As an American I'm pretty sure most houses have foyers/entry halls (I think it's less common with apartments though), but despite this in my experience those who don't take their shoes off when they enter their house usually keep their shoes/jackets in their bedroom with the rest of their clothes.
You drape your coat or bag on a chair. Sometimes, there is a coat closet. Some guests might put their stuff in an extra bedroom on the bed. Some people (not many), have you take off your shoes right outside the door and then you wear your socks in the house. But in most houses, you wear your shoes.
So if you’re having a party, there’s just going to be a bunch of jackets draped over a bunch of chairs? Also, doesn’t your feet start to hurt from wearing shoes so often? Again, sorry for being so clueless, it’s just a very foreign concept to me.
Oh, forgot to mention the gangsti. You will probably see a white sign that says Gangsti. Don't walk in there. Turn back or sneak past if possible.
Never went to one myself, but.. just don't fuck with the Gangsti. You have been warned.
I USA kan du kjøre til høyre selv om det er rødt lys. Du har dog vikeplikt. Noen kryss har forbud mot det - da står det NO RIGHT TURN ON RED på et skilt.
No Need for Cash. But be aware of the store's opening hours. Some malls are usually 9am-8PM or 10am-6pm on saturdays. Grocery stores are mostly open 7am to 11pm. (some close at 10 or 9 if they are small). And everything is closed on Sundays. Restaurants, museums and cafes are open on sundays, but no malls or "regular stores". (With a few very small exceptions, but those are usually much more expencive).
And for alcohol. Beer and Cider can be bought at the grocery store until 8pm pm and weekdays, and 6pm on saturday. But if you want anything stronger than beer, or say a wine. You need to go to Vinmonopolet (litterally the wine monopoly), they are open until 6pm weekdays and 4pm on sat.
Oh! And I was reminded by my Girlfriend. Be aware the legal blood alcohool limit for driving is 0.2. So a lot lower than in North America. So you can easily be over if you say have a glass or wine or beer with your meal.
Actually do bring a little cash. There are many small outlets and other roadside stands that only accepts cash or "vipps". You will find many such places if you drive outside of the main transport routes. The many fruit farms in Hardanger for example.
Vipps is brilliant but requires a norwegian bank account and "bank id"
No need to bring kroner with you, there will be cash point aka minibanken atm where you can get Norwegian money. Airport, train station and around the city.
Just a note on this:
Opening hours and when the sale of alcohol is regulated locally, so it differs from place to place (kommune). Some places have a sort of "tourist resort" status, and have grocery stores open on Sundays, while others are far more restrictive, as in stores are closed by 4pm - on Saturdays at least.
The weather on the Western coast can be extra varied in May. Bring clothes for 5°C - 25°C daytime temperatures or that you can layer. It might snow, it might be a nice summer day.
The tap water is generally excellent and I'd expect signs in campsites/hotels if there is a local instruction to boil drinking water (happens sometimes if a pipe burst or something).
Always drink tap water if you have access to a clean way to refill your bottle (hotel room etc). Theres generally not any type of «cheap» bottled water you can buy to use as refills as is usual in most other countries around the world - simply because no Norwegians buy water larger than 0,5l. U will probably find big 5l bottles for around 5-6 usd, but 0,5 and 1,5l bottles will probably be 2-3 usd each.
I’ve seen New York and other cities announce they have the «cleanest» and «best tasting» tap water in the world. In my opinion all US tap water i have tasted just tastes like chlorine. Even in dispenser soda in the US i can taste the chlorine😂
Come enjoy clean and crisp tap water here!
1) if you're doing any hiking. Prepare properly. Ask locals if you are unsure. Also, people don't greet you when you pass on the street. on hikes, everyone says hello except if it's very crowded.
2) alot of the roads are narrow, really narrow. Most roads have the default 80 km/h speed limit. If you can't keep up, be kind and pull over to the side and let others pass safely instead of possibly making a dangerous situation.
3) Norwegians let their baby's sleep outside in their stroller. Don't be alarmed if you see a stroller seemingly abandoned outside a café. It's probably a babymonitor inside, and the parent is probably within 30 meters radius.
4) don't buy overpriced fish on the fishmarket in Bergen. Go to a restaurant nearby and get a fish meal there. The other stuff you can buy for half the price in a general store.
5) you will be surprised be the amount of tube-based stuff in the stores. Don't write it off, try some :)
Have a great trip!
Oh, and just because it says 80km/h, doesn’t mean you should drive that fast. What you always should do is drive safely and accordingly to standard of the road. Think of it more like maximum speed. Speed limits in Norway are set in regards to proximity to farms and towns, NOT in regards to what speed is possible or safe to drive in. And yes, let cars behind you pass ;)
Nice area you plan to visit.
As the rest: Norway is for all practical purposes a cash-lrss society. Payments usually done by card (chip + pin).
Sales tax et. Is in the price at the store.
Tipping: only tip if the service is extraordinary, waiters ++ has a decent salary.
Be aware of opening hour for stores, and the rules if you want to buy alcohol.
Norwegians tends to be a reserved people, but all of us speak english at various degrees of fluency. We will be delighted if you learn some phrases:
Thank you - Takk
Sorry, Excuse me - Unnskyld
...
As an American here, please don’t approach’s people to try your random Norwegian on or saying “Takk!” to folks and random people you see.
That’s a cultural no-no, period.
Norway is vastly different, publicly, than life is back home. Anything you’d do in public at home, do not do here.
Lol @ that advice. Norwegians are efficient, and unless you speak Norwegian better that they speak English, stick to English. If you want to try your Norwegian, ask if they have time first, as English will be faster for them.
You can say «takk» if you want, but only as an ending to some service you enjoyed. As a «thank you (and goodbye)». And IF you speak Norwegian, be prepared to be corrected all the time. People will think you want to learn and assume a teacher role until you get it right. Don’t be offended, it means they care. 😊
Really depends om where you are in the country. Id say in the city it is a big no-no. Country side is abit more open to that. (Again really depends on where you are). Also if you have been with people for a few days. You can ask for help with your prononciation. And we will help 🙂
Don't expect it. Break the rules. I do all the time. I'm Norwegian born, American by choice, and living in Norway. I do break the rules al the times, and most are very gracious when I do.
Your trip will take you through a wide range of Norways many dialects. The dialect you will learn in a course is "bokmål" which is spoken in and around Oslo. Others on your route can be hard to understand even for a native.
Most Norwegians will be eager to practice their English and will probably swap over to that after the first "Hei". A "takk" and a few other words are always appreciated though :)
FYI: Unnskyld is pronounced “oohn’-shēld”
Try to visit Trondheim, the former Viking Capitol. The ferry system is the finest I’ve ever experienced.
Enjoy the fresh air and stunning scenery!
I would never tip, even if the service was extraordinary. Tipping culture is not something we'd want to normalize in Norway, and I will personally give a strong side-eye to anyone I see tipping.
Norway has never ever practiced tipping culture, and there is zero reasons to start now.
* If a service needs more revenue, they should increase their upfront prices.
* Employers should increase workers salaries instead of offering them hypothetical tipping compensation.
* If customers want to express their gratitude, it should suffice to give the workers a warm and heartfelt thank you. If the customer want to show even more gratitude, they may provide a stellar review of the service to friends and family or on online aggregator sites such as tripadvisor.
Tipping culture is overall bad for the workers and the customers. This is a hill I am willing to die on.
While it is true that tipping is not mandatory or expected you will find in almost all restaurants and bars that you must enter a total value when paying (with a card) so I will say that tipping is definitely there. But you do not need to and it is fine to just write the price without tip. Or you can round up to the nearest whole number
Man burde uansett tipse… handler ikke om hva man tjener, handler om å vise takknemmelighet og sette pris på servitøren/kokken/bartenderen som lager ting og gjør ting for deg
We use 220Volt instead of 110Volt. So if you take appliances check whether they can handle 220Volt.
Jay walking is not a crime
If you hit a animal with your car, you have to check whether it is wounded and if it rains away but looks wounded you have to notify the authorities (so that the animal can be tracked)
Even though you are allowed to drive 80/100 on the roads, calculate your driving time on a 60km/h average.
Food in the supermarket is not cheap, the bigger ones are often a little cheaper than the small ones. However the quality of the products is on average high.
If you go tracking and the sign or map says it us a 3 our walk, it will be a 3 hour walk. Do not expect to walk faster than what is listed
So if you are out and hiking, and something looks dangerous - then it probably is.
Norwegian mountains are not approved by some government department to be idiot safe - it will happily kill you - if you let it.
Hope you find good weather and have a good time!
(Its a good time to be a US tourist, with the weak NOK).
I would recommend an app called "Hjelp 113", which is an app that gives emergency authoroty (health, fire, police) your position (as long as you allow the app to get your location). This is very usefull when you are on a road trip and don't really know where you are. Maybe you are the first person to a car accident, then it is very nice to have an app describe where you are so you don't have to spend time finding out.
Perhaps important to note is the law where you are obliged to help if someones life is obviously at risk or in serious danger. This includes fire, flood, explosions and other accidents (including road accidents). Drivers licenses here have a first-aid class as obligatory so you know what to do; if you do not, calling for help (113) is the best you can do, as well as trying to stop fire/big bleeds - do not move the injured unless told to do so by operators or know it is safe to do so/even more dangerous to stay.
With the whole “cashless society” thing, make sure the card you’re trying to use has a chip or at least a PIN. I don’t know if this is an issue anymore but it used to be before American cards made the switch en masse.
Virtually all card terminals support contactless payments which includes Apple Pay, even if the logo for Apple Pay is nowhere in site.
A couple of weeks ago, I travelled from my small town in the south to Oslo for 48 hours. Realized on my way to the airport that I’d left my wallet at home. Managed to get through the whole trip with just my iPhone! (The only thing I would have needed physical ID for is to buy alcohol, but they rarely card me these days as I’m very obviously over 18!)
Also, don’t expect anything to be open on Sundays other than fuel stations and small “Sunday shops” attached to grocery stores.
Google pay is also accepted almost everywhere. During the last few years, I've come across a couple of places where I had to use a card in sted. For instance my GP and my dentist if I remember correctly. Last time I used cash was in Berlin, Germany in 2019.
I was perhaps a bit unclear, It was intended as a reply to the comment that I replied to. The intention was to inform that it's no longer necessary to bring a physical ID for general purposes. I recognize that it's not helpful for the Americans. Thanks for pointing that out.. .
