Norway on a shoestring
 

Learn how to travel the inexpensive way in Norway.

Norway is expensive. Compared to other countries it may even seem ridiculously expensive.

See the Horizons Unlimited Country Information page: Norway on a shoestring for loads of information!

thanks
 

many thanks for this i found it very useful been searching for petrol prices and other info but didnt have much luck i am arriving in stavanger end of june with the intention of reaching the nordkapp and back leaving via bergen 13 days later do you think it is doable in that time frame

Excellent advice - thanks!
 

Thanks Hans - that is a fantastic advice column!

My mate and I (both Aussies) will be riding around Scandinavia in July and early August. It is part of a longer trip that leaves from the UK, by ferry to Denmark, then into Sweden, Norway and Finland for 4-5 weeks, and then heads south through Eastern Europe and along the Adriatic and back to the UK via France etc (we are going to make it up as we go along).

We are excited and nervous about Norway as everyone we've met who has been there raves about it's beauty, people, culture and atmosphere (I'm not just being nice here, they really do!), but all also comment on the cost. And we don't mind a beer or three ourselves...:innocent:...we just don't want to spend all our money in the first weeks of the trip.

So your guide is great for us. Thanks for taking the time. Great tips on the camping and hostel cards.

Cheers,
Damien

I am practising your phrases now, but I think I'd also better learn "I think it's your shout".

Yes it's doable but you may get strained on time. Norway is a loooong country. I suggest you race up north then take a slower pace along the coast back south. The fastest route is actually through Sweden (make a search at maps.google.com - Stavanger to Nordkapp). It's an incredibly boring route but it saves you a lot of time to reach Nordkapp as you can ride the Swedish motorways allowing for a higher speed (110 km/h). From Nordkapp you can instead slow your pace and have a fantastic journey along the Norwegian coast back south to Bergen.

Great if you find it helpful! And let me know if and when you're in the area. I'll be touring Norway myself this year so maybe we could meet somewhere along the way and share a beer. And I promise you I'll take my share of the shouting :-D

Thanks
 

Many thanks Indu, very informative, heading to Norway in Jul/Aug.

Indu great info board, just come back from another jaunt around the fjords and upto the arctic circle/ Lofotens. May is superb in the fjords, however with the dying pound 9.4 krone /pound and general rise in fuel prices I found this year by far the most expensive I have ever had in Norway. I wild camped 90% of the time and cooked my own food - 2 beers in steinker £16.00 Whaaaaa
I would say to anyone travelling to Norway forget your own currency and just think in Krones and give yourself a daily limit - but be realistic ( a tank full of petrol for me in the UK is £18.00 in Norway £24.00) times that by a tank a day if your travelling North !. If your from the UK go now as they have killed off the ferries from september for good so getting there will be harder and cost a lot more time and money.
But there is no where finer than Norway to kill time - picture this wild camping on the edge of a fjord, cooking breakfast under cool clear blue sky looking down a 1000ft drop into crystal blue waters, nearby a massive waterfall crashes through the air into the rock face below, as I bite into my sandwich i notice the waters are disturbed and the seagulls frantic and I can see several blue/grey shapes just below the waters surface circling below occasionaly a grey fin or tail breaks the surface and I spend my breakfast time with a pod of small whales feeding on there own breakfast I watched for over an hour. This was five days ago and another magical moment brought back from Norway which will be with me forever. - You can not put a price on that moment in time.
You will also find that the Norwegian people are so friendly and helpful. If you have not been go because the roads, Fjords and mountains are simply spectacular.

This is why I love this site, we are planning a trip to Norway next June /July & a soon as I have logged on I find all the info I need.

Thanks Indu, we will be coming via Esberg & are looking to get up to the Islands & come back via Sweden in 2 weeks without doing silly miles per day. So based on your info I think we may have a plan.

Good input from Norway veteran Jake there. The Krone is strong these days, and with rise in oil prices you daily average will naturally be higher. Next year this may have turned around as the Krone hasn't been this strong against the pound (or dollar and euro) in ages. Take an extra night or two wildcamping to compensate.

Thanks
 

Thanks for taking the trouble to do all that, Indu. :thumbup1: Very informative.

Might have to pick your brains for specifics nearer my departure date (mid July).

Indy.

Just a thought - stay in the south
 

Why go that far north?
Nordkapp is to Norway as John o' Groats is to the UK: mostly devoid of people!

The best views, scenery, Fjiords and most of the population are in the South and pretty accessible therefore.

I'd DEFINITELY go north! Some of the best views are in the Lofoten islands. But you don't have to go all the way up to the cape, though. We agree on that.

yes, we loved the Lofotens - didn't love the boat ride there and back, but once there it was fantastic.

We spent 6 weeks in Norway - and it wasn't near enough. We'll be back!

And thanks Indu for all the work - VERY useful and informative.

Anyone else want to do similar for their own country? Even half that would be great!

You'll notice that when logged in there is now, under your name on the left under create content, an option to create a country information page. Get started on your country!

Sorry Dave, I cant agree there- the landscapes in the north are fantastic, spectacular and not to be missed by the discerning traveller. Being "devoid" of people is a great attraction. To stay in the south is like visiting Watford and saying you've seen the UK......

Buen viaje!

Thanks for the info - much appreciated. After a last-minute cancellation of a trip to the US (without the bike) I'm quickly packing up and leaving for Scandinavia within the next 48 hours.

I've been secretly wishing something would happen to make a roadtrip possible this summer and hey presto! it did! :-)

So off for 3 weeks to Denmark/Norway/Sweden/Finland.

No particular plan yet, will make do as I go along.

See you on the road! :mchappy:

-A