Guides in Norway. Traveling in Norway with your own car

So, you are going on a trip to Norway. I'll try to tell you what's interesting there.

The first thing to do is to answer the question - Why do I want to go to Norway?
Which of the hobbies are closest to you: sports, culture, photography, adventure, beach holiday, fishing… There can be many options, but you need to focus on the most important for you. You can try to combine several priority goals and the travel plan will build by itself.

The second important question is how are you going to travel?
Answer options: by car, as part of an organized group or on a cruise ship. Cruise and organized travel are certainly interesting things, but you just need to choose your favorite tour and travel agency. It is very wonderful to sail on the Hurtigruten super cruise liner for one or two weeks along the entire Norwegian coast, so I will not take away the bread of travel agencies and tell you how to go to Norway on your own.

Main solo travel in Scandinavia is a trip in your own car. Although, you can also rent it, having arrived, for example, in Oslo.

To get started, select the region you would like to visit.

So, we determine the dates of vacation. It is better to allocate at least two weeks for a trip.
We pick up a map and start thinking about how we can get to the fabulously beautiful landscapes. If you go to the North, then the path lies through Finland and its lakes. It is best to cross the border at Brusnichnoe/Nuyama. By the way, a night train runs from Helsinki, on which you can travel about 900 kilometers to the north along with a car. In the same way, you can get to Lofoten.

If you go west, you will have to cross the Baltic by ferry. This is either the ferry Riga - Stockholm, or Helsinki - Stockholm, or Turku - Stockholm. It is better to book tickets in advance either via the Internet or through a specialized ferry agency.

If you arrive in Oslo by plane and rent a car, you save valuable time. When building a travel plan, it is worth considering that the average speed of movement in Norway is due to mountain roads, ferries and the beauty around. More than 60 km / h of average speed of movement, you can only drive along the federal highway and boring landscapes. For a good rest, small hauls are needed. Either 100-150 km for the whole day, or a day trip and a 200-250 km drive. Otherwise, the journey turns into a race.

If you have to use ferries, it is advisable to know their schedule, which is easy to find on the Internet. It was written several years in advance. When boarding the ferry, the driver + car is paid, discounts apply to children and pensioners. Therefore, if there is a young driver (and even without a license) in the car, then when paying, it is better to put him behind the wheel.

Savings from 100 to 1000 rubles, depending on the fare. Toll roads come across periodically. If it is possible to pay them in cash / plastic card, then it is better to pay. Rental cars have special electronic chips from which payment is debited. If you do not have such an Autopass, then you can safely drive in places with a corresponding sign.

Next, you need to decide where you will live.
Accommodation in Norway is: camping (tent, caravan, house), motel (room with toilet and shower or house type - hütter), rorbu (fisherman's house), apartments, hotels, mountain houses. Houses in campsites come with a toilet and shower inside (like a hütter), and come with a shared (and often paid) shower in the reception building.

Only expensive hotels. For four people, depending on comfort, campsites ask from 350 to 800 rubles per person per day. A list of all available accommodation options is available on specialized camping sites, or on a Google map, which is very convenient to use to build a route. Reservation of housing should be done only in places that are mega-loaded with tourists, such as the North Cape, Bergen.

In other cases, it is easier to buy a local SIM card and call on the way to the campsite you are going to. If there are no places in it, then you don’t need to be very upset, as practice has shown, a good housing option can be found unexpectedly quickly. And if you are ready to spend the night in a tent, then no closer than 150 meters from housing, you can triple the camp, even on private territory.

The route is best built taking into account visiting the most interesting places. Choose city or natural attractions, some kind of sports activity, such as trekking. In life, the most beautiful places are found unexpectedly and, as a rule, remotely from the main tour. routes. I don’t mean untwisted sights, but simply beautiful nature.

Having built the so-called "route plan" in which the places of overnight stays, the average mileage per day, and a travel map are registered, you can prepare for a trip to the embassy. By the way, Norwegians welcome this kind of vacation, so there are no special problems with obtaining a visa. If you do not live in Moscow or St. Petersburg, feel free to send documents by courier mail, and pick them up from the embassy in the same way. The package of documents is standard: Questionnaire, photograph, certificate from work, certificate from the bank, insurance, travel plan.
Currency can be changed in Russia, or you can withdraw cash at the first ATM in Norway. You don't need much cash, Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere.

Food in restaurants is quite expensive, but products in local stores, contrary to popular belief, are not much more expensive than Russian ones. However, their quality is excellent. Scandinavians always put ecology as a priority, so you can buy any fruits/vegetables without hesitation.
Almost all Scandinavians are fluent in English, so there are practically no difficulties in communication. Tourists are very friendly. The criminal situation is the calmest in Europe.

A boat for fishing for rent (with an echo sounder and a navigator) is rented almost along the entire coast, as well as the necessary gear. You can negotiate with a local captain, or you can go fishing yourself. Paid, that is, fishing that requires a license, is only in inland rivers and lakes. It is free in the sea and fjords.

The most difficult and, of course, the most interesting moment in the journey will be the choice of where to go. Rock Preikestolen, towering 600 meters above the blue Lysefjord or ancient Bergen, Blooming Hardangerfjord or the most beautiful Sognefjord, huge waterfalls or mountain lakes, national park Jotunheimen or the Eagles' Road, the Troll Staircase or the Atlantic Road, the harsh North Cape or the snow-white sands of the Lofoten Islands. From the choice of places, as well as from impressions, it is easy to dizzy.

