Norway Travel Guide - Essentials

Safety: Norway is a safe travel destination; however, travellers should still take sensible safety measures to avoid petty-theft. Be extra careful not to become involved with drugs of any type. Possession of even small quantities can result in heavy fines or imprisonment. This also applies to the possession, use and importation of khat, which is illegal in Norway, though lawful in the UK.

When to go: the coast of Norway is fairly mild during the summer, as is the southern part, while winters are often below freezing in most parts of the country and the northern mountainous areas experience Arctic conditions. Midnight-sun days normally occur between May and June and the effect is even more dramatic further north.

Even with the gloom, however, visitors can join locals in their most popular winter recreational activities. Possibly the most amazing winter spectacle is the hypnotic aurora borealis, or ‘Northern Lights’.

Money: Norway can be prohibitively expensive, with Oslo regularly ranking as one of the world’s most expensive cities to live in. The Norwegian Krone (NOK) is the standard currency and is divided into 100 øre. Notes come in denominations of NOK1,000, 500, 200, 100 and 50. Coins can be found in denominations of NOK20, 10, 5 and 1 and 50 øre.

ATMs are widespread in all towns and cities. Travellers Cheques are accepted in banks, hotels, shops and by airlines.

Language: Norwegian is the official language, but English is widely understood and spoken.

Emergency: Norway do;es not have one common phone number for all emergency services, but separate numbers apply for police, ambulance and fire.

Ambulance: 113 (or call hospitals mentioned below)

Police: 112

Business needs: business in Norway is carried out in a formal manner, with punctuality and direct communication valued attributes. Business dress is typically smart and stylish, though not pretentious. Titles and surnames are for the most part used on introduction, but may be dropped later, while a handshake is the customary greeting.

Business cards are exchanged. Business is mostly conducted in a direct and forthright style, with little small talk or socialising as prelude. Bear in mind that Norway is an expensive country and that a 25 per cent VAT is levied on any services such as lawyers and consultants, etc.