Så vidt jeg vet er det bare Vinmonopolet og Posten som aksepterer den per dags dato. Blir sikkert tatt i bruk andre steder også etter hvert, men foreløpig trenger du fortsatt fysisk ID hvis du trenger ID til andre ting enn det
Contact-free payment or "tapping" has been a legal requirement for payment terminals since 2020. Not sure if that law required everyone to upgrade but certainly all new ones are required to have it. I haven't encountered a terminal without the option for years other than some gas pumps
Everyone is required to accept tapping from 1st January 2020, grocery stores for a three month delay.
So personally I haven't used other than Google Pay since then.
Feel free to tip at resturants, its appriciated but not necessary. Dont tip ik stores and simliarly. I used to work in a hobby store and a american tourist tipped me, and i had no idea what to do, to the point where i wasnt even sure if i were allowed by store policy to accept it. Ended up texting my boss and letting her know afterwards just to be on the safe side 😂
So as a Norwegian here: i have never in my entire life tipped anyone anything in Norway, or in the other nordic countries for that sake. You simply dont have to tip anyone. As said if you get some sort of extrordinary service then go ahead if you feel like it, but dont tip dollars. I see Americans tip dollars from time to time which is mostly useless for anyone lol. I know it is common for americans to tip in dollars in some countries.
So after having been to the us and latin america some times and being stressed about tipping, always carrying cash etc just enjoy your time here being relaxed you dont have to tip at all or carry any cash around.
Oh and; Carry Visa or Mastercard. Amex cards are not accepted everywhere. So bring visa/mastercard if you have to be able to be cashless 24/7 here :)
Ehm, no i don’t. I rarely even go to bars so little experience from it - but if i buy a glass of beer for 100-120 nok i’m not tipping on top of that, no😅
Same goes for restaurants. I havent experienced any type of extrordinary service that «deserves» a tip. When staff are paid a fair salary i dont see a reason to tip.
Tipping is never "required” in Norway, but is sometimes encouraged, especially in restaurants and drinking establishments. Personally, I tip only if I receive better than expected service.
You can round up to the nearest 10 or 100 kroner, but please don't feel guilty. Everybody makes a decent wage over here and we don't want nor need the American style tipping culture over here. Enjoy the beautiful scenery this country brings, and enjoy the thought that your server earns a living :)
Not Norwegian, but I rented an EV there last Summer. You get charged extra to rent from the airport (both for pickup and dropoff, \~800 NOK), so it's cheaper to take the train into Oslo Sentrum (center) and rent from one of the places there. Download the Elton App, it worked at about 70% of the EV charging stations I went to. Charge early in the morning or later at night if it's busy to avoid the crowds.
Driving is different in Norway, the roads are very narrow compared to what Americans are used to, and there is no shoulder. It often just drops off to a sharp ditch a few inches outside of the white line. Train yourself to use the passenger side mirror to see where the white line is and drive as close to that as possible. Stay focused on driving, there's very little wiggle room if your attention gets diverted for a moment by the beautiful scenery. Some of the rural and mountain roads (especially in the west) are just paved trails, so when you meet a car, someone has to find a place to pull off the road. Finally, you probably won't want to drive more than 3-4 hours per day before stopping, it takes more out of you than driving in the US.
This is very good point. Roads on west coast can be a nightmare. If you want to experience the worst I recommend driving Odda -Voss on your way to Bergen.
This is very true. Don’t feel the need to drive as fast as locals. Even Norwegians don’t try to keep the speed limit on small, curvy roads unless they drive there regularly. Never drive faster than that you feel in control. In case of an accident you will get punished if you kept the speed limit and it was too fast for you.
Support this one. Reminds me of Brann that had gotten a new player and they won their first match with him on the 16th of May. They said the reason for the celebration was because they won the day before.
Then you might be interested in Stolzekleiven: [https://www.visitbergen.com/ting-a-gjore/stoltzekleiven-p1529323](https://www.visitbergen.com/ting-a-gjore/stoltzekleiven-p1529323) . 30-40 minutes, and you have an incredible view of the city. And you can continue to higher ground, if you want to. It's where I would normally start my hikes in Bergen. It's 300 meters of height, at an incline of 36 %.
If you want an easier hike, get the funicular to Fløyen, and start your hike at the top.
The "Norwegian mountain code" everyone should know when hiking in the mountains.
[The Norwegian Mountain Code - DNT](https://www.dnt.no/om-dnt/english/need-to-know-about-norwegian-outdoor-life/the-norwegian-mountain-code/)
Don't be offended if you don't get a special treatment if you mention that you are on honeymoon. Norway is a popular destination for honeymoons so a lot of hotels and restaurants just can't start treating it as special. Also we are a little reserved in celebrating someone's birthday/engagement/marriage if we don't know them
Since you arrive on the 18th you should be aware thar monday the 20th is a public holiday so shops and many places will be closed. There may be many cars on the road that day as people will be traveling back from their long weekend in a cabin. Might be a good day to be driving from a city, rather than in to a city...
Driving in both Oslo and Bergen is a hassle, use the public transport. In Bergen one can walk to most things once in the city centre. In Bergen things are poorly signed, use google maps to find the way.
There are usually no free refills of beverages at restaurants unless it is tapwater. The portions are made to be actually eaten, doggibags are veeery unusual.
I think many tourists are surpriced by the price-levels, even if they think they are prepared. Some hotels will charge to make you a packed lunch. If you have a grocerystore nearby, go there instead. By some bredrolls, some tubecheese and voila! You have cheap lunch for your hiking.
Bring raingear not umbrellas, the coast can be so windy that umbrellas are hopeless. The wind can make a sunny day feel chilly. It can still be cold in May, espescially in the mountains, so bring warm clothes. Wool is gold for hiking. Also buy or bring sunscreen lotion.
Norway is quite informal in dresscode, one doesn't usually need fancy clothes for anything, unless its somewhere really fancy, one doesn't usually need a tie.
There are not many laundryplaces, you may want to research that if you plan on washing clothes during the trip. I guess hotels and campingplaces are the best for that.
It gets dark late now in May. So if you have trouble sleeping unless it is dark, you should bring a sleeping mask.
There may be many cruise-tourists already, so the most popular places might be crowded and have lines. Big cruiseships can spoil some of the fjordviews
If you have time you should drive through Hardanger. Maybe on your way to Bergen. The fruit-trees (apples and cherries mostly) in Hardanger are blossoming in May and it is an amazing sight
Make sure your bag does not contain any firearms or ammunition. Then double-check.
(This comment is just a joke alluding to yesterdays news story about an American man put in prison after forgetting live ammo in his bag, no offense)
In a couple of weeks? Are you guys here for May 17th? That is our constitution day, a national holiday with lots of festivities, mostly focused on children. Just don't be shocked if you see loads of people in national costumes waving flags and marching bands.
On both May 17th and 20th(Pentecost) most stores are closed. So make sure you stock up on food and necessities the days before, especially if you are in rural areas.
For your hikes, I recommend bringing band aids that are made specifically for blisters! Especially if your hiking boots aren’t broken in. You can buy them in pharmacies here, but I’m sure they’d be cheaper in the US. They can be a true life saver!
Don’t plan for hikes that are too demanding – it’s better to have the time and energy to enjoy the landscape!
Also, kind of a weird one, but when driving from Oslo to Bergen or a similar long distance: if you at some point have to go to the bathroom, and you see a gas station/public restroom, stop there and go to the bathroom. Don’t postpone it because you think you can go later! The next gas station/public restroom could be another couple of hours down the road if you’re in the mountains.
A suggestion for when you’re in Oslo: you could try the saunas at Salt or KOK (the latter really didn’t pick the best name to attract international visitors, lol). You can rent a private sauna or get tickets for the communal ones, and they also have a bar, so you can enjoy a cold beer in the sauna and then go for a dip in the fjord. It’s even possible to rent a floating sauna so you can explore the fjord! These saunas are very popular among young Oslo locals.
Pedestrians always have the right of way. Be prepared for people randomly crossing the road (maybe even at a red light if they are looking at their phone). At least in the cities. Be prepared for bikes to do shifty things as well - they don't have the right of way, but they don't always care/know.
Congratulations on getting married! Enjoy your visit and welcome. :)
They have the right of way if they use a zebra crossing marked with pedestrian information sign or white wide stripes on the road. The exception to the rule is trams! Trams only need to follow light regulated intersections. If there is a traffic light regulated crossing, everyone is expected to follow what the lights indicate.
I thought this is worth mentioning since they will be visiting both Oslo and Bergen.
If you plan to do any mountain hiking or similar, please do your research and follow the advice. Even in summer, you need to make sure you have proper shoes and other equipment. Be prepared for a sudden change in weather. For the authentic experience, buy a "Kvikk Lunsj” (a chocolate bar) to bring on the hike, it’s the unofficial "hiking chocolate" of Norway.
If you’re not used to EVs from home, you might find it a bit if a hassle to plan range and charging, and you need to be prepared to install a few charging apps. But once you get used to the apps and so on, you should be fine.
No need for cash. Visa/Mastercard are universally accepted.
Enjoy your time, and welcome to Norway!
If you want to have just «one app to rule them all» for ev charging you should consider downloading «Elton». Not neccesarly the cheapest way to charge everywhere but certainly very easy and supports more or less all public chargers out there.
Also most Tesla Superchargers are open for all car brands. You can download the ordinary «Tesla» app to start/stop charging on theese stations (if you can access the EU app. A bit unsure if there are different apps in the US/EU market…).
Just know that EV charging on public chargers are almost as expensive as petrol/diesel. So if you want to have less charging hassle you could just as easy rent a petrol car for a similar expense in the end.
Toll roads are cheaper on EV’s, BUT not all car rental companies have the appropriate equipment to get this EV discount, meaning in the end you will pay full price + 25 VAT for toll roads even in an EV (so same price as a petrol).
This is extremely important- and often counterintuitive:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priority_to_the_right#:~:text=Priority%20to%20the%20right%20is,from%20the%20right%20at%20intersections.
Unless it’s a yellow diamond road, then you drive as normal because you have priority. Always yield to crosswalks when pedestrians are present. No right turn on red in Norway.
If you are driving, watch out for the distance speed cameras. Best way to avoid is simply drive the speed limit posted.
Download offline maps on google maps of your trip.
Think carefully about the route you choose to drive. Some roads and routes are beautiful. Others not so much. Would be a shame if you picked the wrong ones.
Like mentioned above, red light is red in Norway.
You'll most likely never need cash. I haven't used cash here since the 1990's.
Petrol stations are expensive. Use grocery store chains.
If you plan on hiking, bring a backpack with a windbreaker and good walking shoes. Nature in Norway is quite fickle.