It is best to stop by the local information centers marked with the “i” sign. IN free guidebooks, some of which are in Russian, you will find comprehensive information about almost any region.

All the most interesting places for travelers are colorfully painted in local guidebooks. Almost everywhere, in addition to local beauties, they promise. What You Get Expirience. That is experience. This is the most exciting part of this journey. Get your own impressions.

You can admire other people's photos and stories, but it's more interesting to try to surprise your friends and acquaintances with personal emotions. To convey the mood, the fabulous spirit of Norway. It is for this that many travelers from all over the world go there. On our planet there are many interesting and beautiful places- The Kingdom of Norway is one of the most wonderful.

• Svetlana Nickolaevna Berkova

  I am a certified guide in Oslo. For many years she worked at St. Petersburg State University as an assistant professor and lecturer, until 2011. Candidate of Philology. Sciences. During the holidays she worked as a guide in St. Petersburg. She has lived in Norway on short visits since 1995. Constantly - since 2008. I love my work as a guide.

• Elena Skagen

  Elena Skagen is an authorized guide in Stavanger since 2000. I speak Norwegian, English and French. I conduct excursions both in Stavanger and throughout the district (province) of Rogaland. I am fond of history, I work as a professional translator specializing in oil and gas.

  Stavanger

• Uniktur

  This is the first Russian-speaking tour operator in the Møre og Romsdal filk, in the central part of Norway. In the tourism market for 3 years. All offered tours have been tested in practice, from a huge number of destinations - only the most popular ones have been selected that will appeal to Russian-speaking tourists.

• Veronika Titova

  Hello! My name is Veronica and I will be happy to be your personal guide in Norway. Call and we will discuss everything :-) Add me to Whats App or dial me on Skype! I will be happy to talk with you on any questions and help plan your tour! It will be interesting!

It is easy to describe a "Norwegian" tourist: a romantic of the north, a connoisseur of comfort among the snows, a lover of harsh and beautiful nature without sacrificing comfort. Norway is the very embodiment of the resilience of the human spirit in the fight against the blind elements: who else, if not the ancestors of Roald Amundsen, Fridtjof Nansen and Thor Heyerdahl, could build an ideal kingdom on volcanic rocks surrounded by permafrost! You can understand Norway, feel its unique character, enjoy the crazy beauty of the fjords and hear the silence of the North only away from the noisy tourist crowds. And the surest way to do this is to use the services of a private guide in Norway. A local resident who is in love with his wonderful country, he will show you the hidden gems of Norway, accompanying the trip with an entertaining story about the past, present and future of his “small homeland”.

Evening Oslo will appear before you in the radiance of skillful illumination, will open the doors of restaurants and theaters.

Most travelers begin their acquaintance with Norway by landing at Oslo airport. The capital of the country is its reflection in miniature, as you can see on an individual sightseeing tour with a private guide. On a comfortable car or on foot, accompanied only by your guide, you will feel the charm of Oslo - walk along the pedestrian streets of the historical center, see the Town Hall and the Royal Palace, visit the magnificent museums of Kon-Tiki and the Fram polar ship. Evening Oslo will appear before you in the radiance of skillful illumination, will open the doors of restaurants and theaters. And the guide will tell you what souvenirs you should buy and how not to overpay when buying.

The knowledge of Norway should definitely be continued outside the capital. Head to the idyllic "Northern Gibraltar" Halden or Olympic Lillehammer, visit the cobalt mines at Blofarveverket, or take a trip through the alien fjords of Norway. Amazing landscapes, cozy life of local residents and excellent museums that this country is so famous for are waiting for you. Choose your favorite guide in Norway and send a request for an excursion or an individual program!

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Kingdom of Norway(Norwegian Kongeriket Norge, derived from the Old Norse Norðrvegr - "way to the north") is located in northern Europe in the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The waters of the Barents Sea (in the northeast), the Norwegian Sea (in the west) and the North Sea (in the southwest) wash the country. Neighbors on the border are Sweden (east), Finland and Russia (northeast).

Due to the geographical position and length of Norway, each region of this green northern country is original and unique. If in the west you can contemplate numerous fjords, then the central part of the country is distinguished by medieval monuments and ancient buildings, the northern part is such an unusual phenomenon as the midnight sun (white nights), the southern part is coastal resorts and warm summers for Norway, and the eastern part is good opportunities for active outdoor recreation - fishing in numerous rivers and lakes, hiking in forests and valleys, camping. Let us consider in more detail what the Kingdom of Norway can offer us, travelers.

The west coast has a rather majestic landscape - it is the land of fjords, mountains rising from the waters, and waterfalls falling from cliffs. Kristiansund and Ålesund are famous for the richness of their waters, cod and herring are especially good there; Molde is known for beautiful roses and jazz festivals, but the name Bergen already speaks for itself (see the Cities section above). At the same time, the mountains pass winding roads Eagle Way and Troll Trail.

Geirangerfjord included in the list world heritage UNESCO and is one of the most visited, there are two of the most famous waterfalls - Seven Sisters and Wedding Veil. The magnificence of this fjord strikes once and for all - steep cliffs with snow-capped peaks and harsh nature, powerful streams of mountain waterfalls flowing into the waters of the fjord - this is not forgotten!

