Know before you go : Norway Edition

In this article, I’ll make an overview of everything useful to know before going to Norway, including some travel tips.

You’ll find : 

Norway is a country located in Northern Europe, on the western side of the Scandinavian Peninsula. It shares borders with Sweden to the east, Finland and Russia to the northeast, and has a long coastline along the North Atlantic Ocean and Arctic Ocean, with many fjords and islands.

The capital is Oslo, which is also the largest city in the country. Oslo is known for its cultural landmarks such as the Oslo Opera House, Vigeland Sculpture Park, and the Viking Ship Museum.

I have written a few articles about Tromsø as well, which is located up north, at the red dot on the second map below.

Famous for its fjords, mountains, northern lights, and breathtaking coastal landscapes, Norway offers a wide range of experiences. Its cuisine is also interesting with salmon, cod, rakfisk and klippfisk, waffles and brown cheese (brunost).

As of 2025, Norway covers approximately 385,000 km² and has a population of around 5.5 million people.

The best time to visit Norway is usually June to September, when the weather is milder and daylight hours are long. During this period, temperatures typically range between 10°C and 20°C, with cooler conditions in the north and in mountainous areas.

Note that July and August are the peak tourist months. Expect higher prices, busier attractions. However, this is also when you’ll enjoy the best conditions for hiking, fjord cruises, road trips, and outdoor activities, thanks to great weather and long days.

We went to Tromsø at the end of November and had cold but good weather, there were some tourists in the city but we were completely alone on the road, no closed sites or roads due to snow, and a little bit of daylight (from 10 am to 1 pm) and saw auroras every night!

The currency in Norway is the Norwegian Krone (NOK).

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted everywhere, including hotels, restaurants, shops, public transport, and even small cafés in remote areas. Norway is also a cash-free country, so carrying cash is rarely necessary. If you do need cash, use bank ATMs and always choose to be charged in NOK rather than your home currency to avoid poor exchange rates.

Norway is known for being a very expensive destination, often more costly than most other European countries. A meal at a casual restaurant usually costs around 40–60€ per person, while quicker options like burgers, street food, or fish soup typically range between 15–25€. A good way to save money is to buy food at supermarkets (such as Rema 1000, Kiwi, or Coop) and eat on the go – especially useful when you plan on exploring the fjords and having road trip days.

Most natural attractions are free, but activities such as whale-watching, dog sledding or reindeer farm visits are very expensive (expect at least 150-200€ per person).

Accommodation prices vary by region and season, but you can expect around 100€ per night for two people in Airbnb or budget hotels, and 150-200€ and more for hotels with breakfast. Prices increase significantly during the peak season (June–August).

Clothing: Norwa has a cool temperate to subarctic climate, depending on the region, with weather that can change quickly, especially along the coast and in the mountains. Even in summer, temperatures usually range between 10–20°C, so pack thermal layers, a warm sweater, a waterproof jacket, and windproof clothing. If you come in winter, especially in Northern Norway, I would also recommend a beanie, gloves, a warm insulated coat, thermal leggings, waterproof boots, and warmer gloves. Sunscreen and sunglasses are still useful in summer due to long daylight hours and strong UV levels.

No matter the season, pack comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots, as much of Norway’s trails are rocky, or muddy.

Adapter: Norway uses Type C and F outlets (the standard in most of Europe). If you’re traveling from the UK, US, Canada, or elsewhere, you’ll need a plug adapter. A power bank is also handy to keep your phone charged while traveling.

There’s plenty to bring back from Norway!

Traditional Items: Norway is well known for its wool products, especially the classic Norwegian knit sweaters (also called lusekofte or Marius sweaters). Other popular traditional souvenirs include wool blankets, hand-knitted hats and mittens, troll figurines, and items featuring Viking or Nordic designs. You’ll also find beautiful wooden crafts, rosemaling (traditional decorative painting), and high-quality products made from reindeer leather.

Food & Drinks: Definitely consider trying and buying brown cheese (brunost), vacuum-packed smoked salmon, dried cod (tørrfisk), or dried meat from reindeer, moose or whale. You can also bring home some sweet treats like Freia chocolate, liquorice, and cloudberry jam. For drinks, consider Norwegian craft beers, aquavit (traditional spiced spirit), and locally produced gin or berry liqueurs.

The official language of Norway is Norwegian. Most people speak great English, especially in cities, hotels, restaurants, shops, and tourist areas.

Here are a few basic Norwegian phrases that might come in handy:

• Hello:  Hei – [hay]
• Thank you: Takk – [tahk]
• You’re welcome: Vær så god – [vair soo goo]
• I (don’t) understand: Jeg forstår (ikke) – [yai for-stor (EE-keh)]
• Sorry: Unnskyld – [OON-shild]
• My name is…: Jeg heter… – [yai HEH-ter]
• Yes / No:  Ja / Nei – [yah / nay]

These phrases will help you connect with locals and show appreciation for the culture – even just a few words can go a long way!

If you’re traveling to Norway from Europe, EU roaming does apply, since Norway is part of the EEA. This means you can usually use your mobile plan just like at home, with no extra charges for data, calls, or texts. Still, it’s always a good idea to double-check your provider’s fair-use limits, especially for data. If you need a local SIM card, providers such as Telenor, Telia, or ice.net offer prepaid options. A SIM with 10-15 GB of data usually costs around 20–30€ and can be purchased at airports or convenience stores. That said, e-SIMs are often more convenient and cheaper. Providers like Jetpac, Airalo, or Holafly offer plans starting at around 10-20€ for 10 GB, which I personally find more practical.

If you are coming for a city trip like Oslo or Tromsø, you generally won’t need a car, but if you plan to explore Norway’s fjords, scenic routes, national parks, or coastal areas, renting a car is highly recommended. I suggest checking on platform such as Skyscanner or Kayak to find the best option for you.

There’s a lot to see in Norway! You can easily spend a week of two road tripping through the country, discovering fjords, mountains, waterfalls, coastal roads, and Arctic landscapes… You definitely won’t be bored!

Here’s a list of the best things to do in Norway :

That’s it for my Norway travel tips !

I have also made detailed posts about the best three days itinerary in Tromsø and one about a day at Tromsø Arctic Reindeer Sami camp.