Norway has so much to offer: whale watching, winter sports activities, breathtaking landscapes, fjord cruises, reindeer, and Sami culture. However, it’s no secret that Norway is not a budget-friendly country to visit. In this guide below, you will find Norway travel tips for an affordable adventure, with tips for how to budget for Norway.
(But don’t forget to book your eco-friendly hotel in Oslo first).
Norway travel tips and how to travel on a budget
- Shopping: shops, pharmacies, and supermarkets generally tend to close around 7 PM, so plan accordingly. Many don’t open on Sundays.
- Book activities directly with the company. My tour guide for the Northern Lights said that if we book directly with the tour companies, some may offer a discounted price because they wouldn’t be charged a commission via third parties, which allows them to give us a discount. It’s also easier to get flexible options.
This is an official website to compare tours in Norway, they offer the same prices as the actual company, though it’s always best to book directly on the company page if they have one. Note that sometimes the details don’t match 100%, but you can communicate easily with them to clear things up.
- Skip Tromso City if you can. Tromso City is expensive, so if you have a car and are flexible, there’s no reason to stay in Tromso City. It’s a small city with not much to do; most people use it as a base for tours since the northern lights and reindeer excursions depart from here. However, if you are traveling solo and/or not driving, then Tromso City is a good place to be. Just bear in mind that hotels and food are expensive (e.g. a chocolate croissant from a coffee shop can cost €5-7, and a simple toast with avocado can go for €15).
- If you’re booking northern light tours, book small tours on the local website mentioned above (those that go in a minivan, max 8 ppl) and get the ones that offer “aurora portraits” and chase the lights, not the tours where you just go somewhere to a farm/tourist attraction and wait. The ones that chase look for the best spots and can alter their routes depending on weather conditions.
However, note that these are not fancy, you won’t have facilities like bathrooms, and you will be outside most of the time (warm coats and special snow boots are usually provided). The dinner is simple and will most likely consist of sausages and fish cakes grilled on the bonfire — but this can also be cool (I, for one, enjoyed my time). Plus, smaller tours are more personal, and the guide can take more photos of you since it’s a small group.
- For transportation, buy bus and train tickets directly from the service provider, e.g. Skyss Billett app in Bergen, VY app for Oslo, or Troms Billett for Tromso. If something goes wrong through no fault of your own, like train delays, you can file a complaint and get a partial refund.
- Don’t pay for airport express buses or trains. All regular local buses, and trains/trails also go to the airport, in major cities like Oslo, Bergen, and Tromso, use the apps I mentioned above.
- Don’t buy from vending machines. The prices are not just “a bit” more expensive — they are usually about 2-3 times more expensive.
- Norwegian tap water is delicious and very safe to drink. Most people just for a glass of tap water at restaurants, also because drinks are so expensive. This is also a great way to avoid buying bottled water, save money, and reduce your plastic waste.
When is the best time to visit Norway?
This depends on what you want to experience. Norway has harsh winters and mild summers, so check to see what is available in which season.
Why visit Norway in the summer?
- Summer is the best time to see polar bears in Svalbard.
- You can experience the famous Geirangerfjord cruise (UNESCO site) in the summer. The other UNESCO fjord, Nærøyfjord, can be visited year-round, which you can do during your journey from Oslo to Bergen.
Should you visit Norway in the winter?
- Winter is best for orcas spotting (from October to January).
- In winter, you can see the northern lights (aurora borealis) from September to March.
PS: Here are the best eco-friendly things to do in Oslo.
Ethical animal activities in Norway
If you’re tempted to do a “husky” sledding or feed the reindeer activity, do some research to understand how the animals are treated, if they are meant solely for entertainment, etc.
Reindeer activity
I found out that reindeer are usually treated quite well and serve a purpose according to Sami Culture. A “feed the reindeer” activity usually also teaches you about Sami culture. But I did not do the sleigh riding; it just did not feel right to make these animals pull so many carts of people around.
Husky sledding
The dogs are generally bred only for entertainment purposes. I did a dinner package with Northern Lights at a restaurant where they also do husky sledding — except that most of the dogs were not actually huskies but medium-sized dogs with some percentage of the husky breed. We were told by the staff that they are chained and kept outside all year, which was truly shocking and disturbing. They are not made to withstand such harsh winters since they don’t have the husky fur and natural insulation, nor do they have the husky energy or strength to do those sleigh rides and pull people.
Engaging in those activities only increases demand, and for the sake of the animals, it’s best to properly research before engaging in any of these, particularly the husky activities.
Find out more about Norway.
