To Norway on your own. Personal experience: Everything you need to know to travel to Norway

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).

Thanks to Norway's geographical location and length, each region of this green northern country is distinctive and unique. If in the west you can contemplate numerous fjords, then the central part of the country stands out for its medieval monuments and ancient buildings, the northern part for such an unusual phenomenon as the midnight sun (white nights), the southern part for coastal resorts and warm summers for Norway, and the eastern part for good opportunities for active outdoor recreation - fishing in numerous rivers and lakes, hiking through forests and valleys, camping. Let's take a closer look at what the kingdom of Norway has to offer to us travelers.

The west coast has a rather majestic landscape - a 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 its beautiful roses and jazz festivals, but the name Bergen already speaks for itself (see the “Cities” section above). At the same time, they pass through the mountains winding roads Eagle Path and Troll Trail.

Geirangerfjord included in the UNESCO World Heritage List 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 amazes 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 unforgettable!

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 - Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord, with the latter listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And it is here that you can enjoy completely unique views of the fjord and mountains from above - at an altitude of 650 meters above sea level there is Stegastein observation deck, adjacent to the Aurlandsvagen mountain road. The Flåm railway or cruise ship will take you to these magical places.

The beauty of the mountains Ljusefjord will not leave anyone indifferent. The most interesting and spectacular things here are Kjeragbolten and Preikestolen. Kjeragbolten- a huge round stone stuck in a crevice between two rocks at an altitude of 1084 meters; many tourists like to take pictures on it. Preikestolen Rock 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 displays a fine example of medieval architecture – Nidaros Cathedral- the largest building of its era in Scandinavia with monumental sculptures and elegant stained glass windows. Old wooden buildings Trondheim(the third largest city and the first capital of Norway) is also of interest to visitors to the central part, and to the east of it is the mining town of Reros - an ancient 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 the harsh wild nature; in the summer you can watch wonderful white nights, and in the winter - the 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 Northern Paris).

In this part of the country it is impossible to 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 (Malström), about a quarter of all seabirds in the country live there, ancient caves contain rock paintings of primitive people (Kolhellaren cave in Refsvik), settlements built as far back as 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 their individuality is given by both the red fishing houses themselves against the backdrop of breathtaking landscapes, and 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 blend harmoniously into the austere landscape of the rocky coastline.
The largest city in the region is Kristiansand, next to which there are several islands - Flekkerey, Oxey and Gronningen - their beautiful nature and views attract tourists every summer. Towns such as Lillesand, Tvedesand, Brekkeste, Gamle and Ny Hellesund, scattered along the coastal cliffs among flowering gardens, also add their charm to the region. Here is also the village of Lynger, the best preserved small settlement in Europe.
In the county (Norwegian province) of Telemark you will find the place where skiing began - Morgedal, and nearby is the Telemark Canal.

Norway and Vinsky are incompatible things.
Maybe because I love with my soul more than with my eyes.
Norway is a beautiful country. But her beauty is cold and largely repetitive.
I assumed that 5 days would be enough for the trip, but I miscalculated - what I wanted to see and where I wanted to go was realized in 2 days. On the third day we could safely fly home.

But in order: the basis for the trip was a very correct report from kortchak: It is good because it gives a visual image. Moreover, this is not a monstrous accumulation of photographs, which is what many reports “shine” with, but a correct selection of thumbnails with comments. The only thing missing from the report is the names of places in the original language. Well, route maps. What I will give in my essay.

Several times along the way, the instinct of a mushroom picker and berry picker kicked in. Then the car squealed on the brakes and after a few minutes it was possible to pick a handful of large wild strawberries or wild raspberries. Or a basket of porcini mushrooms. It's surprising that no one collects this. I read somewhere that Norwegians despise mushroom picking and do not eat them at all, preferring to export champignons from the ubiquitous Holland. What an asshole, what else can I say... Pasta with porcini mushrooms or soup... mmmm

The landscape that flashed along our path gradually changed from herbs, wildflowers, pines and birches, to dwarf vegetation and mosses. We drove into the tundra, dotted with numerous lenses of lakes. Here and there along the road and at a distance from it, pyramids made of stones appeared. We wondered what this was for. I remembered the military campaigns of Tamerlane, my companions spoke much more interestingly: these are landmarks for the Norwegian spatial orientation system (GLONAS in Norwegian), or this is a shelter for trolls from the sun...

