The Do’s and Don’ts of Norway For Travellers

After working and travelling around for 7 weeks, I learned all the do’s and don’ts of Norway!

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If you are planning a trip to Norway right now then I am sooo excited for you! Norway is one of the most incredible countries for outdoor lovers.

Norway has amazing hikes like Kjeragbolten, Prekeistolen (Pulpit Rock), and Trolltunga. There are beautiful fjords to visit near Bergen and Stavanger. And Norway’s arctic regions like Lofoten and Tromsø are unlike anywhere else in the world.

I worked and travelled around the country for 2 months and learned the important things to know about Norway travel. From social norms and the logistics of getting around Norway, to the random things that make the trip run so much smoother.

To make your trip the best it can be, here is a full list of the most important Norway travel tips and the do’s and don’ts of Norway.

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The Ultimate List of Do’s and Don’ts for Travelling in Norway

The Don’ts of Travelling Norway :

While visiting Norway is generally easy, there are still a few things to avoid doing. Here is what NOT to do in Norway.

1. Don’t Have a Tight Schedule in Your Norway Itinerary

Keeping a flexible schedule is one of the most important tips for travelling to Norway.

For one, the weather is unpredictable and often flat-out bad. Most activities in Norway are done outside, so this can interrupt your schedule. This is especially true for hikers when doing hikes that require clear skies for the impressive views like Trolltunga or hikes that can get dangerous in wet conditions like Kjerag.

With a more flexible itinerary, you can adjust to the weather and not have to miss out on certain outdoor activities you’ve travelled all the way there for.

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2. Don’t Bother Taking Out Cash in Norway

Norway is super advanced when it comes to electronic payments. So much so, that cash payments are very uncommon.

For the most part, tourists are the only people in Norway who still use cash. Many places will actually prefer you pay by card.

I took out cash when I first arrived in Norway and honestly had trouble spending it all. When booking accommodation, buying bus tickets (even on the bus), etc. All of it was done using credit card.

3. Don’t Go Anywhere Without a Rain Jacket

Peak season in Norway will see a lot of rain. The weather can also change drastically and sometimes be unpredictable. That is why it’s important to always bring a rain jacket with you.

Also, aside from the risk of rain, its good to have one at the top of a hike as a windbreaker. When you reach higher elevations at the top, it is often much windier and colder than where you started on the hike.

Even if it appears sunny and warm before leaving to do a hike, always bring one just in case the weather turns.

4. Don’t Wait to Buy Alcohol Until Late or on Sundays

Norway is very particular about alcohol sales. You can’t buy alcohol from any store after 8 pm on weekdays, 6 pm on Saturdays and not at all on Sundays.

Only clubs and bars with licenses are able to sell alcohol outside of these hours.

The type of alcohol you want to buy also changes the type of store you purchase it from. Regular stores and supermarkets aren’t allowed to sell drinks containing more than 4.7% alcohol percentage. Licquor above that level is only sold at the government chain, Vinmonpolet.

There may also be some surprises to do with specific alcohol sales, depending on the bar. A bar I went to in Stavanger was not allowed to sell hard liquor after 9 pm. However, other bars and clubs were able to sell this, so it’ll depend on the place.

Basically, try to be a little flexible with what you drink.

5. Don’t Buy Bus Tickets With Cash on Local Buses

You’re technically able to buy a bus ticket from the driver with cash, but it will be more expensive. And a little more inconvenient too.

Instead, there are several Norwegian bus apps where you buy your ticket. They will give you a QR code to scan when you enter the bus. Or in some cases, like in Bergen, you won’t have to scan it at all.

This is how everyone does it in Norway and the tickets will be much cheaper, especially if you are taking multiple buses. The app you use will depend on the region you are in.

If you are traveling around the Bergen area the app is called Skyss Billett. The app in the Stavanger area is simply called Billett. The bus app in Oslo is called Ruter Billett.

Also, in case you’re wondering, always pay for a ticket! Some may wonder if its easy to get away with not scanning a ticket since the driver isn’t watching when you get on the back, but bus agents occasionally do random checks with the threat of a hefty fine.

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6. Don’t Camp in Areas Where it is Prohibited

Norway is one of the few countries in the world where you can free camp pretty much anywhere. This is because of their ‘Right to Roam’ that protects people’s access to nature by law.

There are still a few areas where camping is prohibited. This could be for reasons such as safety or conservation. As an example, the famous Pulpit Rock hike (aka Preikestolen) has ‘camping prohibited’ signs towards the top of the hike. This is likely because of the proximity to the cliff’s edge and the large volume of people in that area.

