Norway: Fast Facts

Passports & Visas
  • Not part of the EU
  • 4 month quarantine for pets entering
  • Duty free entry 2 liters beer, 1 liter spirits, 1 liter wine
Health
  • Tap water is safe to drink
  • Pharmacy = Apotek
Safety
  • Pickpockets are common in the large cities
  • People tend to loiter near the central train stations
Language
  • Norwegian = Bokmal (most common, book language) or Nynorsk (New Norse)
  • Danish and Norwegian language are similar
  • Most know English language as second language
  • Takk = thanks 
Money
  • Currency = Norwegian kroner, NOK, $1 = about 9 NOK
  • One krone = 100 ore
  • Coins can't be exchanged once you leave, only bills
  • Norway is expensive!
  • Euro is NOT legal tender except in airports and tax free shops
Electricity
  • 220 volts, 2 round prong
Restrooms
  • 10 nok coins for restrooms
  • Free restrooms on the ferry and trains
Customs and Etiquette
  • Leave shoes at the door
  • Shake hands upon meeting
Tipping
  • Service charge is included in bill, but tipping is still the norm for good service 5-10%
  • Taxis round up 5 kroner
  • Porter few kroner per bag
  • Maids 10 kroner per night
Dining Etiquette
  • Large portions, choose a small plate or split a large one
  • Free tap water
  • Skal = cheers. Don’t touch your drink until toasting
  • Take out food from supermarkets is often discounted before closing
  • Take away
    • VAT on take away is 12% and 24% on restaurant food
    • Save 12% VAT by taking away food rather than eating in the restaurant, 
    • You will be asked everywhere if it is for take away or dining in (even at McDonalds)
  • Deli de Luca is a convenience store chain similar to 7Eleven: sandwiches, pastries, sushi, pasta
  • Pack a picnic for lunch or dinner
Food & Beverages
  • Elk
  • Fowl
  • Freia = chocolate brand
  • Geitost = goat cheese, sweet, brown, gammelost = aged
  • Jarlsberg cheese
  • Lapskaus = stew of meats and vegetables
  • Linie Akevitt = liquor made with caraway, potatoes, anise, fennel, and coriander
  • Lompe = potato pancake
  • Polse = hot dog
  • Reindeer
  • Smorbrod = open sandwich
  • Tilsorte Bondepike = apple puree with cinnamon crumble and whipped cream
Shopping
  • Saturday earlier closing hours
  • Sundays shops close, including shopping centers
  • Vinmonopolet = liquor store, closed sunday and holidays
Souvenirs
  • Cheese slicer
  • Glassware
  • Hand painted wood and porcelain
  • Knitwear
  • Linen
  • Reindeer pelts
  • Sami Crafts
  • Silver and pewter
  • Slippers
  • Wool Sweaters
Value Added Tax (MVA)
  • Norway calls VAT “MVA”.
  • VAT is 20-25%
  • Eligible 315 nok
  • Note: Norway is not part of the EU