We stopped along the way to get something to eat. Small town. Cafe. Let's go in. Dear mother! I have never seen such prices for hamburgers: 10 euros for two buns and a defrosted cutlet between them. However, you need to eat something. I took lasagna heated in the microwave with a whole pack of bread to go with it + beer. The cost of this snack could be compared with the cost of a good lunch in an average Moscow restaurant. Having picked at the hot mass that had spread over the plate with a fork, I noticed a fairly large number of people with black skin passing by and smiling cheerfully. This is the thing that is in front of me now - just right.

We arrived at the Fossli hotel around 6 o'clock. The waterfall, noisy a few meters from the hotel, was nothing special to remember. Oh yes, I forgot to say that after seeing the waterfalls in South America and South Africa, all the Norwegian waterfalls, of which I suspect there are a great many in the country, will look modest. Well, let him make noise - let him make noise.

Once you see photographs of the natural attractions of Norway, rarely does anyone remain indifferent to them. But everyone who becomes interested in this country very soon comes across the fact that this country is very expensive and not everyone can afford it. Nevertheless, I want to go. So let's figure out whether Norway is so expensive and what and how you can save. Maria Petrenko reports.

Budget Components

We have been traveling independently for at least 10 years and, based on the accumulated experience, I can say that at least for us the necessary travel expenses are divided into three almost equal parts: food, accommodation, travel. The fourth part of the costs is shopping and cultural programs. But here everyone has a different appetite, so the range of costs for everyone will be very different.

So, let's take it in order. Let's start with the road.

Road – gasoline, parking, toll roads

We travel by car, so I’ll tell you about the costs of such a trip. Here I include not only the purchase of gasoline, but also the payment of toll roads, parking, and ferry tickets. Let's look at the cost of 95 gasoline in Europe. Up-to-date data is always available.

The sign shows that Norway has the most expensive gasoline in Europe. It’s sad, but there are not as many toll roads in the country as, for example, in Italy and France, and there are no mandatory vignettes, as in Austria or Switzerland. There are practically no traffic jams or traffic lights outside cities, and therefore fuel consumption is lower.

In addition, most parking outside cities at natural attractions is free, as are the attractions themselves, which cannot be said about Austria and Germany.

Thus, by incurring the maximum cost on gasoline, we get some savings on the rest of the road.

Ferries

You can get from Russia to Norway either by land, bypassing Finland, or by going part of the way by ferry from Helsinki (or Turku) to Stockholm. The route by land is suitable for those traveling to northern Norway and the Lafontaine Islands. For others, it is faster and easier to use the Viking Line ferry.

And this is also a significant expense item. Of course, you can drive around the fjord, but this will entail additional fuel consumption and, most importantly, will take a lot of extra time, which is so expensive when traveling. However, you can plan your route so that the number of ferries is minimal.

Of course, you can travel around Norway itself by ferry, moving from one fjord to another, but this is not a budget option at all.

How to sleep in Norway for free?

Let's start with minimal costs, or rather, there is a completely inexpensive option. In Norway, it is legal to pitch tents outside populated areas if certain conditions are met:

• stand in one place for no more than 2 days;
• no closer than 150 m from housing;
• not on cultivated fields and vegetable gardens;
• unless there is a direct prohibition in the form of a “No camping!” sign.

Probably, this option will suit someone, but without basic sanitary amenities it will somehow turn out too extreme. Washing your face from a stream and running to the toilet under a bush is very amateurish. The savings should still be reasonable.

Cheap accommodation in Norway

Norway has a very large network of wonderful campsites, which allows you not only to spend the night on a budget, but also to save time on your trip, since the campsites are usually located along tourist routes and near natural attractions and you do not have to waste time on the road to the hotel in the city. You can choose the appropriate one.

There are two accommodation options at the campsite: a tent (150-250 Nk per day) and a simple house (350-700 Nk). As you can see, the difference in price is 2-3 times. But no matter what option you choose, you are provided with a hot shower, a clean warm toilet, a kitchen with a refrigerator and kitchen utensils.

Many food products are prohibited for import into EU countries. Whether you strictly adhere to these rules is up to you. During all our trips through various customs crossings, we were never seriously inspected and we had no problems. But we try not to break the rules too much, although we always have the usual 2 cans of stew and a loaf of raw smoked sausage with us, and this is prohibited by the rules.

