and galleries. The Munch Museum is the main draw among these, and others include the National Gallery; the Norwegian Museum of Applied Arts; the Thor Heyerdahl Kon-Tiki Museum and the Norwegian Folk Museum, both on Bygdøy Island to the west of the city centre; the Viking Ships Museum; Oslo City Museum; and the Norwegian Home Front Museum, which tells the story of the country’s occupation during WWII. Principal architectural interest in Oslo focuses on the Kongelige Slott(Royal Palace), Stortinget(Parliament Building), the Cathedral and Åkershus Castle. Oslo’s entertainment centres include the Norwegian National Theatre; the New Theatre; the Norwegian Opera House; Konserthuset (the Concert House); and Oslo Spektrum, the main rock and pop concert venue.

• For those seeking a literary treat, Skien was the birthplace of Ibsen and his childhood home provides many insights into the life of this distinguished Norwegian playwright, including a multimedia exhibition.

• Former Hanseatic port and medieval Norwegian capital, Bergen’s appeal centres on the Hanseatic Bryggen harbour-side district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with many buildings dating from the 17th century and earlier. Board a cable car to the summit of Mount Ulriken ora funicular railway to Mount Fløyen to see outstanding views over the city and coastline. Museums abound, and there is a large aquarium. Additionally, boat excursions ply the waters around the city, which is Norway’s busiest tourist destination.

• Go to Old Stavanger and see Europe’s largest collection of wooden buildings.

• Founded in AD997 as Kaupangr, and later called Nidaros, Norway’s early capital of Trondheim has a number of major attractions, not least the Nidarosdomen Cathedral, which dates from the late 11th century. Built over St Olav’s grave, it has been a centre of pilgrimage since medieval times.

• One of just four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Norway, Røros is a small but picturesque mountain town near the Swedish border; from the 17th century until the 1980s it had been a copper mining and smelting settlement. Dsicover the Old Town, the wooden church and the Mining Museum. Close to Røros is Olavsgruva, an early mine now open to visitors.

• Observe the summer Midnight Sun at the North Cape. The North Cape Hall, built into the side of a mountain, and with panoramic views out to sea, is the main visitor centre here.

• Observe the world’s most powerful maelstrom, Saltstraumen,33km (21 miles) east of Bodø;a multimedia visitor centre is dedicated to the phenomenon. Saltstraumen is a strong tidal current located some 30km (19 miles) east of the city of Bodø. It is the strongest tidal current in the world. Vortices up to 10m (33ft) in diameter and 5m (16.5ft) in depth are formed when the current is at its strongest; this feature is commonly known as a whirlpool. However, there are short periods of time when the current is calm and vessels can pass through this area. The waters are also abundant in marine life, and fishing is very popular here.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

Tourist Information

Top things to do

•Tromsø boasts the world’s most northerly brewery, so if you are feeling thirsty and you happen to be traversing these near-Arctic traditions, you know where to head!

• Unquestionably, Fjordland and the Southwest is Norway’s most important tourist area, due to its scenery. Many visitors arrive on cruise ships working their way north along the coast from Stavanger via Haugesund to Bergen and the best known fjord of all, Sognefjorden. Førdefjorden, Hardanger Fjord and Nordfjord are among other notable scenic attractions in the region. Near Sogndal, at the head of Sognefjorden, lies Urnes, whose wooden stave-built church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Inland are the Hardangervidda Mountains, which rise to over 1,700m (5,600ft) and incorporate the national park of the same name. To the north of Sognefjorden lies Europe’s biggest glacier, the Jostedalsbreen, and its surrounding national park of the same name. Daily glacier walks are organised in summer in the company of experienced guides. For information about organised glacier walks, contact the glacier centre at Jostedalsbreen (website: www.fjordinfo.noorwww.jostedalsbre.no) or consult Breoppleving for glacier tours (website: www.bre.no). Immediately to the east of this area is the Jotunheimen National Park, which contains Norway’s highest mountain, Galdhøpiggen (2,469m/8,100ft). Fjords elsewhere include the fjord near Trondheim, the country’s third largest city, Trondheimsfjorden, which although not spectacular scenically when compared to the fjords of the southwest, is one of the largest, stretching more than 70km (44 miles) inland. For easy access from the capital, the Oslo Fjord area is dotted with historic and prehistoric sites of varying importance, along with manor houses, stone churches (most are built of wood in Norway) and fortifications.

