General information about Norway

Facts about Norway
Travel to Norway
Climate
Public right of access
Norwegian public holidays
Currency
Credit cards and travellers cheques
Language
Shops
Bank
Electricity
Emergency numbers
Smoking ban
Customs

Facts about Norway

Capital	Oslo (560.484 citizens)
Area	323.758 square metres
Language	Norwegian (two written forms)
Main religion	Christianity
Population	4,737,171 (Jan 1, 2008)
Government type	Monarchy

 

Travel to Norway

Norway is a member of the Schengen agreement, which allows you to travel between Schengen countries without passport controls. 

Climate

Norway is one of the few countries in the world that actually has four seasons, which creates opportunities for many interesting adventures and makes Norway an attractive destination all year round. Temperature variations are great, especially in the North. The annual mean temperature in Norway ranges from about 8°C on the west coast to below 0°C in the high mountains. The coldest time of the year is January and February, and the warmest period is mid-July, although it will be somewhat later on the coast and the mountains than inland.

Norway’s climate is different from the rest of Scandinavia, particularly because of the high mountains. The mountain range that cuts through mainland Norway, makes the climate in the eastern part much drier and gives it a more continental feel than the actual distance from the coast would suggest.

Compared with other places of the same latitude, such as Alaska, Greenland and Siberia, Norway has a rather mild climate thanks to the Gulf Stream. 

Public right of access

Public right of access to the outdoors is part of Norway's cultural heritage, set forth in the Outdoor recreation act of 1957.

The Act permits various activities on untilled land (not cultivated fields, pasture or new stands of trees) and also imposes obligations. Observing its straightforward provisions ensures continued public right of access.

You are allowed to:
- Walk and hike in summer and ski in winter on land and sail along the coast year round.
- Pick berries, flowers and mushrooms.
- Pick nuts eaten on the spot.
- Camp for two days at one place.
- Bathe and swim in the sea and in lakes.
- Ramble on foot or cycle on trails and roads.
- Build a fire in winter (15 September - 15 April).
- Children up to age 15 need no licence to fish in fresh water and, with some restrictions, may fish with tackle in salt water. 

You should not:
- Litter or discard rubbish outdoors.
- Break off branches or otherwise damage live bushes or trees.
- Cross or stay on tilled land, meadows, garden, house plots or farmyards in summer.
- Build a fire in wooded areas in summer (15 April - 15 September).
- Disturb animals or birds, including nests and nestlings.
- Take eggs from nests.
- Protected areas and preserves can have restrictions that protect plant and animal life by prohibiting access or picking. 

Contact the landowner
It's wise to contact the landowner if you plan an organized trip crossing or intend to camp several days at one place on his/her land. Several associations have benefited by taking along the landowner as a local tour guide.

Further information
The Directorate for Nature Management website at www.dirnat.no (click on "English") offers further information on the Public right of access, including seven downloadable (PDF format) brochures in English.

Norwegian public holidays

	2010	2011
New Years Day	01 January	01 January
Palm Sunday	28 March	17 April
Maundy Thursday	01 April	21 April
Good Friday	02 April	22 April
Easter Sunday	04 April	24 April
Easter Monday	05 April	25 April
Public holiday	01 May	01 May
Ascension Day	13 May	2 June
Constitution Day	17 May	17 May
Whit Sunday	23 May	12 June
Whit Monday	24 May	13 June
Christmas Day	25 December	25 December
Boxing Day	26 December	26 December

Currency

ATMs at Oslo Airport: Departure hall, foreign departures by the duty free shop. Domestic departures, foreign arrivals and domestic arrivals.
Opening hours and more information about bank services at OSL

The currency is Norwegian Kroner (NOK).

Credit cards and travellers cheques

Use of credit cards is very widespread in Norway, and they are accepted almost everywhere. Eurocard, Visa, American Express and Diners Club are the most common. However, not all petrol stations accept them, so make sure that you carry an appropriate amount of cash. Also consult your credit card company for where it can be used and for other services.
Travellers’ cheques are accepted, and should be bought before departure.

Language

Norwegian is the official language of Norway, but English is generally understood and Swedish and Danish are good. Most younger people have very good command of spoken English. Some basic French and German are not unusual either. In Finnmark signs and public information are also in Sami. 

Shops and opening hours

Most shops in Norway are open 10 am – 5/6 pm Monday to Friday, and 10 am – 3/4 pm on Saturday. Closed Sundays. In most cities smaller shops are open to 7 pm on Thursdays. Shopping centres are open 10 am – 8 pm Monday to Friday, and 10 am – 6 pm on Saturdays. 

Bank

Banks are usually open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 3.30 (often 9 am – 5 pm on Thursdays). From mid-May to the end of August some banks close at 3 pm. Banks are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. 

Electricity

Norway has 220V AC of 50 Hertz. Electric appliances use round, continental style two pin plugs.

Emergency numbers

In emergencies you can call:
110 Fire
112 Police
113 Ambulance

Smoking ban

Smoking is prohibited in all restaurants, pubs, clubs and public areas in Norway, but many have outdoor seating during the summer. In the winter there are often patio heaters and shelter from the weather. 

Customs and regulations for travellers to and from Norway

If you have been outside Norway for at least 24 hours, you may bring with you goods representing a total value of NOK 6000 free of customs and excise duties.

If you have been outside Norway for less than 24 hours you may once within these 24 hours bring with yougoods representing a total values of 3000 free of customs and excise duties.This does not include alcohol or tobacco products unless you can prove that these have been purchased with at a price including tax (not duty free) in an EEA country.

Alcoholic beverages
a) 1 litre of beverages with more than 22 up to and including 60 % alcohol per volume as well as 1,5 litre with more than 2.5 up to and including 22 % alcohol per volume or 3 litres with more than 2.5 up to and including 22 % alcohol per volume.
b) 2 litres of beer with more than 2.5 or other beverages with more than 2.5 up to and including 4.75 % alcohol per volume.

This means that you may for example bring with you 5 litres of beer provided you do not have with you any other alcoholic beverages.

Only persons over the age of 18 are allowed to import alcoholic beverages. For importing alcoholic beverages with more than 22 % alcohol per volume the minimum age is 20.

Tobacco
a) 200 cigarettes or 250 g of other tobacco products and
b) 200 leaves of cigarette paper
The minimum age for importing tobacco products is 18 years

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