Sognefjord is the second longest fjord in the world and the longest fjord in Norway - 204 km, and its depth is 1308 m. Cutting deep into the coast, it divides further into two branches - the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord, the latter being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And it is here that you can fully enjoy the unique views of the fjord and mountains from above - at an altitude of 650 meters above sea level there is Observation deck Stegastein adjacent to the Aurlandsvagen mountain road. Flåm railway or cruise ship will take you to these magical places.

The beauty of the mountains Lyusefjord will not leave anyone indifferent. The most interesting and spectacular here are Kjeragbolten and Preikestolen. Kjeragbolten- a huge round stone, stuck in a crevice between two rocks at an altitude of 1084 meters, it is on it that many tourists like to take pictures. Rock Preikestolen is also a famous landmark of these places - it hangs over the fjord at an altitude of 604 meters on an almost completely flat high mountain plateau.

The central region shows a fine example of medieval architecture - Nidaros Cathedral- the largest building of its era in Scandinavia with monumental sculptures and elegant stained glass windows. Wooden buildings of the old Trondheim(the third largest city and the first capital of Norway) are also of interest to guests of the central part, and to the east of it is the mining town of Reros, an old town with mines, an ancient church and many wooden buildings included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In the northern part, the traveler will see a severe wild nature, in summer you can watch wonderful white nights, and in winter - magical northern lights.
Or visit the most extreme point of Europe - Cape Nordkapp and feel the breath of the North Pole, and if you want to plunge into the vibrant nightlife - welcome to the city of Tromsø (it is called the Paris of the North).

In this part of the country, you can not ignore Lofoten Islands famous for its beautiful untouched nature. There is the world's largest deep-sea coral reef and one of the most dangerous whirlpools in the world (Mallström), about a quarter of the population of all sea birds in the country lives, ancient caves store rock paintings of primitive people (Kollhellaren Cave in Refsvik), settlements built already in 5th century and a complex of buildings erected in the 19th century (Nusfjord village). With all its diversity, Lofoten is a place of peace and tranquility. And they are given individuality both by the red fishermen's houses themselves against the backdrop of breathtaking landscapes, and by the ropes stretched between the buildings with fish hanging on them. After all, dried cod is one of the symbols of these places.

Southern Norway is a region where picturesque villages with cute houses harmoniously fit into the austere landscape of the rocky coast.
The largest city in the region is Kristiansand, next to which there are several islands - Flekkerei, Oksey and Groningen - their beautiful nature and views attract tourists every summer. Small towns such as Lillesand, Twedesand, Brekkeste, Gamle and Ny Hellesund, scattered along the coastal cliffs among flowering gardens, also give their charm to the region. The village of Lunger is also located here - the best preserved of the small settlements in Europe.
In the county (Norwegian province) of Telemark you will find the place where skiing began - Morgedal, and next to it is the Telemark Canal.

The Kingdom of Norway (Kongeriket Norge in Norwegian) is a country occupying the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The name of the state comes from the Old Norse word Norðrvegr - "the way to the north." Norway is washed by three seas: the Barents Sea in the northeast, the Norwegian Sea in the west and the North Sea in the southwest. Norway is an elongated and narrow country, more than 30% of its territory is covered with forests, many rivers and lakes. More than half of the country's area is occupied by mountain ranges. It has borders with Sweden, Finland and Russia.

The territory of Norway includes the Svalbard archipelago (Svalbard), Jan Mayen and Bear Islands in the Arctic Ocean, and Bouvet Island in the South Atlantic. In addition, following the results of the 1961 convention, Norway claims Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land in Antarctica.

Norway has a population of 5,328,212 (as of 2019). The area of ​​the country is 385,207 km². About 30,000 inhabitants represent the Sami ethnic group. The Saami have their own culture, traditions and language. Most of these people live north of the Arctic Circle. The form of government in Norway is a constitutional monarchy, today King Harald V is considered the formal head of state. The capital of the country, in which the seat of government is also located, is the city of Oslo.

Norway is famous for its natural wealth: stunning views of the coast, amazing fjords, glaciers, forests, rivers, mountains attract fans of outdoor activities and landscape tourism, fishermen, hunters from all over Europe. The man-made sights of Norway are no less popular, and tourists from all over the world come here to admire the unique phenomenon - the Northern Lights.

Current time in Oslo:
(UTC+1)

On October 6, 2009, the UN presented a report on the standard of living in 182 states, according to which Norway topped the list of the most developed and prosperous countries in the world.

How to get to Norway

To get to Norway, Russian tourists most often use planes or ferries.

By plane

Direct flights

Directly, there are not so many options for flying from Russia to Norway. These are Aeroflot flights from Moscow to Oslo and Norwegian Airlines flights from St. Petersburg to Oslo, the main air gateway of the country.

In addition, you can fly from Murmansk and Arkhangelsk on a Nordavia direct flight to the Norwegian city of Tromsø.

The Wideroe airline flies from Murmansk to the Norwegian city of Kirkenes.

Connecting flights

Almost all European airlines fly to Oslo, so with a connection you can get to the capital of Norway by any European carrier flying to Russian cities. Below are the main options for connecting flights.