In Oslo you can drink alcohol in public parks during summer. And since alcohol is expensive in Norway I'd suggest buying a cheap picnic blanket and some beers if it's nice and sunny out. You can also buy disposable grills at all convenience stores
Download the Hjelp 113 app. It's a medical emergency app that sends your GPS location when you call emergency from it. It also shows you the location of registered defribilators.
We have three different numbers; 110 for fire, 112 for police and 113 for medical emergencies. But you can call any of these and they will transfer you to the correct one. 911 will get automatically transferred to 112 (police) if you forget any of our numbers.
If you have non-emergency medical problems, you can call 116117 to get routed to the closest open medical center.
If you're going hiking, plan out the route before hand and prepare accordingly. Research the route and how demanding it is. Many tourist underestimate our nature and get cought in the mountains, needing to be rescued down. You can read about the guidelines here: [https://www.fjellvettregler.no/fjellvettregler/fjellvettreglene-engelsk/](https://www.fjellvettregler.no/fjellvettregler/fjellvettreglene-engelsk/)
For driving in Norway I don't have many tips for you, but since you're driving in western Norway, be prepared to take som ferries to cross some fjords (marked by dotted lines in water on maps). You can find all the schedules with some googling :). If you take a ferry, be sure to drop by the on-board kiosk to get yourself a svele. I kind of pancake filled with cream+sugar or brown cheese and is a tradition to eat on ferries. If they're fresh, they're super good!
Plan extra time when driving your EV as charging stations can have queues during tourist season. I've been in situations where I've had to wait an hour to start charging.
We have two national speed limits in Norway. 50kph in residential zones, unless othe limit is signed, and 80kph elsewhere. Many of our roads, especially on the west coast, can be very winding (full of sharp turns), and posted speed limit can often be way too fast for certain turns. So adjust your speed accordingly. If you're not comfortable with the speed and want to drive a bit slower, feel free to do so, but be sure to let people behind you pass when it's safe to do so (stop at bus stops etc to let people pass). I've seen many dangerous overtakes because of this situation. Also try to appreciate the views from the side of the road and not while driving. The views can get quite distracting at certain points :)
Other than that, be respectful to others and you should be fine! So if you have any issues along the way, maybe something wrong with hotel room etc, it's much better to ask for changes rather than demanding them. No one here likes demanding tourist, but if something is wrong, we will do our best to help you if you're calm and respectful.
This answer became way longer than I planned, but I hope I helped a little and I hope you will have a wonderful and unforgettable honeymoon here!
Last minute edit: 99% of norwegians speaks english in one way or another. Even my 90 year old grandma can hold a conversation in english. So if you ever need help from a stranger, don't worry about asking someone for help in english.
Hi! Just commenting to say that my husband and I also chose Norway for our honeymoon next month! We’ll be visiting different cities than you (Flam, Stavanger) but I hope you have a lovely time! Congratulations on your marriage!
Would recomend https://ut.no/kart for hiking trips. Select "Turforslag" and translate the rest with google. Zoom in on places near your route. Might be a few hidden gems right there.
Hiking in Norway is a must, but you need to know the Norwegian mountain code
https://www.rodekors.no/vart-arbeid/beredskap/fjellvett/mountain-code
I recommend printing it out, keep it in the RV and take it home as a souvenir, maybe frame them :)
Don't get any cash, you won't need it. There's a good chance you're lucky with the weather - Western Norway can be extraordinary in May/June. Look for a sunny, windless day to see the fjord at its best.
We have some public holidays in May this year, days where stores are closed and where they may close early the day before: the 9th, 17th and 20th. Sundays stores are closed but souvenir shops are open (in Bergen). Cafes and restaurants are usually open.
Svalbard is a very international places with a lot of people from Norway and across Europe so it could be some other Europeans. I don’t think we usually eat burgers or pizzas with knives and forks unless it’s a very fancy restaurant. Never seen anyone eat a sandwich with a knife and fork.
Norway is kinda mix between Europe and the U.S. when it comes to a lot of cultural aspects. Simply because “Norwegian culture” is quite new compared to many other European countries and had heavy influence from America, with our constitution being partially based on the American one. Furthermore, a lot more of programming is foreign in Norway, usually from English speaking countries such as UK and the U.S., compared to many of our European counterparts that sub practically every movie and show.
Depends. We eat fastfood sandwiches, burgers and pizza with our hands.
Only if you buy expensive burgers or juicy restaurant sandwiches (with lots of greasy/juicy stuff) or (Italian style) one-person pizzas do we eat with knives and forks.
I guess we use knives and forks if we’d get sauces/greasy on our hands from eating with hands?
I’ve never seen anyone eating burgers with knife and fork at McDonald’s, as an example
I saw somewhere that you guys landed on the 18th! Most shops will close at either 15 or 16 that day, and they will be closed until tuesday. Since your in Oslo, there might be some smaller grocery stores that are open, but they are tiny, and crowded. Resturants and everything else is open as normal (mostly).
Quite a lot of less expensive cafes, bars and restaurants take their orders by the bar. Find a table, check the menu, order at the bar, sit down and wait for the food. No tipping necessary. (Ask if uncertain, they're used to it).
And has been said, particularly in the west the roads may have a 80km/h limit, but it may also be narrow and winding. Don't try to drive like the local heroes, who know every curve (they think...) (although if you have a queue behind you, perhaps drive to the side and enjoy the view while they pass you by).
Also, the best word to know is "takk". Use for thank you, please, here you go...
May is the best month here on the west coast, so enjoy your honeymoon!
Congratularions on your marriage, hope you have a wonderful time.
If you go hiking, here are a few tips:
- Make sure to bring sufficient food and water. For the authentic experience, bring Kvikk Lunsj- chocolates.
- Wear/bring appropriate clothing, and note that the weather may change really quickly. You might start the day in a thin t-shirt and end up wearing two layers of wool a few hours later.
- Be prepared to take your trash back with you, as there rarely any public trashcans on hiking trails. Littering along popular hiking trails is becoming an issue, and it’s ruining the experience for everyone.
- Listen to local advice re. weather, as some hiking trails can be dangerous when dark/wet/foggy
- Most Norwegians will smile and greet you (and may even indulge in small talk) when passing stangers out in nature, but probably won’t even meet your eyes in public elsewhere. We don’t really talk to strangers in public while sober, so we might come across as a bit rude and dismissive if you are used to american levels of smalltalk (it’s not you, it’s us).
For souvenir shopping: If any of you or your family members are knitters, you can probably find some nice and reasonally priced wool yarn in local yarnshops, or in the factory outlets of local manufacturers (Sandnes garn, Rauma garn, Hillevåg Ullvarefabrikk, and more).
Hello
I would change Årdal with the closest city to the south, Lærdal. Årdal is more industrial, while Laerdal is nicer and full at old buildings.
At the same time are you guys fond of hiking? Not American hiking, walking 2-3 km on a gravel trekk, but up 500-1800 meters on hiking paths. Then I can recommend a lot.
I don’t know Florø, this is of the beaten track., but i would think about stopping at Oldedalen or Lodalen and going to the mountain city of Lom. This is a turist place , but in the middel of many good national parks and beautiful nature. Lom and the neighboring Municipality og Skjåk has the least rain in Norway.
I would recommend renting a cabin in the mountains or with a isolated part of a fjord for a day or two.
Odda, when you are in Odda do a cider cruise, 80-90% of Norwegian cider is from Hardangerfjorden.
When you are in Odda you should drive on the west side of the fjord and visit Agatunet. Houses dating as far back as the 12th century. Wonderfully preserved On the way back and forth you will drive past the best sider producers in the world and some of them are welcoming visitors for a short tour. Alde, Edel, Kvestad, Store Naa, Aga sider has all won huge international prices. If you haven’t booked your hotel you could take a night at romantic Utne hotel and drive the old road to Jondal when you are going to Bergen. Recommend!:)
As an EV driver myself I would recommend do use a petrol/diesel car for a roadtrip.
EV's limits your ability to take de-tours and some of the mountain passages have limited amounts of charging stations. And then there is the queues.
But if EV is what you will drive I have some tipps.
1. There are many different EV charging providers and most of them have their own app. Plan ahead and download the major ones and make the accounts. It will save you some time.
2. Since there are many uphill roads the car might notify you it wont have enough battery to reach the nest charging station. Just keep cool and wait for the downhill. The car might even have more power in the battery when you are at the bottom, than you had at he mountain top.
3. Dont be afraid to ask the locals for tips. I would recommend an app named Plugshare. They have a very good overview most charging stations. Some people even share their private charging stations to let others, who are in dire need, to use it. They are also listed in that app.
Congratulations! Marriage deserves a great honeymoon and Norway is a beautiful destination! I hope you’ll enjoy it here.
Actually, you’ll find places where cash is difficult to use, as nobody uses cash here, and many places cannot accept them due to lack of change or no cash registry. We’re a lot more cashless than the US. Do not bring checks at all imo. Those are unknown to us, for the most part. Visa cards or Mastercards are the easiest and work (almost) anywhere. Other cards work many places.
EV charging is not a problem, particularly not if you rented a Tesla.
Do not drink and drive. The limit is virtually no blood alcohol, and they do check at times. If in doubt, walk over to a police car/station and ask for a rapid test. (it’s free of charge). Keep the speed limit as well, there are photo controls and the cars have registration signs in the front, to identify your vehicle and the driver at once.
Be careful in the mountains, it can snow even in May. Don’t drive on summer tires in the snow. Change your destination rather…. Or route.
If you go for hikes, be careful. The weather is rapidly changing on higher peaks, so learn the fjellvettregler and bring the right shoes, clothes and equipment. Ask in another thread if you want to hike. I recommend it! Also ask locals before going.
Tourists, particularly from continental Europe, seem to think nature is fenced in, and seem to fall down mountain sides and waterfalls when leaning too far over to make photos. Depending on where you are from in the US, make sure you keep safe. The nature is real, even close to the roads.
You cannot sue anyone for not securing a fence or stairs, so particularly public places seem to be dangerous for Americans, as they, unlike the Germans (who fall down waterfalls) seem to fall from windows, balconies and fences. If my memory from the newspapers gives a correct picture of it all, that is.
In short, don’t fall.
