Norway is a European kingdom bordering Sweden to the east, Finland and Russia to the north and the Barents Sea to the northeast, the Norwegian Sea to the west and the North Sea to the south . Also known as the "Land of Midnight Sun" thanks to being a significant part of it north of the Arctic Circle where the sun does not set in summer and does not shine for many months in winter. The country covers an area of about 325,000 square kilometers, stretching along a coastline of more than 29,000 kilometers of more than 1,000 fjords and islands.
Capital: Oslo Quick Facts
Other popular cities for tourists: Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim
Population: Norway has a population of 5.3 million
Languages spoken in Norway: Norwegian and among the Sami ("Eskimos") the Lola-Sami language.
Religion: Most Christians (67%), the largest minority are Muslims (4%), 29% define themselves as non-religious.
Currency: Norwegian kroner NOK (10 NOK = 1 €)
The main industries are: oil and gas (50% of GDP), minerals, fish (the second largest exporter in the world), wood and tourism. It is worth noting that all electricity consumption in the country is supplied by hydroelectric power stations (i.e. by dams and water power).
The standard of living: Norway is one of the highest countries in the world with a GDP per capita of about $70,000. Although it is also one of the most expensive countries in the world it is a welfare state and taxation reaches 50% of GDP. However, Norwegian residents enjoy good value for their money in terms of medical care, education, nutrition, social support for the unemployed, maternity and pensioners.
Weather
Due to the elongated structure of the country there are big differences between the south where in winter it is cold and snowy however pleasant summer and pleasant winter sun with hot days can also pass the 27-30 degrees in July-August. In northern Norway in summer it is cold for Israelis of origin (5-15 degrees) while in winter extreme weather conditions of stagnation and darkness. The climate along the long beaches is temperate under the influence of the (relatively) warm waters of the Gulf Stream. The farther away from the sea the more extreme the weather and the more arctic and violent in the north. June to September are the most suitable months for a trip all over Norway. If you only travel between Oslo and Bergen, you can get a little ahead and a little late in the trip.
What can you eat in Norway?
Norway is known for its fish dishes and it is recommended to try them:
Rakfisk - Salted fish from salmon or trout. Aged 3-12 months.
Sursild - The poor version of salted fish, made from herring.
Torsk Torsk - cod with boiled potatoes and butter.
Lutefisk - A dried fish that is soaked in a long process with water and lye in order to return its fluids. Next to it is mashed peas and/or boiled potatoes.
Fiskesuppe - white fish soup, based on milk, with the addition of vegetables such as carrots, potatoes and onions.
Gravlax - Old-fashioned and spicy salmon. Usually served with mustard.
Rhubarb tart cake - a tart cake made from rhubarb leaves.
Krumkake Krumkake - meaning "crooked cake". A cone similar to an ice cream waffle, stuffed with Multekrem which is a Norwegian delicacy of cream, raspberry and sugar.
Jarlsberg Cheese - Beef cheese from the Irisberg area southwest of Oslo.
Coffee - Norwegians are the second largest coffee consumers in the world. 9.9 kg of coffee per person per year. The coffee is served brewed (not espresso), without milk. Black coffee is brewed.
Karsk - Coffee enriched with homemade alcohol (moonshine). Tradition of the Trøndelag area in central Norway.
Mayud Mjød - always. An alcoholic beverage made from bee honey.
Akvavit - Also called Akvavit. Alcoholic distillate from plants including caraway, dill and more.
Flight, transportation, accommodation and more
Direct flights do operate from most major city airports across the world. However there are not many flights and only in the summer months. You can fly with high availability to Copenhagen and add about 2-3 days of travel. Among the airlines that fly to Norway are of course Norwegian Air and KLM.
Car rental and driving
It is common to rent a car in Norway in order to get around. If you choose to arrive by rental car (usually from Denmark or Sweden), you can travel on the quality roads that connect and a ferry is a solution to consider (night ferry Copenhagen-Oslo).
Accomodation
Norway is vast and the roads are winding and therefore the average driving speed is around 50 km / h and in some sections even less. Only around Oslo can you get from place to place quickly. As a result, on any trip in Norway it is recommended to stay 2 nights in Oslo and it is better to be close to the center or to the bus or other public transport that comes to the center. Bergen and its surroundings are also an area worth staying in the center, 2 nights. The rest of the nights should be within a driving range of 200 km per day. Flåm area for travelers towards Greeniger and then between Grodås and Greeniger one night. The next place to stay could be Kristiansund. Lillehammer is also an excellent area for accommodation. Accommodation in Norway can be in Western hotels at very expensive prices. Other hotels and B & Bs are also expensive but their price is much more reasonable. It is also worth checking out options in homes through AirBNB. Also, as always, I highly recommend looking at Clickstay Villas for all of your holiday rental needs.