• Lufthansa: via Frankfurt from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Samara
• AustrianAirlines: via Vienna from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don
• BrusselsAirlines: via Brussels from Moscow
• Swiss: via Zurich from Moscow, St. Petersburg
• SAS: via Stockholm and Copenhagen from Moscow, St. Petersburg
• CzechAirlines: via Prague from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Rostov-on-Don, Samara
• AirFrance: via Paris from Moscow, St. Petersburg
• KLM: via Amsterdam from Moscow, St. Petersburg
• Finnair: via Helsinki from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg
• AirMalta: via La Valletta from Moscow

On a ferryboat

You can also get to Norway by water: many companies want ferries from Denmark, including Color Line, Stena Line, DFDS, Fjord Line, Smyril Line.

From Germany (Kiel), the Color Fantasy and Color Line ferry of the Color Line company flies to Norway. Color Line ferries also operate from Sweden (Stromstad), from Iceland, Scotland and Faroe Islands. In turn, Russian tourists can get to Sweden by ferry from St. Petersburg.

By train

Norwegian Railways (NSB) operates trains on domestic railways Oh. Norway is connected to the continent by a fairly developed network of railways. For example, between Oslo and Copenhagen there is a regular train service several times a week. Travel time between the continent and Oslo is usually at least a day, but all trains have sleeping compartments. There are many discounts for travel in Europe and Norway. From Russia to Norway can be reached by train with a change in Helsinki.

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Story

The first mention of the country dates back to the beginning of our era, when the territory of present-day Norway was occupied by German-speaking Scandinavian tribes, who decided to cross the Atlantic in the Middle Ages. At the end of the 9th - beginning of the 10th century, settlers from Norway settled in Iceland, England, France, and Ireland. Scientists suggest that at the beginning of the 11th century, Norwegian sailors even reached America.

At the end of the 10th century, the country adopted Christianity, and the Catholic clergy began to play a prominent role in the life of the state. Until 1380, Norway owned many territories in the North Atlantic, including Iceland and Greenland, after which it became subject to the stronger Denmark. Norway was liberated from the power of Denmark only after the Anglo-Danish war of 1807-1814, falling into submission now to Sweden. The independence of the country was proclaimed on May 17, 1814, which led to a military conflict with Sweden, which was again decided not in favor of Norway. The country became finally sovereign only in 1905, after which a referendum was held in Norway, and by the will of the majority it was proclaimed a constitutional monarchy.

During the Second World War, Norway was occupied by Nazi troops, the north of the country was liberated by Soviet troops in the fall of 1944, and the entire territory became free on May 8, 1945. In 1949 Norway joined NATO.

Today Norway is the largest producer of oil and gas in Western Europe, the country has large mineral reserves. The merchant fleet of Norway is known throughout Europe.

Climate and weather in Norway

The climate of Norway is quite severe, with a large amount of precipitation all year round. Most of them happen on the western coast of the country, the wettest time of the year in this region is autumn and winter. In the hinterland of the southeastern part of Norway and in the northern regions (Finnmark) it also often rains. In summer, there is the greatest amount of precipitation, and winter and spring in these places are very dry.

The climate in the country is not the same. Soft temperate marine - in the west, it is caused by the influence of the warm North Atlantic current. January and February are quite warm here: from 0 to -4 degrees, the average maximum is from 0 to +2. In July and August, the night temperature is 10 - 12 degrees, daytime 16 - 18 degrees. The rainiest time of the year is September and October, when the monthly rainfall reaches 170 - 240 mm.

In the central regions of Norway, the climate is temperate continental. From October to March there are frosts in these places. The coldest month is January, at night the temperature can drop to -17 degrees below zero, in the daytime to -7 degrees. The warmest month is July, when the usual temperature at night is +10, and during the day - 18 degrees.
In the far north, the climate is subarctic. The coldest month is February, with an average temperature of up to -22 degrees. The warmest is July (the average minimum temperature is +6 degrees, the maximum is +18 degrees).

Many tourists are attracted to the country by a unique celestial phenomenon - the Northern Lights. It is best observed between November and February in the northernmost regions of the country. It occurs because positively and negatively charged particles of solar energy enter the Earth's atmosphere and collide with particles of neutral gas at an altitude of 100-300 km.

Weather in Norway by months

Reviews by month

January 13 February 2 March 5

April 1 May 17 June 57

July 57 August 90 September 11

October 1 November 1 December 2

Photos of Norway

Cities and regions

Cities in Norway

Attractions

Museums and galleries

Entertainment

Parks and recreation areas

Leisure

Transport

Private guides in Norway

Russian private guides will help you get acquainted with Norway in more detail.
Registered on the Experts.Tourister.Ru project.

Things to do

norwegian fjords

Of course, no visit to Norway is complete without an excursion to the most important natural attractions of the country - the Norwegian fjords.

Norway has the largest number of fjords in the world. Fjords are works of art created by nature itself. They appeared at a time when the glaciers began to retreat, and the resulting valleys were filled with sea water. The water that fills the fjords is salty and clean.

Cruise routes and activities

Cruise in Norway is one of the best ways to get to know the country. There are more than 30 ports on the entire coast of Norway, which are called by cruise ships. The most interesting cruise routes are trips to the fjords, the North Cape, Svalbard and the Lofoten Islands. Many of the destinations that cruise ships call in offer plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities, from hiking, fishing, wildlife safaris, golf, polar expeditions and more.

Ski holidays in Norway

Movement around the country

Public transport in Norway is represented by trains, buses, air and water transport. IN major cities Norway exist, in which you can get a certificate of public transport. Tourist offices also provide information about movement within Norway.