How much does it cost in stores in Norway?

A more expensive option than the one outlined above, but still more budget-friendly than catering, is to buy food in Norwegian stores and cook it yourself.

We always take a certain minimum, but these are everyday products that do not differ much in different countries: salt, sugar, spices, tea, coffee, cereals. We buy the rest locally.

Like us, in Norway there are several chains of chain stores of different price categories. The most affordable ones are Bunnpris, Coop Prix, Kiwi. They are found in almost all cities and large towns. Just keep in mind that all of them, except Bunnpris, are closed on Sunday and close early on Saturday.

The price level can be seen in the pictures below (October 2017). Prices are, of course, in Norwegian kroner. To make it more clear: multiply by 7 to get rubles; divide by 10 to get the euro.

As you can see from the Coop store leaflet, pizza is cheaper than ours, provided that you buy frozen and heat it yourself.

With fish and meat, of course, everything doesn’t look so optimistic, but compared to a restaurant it still turns out to be much cheaper.

The quality of products is decent everywhere. Cooking it yourself will not take a lot of time and effort, since everything in the package is already washed, cut, peeled and even most often salted.

Like us, each store has current special offers with lower prices. For example, Coop stores have sections with cheaper products under the X-tra brand, while Bunnpris stores have a line of budget products under the First Price brand.

In addition, in the prepared foods department you can look for products with red price tags. They are sold at a discount of up to 50% because they are about to expire. But these are completely fresh, high-quality products. It’s just that in Norway they don’t change date labels in stores, as sometimes happens here.

If you come to the supermarket before closing, you can see a cart with bread for 1 crown or discounted slightly bruised fruit in front of the cash register or in a prominent place in the hall.

Public catering

I’ll say right away that you won’t like the prices in Norwegian restaurants. 80 euros for a modest dinner for two is the average. For example, I suggest looking at the menu of the mid-level chain restaurant “Egon”.

These establishments are located in many places in the country. In addition to being expensive, I can also say that Norwegian restaurants lack culinary flair. There are no specific dishes unique to this country. Most often the menu includes regular steaks, fish, pizza, and salads.

More budget-friendly catering options include small Asian restaurants or McDonald's. Here you can easily eat for 10-15 euros per nose. But these establishments are not for everyone. We're definitely not fans.

And now regarding strong drinks. It’s definitely better to take them with you or buy them at Duty Free. In Norway it is not just expensive, but very expensive. At least three times more expensive than ours.

Shopping

Norway is probably not the best country for shopping. There are so many interesting and beautiful things there that you just don’t want to waste time in shops. But if you can’t live without it, then here’s just one piece of advice on how to reduce your expenses at least a little. Pay attention to stores that work with the Tax Free system. Often they have a corresponding icon, but not always, check with the sellers. Norway has a high VAT (25% on manufactured goods and 14% on groceries), so you can get a VAT refund, meaning your purchases will become cheaper for you.

There are several conditions that must be met: the goods must be exported from Norway within a month from the date of purchase; the cost of non-food products must be at least 315 NOK, food – 285 NOK. The product must be purchased either from one seller or on the same day from different ones.

The devil is not so scary...

Well, now you have an idea of ​​how and what you can save on when traveling around Norway. In no way am I calling for austerity on everything at all times, but I am just presenting possible options for reducing travel costs. And what you can save on and what you shouldn’t, it’s up to you to decide.

How can I save up to 20% on hotels?

It's very simple - look not only on booking. I prefer the search engine RoomGuru. He searches for discounts simultaneously on Booking and on 70 other booking sites.

September 27th, 2014 , 12:26 am

When going to Norway on your own for the first time, it is very important to have as much information as possible about the features of traveling in this country. A trip to the homeland of the Vikings will be beautiful, dizzying and at the same time unlike anything else; Norway is adapted to independent travel at the highest level, amazingly combining wild, uncultivated nature with civilized infrastructure. To achieve harmony and complete mutual understanding with this country, you need to be prepared for certain moments.

So, not at all briefly, but in great detail, I share the information necessary for everyone who wants to travel to Norway outside the restrictions of organized tourism.