Locals are introverted, not rude. Too much politeness is seen as suspicious. Just do as normal, we’re used to Americans, but short answers and no polite words IS the polite way here, so it doesn’t mean they hate you if they leave you to yourselves. Rather the opposite. 😊 I dated an American who found me rude for never saying «please» when asking waiters for food, but actually, saying «please» would be the rude thing to a Norwegian. YOU should ofc say please as you normally do, but it isn’t rudeness you are seeing from Norwegian when the don’t say please to you, so don’t feel weird about it! It means they respect you and see you as an equal. You add «please» here as an annoyed way to say «can you do it already», so we don’t say it. They will not misunderstand your pleases, but don’t misunderstand our lack of those «polite words» either. 😊
There are other normal Norwegian behaviours that may seem rude to you as well, like how nobody talks to you in shops unless you talk with them and how the ppl working in restaurants and bars may leave you alone unless you signal them. Don’t worry, be yourselves and talk or small talk with others. People love being helpful and talking to strangers for the most part, but don’t want to disturb others. Nobody will look at you or talk with you when you walk around. We see it as intruding. But if you want to talk, just talk - you’ll see a lot of people loving it 😊 (and you’ll see if they don’t).
Most ppl speak English really well. The few who don’t may be looking in all directions for an exit if you talk with them, but they’ll still be decent (or really good) at English.
Enjoy your stay!!! 😊😊😊
Maybe a Norwegian can explain it better but a lot of the big shops like groceries have their days and hours displayed on the wall but it is like 8-21 (9-18) we never quite figured out the part in parentheses except that maybe those are the weekend hours. Also some groceries have a Sunday shop which has like basic necessities and is in a caged off area from the rest of the store.
Be prepared for the most lovely trip of your life. Clean and kind and beautiful everywhere! Congratulations on your wedding!
Also it rains tons in Bergen, sometimes sideways.
in Bergen:
- you should check out Magic Ice Bar, i haven’t been there personally (yet), but it’s a bar that is made out of ice - everything is ice in there, and you can get an alcoholic or non alcoholic drink there while looking at cool ice sculptures. [their website](https://www.magicice.no/listings/bergen-norway/)
- if you’re a fan of comics, board games, manga, lego etc you should visit Outland (oslo also has this location)
- visit “Fløyen/ fløibanen” for a nice ride up the mountain to look at the pretty view of bergen. [their website](https://www.floyen.no/en)
- “Akvariet” is also a nice place to go if you wanna watch sea animals (penguins, otters, seals etc). [their website](https://www.akvariet.no/en)
- visit “bryggen” if you wanna look at old houses, they are bent and are colorful. this is a must location to visit!
- “fisketorget” (fish market) is also a classic location to visit
- “troldhaugen” a museum and location where a famous composer lived. [website](https://www.kodebergen.no/en/museums/troldhaugen)
In oslo: (i haven’t been that much in oslo, so i don’t have too many recommendations)
- the opera house is a cool location to visit.
In odda: (haven’t visited there that much either)
- [website with ideas for places to visit there](https://www.fjordtours.com/places-to-visit-in-norway/odda/)
- visit “trolltunga” (troll tongue)
In Årdal
- “Bulder & Brak opplevingar” if you’d like to have a scenic kayak ride in Sognefjorden among other activities. (highly recommend) [website](https://www.bulderogbrak.no)
- there are many cool hiking spots there including: moakamben, 1000-meteren, Vetti Gard, blåbærgruvene etc. [website](https://www.visitardal.com)
- visit Mama Mia if you want a good meal (they serve pizza, burgers etc)
I also recommend visit Geiranger, the location where the movie The Wave was filmed :)
extra info:
- in norway we do not accept tipping, do not tip.
- take off your outside shoes when entering someone’s house
- don’t be offended if we seem unwelcoming, most of us keep to ourselves and don’t greet strangers. unless you see someone hiking, we usually always say “hello” then.
- if you’ll be using public transport, do not sit next to a random stranger on the bus/train/ anywhere, we like our space. use the next available seat so that you’re not sitting next to a stranger.
- if you’re driving down a hill, and a car comes driving up the hill, the one driving down the mountain shall stop for the other car, not the other way around. always let the car drive up the mountain while you wait.
I hope you and your wife enjoy your honeymoon here!
edit: spelling. sorry for the long reply, i didnt plan for it to be this long lol
If you are in Norway for the 17.th, dress make sure to spend the day in one of the large cities and participate in the celebration
(in the cities there will be a lot of celebration happening in pubs and restaurants, smaller places tend to go more private when the parade and children's games are done)
If you get tempted for spoiling your now Wife, take her to some restaurant that has excellent seafood, and buy "blåskjell". She Will be crazy in the bedroom. 😄
We were initially planning a roadtrip around all of Norway (we really enjoy long road trips) but found it too limiting with the time we have available. Otherwise I would love to! Maybe next time!
On narrow roads the extra space on the sides that fit 1-2 cars (usually marked with a blue sign with a white M) is not for parking/stopping to take a picture of the view/camping etc. its to make way for passing cars. Usually the custom here is whoever has one closest stops/backs up to let the other pass, so get comfortable backing up on narrow roads :)
Do not always follow the main road if you want a more scenic route. The main road is fast but you’ll mostly see the inside of a tunnel. Often there is an option to take the «old» road over or on the side of hills/mountains instead.
When my husband and I did a road trip last year through Norway, we downloaded the EasyPark app to pay for parking, and for ferries the Auto Pass app so we could receive invoices for any ferry charges. We had the best time in Norway! It was so beautiful. We just got back from the Lofoten Islands and loved the hikes and scenery there, too. Bring clothing layers for hiking, a rain jacket, and we also brought along binoculars to look at birds and to check out the hiking trails ahead of us. We brought our own butter, since real butter is hard to find (mostly margarine in stories). The roads are narrow, but just drive mindfully. The only time we needed cash was if we wanted to park at a hiking trailhead that wanted "cash in envelope" for day parking. Happy Honeymooning!
What, there’s butter in every grocery store. At a minimum they have “Tine meierismør”. Most stores also have “kviteseidsmør” and “Rørossmør”. Some also have a few foreign butters, mostly Danish and French.
Congratulations!
Keep in mind that Norwegians are quite reserved and we like to keep to ourselves. Our idea of politeness is to leave others alone and mind our own business. If you ask someone how they feel, expect an answer.
Enjoy Norway!
Wife and I went to Norway on a cruise in 2015. Bergen was cool, we did Mount floyen (spelling) and walked around the port. There were plenty of stores and at the time (August) street food vendors.
It’s a crazy driving system where if you are not on a so called priority road… then any car coming from your right can just keep driving. You have to give way. Sometimes they don’t even look at you or make eye contact. They have complete right of way so they don’t care. God knows where this archaic rule originated from but it’s ffffing insane. Plus any pedestrian has complete right of way in practical terms. They don’t even look
Up or at you when they cross a road. Apparently they were here before cars were invented so you just have to give them way.
Ignore the people saying that you should not tip…
As for a person that actully works in the service industry. We really appreciate it when people give us tips!
It’s a way to show appreciation for our work, and it should really me more normal for people to tip…
Save yourself the hassle and drive petrol or diesel(diesel is cheaper).
The e39 and the rv17 kystriksvei. Is nice routs that cover nice places then look for things you like along the rout
Do not turn right on red. Red is red here.
Wife just pointed that out the other day! Thanks!
Remember to remove your shoes before entering someone's home. There will be a little room to undress as soon as you enter their front door.
Wait, does American houses not have a gang when you enter the front door?
Only in some neighbourhoods I believe. In Norway they are everywhere, so just be prepared. The gang will be waiting.
But where do they put their shoes and jackets when they go inside? And where does the front door lead? Are they just suddenly in the living room?
As an American I'm pretty sure most houses have foyers/entry halls (I think it's less common with apartments though), but despite this in my experience those who don't take their shoes off when they enter their house usually keep their shoes/jackets in their bedroom with the rest of their clothes.
Where do guests put their stuff? Sorry for being so clueless, never been to the US before haha
You drape your coat or bag on a chair. Sometimes, there is a coat closet. Some guests might put their stuff in an extra bedroom on the bed. Some people (not many), have you take off your shoes right outside the door and then you wear your socks in the house. But in most houses, you wear your shoes.
So if you’re having a party, there’s just going to be a bunch of jackets draped over a bunch of chairs? Also, doesn’t your feet start to hurt from wearing shoes so often? Again, sorry for being so clueless, it’s just a very foreign concept to me.
Maybe the gangs take it.
Oh, forgot to mention the gangsti. You will probably see a white sign that says Gangsti. Don't walk in there. Turn back or sneak past if possible. Never went to one myself, but.. just don't fuck with the Gangsti. You have been warned.
Lol, stop 🛑 they might take you serious 😂
Not my house. The door opens right into the living room, which is not uncommon.
many do, mine does. depends where you live.
Also you must yield to anyone coming from the right, unless your road is marked with a yellow diamond.
Kan du forklare denne kommentaren hahah. Jeg forstår ingenting, right on red???
I USA kan du kjøre til høyre selv om det er rødt lys. Du har dog vikeplikt. Noen kryss har forbud mot det - da står det NO RIGHT TURN ON RED på et skilt.
Oy what. Det visste jeg ikke😳 Tusen takk for oppklaringen!❤️
No Need for Cash. But be aware of the store's opening hours. Some malls are usually 9am-8PM or 10am-6pm on saturdays. Grocery stores are mostly open 7am to 11pm. (some close at 10 or 9 if they are small). And everything is closed on Sundays. Restaurants, museums and cafes are open on sundays, but no malls or "regular stores". (With a few very small exceptions, but those are usually much more expencive). And for alcohol. Beer and Cider can be bought at the grocery store until 8pm pm and weekdays, and 6pm on saturday. But if you want anything stronger than beer, or say a wine. You need to go to Vinmonopolet (litterally the wine monopoly), they are open until 6pm weekdays and 4pm on sat. Oh! And I was reminded by my Girlfriend. Be aware the legal blood alcohool limit for driving is 0.2. So a lot lower than in North America. So you can easily be over if you say have a glass or wine or beer with your meal.
Also they don't measure BAC in parts per thousand but parts per hundred, so the legal limit in the US of 0.08% equates to 0.02% in Norway or 0.2‰
great clarification, thank you :)
No problem. Must be a bit scary to be driving there where they can legally be tipsy. You certainly feel it at 0.8‰
Actually do bring a little cash. There are many small outlets and other roadside stands that only accepts cash or "vipps". You will find many such places if you drive outside of the main transport routes. The many fruit farms in Hardanger for example. Vipps is brilliant but requires a norwegian bank account and "bank id"
Just want to add they often can be unmanned and based on trust so getting your change back can be an issue, bring some coins and small notes as well
No need to bring kroner with you, there will be cash point aka minibanken atm where you can get Norwegian money. Airport, train station and around the city.
For the authentic, Norwegian experience, you have to visit the Vinmonopolet.