Bus service in Norway is very well developed, a network of bus routes connects all the major cities of the country with each other and with the smallest settlements, with airports and ferry terminals.

The Norwegian railway network consists of five directions diverging from Oslo: southern Sarlandsbanen (from Oslo to Stavanger), mountainous Bergensbanen (from Oslo to Bergen), central Døvrebanen and Rørosbanen (from Oslo to Trondheim) and northern Nordlandsbanen (Trondheim-Bodø). The total length of the country's railway lines is 4,087 km. There are 775 tunnels and more than 3,000 bridges along the train route.

Taxi in Norway is also quite an expensive mode of transport. Cars run only within the city.

Norwegian highways are considered one of the best in the world. Their total length across the country is about one hundred thousand kilometers. To rent a car in Norway, you must have an international driving license, credit card and paid insurance. You can learn all the intricacies of autotourism in Norway from our special material "Rent a car in Norway".

There are 53 air ports in Norway, here are the six most popular.

The water transport network in Norway is very well developed. Express boats and car ferries connect almost all cities and towns on the coast, as well as large and small islands.

This is a brief information about moving around the country, you can read more about all the nuances in the article "Transport in Norway".

Communication

The official language of Norway is Norwegian, which belongs to the North Germanic language group, which also includes Danish and Swedish. As a rule, Norwegian, Danish and Swedish speakers will always understand each other. The geographical location and settlement of the country played a significant role in the development of a large number of regional dialects, and led to the fact that today in Norway there are two official written versions of the Norwegian language: Bokmål ("Book Norwegian") and Nynorsk ("New Norwegian"). Bokmål, which was based on written Danish, is most common in the eastern regions of Norway. Nynorsk, artificially created by the linguist Ivar Osen in the middle of the 19th century, was based on the dialects of western Norway.

Bokmål and Nynorsk have the same status as official languages, but Bokmål is more commonly used in Oslo and other big cities. Nynorsk is used by 10-15% of the population, mainly in the west, it is used in the preparation of government documents, in literature, theater, on television and in religious services.

Today, about 30 thousand inhabitants of Norway consider Sami as their mother tongue. The language of the Northern Sami belongs to the Finno-Ugric language group, and today, along with Norwegian, it is recognized as the official state language in the northern regions of Norway.

In connection with the increase in the tourist flow in Norway, English language. It is the main language for communicating with foreigners. Less popular are German and French. In addition, there are about 4,000 mute citizens in the country who use Norwegian Sign Language.

culture

The culture of Norway is connected with history and geographic location countries. It originates in the tradition of the Vikings and sagas, although Western European culture also had a fairly large influence on it. The harsh climate and mountainous landscape contributed to the emergence of a unique peasant culture based on medieval Scandinavian laws. The constant struggle of the inhabitants of Norway for survival, for independence, admiration for nature have become the leitmotifs of Norwegian literature, music, and painting.

Music

The history of Norwegian music is rooted in antiquity, as evidenced by archaeological excavations in the country. Norwegian folk instruments are extremely diverse: among them there are various types of violins, harps and flutes. The ethnic music of Norway is multifaceted. In particular, it includes lyrical-epic motifs created in the time of the Vikings.

The academic music of Norway appeared quite late - at the end of the 18th century, due to more than 400 years of dependence of the country on Denmark. The founders of the Norwegian musical school are Halfdan Hjerulf, who wrote romances; Ole Bull, composer and virtuoso violinist; Rikard Nurdroka, author of the national anthem. The most famous Norwegian composers are without a doubt Edvard Grieg and Christian Sinding. In addition to them, it is worth remembering the names of F. Walen (a student of Arnold Schoenberg), Alf Khurum, Harald Severud.

The most famous Norwegian musical group in the world is A-ha, founded in Oslo in 1983. The group plays in the style of electro-pop, which appeared on the crest of the "new wave". Also in Norway, the "metal" musical direction is highly developed, especially the black metal and viking metal scene. Moreover, most of the founders of this musical direction come from Norway. Among the most popular are Antestor, Burzum, Darkthrone, Mayhem, Immortal, Emperor, Gorgoroth, The Kovenant, Storm, Windir.

Also in Norway there are a lot of musical groups whose style can be defined as symphonic metal and gothic metal, jazz, ethno-jazz and free jazz.

Literature

The history of Norwegian literature begins with the collection of sagas "Elder Edda" and the poetry of skalds. The most famous Old Norse writer is the Norwegian Snorri Sturluson. The 19th century in Norwegian literature was marked by a collection of folk tales and legends created by Asbjørnsen and Moo. With the advent of Christianity, European authors began to exert a significant influence on Norwegian literature.

The 20th century was marked for Norwegian literature by the appearance of three Nobel laureates in literature: Bjornstjerne Bjornson (1903), Knut Hamsun (1920), Sigrid Unset (1928). The most famous Norwegian author is Ibsen, who created the plays Peer Gynt, A Doll's House and The Woman from the Sea. Erlend Lu is considered the most famous Norwegian writer of our time. And the novel of another Norwegian writer Jostein Gorder "The World of Sofia" was translated into 40 foreign languages.

Architecture

The architectural traditions of Norway began with stone buildings that arose at the turn of the first and second millennium. The main example of Norwegian architecture was the Nidaros Cathedral. Before its construction, houses in Norway were built exclusively from wood due to its availability - it was from it that the poor were built dwellings. However, many wooden buildings deserve the close attention of tourists, such as the Bryggen Shipyard in Bergen.

