Norway

If you are looking to get away from crowded tourist spots and try something different Norway may just be the place for you.

Norway is located in Europe, on the western side of the Scandinavian Peninsula.  Mainland Norway borders Russia, Finland and the Barents Sea to the northeast, Sweden to the east, the Skagerrak Strait and North Sea to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean and Norwegian Sea to the west. 

TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR NORWAY
Find out about European Travel Insurance

The Kingdom of Norway also includes the Svalbard archipelago in the northernmost part of Norway, Jan Mayen Island – a volcanic island in the Arctic Ocean, and Bouvet Island – a volcanic island in the South Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South Africa.

Norway’s mainland has an extensive coastline to the west with thousands of islands and islets and this is where most of the country’s spectacular fjords can be found. Approximately half of the country of Norway lies within the Arctic Circle.

Norway is a beautiful year-round holiday destination.  In summer visitors can take in the spectacular scenery of the fjords, visit beaches, or go hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, canoeing or fishing, to name just a few. Avid golfers can enjoy 24-hour golfing during summer.

The capital and largest city, Oslo, was renamed Christiania following a serious fire in the 16th century, but the name reverted back to Oslo in the early 1900s.  The city has many medieval buildings, including a 13th century fortress and the remains of Oslo’s first cathedral. Today Oslo is a modern and sophisticated city with lovely parks, museums, the National Gallery and Royal Palace.  The Viking Ship Museum has interesting exhibits, including Viking long boats.

Other major cities in Norway include Bergen, Stavanger, and Trondheim.  Currency is the Norwegian Krone. 

Svalbard is popular with hardy adventure tourists wishing to experience Arctic tundra conditions and glaciers, and to see wildlife such as polar bears, reindeer and Arctic foxes. It is also popular with birdwatchers for the dozens of species that migrate and breed there including the Snow Bunting and Arctic Tern.  The capital city of Longyearbyen is on Spitzbergen, which is the largest island of the archipelago. Tourism here is strictly regulated to enable disturbance of the environment to be controlled and one can normally only visit as part of organised groups.

Svalbard and other parts of northern Norway are popular for those wishing to see the Northern Lights (aurora borealis).

In the heart of mainland Norway Jotunheimen National Park is a very popular destination for hiking, fishing, climbing, cross-country skiing and many other outdoor adventure activities. There are many high mountain peaks (including the Galdhoppigen at 2,469 m), as well as, lakes, glaciers and waterfalls.

Norway is a popular destination for skiing, with the many popular resorts in the south, including Lillehammer/Hafjell, Hemsedal, Trysil and Geilo. Why not plan a holiday with a difference and try dogsledding or take a snowmobile safari.  Visit our Ski Guide to Norway.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Useful travel advice from the Foreign & Commonweath Office for travel to Norway. Click Here

Before you travel to Norway we recommend a visit to the website of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for updated and important travel advice, which includes the following:

• Passport and Visa requirements
• Driving in Norway (rules are stricter than in UK)
• Visiting Svalbard
• Visiting in summer
• Visiting in winter
• Travelling with children
• Travelling with pets
• Easting mussels and certain seafoods
• Credit cards and access to funds

Although Norway has low levels of crime travellers should always be vigilant and guard their property against thieves, especially at airports, car rental desks, railway stations and on public transport.

Although Norway is not a member of the European Union, it is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA). Under EEA Regulations visitors from participating countries are covered for emergency medical treatment. 

Visitors should obtain a (free) European Health Insurance Card before leaving on their trip.  The EHIC should not be used as a substitute for travel insurance, however.  Although the EHIC covers emergency medical care it does not cover bills for medical repatriation, ongoing treatment or non-urgent treatment.  It also does not include cover for lost luggage, cancellation and curtailment or many other common travel-related problems.

Useful website:  http://www.visitnorway.com/en

Disclaimer: While we have tried to ensure the information in this Travel Guide is correct we do not accept responsibility for any inaccuracy, or the content of external links.

Inclusion in this Travel Guide does not guarantee travel insurance is available in any country at any given time. Travel Insurance is not available in countries where the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have issued an advisory against travel.

You are strongly advised to visit the FCO website for updated travel information and general travel advice before you travel.