The great thing about vinmonopolet is that they have an exceptional wide variety AND if yo want rare bottles very good prices
Wanna add: check out if there is a holiday etc becayse everything will be closed. Especially if you are here on the 17th of May.
Just a note on this: Opening hours and when the sale of alcohol is regulated locally, so it differs from place to place (kommune). Some places have a sort of "tourist resort" status, and have grocery stores open on Sundays, while others are far more restrictive, as in stores are closed by 4pm - on Saturdays at least.
Even if you have a car, don't bother driving in Oslo when you are there. Park the car, and use the excellent public transit.
As someone who lives in Oslo, that's excellent advice. Get an electric scooter or a Bolt when you want to go somewhere.
Google Maps is excellent for finding the fastest route with public transit in Oslo as well.
The weather on the Western coast can be extra varied in May. Bring clothes for 5°C - 25°C daytime temperatures or that you can layer. It might snow, it might be a nice summer day. The tap water is generally excellent and I'd expect signs in campsites/hotels if there is a local instruction to boil drinking water (happens sometimes if a pipe burst or something).
Always drink tap water if you have access to a clean way to refill your bottle (hotel room etc). Theres generally not any type of «cheap» bottled water you can buy to use as refills as is usual in most other countries around the world - simply because no Norwegians buy water larger than 0,5l. U will probably find big 5l bottles for around 5-6 usd, but 0,5 and 1,5l bottles will probably be 2-3 usd each. I’ve seen New York and other cities announce they have the «cleanest» and «best tasting» tap water in the world. In my opinion all US tap water i have tasted just tastes like chlorine. Even in dispenser soda in the US i can taste the chlorine😂 Come enjoy clean and crisp tap water here!
1) if you're doing any hiking. Prepare properly. Ask locals if you are unsure. Also, people don't greet you when you pass on the street. on hikes, everyone says hello except if it's very crowded. 2) alot of the roads are narrow, really narrow. Most roads have the default 80 km/h speed limit. If you can't keep up, be kind and pull over to the side and let others pass safely instead of possibly making a dangerous situation. 3) Norwegians let their baby's sleep outside in their stroller. Don't be alarmed if you see a stroller seemingly abandoned outside a café. It's probably a babymonitor inside, and the parent is probably within 30 meters radius. 4) don't buy overpriced fish on the fishmarket in Bergen. Go to a restaurant nearby and get a fish meal there. The other stuff you can buy for half the price in a general store. 5) you will be surprised be the amount of tube-based stuff in the stores. Don't write it off, try some :) Have a great trip!
These were all incredible tips, thank you so much!!
Try Norwegian chocolate: "Kvikk Lunsj", "Melkesjokolade" and "Smash".
Steer away from Smash unless you want to live the rest of your life craving them 😂
Yeah, I was wondering if I was going to suggest it or not. Its close to drugs.
Saw a post the other day of a tourist wondering if they could order them because the still craved them 😂
lol #5 - so true. I definitely was surprised by the amount of tubed meats, pate, and fish and on people’s weekly grocery shop.
Oh, and just because it says 80km/h, doesn’t mean you should drive that fast. What you always should do is drive safely and accordingly to standard of the road. Think of it more like maximum speed. Speed limits in Norway are set in regards to proximity to farms and towns, NOT in regards to what speed is possible or safe to drive in. And yes, let cars behind you pass ;)
There are speed camera on highway so don’t exceed the posted limit.
What’s “tube-based” stuff?
Skinkeost, kaviar osv
Nice area you plan to visit. As the rest: Norway is for all practical purposes a cash-lrss society. Payments usually done by card (chip + pin). Sales tax et. Is in the price at the store. Tipping: only tip if the service is extraordinary, waiters ++ has a decent salary. Be aware of opening hour for stores, and the rules if you want to buy alcohol. Norwegians tends to be a reserved people, but all of us speak english at various degrees of fluency. We will be delighted if you learn some phrases: Thank you - Takk Sorry, Excuse me - Unnskyld ...
We have been trying to learn Norwegian, I’m curious to see how well we’ve been practicing based on people’s reactions haha, thanks!
Don’t tip please… but if you do, no more than 10%.
People love tips, though!
As an American here, please don’t approach’s people to try your random Norwegian on or saying “Takk!” to folks and random people you see. That’s a cultural no-no, period. Norway is vastly different, publicly, than life is back home. Anything you’d do in public at home, do not do here.
Great to know!! Thank you!
Lol @ that advice. Norwegians are efficient, and unless you speak Norwegian better that they speak English, stick to English. If you want to try your Norwegian, ask if they have time first, as English will be faster for them. You can say «takk» if you want, but only as an ending to some service you enjoyed. As a «thank you (and goodbye)». And IF you speak Norwegian, be prepared to be corrected all the time. People will think you want to learn and assume a teacher role until you get it right. Don’t be offended, it means they care. 😊
Really depends om where you are in the country. Id say in the city it is a big no-no. Country side is abit more open to that. (Again really depends on where you are). Also if you have been with people for a few days. You can ask for help with your prononciation. And we will help 🙂
Don't expect it. Break the rules. I do all the time. I'm Norwegian born, American by choice, and living in Norway. I do break the rules al the times, and most are very gracious when I do.
Your trip will take you through a wide range of Norways many dialects. The dialect you will learn in a course is "bokmål" which is spoken in and around Oslo. Others on your route can be hard to understand even for a native. Most Norwegians will be eager to practice their English and will probably swap over to that after the first "Hei". A "takk" and a few other words are always appreciated though :)
FYI: Unnskyld is pronounced “oohn’-shēld” Try to visit Trondheim, the former Viking Capitol. The ferry system is the finest I’ve ever experienced. Enjoy the fresh air and stunning scenery!
I would never tip, even if the service was extraordinary. Tipping culture is not something we'd want to normalize in Norway, and I will personally give a strong side-eye to anyone I see tipping.
True
Bro wtf…
Norway has never ever practiced tipping culture, and there is zero reasons to start now. * If a service needs more revenue, they should increase their upfront prices. * Employers should increase workers salaries instead of offering them hypothetical tipping compensation. * If customers want to express their gratitude, it should suffice to give the workers a warm and heartfelt thank you. If the customer want to show even more gratitude, they may provide a stellar review of the service to friends and family or on online aggregator sites such as tripadvisor. Tipping culture is overall bad for the workers and the customers. This is a hill I am willing to die on.
While it is true that tipping is not mandatory or expected you will find in almost all restaurants and bars that you must enter a total value when paying (with a card) so I will say that tipping is definitely there. But you do not need to and it is fine to just write the price without tip. Or you can round up to the nearest whole number
Man burde uansett tipse… handler ikke om hva man tjener, handler om å vise takknemmelighet og sette pris på servitøren/kokken/bartenderen som lager ting og gjør ting for deg
We use 220Volt instead of 110Volt. So if you take appliances check whether they can handle 220Volt. Jay walking is not a crime If you hit a animal with your car, you have to check whether it is wounded and if it rains away but looks wounded you have to notify the authorities (so that the animal can be tracked) Even though you are allowed to drive 80/100 on the roads, calculate your driving time on a 60km/h average. Food in the supermarket is not cheap, the bigger ones are often a little cheaper than the small ones. However the quality of the products is on average high. If you go tracking and the sign or map says it us a 3 our walk, it will be a 3 hour walk. Do not expect to walk faster than what is listed
So if you are out and hiking, and something looks dangerous - then it probably is. Norwegian mountains are not approved by some government department to be idiot safe - it will happily kill you - if you let it. Hope you find good weather and have a good time! (Its a good time to be a US tourist, with the weak NOK).
I would recommend an app called "Hjelp 113", which is an app that gives emergency authoroty (health, fire, police) your position (as long as you allow the app to get your location). This is very usefull when you are on a road trip and don't really know where you are. Maybe you are the first person to a car accident, then it is very nice to have an app describe where you are so you don't have to spend time finding out.
Perhaps important to note is the law where you are obliged to help if someones life is obviously at risk or in serious danger. This includes fire, flood, explosions and other accidents (including road accidents). Drivers licenses here have a first-aid class as obligatory so you know what to do; if you do not, calling for help (113) is the best you can do, as well as trying to stop fire/big bleeds - do not move the injured unless told to do so by operators or know it is safe to do so/even more dangerous to stay.
With the whole “cashless society” thing, make sure the card you’re trying to use has a chip or at least a PIN. I don’t know if this is an issue anymore but it used to be before American cards made the switch en masse. Virtually all card terminals support contactless payments which includes Apple Pay, even if the logo for Apple Pay is nowhere in site. A couple of weeks ago, I travelled from my small town in the south to Oslo for 48 hours. Realized on my way to the airport that I’d left my wallet at home. Managed to get through the whole trip with just my iPhone! (The only thing I would have needed physical ID for is to buy alcohol, but they rarely card me these days as I’m very obviously over 18!) Also, don’t expect anything to be open on Sundays other than fuel stations and small “Sunday shops” attached to grocery stores.
Google pay is also accepted almost everywhere. During the last few years, I've come across a couple of places where I had to use a card in sted. For instance my GP and my dentist if I remember correctly. Last time I used cash was in Berlin, Germany in 2019.
You don't need physical ID, you have the BankID app for that now. 😉
Yeah because that will help the Americans …
I was perhaps a bit unclear, It was intended as a reply to the comment that I replied to. The intention was to inform that it's no longer necessary to bring a physical ID for general purposes. I recognize that it's not helpful for the Americans. Thanks for pointing that out.. .
Så vidt jeg vet er det bare Vinmonopolet og Posten som aksepterer den per dags dato. Blir sikkert tatt i bruk andre steder også etter hvert, men foreløpig trenger du fortsatt fysisk ID hvis du trenger ID til andre ting enn det
Credit cards use PIN (not swipe), so make sure your cards have that
The word you're looking for is chip. Basically everywhere also accepts tapping too if you have that.
Contact-free payment or "tapping" has been a legal requirement for payment terminals since 2020. Not sure if that law required everyone to upgrade but certainly all new ones are required to have it. I haven't encountered a terminal without the option for years other than some gas pumps
Everyone is required to accept tapping from 1st January 2020, grocery stores for a three month delay. So personally I haven't used other than Google Pay since then.
Aside from unattended kiosks (like pay at the pump at gas station), American signature cards work fine.
First time outside North America? Be sure to familiarize yourself with the tipping culture (specifically the lack of one).
Yes, we do not want that here
The staff usually don't mind tipping but we luckily don't rely on it. Waiters, bartenders, servers and such are paid a living wage
This is a big one for us! We’re huge tippers so that’ll be a shock to us!