European architectural styles were not very popular in Norway, but there are still some great examples of their influence in the country: the baroque church in Kongsberg, the rococo mansion of Damsgard wood, the University building and the Stock Exchange in Oslo.

Painting and sculpture

Norwegian painting has long adopted the traditions of German, Danish and Dutch artists. However, in the 19th century, the beginning of the national fine arts was laid. Johan Dahl, Fritz Thaulow and Kitty Keeland, as well as the expressionist Edvard Munch with his famous painting "The Scream" can be definitely called its founders.

The main national sculptor of Norway is considered to be Gustav Vigeland, a self-taught man who created a huge number of sculptures symbolizing human relationships and emotions.

Sport

In Norway, winter sports are mainly developed, which is associated with its geographical location. At the Winter Olympics, athletes from Norway most often take gold and silver medals in skiing and speed skating. The Norwegian biathlon team is one of the strongest in the world, it includes six-time world champion, the most famous modern biathlete Ole Einar Bjorndalen. In the last century, Norway has hosted the Winter Olympic Games twice: in 1952 in Oslo and in 1994 in Lillehammer.

Kitchen

Norwegian cuisine is unpretentious and rich in calories, its tradition developed under the influence of the harsh Scandinavian climate. The main components of Norwegian cuisine are fish, meat, cereals, bread and dairy products. A feature is the almost complete absence of sauces - this is done in order to preserve the natural taste of food.

For over 1000 years, Norway has been exporting dried cod and herring to Europe. Herring is considered one of the main food products in the country. A Norwegian proverb says: "A true Norwegian eats herring 21 times a week." Cold appetizers, pastes, salads, soups, hot dishes, pies are prepared from herring. Of the other seafood, of which there is a great variety in Norway, salmon occupies the first place, but in addition to it there are many other equally tasty fish: trout, halibut, mackerel, catfish. During the summer, Norwegian shrimp are especially popular. Another Norwegian delicacy worth trying at the restaurant is whale meat.

Typical dishes of Norwegian cuisine are: lutefisk - dried cod pre-soaked in an alkaline solution and then soaked in water; forikol - lamb meat with cabbage and potatoes, traditionally cooked in autumn; rakfisk - fermented trout; smurbread sandwiches. As a delicacy, tourists can be recommended to try elk and venison. The local brown goat cheese is also good. It has many varieties that differ in taste and color - from yellow to chocolate.

Home bakeries are very popular in Norway. Bread, pies and buns are baked in them - each county (province) is different, according to its own special recipe.

Norway occupies one of the first places in the world in terms of milk consumption. Coffee is another popular drink.

The traditional alcoholic drink in the country is akvavit, or akevit (akevitt). It is a strong 40% potato or grain alcohol infused with spices: cumin, dill, coriander, cinnamon, fennel, anise, St. John's wort. Connoisseurs believe that a true akevite should sail in the hold of a ship to Australia and back, only then he will get the necessary taste, and can be called Linie-akevitt - twice crossed the equator (linie).

In a frosty winter in Norway, they drink "glöck" (gløgg). It resembles mulled wine: it is also brewed from red wine with cardamom, cloves, raisins and almonds. It is usually served with gingerbread cookies.

So that tourists can navigate the cost of food in cafes and restaurants in Norway, it should be noted that dinner for 50-100 crowns is considered cheap. The average price of lunch in a cafe will be 80 - 120 kroons, and in a restaurant from 150 kroons and more. A glass of beer (from 0.4 to 0.5 l) in a pub can cost from 30 to 60 crowns. By the way, the national Norwegian beer is called "Rignes" and has a very decent taste. In any cafe or restaurant, you can ask for a glass of water for free by making the main order. Tap water in Norway can be safely drunk, it really is drinkable, so you can save on bottled water from the store.

Shopping in Norway

Store hours vary widely across the country. In large cities, supermarkets and department stores, as a rule, work according to the following schedule: Monday - Friday: from 9.00 or 10.00 to 17.00; Thursday: from 9.00 or 10.00 to 19.00 or 20.00; Saturday: from 9.00 or 10.00 to 15.00 or 16.00. Some large supermarkets and shopping malls are even open until 20.00 and longer. Gas stations that sell food products are open until 23.00.

Speaking about shopping in Norway, it should be noted that the inhabitants of the country do not at all have passion for brands as such, preferring the quality and environmental friendliness of things, regardless of whether they belong to high-profile designer names. It is in Norway that you can buy the latest trend, made from environmentally friendly materials. For example, the trendy Grunerlekka shopping district in Oslo is home to a huge number of boutiques offering sustainable fashion items, such as shoes with recycled rubber soles. The general fascination of Norwegians with fashion for the environment and charity deprives status brands that exploit the cheap labor of third world countries from all chances. This is probably why there are no drains, outlets and malls in Norway. But there you can buy unique clothes made from organic cotton, soy, bamboo or silk.

In Norway, some brands of expensive Swiss watches can be purchased relatively inexpensively.

From authentic souvenirs from Norway, you should definitely bring real Norwegian wool sweaters. Knitting is one of the oldest needlework traditions in Norway. The oldest fragment of a knitted product that has come down to our times dates from 1476-1525.