Norway is a very long country, stretching from south to north. If you have no more than two weeks for the entire trip, I recommend choosing one part: either the northern or the southern. When I say “southern part,” I do not mean the very, very south of the country. This is just a symbol contrasted with the north, roughly speaking, the southern half of the state. The western part of this half is the region of the famous Norwegian fjords. Often those who travel for the first time start with it.
Part of the fjords covers several regions or “fylkes” at once - Rogaland, Hordaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Møre og Romsdal.

A significant number of travelers choose a nomadic style of travel in Norway. This means that they spend every or almost every night in a new place. Thus, in 10-14 days all of the above regions are covered, but in each of them attention is paid to a very limited number of objects - “what we managed to see, we saw.”

Even when preparing our first trip to Norway, I came to the conclusion that this type of vacation was not an option for our family.
Firstly, collecting and disassembling all your belongings every other day is not at all fun.
Secondly, we are with the child. In this case, the more settled, the less fatigue for everyone.
Thirdly, the weather is always an important factor in Norway. It is completely unpredictable and from year to year it can differ radically from previous seasons. Rain and low clouds can change the sun several times a day, or they can cover the entire sky for several days in advance. Therefore, when passing the intended places, a tourist easily risks not seeing them, not going on some trek - and all because of bad weather. And in the evening you have to be in a different place!

We are not happy with this scheme. If it didn't work out today, it can be done tomorrow. It’s easy to change plans on the go, adjust the program to suit fatigue, mood, weather, desire, and well-being. And explore the area you find yourself in as much as possible, without limiting yourself to the well-known must-see spots.

As a result, on trips to Norway I usually choose three or four habitats, spending several days in each. And we will explore not all 5 regions, but one or two. Don’t hesitate - you can spend more than one week in any of them, and it won’t be boring.

Living in one place, every day we make radial trips in different directions. Approximately within 70-100 km from housing. Does it seem like very little? Nevermind. You need to know Norwegian roads.

The fact is that the fjord region is almost continuous mountains, serpentines, and tunnels. And narrow roads. Sometimes they are even single-lane, but at the same time double-sided - with widening for passing lanes. Therefore, the average speed in mountainous areas is approximately 50 km/h. This is why it takes a lot of time to travel long distances.

Housing

You can forget about hotels in Norway. Unless you live in a city and have considerable capital, because Norway is an expensive country. But few people want to relax in the cities there; that’s not what Norway is famous for. And wealthy travelers are often inclined to save some money. Therefore, it is better not to stay in Norwegian hotels.

What is widespread there to an unprecedented scale are campsites, a great variety of them. In them you can find accommodation for every taste and budget - from tents (brought with you) to cottages. There are houses with everything you need, but without a bathroom and shower, there are houses with all the amenities.

There is always a separate building with showers and toilets, most often licked to a shine. Of course, vacationers are expected to maintain cleanliness and respect for others.
In addition, there is a separate public kitchen with the necessary utensils, as well as a laundry room.
Showers and washers/dryers are available for a fee. Shower on average 10 CZK for 5 minutes. Washing/drying - 10 CZK per operation. Most often, crowns need to be exchanged for special tokens at the reception desk at the campsite.

If you are not traveling with a tent, but are staying in a house, then keep in mind the arsenal:
A standard house has a set of utensils for eating and cooking (although there are unfortunate exceptions), a small stove, and a refrigerator. Pillows and blankets.

Almost always bed linen (pillowcases, duvet covers, sheets) are not included in the price. They are not cheap, so it is better to bring your own. Occasionally you also have to pay for pillows and blankets. If the house is booked in advance, it is better to clarify these points.

Final cleaning (“final cleaning”) is almost 100% not included in the price. It is significantly expensive to pay extra for it, so many people clean it themselves. Brush-buckets-rags are available in each house. The main rule is to leave the house in the condition in which you arrived. But even if you were unlucky, and there was a dishonest family in front of you that left dirt, it is better not to be like them.

When searching for campsites in Norway, I can offer alternatives:

Or enter the word “camping” in the search bar on Google Maps; many red dots appear on the map - this is what it is. The points are active, Google will give you all the information about them. If the campsite has its own website, Google will show the link.

You can contact the campsites or call them and agree on a reservation. As a rule, there is no advance payment for the reservation; you will not even be asked for credit card details. Few campsites do this. We didn't choose these.