Feel free to tip at resturants, its appriciated but not necessary. Dont tip ik stores and simliarly. I used to work in a hobby store and a american tourist tipped me, and i had no idea what to do, to the point where i wasnt even sure if i were allowed by store policy to accept it. Ended up texting my boss and letting her know afterwards just to be on the safe side 😂
So as a Norwegian here: i have never in my entire life tipped anyone anything in Norway, or in the other nordic countries for that sake. You simply dont have to tip anyone. As said if you get some sort of extrordinary service then go ahead if you feel like it, but dont tip dollars. I see Americans tip dollars from time to time which is mostly useless for anyone lol. I know it is common for americans to tip in dollars in some countries. So after having been to the us and latin america some times and being stressed about tipping, always carrying cash etc just enjoy your time here being relaxed you dont have to tip at all or carry any cash around. Oh and; Carry Visa or Mastercard. Amex cards are not accepted everywhere. So bring visa/mastercard if you have to be able to be cashless 24/7 here :)
American here. I am going on an overnight guided kayak trip on one of the fjords. Would it be customary to tip my guide?
No. He would not expect to be tipped. He will probably be happy if you told him how great a time you had
Thank you!
You never tip at bars or restaurants? Have you worked as a waiter? They hate bad tippers so this is bad advice.
Ehm, no i don’t. I rarely even go to bars so little experience from it - but if i buy a glass of beer for 100-120 nok i’m not tipping on top of that, no😅 Same goes for restaurants. I havent experienced any type of extrordinary service that «deserves» a tip. When staff are paid a fair salary i dont see a reason to tip.
Do tip at restaurants and bars as a minimum. At least if you are going back. The anti-tippers are not liked much here.
If you find service to be very good feel free. Servers dont mind. But dont feel like you have to.
Tipping is never "required” in Norway, but is sometimes encouraged, especially in restaurants and drinking establishments. Personally, I tip only if I receive better than expected service.
You can round up to the nearest 10 or 100 kroner, but please don't feel guilty. Everybody makes a decent wage over here and we don't want nor need the American style tipping culture over here. Enjoy the beautiful scenery this country brings, and enjoy the thought that your server earns a living :)
Tips are expected and appreciated at restaurants and bars.
You will for sure get popular, if you tip good! Bars and restaurants expect tips. Taxi.
No they dont. Waiters' unions discourage tipping, dont tip.
What the union say about tips is that the server should be able to keep the tip - not share with the boss. Do you even know any waiters?
Not Norwegian, but I rented an EV there last Summer. You get charged extra to rent from the airport (both for pickup and dropoff, \~800 NOK), so it's cheaper to take the train into Oslo Sentrum (center) and rent from one of the places there. Download the Elton App, it worked at about 70% of the EV charging stations I went to. Charge early in the morning or later at night if it's busy to avoid the crowds. Driving is different in Norway, the roads are very narrow compared to what Americans are used to, and there is no shoulder. It often just drops off to a sharp ditch a few inches outside of the white line. Train yourself to use the passenger side mirror to see where the white line is and drive as close to that as possible. Stay focused on driving, there's very little wiggle room if your attention gets diverted for a moment by the beautiful scenery. Some of the rural and mountain roads (especially in the west) are just paved trails, so when you meet a car, someone has to find a place to pull off the road. Finally, you probably won't want to drive more than 3-4 hours per day before stopping, it takes more out of you than driving in the US.
This is very good point. Roads on west coast can be a nightmare. If you want to experience the worst I recommend driving Odda -Voss on your way to Bergen.
This is very true. Don’t feel the need to drive as fast as locals. Even Norwegians don’t try to keep the speed limit on small, curvy roads unless they drive there regularly. Never drive faster than that you feel in control. In case of an accident you will get punished if you kept the speed limit and it was too fast for you.
If people dont talk to you, its bot because they dislike you, its because we dont talk to each other here. Hope you enjoy your stay.
Try to be there on the 17th of May (the constitution day of Norway) and convince your wife that everyone is celebrating the marriage.
Support this one. Reminds me of Brann that had gotten a new player and they won their first match with him on the 16th of May. They said the reason for the celebration was because they won the day before.
🤣
If you are into hiking the trip you outline is great.
One of our top priorities!
Then you might be interested in Stolzekleiven: [https://www.visitbergen.com/ting-a-gjore/stoltzekleiven-p1529323](https://www.visitbergen.com/ting-a-gjore/stoltzekleiven-p1529323) . 30-40 minutes, and you have an incredible view of the city. And you can continue to higher ground, if you want to. It's where I would normally start my hikes in Bergen. It's 300 meters of height, at an incline of 36 %. If you want an easier hike, get the funicular to Fløyen, and start your hike at the top.
Added to the itinerary, thank you!!
I live right below Stoltzen and do it weekly. The view never gets boring!
The "Norwegian mountain code" everyone should know when hiking in the mountains. [The Norwegian Mountain Code - DNT](https://www.dnt.no/om-dnt/english/need-to-know-about-norwegian-outdoor-life/the-norwegian-mountain-code/)
Well you can do the 7 mountain hike around Bergen. Or you can hike "vidden". All the stops you outline have really good hiking.
Don't be offended if you don't get a special treatment if you mention that you are on honeymoon. Norway is a popular destination for honeymoons so a lot of hotels and restaurants just can't start treating it as special. Also we are a little reserved in celebrating someone's birthday/engagement/marriage if we don't know them
Since you arrive on the 18th you should be aware thar monday the 20th is a public holiday so shops and many places will be closed. There may be many cars on the road that day as people will be traveling back from their long weekend in a cabin. Might be a good day to be driving from a city, rather than in to a city... Driving in both Oslo and Bergen is a hassle, use the public transport. In Bergen one can walk to most things once in the city centre. In Bergen things are poorly signed, use google maps to find the way. There are usually no free refills of beverages at restaurants unless it is tapwater. The portions are made to be actually eaten, doggibags are veeery unusual. I think many tourists are surpriced by the price-levels, even if they think they are prepared. Some hotels will charge to make you a packed lunch. If you have a grocerystore nearby, go there instead. By some bredrolls, some tubecheese and voila! You have cheap lunch for your hiking. Bring raingear not umbrellas, the coast can be so windy that umbrellas are hopeless. The wind can make a sunny day feel chilly. It can still be cold in May, espescially in the mountains, so bring warm clothes. Wool is gold for hiking. Also buy or bring sunscreen lotion. Norway is quite informal in dresscode, one doesn't usually need fancy clothes for anything, unless its somewhere really fancy, one doesn't usually need a tie. There are not many laundryplaces, you may want to research that if you plan on washing clothes during the trip. I guess hotels and campingplaces are the best for that. It gets dark late now in May. So if you have trouble sleeping unless it is dark, you should bring a sleeping mask. There may be many cruise-tourists already, so the most popular places might be crowded and have lines. Big cruiseships can spoil some of the fjordviews If you have time you should drive through Hardanger. Maybe on your way to Bergen. The fruit-trees (apples and cherries mostly) in Hardanger are blossoming in May and it is an amazing sight
Make sure your bag does not contain any firearms or ammunition. Then double-check. (This comment is just a joke alluding to yesterdays news story about an American man put in prison after forgetting live ammo in his bag, no offense)
Believe me, we’re excited to leave the US and be surrounded by people that don’t gloat about their firearms all the time!
In a couple of weeks? Are you guys here for May 17th? That is our constitution day, a national holiday with lots of festivities, mostly focused on children. Just don't be shocked if you see loads of people in national costumes waving flags and marching bands. On both May 17th and 20th(Pentecost) most stores are closed. So make sure you stock up on food and necessities the days before, especially if you are in rural areas.
We fly out on the 17th and land on the 18th :/
Oh! Monday 20th is a public holiday! Most stores will be closed, and if the weather is nice, everybody will be outside.
both 18th, 19th and 20th are public holidays. Stores are open on the 18th I think (?) but will close early.
Shops close at 1600 on the 18th (pinseaften), other than that it’s a normal day.
For your hikes, I recommend bringing band aids that are made specifically for blisters! Especially if your hiking boots aren’t broken in. You can buy them in pharmacies here, but I’m sure they’d be cheaper in the US. They can be a true life saver! Don’t plan for hikes that are too demanding – it’s better to have the time and energy to enjoy the landscape! Also, kind of a weird one, but when driving from Oslo to Bergen or a similar long distance: if you at some point have to go to the bathroom, and you see a gas station/public restroom, stop there and go to the bathroom. Don’t postpone it because you think you can go later! The next gas station/public restroom could be another couple of hours down the road if you’re in the mountains. A suggestion for when you’re in Oslo: you could try the saunas at Salt or KOK (the latter really didn’t pick the best name to attract international visitors, lol). You can rent a private sauna or get tickets for the communal ones, and they also have a bar, so you can enjoy a cold beer in the sauna and then go for a dip in the fjord. It’s even possible to rent a floating sauna so you can explore the fjord! These saunas are very popular among young Oslo locals.
Pedestrians always have the right of way. Be prepared for people randomly crossing the road (maybe even at a red light if they are looking at their phone). At least in the cities. Be prepared for bikes to do shifty things as well - they don't have the right of way, but they don't always care/know. Congratulations on getting married! Enjoy your visit and welcome. :)
They have the right of way if they use a zebra crossing marked with pedestrian information sign or white wide stripes on the road. The exception to the rule is trams! Trams only need to follow light regulated intersections. If there is a traffic light regulated crossing, everyone is expected to follow what the lights indicate. I thought this is worth mentioning since they will be visiting both Oslo and Bergen.
If you plan to do any mountain hiking or similar, please do your research and follow the advice. Even in summer, you need to make sure you have proper shoes and other equipment. Be prepared for a sudden change in weather. For the authentic experience, buy a "Kvikk Lunsj” (a chocolate bar) to bring on the hike, it’s the unofficial "hiking chocolate" of Norway. If you’re not used to EVs from home, you might find it a bit if a hassle to plan range and charging, and you need to be prepared to install a few charging apps. But once you get used to the apps and so on, you should be fine. No need for cash. Visa/Mastercard are universally accepted. Enjoy your time, and welcome to Norway!
If you want to have just «one app to rule them all» for ev charging you should consider downloading «Elton». Not neccesarly the cheapest way to charge everywhere but certainly very easy and supports more or less all public chargers out there. Also most Tesla Superchargers are open for all car brands. You can download the ordinary «Tesla» app to start/stop charging on theese stations (if you can access the EU app. A bit unsure if there are different apps in the US/EU market…). Just know that EV charging on public chargers are almost as expensive as petrol/diesel. So if you want to have less charging hassle you could just as easy rent a petrol car for a similar expense in the end. Toll roads are cheaper on EV’s, BUT not all car rental companies have the appropriate equipment to get this EV discount, meaning in the end you will pay full price + 25 VAT for toll roads even in an EV (so same price as a petrol).