It is worth paying attention to Norwegian jewelry. The craftsmanship of Norwegian jewelers is two thousand years old, and in addition, jewelry has the highest quality standards. Troll figurines, pewter and glassware, porcelain and ceramics, silver, wood products decorated with paintings, goat and deer skins, and furs are also popular with tourists.

Addresses of shops and outlets in all regions of Norway can be seen on Official website of the Norwegian Tourism Authority .

Tax Free

When shopping in Norway, do not forget to issue tax-free checks!

This can be done in more than 3,000 stores across the country. Value added tax in Norway is 25%, with checks refunding 20% ​​on manufactured goods and 14% on food.

Within a month from the date of purchase, non-EU citizens can use VAT return checks. Minimum cost purchase is 315 kroons for industrial group goods and 285 kroons for products.

VAT refund points are located at airports, road borders, ferries and cruise ships in Norway, with a total of more than 55 points. Norwegian Global Refund Checks are part of the Global Refund network of cash refund offices, so tax-free checks can be cashed both at major airports in Europe and at points in some countries outside of Europe, such as Japan, Singapore, Korea and China.

To receive cash with a tax-free check, a tourist must have the purchased goods in intact packaging, a check from the store and a tax-free check, a passport or an identity card.

Connection

Throughout Norway, there are three types of payphones: red (they accept coins in denominations of 1, 5 and 20 kroons, except for coins with holes in the middle, as well as plastic cards), black (work only with coins) and green (work only with plastic telephone cards with denominations of 35, 98 and 210 kroons, which are sold at Narvesen kiosks or post offices). The minimum cost of a minute of conversation is 2 kroons. The preferential tariff starts from 17.00 on weekdays and weekends.

The international code of Norway is 47, the outgoing international code is 00. Codes of some cities: Oslo - 2, Bergen - 5, Trondheim - 7, Stavanger - 4.

To call from Russia to Norway from a landline phone, you need to dial: 8-10-47-city code-subscriber number. From Russia from a mobile phone: +47-city code-subscriber number. To call from Norway to Russia, you need to dial 00-7-area code in Russia-subscriber number. The cost of a minute of conversation will be 2 kroons.

You can call your homeland quite economically by buying a Libara SIM card, which is sold in almost all major stores in Norway. In this case, the cost of a minute of conversation will be 1 kroon.

Safety

Norway is an economically stable country located in a calm region of Europe, so traveling to Norway promises to be safe, friendly tourists are waiting for tourists here. locals and a warm welcome.

Visa regime

The term for processing documents at the embassy is up to 2 weeks. To obtain a Norwegian visa, you need a valid passport, 2 application forms with photos, an invitation (tourist, private or official). Only a single entry visa is issued for tourist and private invitations, but a multivisa can be issued for a service invitation. A consular fee is charged.

Embassy, ​​Consulates and Visa Application Centers of Norway in Russia

Embassy and consulates of the Russian Federation in Norway

Emergency numbers in Norway

Where to stay

Below we consider the various options for living in Norway in a little more detail.

Norway Hotels

In Norway, there are hotels for every taste and budget, of any kind and design. Tourists can choose a hotel with a modern design in the center, a SPA hotel in the mountains, a cozy family mini-hotel in the forest, and even an outlandish ice hotel.

Our section "Hotels in Norway" will help you get acquainted with the hotel base and make a choice. To book hotel rooms, you can use the proven Booking service. com.

Compared to the rest of Europe, hotel prices in Norway are quite high. The cost of accommodation falls, as a rule, on the weekend and in the summer months. In addition, there are special family rates. Most major hotel chains countries also offer a discount system.

Hostels in Norway

Budget accommodation in Norway is also possible: there are about a hundred youth and family hostels in the country, which are part of two chains -Hostelling International Norway and VIP backpackers. Both networks offer accommodation of an excellent quality standard for its class, combined with a good location. The price for accommodation in a hostel is as follows: a place in a room costs an average of 100 to 300 kroons, a double room - from 300 to 600 kroons. Blankets and pillows are provided everywhere, but bed linen must be brought or rented from the hostel.

Norway farm stays

Recently, in light of the popularity of an environmentally friendly lifestyle in Europe, accommodation in Norwegian farms has become popular. In most of these places, guests will be offered a clean bed, hearty food from their own garden, horseback riding, fishing, hiking or boating. You can see a list of farms offering similar accommodation.

Houses and cottages in Norway

It is also very popular to stay in houses and cottages located in nature: along the coast, near the fjords, in forests, valleys and mountains. They can be rented privately. Some rent for a very short time, others - at least a week. This type of accommodation is good because the tourist manages his own leisure and recreation on his own. You can get acquainted with the list of proposed options.

Accommodation in fishing huts in Norway

This is another popular accommodation along the coast of Norway, especially in the counties of Finnmark, Troms, Nordland, Trøndelag and Møre og Romsdal. These buildings originally served as a refuge for fishermen who went fishing to the Lofoten Islands. The fishing hut is called "rorbu" (rorbu). In the village, consisting of such huts, the tourist will be offered to go fishing either on their own or as part of a group on board a local fishing boat. Most of these huts are equipped with a kitchen and a bathroom with a shower. As a rule, they have thermal insulation, which makes them habitable all year round. Rorbu hut is best booked in advance, especially if tourists are going to come to Norway in July and August.

The cost of living in a "rorbu" with two bedrooms will cost a tourist in the amount of 600 crowns per day. Most often, the price is charged per cottage, not per person. Bed linen and towels are charged extra. You can get acquainted with the full offer of such accommodation in Norway.

