Entry requirements | Organizing your trip | Visiting | Eating | Paying | Speaking |

Entry requirements

Passport and visa service

Consult the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration website
Visa Fact Sheet at the website

Diplomatic representations

All Norwegian Embassies and Consulates can be found here.

For more information

Embassy of Norway in Greece
23, Ave Vass Sophias
106 74 Athens
Phone: 2107246173
Fax: 2107244989
emb.athens@mfa.no

Organizing your trip

Means of transport recommended in town

Recommendation

Norway has an excellent transportation system. Public transportation is generally safe and the condition of roads is mainly good. Taxis are expensive, but usually easily available. Taxis can be hailed from the street or picked up from a taxi rank. All taxis accept common credit cards. Oslo has a well-functioning underground service and trams.

Maps of urban networks

Network maps for public transportation in Oslo
Maporama
Mappy

Means of transport recommended in the rest of the country

Recommendation

Trains can be used to get from city to city. Local transport in the cities is generally efficient and served mainly by public buses at reasonable prices. Road transportation is the dominant form of transport due to long distances and low population density.

Extensive system of ferries and express boats link Norway's coastal towns, fjords and islands. Ferries are mostly roll-on, roll-off car ferries. Small islands are served by water buses.

Rail companies

Norwegian State Railways
Airport Express Train (runs between Gardermoen and Oslo)

Flight from Greece

No aircraft company operates direct flight from Athens to Oslo. For low cost company, check Sterling. To find out air connections from Greece to Norway click here

Traveling by yourself

Recommendation

Car rentals are expensive, but easily available. Roads can be narrow and winding in the mountainous areas. Winter tires are mandatory on all motor vehicles from November to April. Road conditions can vary greatly, depending on weather and time of the year. Roadside assistance can be limited in the rural areas. Headlights should be on at all times when driving.

Norway is not ideal for cycling due to the long distances and hilly terrain.

Road maps

Google Maps

Find an itinerary

Norwegian Public Road Administration
Via Michelin Norway

Visiting

Different forms of tourism

Historical

- Folk Museum (Oslo),
- Historical Museum (Oslo),
- Sculptures of Vigeland (Oslo),
- National Museum (Oslo),
- Bergen Museum (Bergen),
- Viking Ship Museum (Oslo)

Cultural

Please consult the list of Unesco's World Cultural Heritage sites in Norway

Nature

Norway's long slender coast with its numerous fjords offers breathtaking scenery. Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord, located northeast of Bergen, are considered exceptionally beautiful and are on the Unesco's World Heritage list. More information about the fjords can be found here.

The most famous ferry route in Norway is the Hurtigrute coastal boat. It sails a long and beautiful route from Bergen to Kirkeness. Boat stops at thirty ports along the coast and the whole trip lasts eleven days, making the ride quite an experience.

Reaching the remote and wild Svalbard archipelago requires more effort and money.

Religious

- Trondheim cathedral (Scandinavia's largest medieval building.)

- Urnes stave church (Viking woodcarvings)

Thermal

No.

Beach

The island of Hovedoya lies just off the coast of Oslo. It's great for swimming and sunbathing and reachable by a ferry boat. Municipality of Mandal is famous for its long, sandy beaches.

Winter sports

Cross-country skiing is very popular in Norway. Also opportunities for downhill skiing and ice fishing.

Outdoor activities

Hiking, cycling, rock-climbing, swimming.

Shopping

Shops are usually open 09:00 - 17:00 Monday to Friday and until 15:00 on Saturday. Department stores stay open until 20:00 and until 18:00 on Saturday.

Paléet, Oslo City and Galleri Oslo are Oslo's shopping malls. A lot of shops and boutiques around the city centre. Woodcarvings, viking paraphernalia, knitwear and ceramics and wrought-iron pieces are popular souvenirs.

Tourism organizations

Norwegian Tourist Board

Eating

Food specialties

Being a fishing nation, Norway is one of the best places in Europe to enjoy seafood. Emphasis on game (moose, reindeer, duck) is also typical for Norwegian cuisine.

Some Norwegian specialities: Laks: Smoked (or grilled) salmon in many varieties.
Gravlaks: Raw salmon cured in salt, sugar and dill.
Rakfisk: Raw fermented trout or char.
Fårikål: Lamb meat and cabbage served with potatoes.
Geitost: Brown goat cheese

Drinks

Beer, wine, sodas. The climate isn't hospitable for wine production, but there are some local beers and distilled spirits. Akvavit (schnapps) is a traditional vodka-like drink distilled from potato or grain.

Dietary taboos

There are no dietary restrictions, but alcohol production and consumption is restricted. Beer or wine does not usually accompany lunch.

Paying

Domestic currency

Norwegian Krone

ISO Code

NOK

To obtain domestic currency

You can exchange currencies in airports and in town centers. Post offices and banks exchange major foreign currencies and accept travellers cheques. ATMs are widely available and give local currency.

Possible means of payment

All major credit cards are widely accepted.

Exchange rate on

Automatic Teller Machines (ATM)

To find out the locations of ATMs in in Norway, click on the link to your credit card: Visa, Mastercard or American Express

Speaking

Official language

Nearly all Norwegians speak the official language, Norwegian. It has two written forms, Bokmål and Nynorsk. Bokmål is more common of the two. In some districts Sami (spoken by the Sami minority) is also an official language.

Other languages spoken

Official language : Norwegian
Business languages: Norwegian & English.

Business language

Most Norwegians speak at least some English. Business people speak excellent English.

Getting some knowledge

Basics of Norwegian language.

Free translation tools

Dicts - Basic word / sentence translator
Free Translation - Basic word / sentence translator
Hexagone - Not Free Greek-Norwegian-Greek translator

We can translate your foreign-language documents.

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