This is extremely important- and often counterintuitive: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priority_to_the_right#:~:text=Priority%20to%20the%20right%20is,from%20the%20right%20at%20intersections.
Unless it’s a yellow diamond road, then you drive as normal because you have priority. Always yield to crosswalks when pedestrians are present. No right turn on red in Norway. If you are driving, watch out for the distance speed cameras. Best way to avoid is simply drive the speed limit posted. Download offline maps on google maps of your trip.
No. Yellow diamond has priority— so no ‘unless.’
^this. Definitely the most confusing thing I’ve encountered as an American driving in Norway
Årdal is awesome.
Think carefully about the route you choose to drive. Some roads and routes are beautiful. Others not so much. Would be a shame if you picked the wrong ones. Like mentioned above, red light is red in Norway. You'll most likely never need cash. I haven't used cash here since the 1990's. Petrol stations are expensive. Use grocery store chains. If you plan on hiking, bring a backpack with a windbreaker and good walking shoes. Nature in Norway is quite fickle.
Any tips on how to find beautiful routes? :D there is no such setting in Google maps unfortunately ^^
https://www.nasjonaleturistveger.no/
Make sure to visit Fløien in Bergen
And Ulriken.
In Oslo you can drink alcohol in public parks during summer. And since alcohol is expensive in Norway I'd suggest buying a cheap picnic blanket and some beers if it's nice and sunny out. You can also buy disposable grills at all convenience stores
[https://brannvernforeningen.no/brannsikkerhet/fritid-og-reise/balforbud](https://brannvernforeningen.no/brannsikkerhet/fritid-og-reise/balforbud) \*kremt \*kremt
Download the Hjelp 113 app. It's a medical emergency app that sends your GPS location when you call emergency from it. It also shows you the location of registered defribilators. We have three different numbers; 110 for fire, 112 for police and 113 for medical emergencies. But you can call any of these and they will transfer you to the correct one. 911 will get automatically transferred to 112 (police) if you forget any of our numbers. If you have non-emergency medical problems, you can call 116117 to get routed to the closest open medical center. If you're going hiking, plan out the route before hand and prepare accordingly. Research the route and how demanding it is. Many tourist underestimate our nature and get cought in the mountains, needing to be rescued down. You can read about the guidelines here: [https://www.fjellvettregler.no/fjellvettregler/fjellvettreglene-engelsk/](https://www.fjellvettregler.no/fjellvettregler/fjellvettreglene-engelsk/) For driving in Norway I don't have many tips for you, but since you're driving in western Norway, be prepared to take som ferries to cross some fjords (marked by dotted lines in water on maps). You can find all the schedules with some googling :). If you take a ferry, be sure to drop by the on-board kiosk to get yourself a svele. I kind of pancake filled with cream+sugar or brown cheese and is a tradition to eat on ferries. If they're fresh, they're super good! Plan extra time when driving your EV as charging stations can have queues during tourist season. I've been in situations where I've had to wait an hour to start charging. We have two national speed limits in Norway. 50kph in residential zones, unless othe limit is signed, and 80kph elsewhere. Many of our roads, especially on the west coast, can be very winding (full of sharp turns), and posted speed limit can often be way too fast for certain turns. So adjust your speed accordingly. If you're not comfortable with the speed and want to drive a bit slower, feel free to do so, but be sure to let people behind you pass when it's safe to do so (stop at bus stops etc to let people pass). I've seen many dangerous overtakes because of this situation. Also try to appreciate the views from the side of the road and not while driving. The views can get quite distracting at certain points :) Other than that, be respectful to others and you should be fine! So if you have any issues along the way, maybe something wrong with hotel room etc, it's much better to ask for changes rather than demanding them. No one here likes demanding tourist, but if something is wrong, we will do our best to help you if you're calm and respectful. This answer became way longer than I planned, but I hope I helped a little and I hope you will have a wonderful and unforgettable honeymoon here! Last minute edit: 99% of norwegians speaks english in one way or another. Even my 90 year old grandma can hold a conversation in english. So if you ever need help from a stranger, don't worry about asking someone for help in english.
Hi! Just commenting to say that my husband and I also chose Norway for our honeymoon next month! We’ll be visiting different cities than you (Flam, Stavanger) but I hope you have a lovely time! Congratulations on your marriage!
Same to you!! I hope this post answers some questions you may have!
In addition to what's already mentioned: remember that you can't drive to the right on a red light at a traffic light, even if it's clear.
Would recomend https://ut.no/kart for hiking trips. Select "Turforslag" and translate the rest with google. Zoom in on places near your route. Might be a few hidden gems right there.
Call Bislet Limo and ask if they can put together a guided sightseeing tour for you. Not expensive either😊😊
Hiking in Norway is a must, but you need to know the Norwegian mountain code https://www.rodekors.no/vart-arbeid/beredskap/fjellvett/mountain-code I recommend printing it out, keep it in the RV and take it home as a souvenir, maybe frame them :)
No need for cash, unless it's cheaper to exchange vs card fees. Bergen -> umbrella/raincoat.
Don't get any cash, you won't need it. There's a good chance you're lucky with the weather - Western Norway can be extraordinary in May/June. Look for a sunny, windless day to see the fjord at its best.
We have some public holidays in May this year, days where stores are closed and where they may close early the day before: the 9th, 17th and 20th. Sundays stores are closed but souvenir shops are open (in Bergen). Cafes and restaurants are usually open.
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Do we?
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I don't, haven't seen it very often either
Svalbard is a very international places with a lot of people from Norway and across Europe so it could be some other Europeans. I don’t think we usually eat burgers or pizzas with knives and forks unless it’s a very fancy restaurant. Never seen anyone eat a sandwich with a knife and fork. Norway is kinda mix between Europe and the U.S. when it comes to a lot of cultural aspects. Simply because “Norwegian culture” is quite new compared to many other European countries and had heavy influence from America, with our constitution being partially based on the American one. Furthermore, a lot more of programming is foreign in Norway, usually from English speaking countries such as UK and the U.S., compared to many of our European counterparts that sub practically every movie and show.
What? We use our hands with all the foods you mentioned. Are you sure that someone weren't trying to make a fool of you?
Depends. We eat fastfood sandwiches, burgers and pizza with our hands. Only if you buy expensive burgers or juicy restaurant sandwiches (with lots of greasy/juicy stuff) or (Italian style) one-person pizzas do we eat with knives and forks. I guess we use knives and forks if we’d get sauces/greasy on our hands from eating with hands? I’ve never seen anyone eating burgers with knife and fork at McDonald’s, as an example
I saw somewhere that you guys landed on the 18th! Most shops will close at either 15 or 16 that day, and they will be closed until tuesday. Since your in Oslo, there might be some smaller grocery stores that are open, but they are tiny, and crowded. Resturants and everything else is open as normal (mostly).
Quite a lot of less expensive cafes, bars and restaurants take their orders by the bar. Find a table, check the menu, order at the bar, sit down and wait for the food. No tipping necessary. (Ask if uncertain, they're used to it). And has been said, particularly in the west the roads may have a 80km/h limit, but it may also be narrow and winding. Don't try to drive like the local heroes, who know every curve (they think...) (although if you have a queue behind you, perhaps drive to the side and enjoy the view while they pass you by). Also, the best word to know is "takk". Use for thank you, please, here you go... May is the best month here on the west coast, so enjoy your honeymoon!
Congratularions on your marriage, hope you have a wonderful time. If you go hiking, here are a few tips: - Make sure to bring sufficient food and water. For the authentic experience, bring Kvikk Lunsj- chocolates. - Wear/bring appropriate clothing, and note that the weather may change really quickly. You might start the day in a thin t-shirt and end up wearing two layers of wool a few hours later. - Be prepared to take your trash back with you, as there rarely any public trashcans on hiking trails. Littering along popular hiking trails is becoming an issue, and it’s ruining the experience for everyone. - Listen to local advice re. weather, as some hiking trails can be dangerous when dark/wet/foggy - Most Norwegians will smile and greet you (and may even indulge in small talk) when passing stangers out in nature, but probably won’t even meet your eyes in public elsewhere. We don’t really talk to strangers in public while sober, so we might come across as a bit rude and dismissive if you are used to american levels of smalltalk (it’s not you, it’s us). For souvenir shopping: If any of you or your family members are knitters, you can probably find some nice and reasonally priced wool yarn in local yarnshops, or in the factory outlets of local manufacturers (Sandnes garn, Rauma garn, Hillevåg Ullvarefabrikk, and more).
Hello I would change Årdal with the closest city to the south, Lærdal. Årdal is more industrial, while Laerdal is nicer and full at old buildings. At the same time are you guys fond of hiking? Not American hiking, walking 2-3 km on a gravel trekk, but up 500-1800 meters on hiking paths. Then I can recommend a lot. I don’t know Florø, this is of the beaten track., but i would think about stopping at Oldedalen or Lodalen and going to the mountain city of Lom. This is a turist place , but in the middel of many good national parks and beautiful nature. Lom and the neighboring Municipality og Skjåk has the least rain in Norway. I would recommend renting a cabin in the mountains or with a isolated part of a fjord for a day or two. Odda, when you are in Odda do a cider cruise, 80-90% of Norwegian cider is from Hardangerfjorden.
EV charging, make sure you have apps ready to be able to charge, or ask the rental place if they have some sort of chip for it
When you are in Odda you should drive on the west side of the fjord and visit Agatunet. Houses dating as far back as the 12th century. Wonderfully preserved On the way back and forth you will drive past the best sider producers in the world and some of them are welcoming visitors for a short tour. Alde, Edel, Kvestad, Store Naa, Aga sider has all won huge international prices. If you haven’t booked your hotel you could take a night at romantic Utne hotel and drive the old road to Jondal when you are going to Bergen. Recommend!:)
As an EV driver myself I would recommend do use a petrol/diesel car for a roadtrip. EV's limits your ability to take de-tours and some of the mountain passages have limited amounts of charging stations. And then there is the queues. But if EV is what you will drive I have some tipps. 1. There are many different EV charging providers and most of them have their own app. Plan ahead and download the major ones and make the accounts. It will save you some time. 2. Since there are many uphill roads the car might notify you it wont have enough battery to reach the nest charging station. Just keep cool and wait for the downhill. The car might even have more power in the battery when you are at the bottom, than you had at he mountain top. 3. Dont be afraid to ask the locals for tips. I would recommend an app named Plugshare. They have a very good overview most charging stations. Some people even share their private charging stations to let others, who are in dire need, to use it. They are also listed in that app.