• Norway claims to be the birthplace of skiing. The country has about 30,000km (18,750 miles) of marked ski trails, winding their way through unspoiled scenery. Both cross-country and downhill skiing are available from November until the end of May. It is also possible to go skiing in summer in several parts of Norway. For further information about summer skiing, contact Stryn Sommerskisenter (website: www.strynefjellet.com). The centres of Elverum, Hamar, Kongsvinger and Lillehammer (site of the 1994 Winter Olympics) are all suitable for those seeking solitude, wilderness and wintersports facilities. Lillehammer stands on the banks of the Mjøsa Lake, Norway’s largest, with an area of 362 sq km (140 sq miles), and which reputedly conceals a ‘Loch Ness’ monster. Hamar contains the Olympic Hall, which staged skating events during the 1994 Winter Olympics. To the south of Trondheim, the mountain village of Oppdal is an excellent skiing resort.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

Business

Statistics

•GDP: US$312 billion (2005).
•Main exports: Crude oil, natural gas, refined petroleum products, machinery and transport equipment and manufactured goods.
•Main imports: Machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods and chemical and related products.
•Main trade partners: UK, Germany, The Netherlands, France and Sweden.

Economy

The Norwegian economy is dominated by its oil and gas industry, which accounts for nearly 20% of GDP and 60% of export earnings. There is little cultivable land in Norway, but many farmers breed livestock, combining this with forestry to supply Norway’s numerous sawmills. Consequently, wood products and paper are both thriving industries.

Offshore fishing has been in decline for some time, although a large number of fish farms have been established, making Norway by far the world’s largest supplier of salmon. Heavy engineering industries, principally shipbuilding and machinery, have also declined (although Norway retains a large merchant fleet).

Nonetheless, the country has sustained its economic prosperity outside the European Union (see below) through development of an exceptionally strong energy sector. As well as oil and gas, Norway has abundant hydroelectric resources: the development of these has allowed much-reduced overheads for heavy industries such as aluminium production while freeing oil and gas products for export.

Norway has been a major oil and gas exporter since the mid 1970s, after discovering large deposits of both in the North Sea. Proven oil reserves are around 11 billion barrels (one-tenth of Saudi reserves and 1% of the world total). Much of the income is invested in a fund, now worth over US$40 billion, for such time (perhaps 15-20 years) as the oil and gas last

The country also has deposits of various iron ores plus copper, lead and zinc, which feed the country’s metallurgical and chemical industries. Recent years have seen the emergence of advanced technological industries.

Norway is a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and hence the so-called ‘European Economic Area’, which is an amalgam of EU and EFTA members united in a free-trade zone and created in 1991. Concern about the possible effects on the fishing and farming industries lay behind the Norwegians’ decision (registered in two referendums, in 1973 and 1994) to reject EU membership. Nonetheless, with the exception of these two industries, Norway enjoys a wholly liberalised trade regime with EU members, and conducts 70% of its trade with the EU.

Business Etiquette

Businesspeople are expected to dress smartly. Prior appointments are necessary. Norwegian businesspeople tend to be reserved and formal. English is widely spoken. Punctuality is essential. Business cards are commonly exchanged. The best months for business visits are February to May and October to December.

Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1600.

Commercial Information

Innovation Norway
PO Box 448 Sentrum, 0104 Oslo, Norway
Tel: 2200 2500.
Website: www.ntc.no

Innovation Norway in the UK
5th Floor, Charles House, 5 Lower Regent Street, London SW1Y 4LR, UK
Tel: (020) 7389 8800.
Website: www.norway.org.uk

Communications

Telephone

Country code: 47.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with many international mobile phone companies. Mobile phones cannot be hired. Coverage is mostly good, but may be patchy in rural areas.

Internet

There are many Internet cafes throughout Norway and the Internet can also be accessed via public libraries.

Media

Norway’s public broadcaster, NRK, has had competition from private local and national stations since the heady days of monoply. Press freedom is guaranteed by the constitution and public radio and TV broadcast without interference from the Government.

Post

Hotel receptions, shops and kiosks selling postcards will sell stamps. Airmail within Europe takes two to four days.

Post office hours: These vary from place to place but are generally Mon-Fri 0830-1600 and Sat 0800-1300.

Press

• Norwegians are among the world’s keenest newspaper readers.
• The number of publications is impressive, given the country’s small population.
• Most of the press is privately owned and openly partisan.
• The national newspapers published in Oslo are Aftenposten, Dagbladet and Verdens Gang.
• There are no English-language newspapers although English newspapers are readily available (one day after publication in the UK).

Radio

•Radio NRK is a public broadcaster, operating three national stations and local services.
• P4 is national and commercial, as is Kanal 24.
• Radio 1 is commercial but is essentially a music-based radio station.

Climate

Coastal areas have a moderate climate owing to the Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift. Inland temperatures are more extreme with hot summers and cold winters (November to March). In general, the lowlands of the south experience colder winters and warmer summers than the coastal areas. Rain is distributed throughout the year with frequent inland snowfalls during the winter. The northern part of the country inside the Arctic Circle has continuous daylight at midsummer, and twilight all day during winter.

Required Clothing

European according to the season. Light- to mediumweights are worn in summer. Warmer clothing is required during the winter. Waterproofing is advisable throughout the year.

Map

While you're there

Climate
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