Trolltunga also has certain areas blocked off to conserve the grassy areas for wildlife.

With how amazing Norway’s Right to Roam is, it is important to respect the few times they set down some rules. Prohibited areas are prohibited for a reason and we don’t want to ruin it for everyone else.

7. Don’t Take a Taxi

Unless you have a super high budget, I strongly recommend against taking taxis in Norway. Why? Simply put, they are expensive as heck.

Norway’s public transportation system is amazing, with buses taking you even to some remote destinations. It will save you an arm and a leg to take the bus instead of a cab.

Always check if there is a bus route, or even consider hitchhiking, before deciding to take a cab.

Tip: If you plan to rent a car in Norway, I recommend checking on AutoEurope for the best deals. The website scans all the car rental agencies and their latest prices to find the best possible prices.

8. Don’t Underestimate Driving Distances in Norway

Norway is a big country and a lot of people underestimate how long it can take to get to different places within it. This is especially important to remember when planning your itinerary.

You can’t judge the length of a drive by how many km it will be. What might not seem like a lot of km, could take way longer than expected due to mountain switchback roads or slower driving conditions.

Even the estimated driving time on Google Maps is often inaccurate and you’ll notice your ETA slowly increasing as you progress throughout the drive.

9. Don’t Expect to See the Northern Lights

One reason many people travel to Norway is to see the Northern lights. If you are traveling higher north in the country anytime in the fall – spring, then chances are you are hoping to see them.

Numerous tour companies offer northern lights tours and have special accommodations for viewing them. So yes, you do have a good chance of spotting them!

However, it can sometimes be harder to see them than you think. For one, it has to be a night where the lights are strong enough to be visible. It also has to be a clear night with no clouds blocking them. And finally, you have to be somewhere remote that offers no light pollution.

I was staying in the far North of Norway in September for 2.5 weeks and only saw them one night because it was overcast most of the time.

My point in all of this is to say, it is good to go with the right expectations. Have hope, try going in the winter if you want the best chance of seeing them, and plan a bunch of other adventures to look forward to.

10. Don’t Wait for Perfect Weather to Go Outside

In Norway, the reality is that the weather might not be perfect for a lot of your trip. While some hikes are dependent on good weather, there are still a ton of hikes and other outdoor activities you can do with rainy conditions.

I waited for sunny weather for weeks to do a hike in Rogaland called Reineknutan. However, on my last opportunity to go it was still cloudy and very windy. I decided to go anyways and ended up with amazing views over the clouds.

On rainy days in Norway, you can also explore the nearby cities and their museums.

You May Also Like: 7 Ways to Beat the Crowds At Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)

The Do’s of Travelling Norway:

1. Pack All of Your Garbage Out With You While Hiking and Camping

This is a good thing to follow anywhere you travel. Maybe it’s just me but it feels extra wrong to litter in Norway. I think with how generous they are with access to the environment, it feels wrong to take advantage of it and leave garbage behind.

Even things like banana peels and apple cores should be taken out because it takes years and years to fully compost. Especially if you are on a busier trail.

2. Download Norwegian Specific Weather Apps

Any Norway travel guide will tell you to keep an eye on the weather conditions daily. The forecast changes quickly.

After a week in Norway, I quickly noticed how inaccurate my own weather apps were, differing from the ones my friends were seeing. I switched to using the Norwegian weather apps, and the daily forecasts became way more reliable.

One of the best websites you can use for checking the weather in Norway is yr.no. You can type in your location and it will give options for how you want to view the forecast (hourly, daily, weekly).

3. Always Bring Extra Layers of Clothing With You

With elevation changes in hiking comes temperature changes and higher winds. A lot of hikes in Norway will involve hiking up to a viewpoint.

For all the hikes I did in Norway, I was constantly taking layers on and off as the trail progressed. You also never know when a storm is going to sneak up.

4. Cook Your Meals to Save Big Money

Norway is known for being an expensive destination. And while I can’t argue that it is a cheap place to visit, there are definitely ways to cut costs while traveling in Norway. The biggest ones are to camp as your accommodation and cook your own meals.

Cooking your meals instead of eating out will save you hundreds of dollars, no exaggeration. While a meal in an average restaurant might cost you 20 – 30 euros without a drink, the cost of groceries in Norway is actually really comparable to a lot of countries in Europe and North America.