Prices
As mentioned, Norway is very expensive, so in both the supermarket and the restaurant, the price will usually be between 40%. The average traveler can spend time in Norway and enjoy accommodation in good places, meals and mobility for 200-250 euros per day. Based on a double room and a car for 4 people. Tourism and entertainment sites are also expensive all year round. For example: a round trip ride on the scenic train Flåm Line (twenty km that rises above 800 m altitude differences) costs about 100 euros per person. Euro round trip.
Shopping in Norway
As mentioned Norway is an expensive country, so the shopping you do there will be mostly for souvenirs and interesting items that are not found elsewhere. Here are some places worth checking out if you are in the area:
Tregaardens Julehus Christmas House: Christmas shop and open all year (the only one in Scandinavia open all year). The store has a special post office that stamps unique Christmas stamps for the benefit of visitors. Address: Havnebakken 6, 1440 Drøbak,
The Norwegian brand Norway Shop Center: clothing products, gifts, souvenirs and everything is local and high quality and depending on the price. VAT-free sale on site. Located near the town hall. At: Fridtjof Nansens plass 9.
Freya Land FreiaLand: Chocolate Factory and Norwegian Perrier brand, get customers and travelers on the site Perrier-land adjacent to the factory in Oslo. Address: Johan Throne Holsts plass 1,0566 Oslo.
Souvenirs to pick up
Souvenir with the Rune Runes alphabet, knitted sweater with a snowflake pattern (quality Norwegian brand Oleana), Norwegian gloves without separation between the 4 fingers are called Mittens (as opposed to regular Gloves gloves), Beanie knitted hat with ears and pom pom, souvenirs from Vikings (figurines, boats and beaks) Swords) or the trolls (the ugly and scary Norwegian trolls), a Norwegian knife (a serious competitor to a Swiss knife), Norwegian chocolate, Salmiak candies which are salty licorice candies (not for kids but worth a try).
Norway's most popular attractions
The number of attractions in Norway is large and extends over great distances but nevertheless we decided to concentrate the selected attractions.
We will divide the attractions of the visit in Norway by regions:
Oslo and the surrounding area
Between Oslo Bergen and Christensen (South)
Between Oslo Bergen and Trondheim (center)
North of Trondheim
Oslo and the surrounding area
Oslo Fjord Oslofjord is not a fjord by definition, but a wide bay 100 km long and at its northern end lies Oslo. It is not actually a fjord in the geological sense of the term but Oslo also deserves its own fjord. The Oslo metropolitan area has about 1.5 million inhabitants, which is about 30% of Norwegians.
Things to do and see
Det Kongelige Slott: ** The Royal Palace in central Oslo is the official home of the Norwegian Royal Family.
Also used for kingdom ceremonies. Located on one side of the sidewalk is Karl Johans Gate.Storting Parliament Building: ** Ancient palace where the Norwegian Parliament is located. In the center of the sidewalk.
Nationaltheatret Nationaltheatret: Oslo's main theater building. Has been running every evening since 1899 with the best of the world repertoire. The town hall building for the pedestrian zone.
The Tiger in front of the Tigeren Central Railway Station on Jernbanetorget: *** has become a must-see photo site for every tourist in Oslo.
Akershus Fortress: Located in the city center since 1299, when it was built and used as a royal residence in Nablus during the Renaissance.
Norwegian Resistance Museum Norges Hjemmefrontmuseum: Near the fortress is the museum in honor of the Norwegian resistance to the Nazi occupation in 1940-45.
City Hall Rådhuset ***: This is not just a town hall. Exhibitions are held there, the wall of art is famous where special paintings hang and especially the spectacular view towards the port of Oslo. The importance of the place is also that every year a Nobel Peace Prize ceremony is held (the other Nobel Prizes are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden).
Nobel Peace Center: This is a museum to tell the story of Nobel Peace Prize winners. An old train station that has been turned into a museum. Note: Nobel Peace Prize-giving ceremonies are held at the Oslo City Hall and not here.
The National Opera and Ballet House Operahuset Oslo: The new residence (inaugurated in 2008) of the Norwegian Opera and Ballet.
Overlooks the harbor and the fjord, and it is recommended to go up to the roof of the building for observation.Ibsen Museum * Ibsenmuseet: A museum that is the residence of the writer and playwright Henrik Ibsen until the day of his death and displays the history of his life, original furniture from his home and his original objects.
The Jewish Museum * Jødisk Museum in Oslo: The museum is located in an old synagogue building in the Hausmann district and close to the pedestrian zone.
The museum depicts the life of the Jews in Norway in general and in Oslo in particular throughout history.Munch Museum ** Munchmuseet: A museum opened in 1963 in honor of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Norwegian painter Edvard Munch. The museum suffered from a number of burglaries and thefts of the artist's paintings and especially the "scream". Following this, a new museum is established to which the artist's works of art and objects will be transferred.
For more information, please refer to the Official Tourism Site for Oslo.