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The national currency is The Norwegian Krone, made
up of 100 ore, and abbreviated to NKr or Kr. Exchange rates
are approximately as follows:
£1 = NKr 12
$1 = NKr 8
1 Euro = NKr 7.5
Check with your local currency exchange bureau for up to date
exchange rates.For up to date currency information, check the Currency
Converter.
People
The population density of Norway and Lapland are remarkably
low, being home to a fraction of the population of England.
The people of Norway are predominantly Nordic, descended
from Northern and central European tribes who migrated Northwards
thousands of years ago. Over fifty per cent of all the Sami
people in Lapland actually reside in Norway, and are its largest
ethic minority. They traditionally survive by herding reindeer,
hunting and fishing, though this fascinating way of life is
being rapidly diminished by encroaching Westernisation.
Travel
Transport in Norway, both bus and train, is notoriously expensive,
but highly efficient, while hiring a car is a viable option
only if the cost can be divided between a number of people.
The roads are of high quality, and constantly improving, but
this is funded by the numerous road tolls and expenses are
further increased by expensive petrol. As you travel further
north, particularly into more sparsely populated areas of
Sami Land, transport becomes more limited, and is predominantly
by plane, boat, dog sled or snow mobile!
A popular way of travelling the length the country is by
the Hurtigren coastal steamer, which links 33 towns,
and runs daily from Bergen. The journey is expensive, but
does offer the budget option of sleeping on deck, for the
determined shoe-string traveller.
Food
Eating, like all else in Norway, is very expensive, and the
food is infamously simple, but as interest in tourism increases,
as does the availability of high quality national food. The
two most common foods are cheese (such as Jarlsberg)
and fish. Fresh fish is readily available, but unique to Norway
are the enormous variety of preserved and dried fish dishes,
some of which require you to have quite an adventurous palate.
In Sami Land you will have to develop a taste for reindeer
meat, a staple present in almost all of their meals.
Drinking in Norway is not really an option for the budget
traveller, mark up on alcohol can be as much as 300%, but
as a non-EU country, duty free can be bought on the way in,
and this is probably the best way to fuel your parties while
travelling. A more popular past time in Norway is the drinking
of coffee, which above any alcoholic beverage comes close
to being the national drink. However, if you insist on tasting
a local drop, try aquavit or akevitt, a strong
spirit produced from potatoes, flavoured with caraway, and
aged in sherry barrels.
Language
The official language of Norway is Norwegian, which
is split into two languages, Bokmal, and Nyorsk,
both are very similar and understood by all Norwegians, but
often result in two authorised spellings of place names. Like
much of Scandinavia, many people speak good English, though
this does diminish in more rural areas. The Sami have their
own language, said to be one of the most difficult in Europe,
but it is rapidly dying out due to lack of use.
Climate
Norway has one of Europe's coldest climates, and suffers much
rain, but is fortunately made more temperate by the Gulf Stream.
In the main cities, such as Oslo and Bergen, average monthly
temperatures very rarely drop below zero degrees, but inland
areas temperatures reach greater extremes, and in the Sami
Land frequently drop as low as -30 degrees centigrade during
the Christmas tourist season.
The main tourist season in Norway is June to mid-August,
and is the best time to visit as this is when the temperatures
are most manageable, the days are at their longest (this is
the period of the midnight sun for the more northern reaches),
and when tourist attractions are open the longest hours. However,
if you're here to see Santa at Christmas time, you can expect
long hours of darkness, as well as the extreme cold, though
there is the added bonus of the Aurora Borealis, or
Northern Lights.
Dress
For most Norwegians dress is casual but fashionable, with
an emphasis on protection from the elements, a trend the traveller
is well advised to follow. It is essential to pack warm clothing,
including many layers, and preferably down clothing if you
are planning to travel out into the wilderness, or are visiting
in the winter months. Don't forget your waterproofs too, particularly
if you're planning to visit Bergen, where it is said to rain
300 days of the year!
Health
Risks are minimal, and similar to those of much of Western
Europe. Particular care should be taken to ensure fish is
fresh and well cooked, and vitamin supplements are advisable,
as fresh vegetables can be hard to find cheaply. Water is
possibly the only cheap thing in Norway, as all tap water
is drinkable, however, if you're going trekking it's best
to always purify river water before drinking it.
More adventurous travellers planning to trek in the Northern
wilderness should be aware of the risks of hypothermia,
and be able to spot the symptoms, as well as other important
survival skills. Course are available for those considering
this option.
Visas
Most residents of European countries, the US the UK, Australia,
New Zealand and other Commonwealth countries can travel to
Norway for up to three months without a visa, but your passport
must be valid for three months beyond your intended stay. |