Some travelers do not book anything at all, but look for a campsite each time on the spot, as the trip progresses. We don’t really like to do this; we like the certainty and guarantee of the overnight stay we need in the right place and for the required number of days.

The second way to live in Norway is private cottages. They are both more expensive and cheaper than campsites. Their main feature and often disadvantage: in the high season (from June to the end of August) almost all are rented out for a full week - from Saturday to Saturday. This is not always convenient when planning a trip. Especially with short holidays. Who is interested in sites for finding cottages - write, I will provide links.

Finally, there are campers - houses on wheels. They are also common. In Norway, renting a campervan is very expensive, but they are often rented in other European countries and driven to Norway.

Honesty

Much of the Norwegian tourism industry is built on honesty. For example, you arrive at a campsite, but the owners are not there. Instead, you see an advertisement like: “In vacant houses, the key is in the door. Come and live. We'll be there in the evening. If you are leaving in our absence, leave the house in a tidy condition, with the key in the door, and put the money “there.” And that's all.

Another example of honesty: berries on roadside stands in the summer season. There is a trough with berries on the counter, and next to it is a small box for money.

However, in such cases it is better to have cash with you, although in 90% of cases you can get by with a credit card.

Traveling by public transport

This matter is not as comfortable in Norway as, for example, in Switzerland. However, this option is also acceptable, especially in the fjord region; in the north the situation is worse.
Travel is possible by trains and more often by buses. Difficulties:

Pleasure is not cheap
- a more limited choice of places to visit
- adjusting to the schedule (and in rural areas, buses, you understand, do not run every 15 minutes)
- search for housing in close proximity to bus stops.

But even with such components, travel is possible and quite feasible; I know a number of very successful examples. So if you are interested in public transport sites, please contact us.

But still, if possible, then it is strongly recommended to take a car.

Rent a Car

Like everything else, Norway is not cheap)).
Having enough time, you can arrive not in Oslo, but in Stockholm; in Sweden, car rental is significantly cheaper, but it takes almost 2 days to get to the fjord region in Norway. In total, you need to have 4 extra days in reserve for such hauls. We don't have that luxury, so we overpay in Norway. We always conduct an extensive search, on various aggregators, as well as in individual companies.

This year, a Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 with a manual from Europcar cost us $1,100 for 15 days, without additional insurance.
My husband purchased insurance separately from the company http://www.worldwideinsure.com/, and selected it based on successful reviews from communities.

The cost of gasoline (diesel) = 15 (14) crowns per liter, +/- half a crown in different places.

Cash settlements

The national currency in Norway is the Norwegian krone.

When making payments, in 95% of cases you can get by with a credit card. It is possible to use debit, but in some places it does not work, judging by numerous reviews from people. Most often at some gas station. Therefore, along with a debit card, it is better to have a spare one - a credit card. And be sure to know the card PIN code! It is needed everywhere.

Despite the blatant civilization, it is better to have a certain supply of cash with you. Where you sometimes need cash:

Berry from private owners
- some toll roads to attractions (each road costs approximately 30-40 CZK)
- in some run-down campsite, where we never stopped, the grandmother said that payment is only in cash (which is 500-600 CZK per night)
- payment for a musk ox safari excursion to the guide
- in the event of a normal technical malfunction of devices for accepting credit cards or other failures from which no one is insured - this is anywhere.

Usually we buy 400-500 kroons, for all sorts of cases, if anything, you can withdraw it from any ATM in Norway. It is not recommended to bring currency and change it at exchange offices - they remove their draconian commissions. By the way, in Israeli exchange offices we just bought crowns in exchange for shekels.

But in general, even a magnet in a souvenir shop can be easily purchased with a credit card. Ferry crossings are the same story.

Nutrition

With catering as with hotels. Expensive, rare and not good everywhere. Expensive fast food, including. Therefore, almost all independent travelers cook for themselves. Occasionally they stop at some cafe to pamper themselves or drink tea with the national dessert - waffles with jam.

For an example of the price for such a tea party in one of the places we visited:

Waffle with jam - 30 CZK (about 5 dollars)
Two teas and coffee together - 70 CZK ($11)

Products for self-sufficiency are purchased from supermarkets of various chains. You can often find good prices and discounts in the Coop and Kiwi networks. Their websites are very convenient, you can see which store is located where and find out the opening hours.

