Norway and Finland
 

I'm just looking for a little advise please with respect to fuel in Norway and Finland for my trip that is now a mere 42 days away and I'm starting to get excited.

I've watched a few videos of a trip some guys did last year and when they stopped for fuel they seemed to be using their card in the petrol pump at every stop, rather than going into the kiosk to pay. Do you have to pay by card or do most of the filling stations in Norway and Finland have a kiosk for paying cash?

Also, if paying in the kiosk, are they normally open every day or do they close on a Sunday or weekend?

Many thanks,

Rachel bier

Norwegians pay by card almost everywhere and everytime they buy something. Its easy, conveniant and fast. But cash is accepted everywhere. Most shops will be closed on sundays but gas stations are open on sundays. So no need to worry....:scooter:

Lot of fuel stations, especialy up in the north of norway are just machines where you can ONLY pay with a credit card. So if you need one of these stations you must have a credit card! Keep that in mind!

Thanks both. Can you tell me if the fuel is more expensive as you get further north as well, and what sort of price is petrol in Norway and Finland at the moment?

Rachel Anne

I was there last year i cant remember that it got more expencive the further north was... but cabins on camping sites got more expencive further north...

Check that:
Aktuelle Spritpreise in Europa - günstiger mit clever-tanken.de

it shows the prices of petrol within europe...the bottom chart where it says "Super-Kraftstoff" is what you need...

The trip to norway was very expencive for me but that was due to the prices of food beer and tobacco... a beer was 5,- in a supermarket...

but it was worth every cent of it...

Petrolprices in Norway are around 1,8 USD.

Norge bensinpriser, 16-mai-2016 | GlobalPetrolPrices.com

But the prices varies both from weekday/weekend - normally cheaper in the weekend and more expensive during the week. And prices also varies a little as how remote or how far from the main supply in the area you are. Local competition can also play a role. In general you can say that its a bit more expensive in the north than in the south but seldom more than 10-15 %.

I rode through Finland in 2014 and found the petrol prices to be approx the same as in Norway. Remember Finland uses euro as their currency and Norway uses NOK - norwegian kroner as currency.

To Realmarc I can say that Im from northern Norway and I havent seen any petrol station here that only accept cards that he mentiones. I think he must have misunderstood something. There are a couple of small gas station chain stores in southern Norway that only has card operated pumps. All other stations has normal shops. But it will of course be a very good idea for Rachel to bring a credit card as all gas stations will accept cards and that after closing hours as good as all pumps will operate with a credit card.

Yes that is what i mean, card operated pumps... i had quite a few of them last year...

Many places in Europe, especially auto fuel stations and toll booths require credit cards with embedded chips. Ones with a magnetic stripe don't always work

He-he....... card operated pumps also works as usual pumps during opening hours of gas stations. But of course can only be card operated when gas stations are closed.

I had a problem in Norway (and Sweden) a few years ago. Not all 'cards' work in the automated system. My Caxton card wouldn't work but my UK Coop Bank card would. It's something to do with whether your card is linked directly to you bank.

I'm going to Finland this August. I'm going to take cash and two cards. That way I'll be OK !

Norway IS expensive but also absolutely wonderful.

Norway and Finland
 

One Finn here. In Finland you generally can use cards (visa, mc etc.) and cash (euros) in all manned places. Some cold stations accept only cards. When you arrive at the station, check whether the pump is for cards or can you pay inside with cash or cards. Pumps are clearly marked. And current price is cheaper than Norway.

And for EU bank/citizens we use almost everywhere also debit cards (the payment is immediately drawn from your account). But of course also credit.

In Finland the pumps are separated so you either must use card or pay inside. The pumps are clearly marked respectively. Card only pumps won't even start without card.

maybe so but in scandinavia i could get away with my card that just has a magnetic strip, that was 2 years ago.
Note that motorcycles DONT have to pay road toll up there. there generally is a seperate lane for motorcycles thats open.
only times i paid toll was at Nordkap and at Route 64, ie Atlantic Road.

I've now made it to Mosjoen on my way up through Norway and everything is going well.

I do have a question on (of all the weird things) the lighting in tunnels. Many tunnels here (and maybe other countries but I've not noticed it before) have orange/yellow lighting towards the ends but it's white lighting in the middle. This isn't a hard rule as some are all white or all orange/yellow, but can anybody tell me why this is?

The only thing I can think is to help the eyes acclimatise to the dark and light on inside & outside the tunnel.

Rachel Anne

Its because the eyes should adapt easier between the natural lightning outside the tunnels and the artificial lights in the tunnels.

I have used Google translation to translate from the netsite of the norwegian road department about tunnel lightning and it goes like this:

"For tunnel lighting should lighting provide a smooth transition between the entrance and exit of the tunnel for the eyes to adapt to different light levels. All surfaces of the tunnel need to be addressed to ensure a comfortable and safe passage"

Watch out for the reindeers up north....