Ice hotel Sorrisniva Igloo

Norway has a unique type of accommodation. In this luxurious hotel, everything inside and out is made of snow and ice. The hotel enjoys a scenic location on the banks of the Alta River, about 15 km from Alta in Finnmark. The Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel opens every January and closes in the spring, after which the ice structure melts. You can find out more information about this hotel, as well as book it.

Norway is one of the northernmost countries in Europe, which occupies a significant place on the map, having a fairly large territory, part of which is located beyond the Arctic Circle.

This country offers quite a wide range of opportunities for various types of recreation, however, it is worth recognizing that holidays in Norway are not suitable for everyone due to some specifics of this country, which should be taken into account by everyone who considers Norway as a possible option for recreation.

Who doesn't want a holiday in Norway?

• people on a very limited budget

Although you can get to Norway relatively easily - by plane (tickets will not be very expensive) or even by car (the most convenient way to do this is for residents of the northern regions of Russia, who have a land border with Norway equipped with international road checkpoints), but the prices in Norway itself quite high - significantly higher than in Europe. Salaries and living standards in this country are also significantly higher than in Europe, which is the reason for the high prices for accommodation, food, entertainment, and so on. Even the prices at McDonald's can be an unpleasant surprise for budget travelers - they are normal for Norway, but prohibitively high for Europe. Of course, there are hostels in Norway where you can save on accommodation, but you still won’t be able to make a budget trip to this country.

• people who love certain entertainment - luxury shows, great nightclubs

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Norway weather map:

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The cost of rest in Stavanger. August 2017.

tour cost

We had a valid visa, obtained earlier when making another trip. We got to Stavanger from Stockholm by two flights: Stockholm - Oslo, Oslo - Stavanger. Tickets were purchased for Scandinavian Airlines (SAS). Both flights cost 8,000 rubles per person, but this is without luggage, only hand luggage. They traveled from the airport to the city on a shuttle bus for 1000 rubles, a ticket was bought from the driver. We booked a hotel room 2 months in advance, the price per night was 6000 rubles, breakfast included. The Skansen Hotel is old, with a retro elevator, but the view from the window to the embankment is excellent.

We did not use the services of excursion companies, they themselves organized the ascent to the Preikestolen. We bought a single ticket for a ferry and a bus, costing 3200 rubles per person, we bought them on the ferry. In the morning at 9 on the embankment we sailed on the ferry to the city of Tau, sailing for about 40 minutes. From Tau by bus to the final stop, go about 25 minutes. The same way back. As a result, this activity will take almost the whole day.

Food and products

Prices in Stavanger are high, as in all of Norway. On average, prices are 4-5 times higher than Russian ones. For example, prices in a supermarket: bread 150-250 rubles, regular tea bags 300 rubles, chocolate 250 rubles, beer from 200 rubles. By the way, a beer container, mineral water can be returned to the vending machine in the supermarket (the cost of these drinks includes the price for the container, it varies depending on the volume of the bottle and the material). In McDonald's, a hamburger costs 700-900 rubles, and pizza in the most ordinary cafe is about 1,500 rubles.

Vacation with children

Children in Norway are sacred. Museums are built here for them, special attractions are invented and special holidays are organized. In Oslo, during the championship, a mini-biathlon, real competitions, was organized especially for children on the main square of the capital. On the same ski, the kids made cross-country races and received gifts for it. Their competitions, along with the real championship, were broadcast on the big screen, which delighted both the kids and their parents. With tenderness, we watched the noisy crowd of children at the Royal Palace - the official residence of the current king of Norway. A mountain of snow, specially poured right at the foot of the monument to the former king Karl Johan, and a crowd of children with sleds squealing with delight - an idyllic picture.

Youth rest

There are many ski resorts in Norway, including those near Oslo. Every day we saw groups of young people, large and small, with equipment, who went to neighboring Kongberg to ski and board. It is a pity that we only watched and did not participate in ski races. We love it very much.

Family holiday

In Oslo, the cult of the family. An entire Vigeland Sculpture Park is dedicated to this theme. It certainly is a strange park. But only here the whole gamut of family and human relations from grief to joy, from birth to death is expressed so brightly and sharply in sculpture. This is a philosophical park, not understandable to everyone. But I would recommend visiting it to those who are just planning to start a family and to deeply married couples.

What to take with you on vacation?

Coming to Norway, you should definitely have warm clothes with you. Although the winters here are not cold, they are almost always snowy. Even if you don't plan on skiing, it's worth bringing ski pants and a warm down jacket to get as much outing as possible.

What to do at the resort?

Oslo is a fairly small city, although the capital. And rather modest, without showing off. However, there are a lot of iconic places that are known throughout the world. The same Vigeland Sculpture Park, admission is free, by the way, to it. You should definitely go to the Museum of Art on the Oslo waterfront. You will also see the famous Oslo Opera there. If you like to walk on the roof, it is the roof of the Opera House that is the easiest to get to. We spent a couple of hours at the Akershus Fortress, from here a beautiful view of the Oslo Fjord and the city, reflected in the sea water, opens up. There is also a museum of the famous Nobel and the monumental brick Oslo Town Hall, where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded annually. And if you come here for a couple of weeks, you can enjoy not only the sea coast and breathe fresh air, but also visit numerous ski resorts near Oslo.