A very common way to cook meat and fish while traveling is on a disposable grill. They are sold in superstores and gas stations. The price of each is 15 CZK. The coals are already impregnated with something, so that they light up almost with one fiery glance. One grill is not enough for a very large portion of meat, so if you are traveling with a large group and want a kebab on such a grill, it is better to buy several.

I'll try to remember the prices of some products...

Fresh salmon fillet - 4 pieces of 125 grams = 42 CZK, frozen - 38 CZK (by the way, this is cheaper than in Israel).
Pork steaks for grilling = from 50 CZK per kg; beef... we don’t take it there, it’s higher than expected))).
Bread spreads, such as processed cheese with flavorings = 18-25 CZK for a small jar.
Bread ranges from 13 (this time we didn’t come across it) to 32 crowns per loaf, an average of 23 crowns.
Milk = 15 CZK.

Some tourists use gas burners. Most often these are those who travel with their own tents, but even those who stay in cabins sometimes also prefer to have freedom of action and cook lunch outdoors on a stove. Here you need to keep in mind that gas cartridges cannot be transported on airplanes, so they must be purchased locally.
We didn't have a burner. We had breakfast and dinner in the houses, and for lunch we packed a picnic package: sandwiches or fried fish fingers/cutlets/sausages, bread, spreads, some vegetables, sweets. Plus a small thermos with boiling water and tea bags. Disposable tableware for such lunches.

Picnics

Since we're talking about that.

In Norway, everything is conducive to a wild, but at the same time civilized holiday. For example, “Christmas trees” for parking and picnics.

Along the highway you can often see a sign with a Christmas tree with a table on it. This means that soon there will be an exit on the side of the road to such a resting place, which is nicknamed the “Christmas tree”. There are tables with benches on it, and sometimes there is a toilet (very clean, with paper, a sink and soap, and it’s free).

And in some places near the fjords you can even find a house with a shower and laundry! You put in 10 crown coins and use it.

Often such Christmas trees are located in picturesque places - overlooking a lake or fjord. The best place for a lunch break.

Clothing and additional equipment

Clothes should be different and suitable for the cold, even in August. I'm not talking about down jackets in the summer season, but there should be a normal jacket, preferably waterproof and windproof. And a jacket. Sometimes you want to pull it all together and you won’t even feel the heat.

So, it’s best to dress for walks according to the cabbage principle: T-shirt, sweater, jacket. So that you can take off and put on each top layer as needed.

Trousers. In any case, it is recommended to take not just pants, but a change. For May-June, for example, it is better to take some that are slightly insulated (not ski boots, but simply lined with insulated fleece), and others that are lighter. If you plan to spend a long time outdoors, they are very helpful in the cold and wind. If you are traveling at the end of July-August, you can do without these.

It's good to have a light waterproof suit - jacket + pants. Something like this:

For trekking - trekking shoes, trekking socks.
Additionally - light sneakers, sports sandals (these are optional), flip-flops (very useful for camping).

Ear bandage (used very often on tracks in the mountains, even in August) or a cap.

Trekking poles are a great help for unloading your knees, supporting your arms, etc. Useful thing.

Flashlights (if you are not traveling during white nights) - just in case.

Shoe dryers are possible, BUT (!!!) it is prohibited to dry trekking shoes with a waterproof layer using thermal devices! Often a similar warning is indicated on the boots. Even if the percentage of waterproofing is low, it will also disappear during thermal drying; subsequently, such boots will get wet even from light rain.

For backpacks, it is good to have a waterproof cover. On the tracks you never know whether it will rain, how strong it will be and how long it will last.

Wherever we were going during the day, we always had a dry set of clothes in the trunk for each of us: pants, socks, T-shirt, sneakers.

From clothes to weather

Main weather site in Norway: http://www.yr.no/

The weather, as I already said, is unpredictable. It can be hot and sunny in May, and in July you can fall into the rainy season and freeze, like Mowgli in the cold. It will happen with Norway! A peculiarity of the northern country is quite frequent low clouds. Not fog, but cloudy. When thick feather beds cover the mountains right down to the ground. It’s a cool sight, but if such beauty stands for several days, you won’t see much.
Therefore, you need to be mentally and physically prepared for absolutely any weather. There are no rules here.

