Norway

When to go

Weather

Winters (November to March) are very cold. The rest of the year is mild and pleasant.

Festivals

The people of Oslo gather at the Royal Palace, in traditional dress, as part on the Constitution Day celebration on 17 May. Skiers come to the city for the Holmenkollen Ski Festival in March. Arts festivals are also held, including the Oslo International Jazz Festival in August, the film festival in October, and the Inferno Metal Festival in April. Bergen hosts its own International Festival over twelve days at the end of May, featuring dance, music, and folklore events.

Highlights

“‘The Norwegians,’ one of my Scandinavian friends once put it, ‘are like their landscape, rather vertical.’” John Gunther, 1938

Oslo

The capital combines the delights of urban living - cafe’s, museums, and nightlife - with an easy access to nature. Ski trails surround the city in winter, and double as hiking areas in summer. The Frognerparken should be visited by all travellers in the region. This green space is home to 200 granite and bronze sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. Elsewhere, guided tours can be taken around Det Kongelige Slott, the king’s residence. The medieval-cum-Renaissance palace, Akershus Slott, can also be visited.

Bergen

Possibly Norway’s most beautiful city, Bergen is set on a peninsula between mountains and sea. Crooked streets climb to give hilltop views over Norway’s second largest city. Home to a large university population, the city supports a number of theatres, museums, an orchestra, and a thriving rock music scene. Big for Norway, by most standards, the city still retains a village-like atmosphere.

Sognefjorden

Norway is well known for its deep fjords, and this is the deepest and longest. Running for 204 kilometres, it is 1,308 metres deep at its deepest point. Some areas have sheer vertical walls, rising straight up for more than a kilometre. The cliffs and waterfalls make for spectacular views between Naerøyfjorden and Gudvangen.

Trondheim

Founded in 997 AD by aViking king, Norway’s third largest city is bursting with medieval history. Renaissance features were added to the city after a fire destroyed some parts.

Being there

Etiquette

Normal social courtesies apply. Arrive for meetings punctually. Await for the host to make a toast before drinking. Gifts following an invitation to someone’s home are much appreciated.

Food and Drink

Koldtbord (cold tables) consisting of smoked salmon, fresh lobster, shrimp and hot dishes are often found in hotels and restaurants. Open sandwiches topped with fish, cheese, meats and salads are also popular. Main dishes include roast venison, lutefisk (hot, highly flavoured cod) and herring prepared in a variety of ways. Aquavit (schnapps) is popular to drink, otherwise alcohol is limited and expensive, though wines and beers are available.

Shopping and Souvenirs

Silver, pottery, furs, knitwear, woodcarvings, enamel, pewter, glass, porcelain.

Additional Info

People and Places

Capital: Oslo.
Language: Norwegian.
Population: 4,552,252.
Population Density: 14.9. (pop per km²)
Size: 323,759. (area km²)

Transport

(And distances from nearest city): Oslo (OSL) 47 km, Stavanger (SVG) 14.5 km, Bergen (BG)) 19 km.
Good domestic air network. Coastal towns and fjords served by ferries. Roads of variable quality, especially under freezing winter conditions in the north. Car hire easily available but costly.

Red Tape

International Driving Permit or national driving licence and log book. Green Card recommended.
UK: 25 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8QD, tel (020) 7591 5500, fax (020) 7245 6993, email emblondon@mfa.no. USA: 2720 34th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, tel (202) 333 6000, fax (202) 337 0870, email info@norway.org.
UK: Thomas Heftyesgate 8, 0244 Oslo, tel 2313 2700, fax 2313 2741, email britemb@online.no USA: Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo, tel 2244 8550, fax 2243 0777, email pasoslo@usa.no.

State of the Nation

Life expectancy: M 76.78, F 82.17.

Finance: Credit cards and traveller’s cheques widely accepted.
Business hours: 0800-1600 Mon-Friday.
GMT: + 1.
Voltage guide: 220 AC, 50 Hz.
Country dialling code: 47.