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
- Tap water is safe to drink
- Pharmacy = Apotek
- Pickpockets are common in the large cities
- People tend to loiter near the central train stations
- 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
- 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
- 220 volts, 2 round prong
- 10 nok coins for restrooms
- Free restrooms on the ferry and trains
- Leave shoes at the door
- Shake hands upon meeting
- 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
- 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)
- VAT on take away is 12% and 24% on restaurant food
- Deli de Luca is a convenience store chain similar to 7Eleven: sandwiches, pastries, sushi, pasta
- Pack a picnic for lunch or dinner
- 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
- Saturday earlier closing hours
- Sundays shops close, including shopping centers
- Vinmonopolet = liquor store, closed sunday and holidays
- Cheese slicer
- Glassware
- Hand painted wood and porcelain
- Knitwear
- Linen
- Reindeer pelts
- Sami Crafts
- Silver and pewter
- Slippers
- Wool Sweaters
- Norway calls VAT “MVA”.
- VAT is 20-25%
- Eligible 315 nok
- Note: Norway is not part of the EU