NORWAY TRAVEL GUIDE
A lot of people skip Norway because of how expensive it is. It’s true that Norway is not a budget destination. Even the most frugal person will have a hard time saving money here, which is why most travelers wait until they are older to be able to afford it. However, Norway is so amazingly beautiful that I think you should find ways to work it into your trip. The Norwegians are wonderful people; everyone speaks fluent English, and the sheer beauty of this country is too compelling to ignore. There is nothing like sailing around the fjords in the north. You could make it a stopover on a large trip to Sweden or Northern Europe. I have cousins in Oslo so I go back frequently and am always pleasantly surprised by the natural beauty of the country and hospitality of the locals. Use this guide to find the ninja ways to save money on your next visit!
Norway
Top 5 Things to See and Do in Norway
Other Things to See and Do
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1. Peek over the Preacher’s Pulpit
2. See the Stunning National Parks
3. Journey to the North Cape
4. Head North to Tromsø
Typical Costs
Accommodation – Like everything else in Norway, accommodation isn’t cheap. Hostel dorm rooms cost between 200-500 NOK per night while private rooms are around 750 NOK for a single. A few hostels will offer free breakfast, so keep your eyes peeled. You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. Hotels begin at around 1,000 NOK per night for a double room, though don’ expect anything too fancy! Use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. Airbnb is common in most major cities, with shared accommodation costing around 400 NOK for a night. If you want a private apartment or home, however, you’ll pay closer to 950 NOK per night. You can also camp on public lands for free if you have a tent — just use common sense and be respectful of the land. There are also numerous campgrounds around the country, as the Norwegians are an outdoorsy people. If you plan on doing a lot of camping be sure to get a Camping Key Europe card. It grants you access to over 250 campgrounds in Norway and costs only 130 NOK. The card include discounts for campgrounds all year (and all around Europe) and also offers easy check-in and even some travel insurance!
Food – Eating out is expensive, with fast food starting from 90 NOK and sit-down meals in a decent restaurant nearly always topping 285 NOK or more per main course. McDonald’s and Burger King value meals are around 125 NOK. For a cheap quick snack Norwegian-style, look no further than the nearest grill or convenience store, where you can eat a hot dog or sausage for around 30-50 NOK. If you are going buy your own food, expect to spend about 570 NOK per week. To keep costs down, avoid fresh vegetables and chicken fillets. Meat is a cultural staple here, so vegetarians beware — Norway can be a tricky place to grab a vegetarian meal on a budget.
Transportation – Trains around Norway cost between 300-610 NOK between cities, depending on the distance and the time you buy them. If you book trains early enough, they will be on the cheap side. An extensive range of express buses connect cities all over Norway and even most national parks. If you’re lucky, you can get a ticket for as little as 80 NOK, but usually, the tickets go from 290-700 NOK, although they can cost over 815 NOK. The double decker buses are clean and modern with free WiFi, coffee, and tea. Buses and trains also connect to Sweden, which can then easily connect you to mainland Europe. Norwegian Air offers great budget flights to many airports around the world, making Oslo a good destination to start or end your trip to Europe.
Activities – Norway is the land of fjords and seeing them is the most popular activity here. Most multi-day tours cost 1,050 NOK per day. You can find day tours to the fjords for around 400-650 NOK. Camping is free in Norway so as long as it is public land you can camp anywhere. Museums are usually 80 NOK. With so much pristine nature, you’ll want to take advantage of it as much as you can. Skiing, kayaking, and hiking are all great ways to get out and enjoy the scenery without breaking the budget.
Suggested daily budget
600 NOK / 70 USD (Note: This is a suggested budget assuming you’re staying in a hostel, eating out a little, cooking most of your meals, and using local transportation. Using the budget tips below, you can always lower this number. However, if you stay in fancier accommodation or eat out more often, expect this to be higher!)
Money Saving Tips
- Cook your own food – Food is very, very expensive in Norway so the best thing you can do is it simply make your own meals. Go grocery shopping but skip buying lots of fresh vegetables or whole chicken fillets as they are very expensive. Minced chicken is cheaper. Avoid eating out!!!
- Eat cheap – If you do decide to eat out, your cheapest options will be shwarma and pizza. These meals usually cost around 80 NOK and can be found all around the country.
- Couchsurf – The best way to avoid expensive hostels is to not stay there. Couchsurf or use Airbnb to rent a room or apartment so you can save your money for what is really important — sightseeing and beer!
- Camp – Free public camping laws allow you to camp in the parks and public lands for free as long as you have your own tent. You can generally stay 1-2 nights in an area as long as you are quiet and respectful. Make sure to leave the area as you found it! If you plan on camping a lot, make sure to get the Camping Key Europe card. It’s 130 NOK and offers discounts to most of Norway’s campgrounds.
- Get a tourism card – Attractions in Norway can get very expensive, especially since the exchange rate is so bad. The best way to afford all the attractions is to get a city tourism card so you can get free entry into all the attractions as well as free transportation
- Book in advance – If you can plan your transportation in advance, you can save up to 50% off the cost of your train or bus tickets. Buying last minute means it’s going to be more than any budget traveler can afford, especially if you want to visit a number of destinations in Norway. Book in advance and save yourself some money!
- Stay sober – At 60 NOK per drink (though often more!), going out will destroy your budget. While the Norwegians love to go out and have a good time, if you are on a tight budget, skip the drinks! Better to save your money for sailing around the fjords.
My Must Have Guides For Traveling to Norway
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Articles About Norway
Booking Resources
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