Seasons

From weather to seasons! Still, there are certain rules according to which the seasons differ from each other. For example, in May and June, incredibly beautiful snowy mountains, often striped like zebras, look very elegant. Full-flowing waterfalls flowing from melting glaciers and snowfields on the tops. There are a lot of flowers, nature is waking up, mountain lakes are half covered in ice, and it’s truly beautiful! In addition, there is daylight almost around the clock. But: many high-mountain tracks are not accessible, some very scenic mountain roads are closed in May, there is still little blue color in the glaciers, because... They are still covered in snow, and it is often cold. Until the end of June, real spring reigns in Norway.

By August, flowering is reduced, the mountains cease to be invitingly snowy, the greenery is not fresh, but already deep and dark like summer. Actually, in terms of natural beauty, August is not the most beautiful time. But there are plenty of berries and mushrooms, all the tracks are accessible, it’s warm enough, even if it’s rainy.

September often marks the Indian summer, many are lucky enough to have good and mild weather, in the north of the country you can even sometimes see the northern lights!

The end of September - the beginning of October is the time of golden autumn, crimson shades - a delight for the eyes and the camera. But the weather is much less stable, rains are frequent, the first snowfalls are possible in the mountains, and the days are short.

But in general, any season in Norway is good in its own way, you just need to find the right approach)).

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

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

for whom a holiday in Norway is not suitable:

• people with a very limited budget

Although you can get to Norway relatively easily - by plane (tickets will not be very expensive) or even by car (this is most convenient for residents of the northern regions of Russia, which have a land border with Norway, equipped with international road checkpoints), but 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 associated with high prices for accommodation, food, entertainment, etc. 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 money on accommodation, but you still won’t get a budget trip to this country.

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

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Cost of holiday in Stavanger. August 2017.

tour cost

We had a valid visa, which we had previously received when applying for another trip. We got to Stavanger from Stockholm by two flights: Stockholm - Oslo, Oslo - Stavanger. Tickets were purchased on Scandinavian Airlines (SAS). Both flights cost 8,000 rubles per person, but this is without luggage, only hand luggage. We got from the airport to the city by shuttle bus for 1000 rubles; we bought a ticket from the driver. We booked a hotel room 2 months in advance, the price per night was 6,000 rubles, breakfast included. The Skansen Hotel is old, with a retro elevator, but the view of the embankment from the window is excellent.

We did not use the services of excursion companies; we organized the climb to Preikestolen ourselves. We bought a single ticket for the ferry and bus, costing 3,200 rubles per person, they were bought on the ferry. In the morning at 9 on the embankment we took a ferry to the city of Tau, the sail was about 40 minutes. From Tau by bus to the final stop, the ride takes about 25 minutes. The same way back. As a result, this event will take almost the entire day.

Food and products

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

Vacation with children

Children in Norway are sacred. Here they build museums for them, come up with special attractions and organize special holidays. In Oslo, during the championship, a mini-biathlon, a real competition, was organized especially for children on the main square of the capital. The kids raced cross-country on one ski 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. We watched with affection 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 once-king Karl Johan, and a crowd of children squealing with delight with sleds - an idyllic picture.

Youth recreation

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

Family holiday

In Oslo there is a cult of family. An entire Vigeland sculpture park is dedicated to this topic. This is certainly a strange park. But only here the whole gamut of family and human relationships from grief to joy, from birth to death is expressed so vividly and poignantly in the sculpture. This is a philosophical park that not everyone understands. But I would recommend visiting it for those who are just planning to start a family and for deeply married couples.

What to take with you on vacation?

When coming to Norway, you should definitely have warm clothes with you. Although winters here are not cold, they are almost always snowy. Even if you don't plan to ski, it's worth taking ski pants and a warm down jacket to spend as much time walking as possible.

What to do at the resort?

Oslo is a fairly small city, although it is the capital. And quite modest, without showing off. However, there are a lot of iconic places here that are known throughout the world. The same Vigeland sculpture park, admission is free, by the way. You should definitely visit the Oslo Waterfront Art Museum. There you will also see the famous Oslo Opera. If you like to walk on the roof, the roof of the Opera is the easiest to get to. We spent a couple of hours at the Akershus fortress, from where there is a beautiful view of the Oslo Fjord and the city reflected in the sea water. There is also the famous Nobel Museum and the monumental brick Oslo City 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.