In fact, I often found my grocery bill to be slightly cheaper than what I usually pay in Canada. I spent approximately 50 euros a week on all my food. If you eat a lot, I would budget a bit more than that.

5. Book Your Accommodation as Far in Advance as Possible

If you are not camping, then accommodation in Norway is usually the biggest expense. A big way you can save money on accommodation is by booking as far in advance as possible.

Prices increase the closer you get to the trip date. Also, the cheapest places to stay will get booked up FAST leaving you with only the really expensive options.

For example, there are limited hostels in Norway where you will find the cheapest accommodation options. As a result, they are usually booked up pretty fast.

When I was booking a place to stay in Bergen using Airbnb, I found private rooms for around $75 – $80 CAD per night. I waited a few days and when I went to book them, the only options left were well over $100 per night.

6. Bring a Reusable Water Bottle

There are 2 reasons you should bring a reusable water bottle on your trip to Norway. For one, the obvious environmental reasons. And the second reason is that tap water all over Norway is completely safe to drink.

It will save you tons of money by eliminating the need to purchase bottles of water.

If you are camping, you still don’t need to worry too much about buying cases of water to bring with you (in most cases). There are often nearby streams or running water that you can fill your water bottle from.

7. Pack a Sleeping Mask in the Summer

As you may know, most places in Norway experience full daylight for parts of the year. The months that this occurs can vary depending on where you are in the country. The period of full daylight usually lasts between mid May and late July.

With that being said, your accommodation might not always have the best set up for black out curtains which means your room can be quite bright. When I was traveling during the midnight sun in Iceland, we found this to be pretty disorienting to fall asleep. So I strongly recommend bringing a sleeping mask or something to cover your eyes if you are traveling to Norway at this time of year.

8. Round Up Your Bill When Paying at Restaurants

Tipping culture can vary drastically between countries and is an area of confusion for a lot of people travelling somewhere new. I live in Canada where not tipping your server is considered quite rude. In other countries, tipping is not the norm at all.

In Norway, the tipping culture is not huge. Tips of about 10% are really appreciated for great service and the standard is to round up your bill if the service was adequate.

9. Expect a Night Out Drinking to be Expensive

We already know that Norway is an expensive country, but dang the alcohol here is going to cost you a lot. The cheapest beer you’ll be able to find in a restaurant/bar is about 8.50 euros. A “cheap” glass of wine will cost you about 10 euros. And cocktails can be around 12 – 15 euros. Of course if you go for the fancier version of these drinks it will become even more.

If you intend to have a night out drinking, keep this in mind so you don’t spend your budget in a single night.

10. Do as Many Hikes as You Can (Even the Ones That Appear Not as Exciting)

We all know that a huge reason to travel to Norway is for the outdoors and hiking. There are lists everywhere with information on the best and most exciting hiking attractions. And these hikes are on the list for a very good reason, they are awesome. However, my tip here is that you don’t only stick to these popular hikes and try to venture off on some more off the beaten path trails as well.

They may not seem as worth it or exciting, but there are some absolute gems out there that I have never once come across on a list of things to do in Norway. In the month I was living near Stavanger, I hiked the famous Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) and Kjerag. Both were mind-blowing, you should definitely do them. Then there was a local hike near where I was living and I thought ah why not. It ended up offering the best views out of all the hikes I did in Norway, including the ones that make the famous lists. And the best part was? Instead of it being swarmed with other tourists, we came across 1 other group of hikers for the entire 5 hours we were hiking.

11. Take the Scenic Route

This goes without saying, but Norway is a gorgeous country to road trip through. If you have a car then when choosing how to get from point A to B, always choose the scenic route. You should also make sure to leave enough room in your itinerary to do so. Driving can be a huge part of the experience.

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Final Thoughts on the Travelling Do’s and Don’ts of Norway

Norway is one of the most easy and enjoyable places to travel in the world. Everything runs super efficiently and it is easy to find information on all the things you want to do there. However, like everywhere it can be super useful to know what to expect when you arrive.

After working and travelling in different parts of Norway for 7 weeks, I learned a ton about the social norms from both observation and my friendships with locals. I also gained a good understanding of the do’s and don’ts of Norway through planning my own travels while I was there (I didn’t have a pre-planned itinerary). And it would have been great to have known these things before arriving.

By following these do’s and don’ts of Norway, you are sure to make yours the best trip it can be.

Happy adventuring!

* Disclosure: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I receive a commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through a link. I only recommend products and companies that I use. Thanks for the support!

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