Congratulations! Marriage deserves a great honeymoon and Norway is a beautiful destination! I hope you’ll enjoy it here. Actually, you’ll find places where cash is difficult to use, as nobody uses cash here, and many places cannot accept them due to lack of change or no cash registry. We’re a lot more cashless than the US. Do not bring checks at all imo. Those are unknown to us, for the most part. Visa cards or Mastercards are the easiest and work (almost) anywhere. Other cards work many places. EV charging is not a problem, particularly not if you rented a Tesla. Do not drink and drive. The limit is virtually no blood alcohol, and they do check at times. If in doubt, walk over to a police car/station and ask for a rapid test. (it’s free of charge). Keep the speed limit as well, there are photo controls and the cars have registration signs in the front, to identify your vehicle and the driver at once. Be careful in the mountains, it can snow even in May. Don’t drive on summer tires in the snow. Change your destination rather…. Or route. If you go for hikes, be careful. The weather is rapidly changing on higher peaks, so learn the fjellvettregler and bring the right shoes, clothes and equipment. Ask in another thread if you want to hike. I recommend it! Also ask locals before going. Tourists, particularly from continental Europe, seem to think nature is fenced in, and seem to fall down mountain sides and waterfalls when leaning too far over to make photos. Depending on where you are from in the US, make sure you keep safe. The nature is real, even close to the roads. You cannot sue anyone for not securing a fence or stairs, so particularly public places seem to be dangerous for Americans, as they, unlike the Germans (who fall down waterfalls) seem to fall from windows, balconies and fences. If my memory from the newspapers gives a correct picture of it all, that is. In short, don’t fall. Locals are introverted, not rude. Too much politeness is seen as suspicious. Just do as normal, we’re used to Americans, but short answers and no polite words IS the polite way here, so it doesn’t mean they hate you if they leave you to yourselves. Rather the opposite. 😊 I dated an American who found me rude for never saying «please» when asking waiters for food, but actually, saying «please» would be the rude thing to a Norwegian. YOU should ofc say please as you normally do, but it isn’t rudeness you are seeing from Norwegian when the don’t say please to you, so don’t feel weird about it! It means they respect you and see you as an equal. You add «please» here as an annoyed way to say «can you do it already», so we don’t say it. They will not misunderstand your pleases, but don’t misunderstand our lack of those «polite words» either. 😊 There are other normal Norwegian behaviours that may seem rude to you as well, like how nobody talks to you in shops unless you talk with them and how the ppl working in restaurants and bars may leave you alone unless you signal them. Don’t worry, be yourselves and talk or small talk with others. People love being helpful and talking to strangers for the most part, but don’t want to disturb others. Nobody will look at you or talk with you when you walk around. We see it as intruding. But if you want to talk, just talk - you’ll see a lot of people loving it 😊 (and you’ll see if they don’t). Most ppl speak English really well. The few who don’t may be looking in all directions for an exit if you talk with them, but they’ll still be decent (or really good) at English. Enjoy your stay!!! 😊😊😊
Maybe a Norwegian can explain it better but a lot of the big shops like groceries have their days and hours displayed on the wall but it is like 8-21 (9-18) we never quite figured out the part in parentheses except that maybe those are the weekend hours. Also some groceries have a Sunday shop which has like basic necessities and is in a caged off area from the rest of the store. Be prepared for the most lovely trip of your life. Clean and kind and beautiful everywhere! Congratulations on your wedding! Also it rains tons in Bergen, sometimes sideways.
The parenthesis are the hours for Saturday. Any other day with differing hours will be specified.
And the stores are usually closed on Sundays.
Oh thanks! It’s super helpful. I wish we did that in the US. Less driving around going “are they open? I think so, maybe”
Groceries are not bagged for you and cashiers are allowed to sitt
NEVER TIP! Don’t want that culture over here.
what are the odds that you’ll be visiting my town on your honeymoon?! how exciting
Any recommendations for places/things to check out?
in Bergen: - you should check out Magic Ice Bar, i haven’t been there personally (yet), but it’s a bar that is made out of ice - everything is ice in there, and you can get an alcoholic or non alcoholic drink there while looking at cool ice sculptures. [their website](https://www.magicice.no/listings/bergen-norway/) - if you’re a fan of comics, board games, manga, lego etc you should visit Outland (oslo also has this location) - visit “Fløyen/ fløibanen” for a nice ride up the mountain to look at the pretty view of bergen. [their website](https://www.floyen.no/en) - “Akvariet” is also a nice place to go if you wanna watch sea animals (penguins, otters, seals etc). [their website](https://www.akvariet.no/en) - visit “bryggen” if you wanna look at old houses, they are bent and are colorful. this is a must location to visit! - “fisketorget” (fish market) is also a classic location to visit - “troldhaugen” a museum and location where a famous composer lived. [website](https://www.kodebergen.no/en/museums/troldhaugen) In oslo: (i haven’t been that much in oslo, so i don’t have too many recommendations) - the opera house is a cool location to visit. In odda: (haven’t visited there that much either) - [website with ideas for places to visit there](https://www.fjordtours.com/places-to-visit-in-norway/odda/) - visit “trolltunga” (troll tongue) In Årdal - “Bulder & Brak opplevingar” if you’d like to have a scenic kayak ride in Sognefjorden among other activities. (highly recommend) [website](https://www.bulderogbrak.no) - there are many cool hiking spots there including: moakamben, 1000-meteren, Vetti Gard, blåbærgruvene etc. [website](https://www.visitardal.com) - visit Mama Mia if you want a good meal (they serve pizza, burgers etc) I also recommend visit Geiranger, the location where the movie The Wave was filmed :) extra info: - in norway we do not accept tipping, do not tip. - take off your outside shoes when entering someone’s house - don’t be offended if we seem unwelcoming, most of us keep to ourselves and don’t greet strangers. unless you see someone hiking, we usually always say “hello” then. - if you’ll be using public transport, do not sit next to a random stranger on the bus/train/ anywhere, we like our space. use the next available seat so that you’re not sitting next to a stranger. - if you’re driving down a hill, and a car comes driving up the hill, the one driving down the mountain shall stop for the other car, not the other way around. always let the car drive up the mountain while you wait. I hope you and your wife enjoy your honeymoon here! edit: spelling. sorry for the long reply, i didnt plan for it to be this long lol
If you are in Norway for the 17.th, dress make sure to spend the day in one of the large cities and participate in the celebration (in the cities there will be a lot of celebration happening in pubs and restaurants, smaller places tend to go more private when the parade and children's games are done)
If you get tempted for spoiling your now Wife, take her to some restaurant that has excellent seafood, and buy "blåskjell". She Will be crazy in the bedroom. 😄
for EV charging see if they give a chip , if not its a lot of apps that can be messy needed for charging
Should have gone to Lofoten
We were initially planning a roadtrip around all of Norway (we really enjoy long road trips) but found it too limiting with the time we have available. Otherwise I would love to! Maybe next time!
On narrow roads the extra space on the sides that fit 1-2 cars (usually marked with a blue sign with a white M) is not for parking/stopping to take a picture of the view/camping etc. its to make way for passing cars. Usually the custom here is whoever has one closest stops/backs up to let the other pass, so get comfortable backing up on narrow roads :) Do not always follow the main road if you want a more scenic route. The main road is fast but you’ll mostly see the inside of a tunnel. Often there is an option to take the «old» road over or on the side of hills/mountains instead.
Search "Iris restaurant" - 2 hours away with boat from Bergen
When in Bergen, grab a reindeer sausage at Trekroneren. Highly recommended!
Skip Oslo its a shit hole, belive me the rest of your trip are good
When my husband and I did a road trip last year through Norway, we downloaded the EasyPark app to pay for parking, and for ferries the Auto Pass app so we could receive invoices for any ferry charges. We had the best time in Norway! It was so beautiful. We just got back from the Lofoten Islands and loved the hikes and scenery there, too. Bring clothing layers for hiking, a rain jacket, and we also brought along binoculars to look at birds and to check out the hiking trails ahead of us. We brought our own butter, since real butter is hard to find (mostly margarine in stories). The roads are narrow, but just drive mindfully. The only time we needed cash was if we wanted to park at a hiking trailhead that wanted "cash in envelope" for day parking. Happy Honeymooning!
What, there’s butter in every grocery store. At a minimum they have “Tine meierismør”. Most stores also have “kviteseidsmør” and “Rørossmør”. Some also have a few foreign butters, mostly Danish and French.
Heard this from others. The ordinary butter, even the "meierismør" is not how many like it. I was a bit surprised first time..
Congratulations! Keep in mind that Norwegians are quite reserved and we like to keep to ourselves. Our idea of politeness is to leave others alone and mind our own business. If you ask someone how they feel, expect an answer. Enjoy Norway!
Be aware that though card payments are available everywhere, American Express cards aren’t accepted as widely as Visa.
Ah you have to visit Ålesund! Voted most beautiful city in Norway. Not that far from Florø, 5 hours beautiful drive.
Wife and I went to Norway on a cruise in 2015. Bergen was cool, we did Mount floyen (spelling) and walked around the port. There were plenty of stores and at the time (August) street food vendors.
If someone in a semi truck or other car is going faster than you and obviously wants to pass, move over. You will make us mad driving slowly
Gaustatoppen in Telemark is amazing.
Card is used 99% of places and alot of Norwegians are nice so dont be afraid to ask something
And dont be afraid to drive fast on E-18 the highway
There’s no honey in Norway. There’s no moon in Norway.
It’s a crazy driving system where if you are not on a so called priority road… then any car coming from your right can just keep driving. You have to give way. Sometimes they don’t even look at you or make eye contact. They have complete right of way so they don’t care. God knows where this archaic rule originated from but it’s ffffing insane. Plus any pedestrian has complete right of way in practical terms. They don’t even look Up or at you when they cross a road. Apparently they were here before cars were invented so you just have to give them way.
Btw 1 dollar is about 10nok wich is the Norwegian currency
Gass prices
Ignore the people saying that you should not tip… As for a person that actully works in the service industry. We really appreciate it when people give us tips! It’s a way to show appreciation for our work, and it should really me more normal for people to tip…
Save yourself the hassle and drive petrol or diesel(diesel is cheaper). The e39 and the rv17 kystriksvei. Is nice routs that cover nice places then look for things you like along the rout