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Country Guide > Europe > Norway | |
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Travel - Internal Air Domestic flights are run by Braathens ASA (BU), Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY), SAS Scandinavian Airlines (SK) and Widerøe’s Flyveselskap (WF). A total of 50 airports with scheduled services exist in the fjord country of western Norway and along the remaining coast. Charter sea or land planes are available at most destinations. Reduced airfare tickets are available for families, children under 12 years of age (who pay half price), groups and pensioners. For further information, contact Widerøe Flyveselskap A/S (tel: 8100 1200; website: www.wideroe.no). Sea All coastal towns are served by ferries, catamarans and hydrofoils. The Hurtigruten (express) from Bergen to Kirkenes (near the Russian border) takes 11 days round trip, leaving daily and stopping at 35 ports on the west coast. Various ferry trips are available (half price in spring and autumn). There are also numerous companies operating cruises on Norway’s spectacular fjords, one of which is Norway Fjord Cruise AS, Sagnefjordvegen 40, N-6863, Leikanger, Norway (tel: 5765 6999; fax: 5765 6990; e-mail: nfc@fjordcruise.no; website: www.fjordcruise.com). Rail All services are run by NSB (Norwegian State Railways) (tel: 8150 0888 (dial '4' for an English-speaking operator); website: www.nsb.no). The main internal rail routes are: Oslo–Trondheim (Dovre Line); Trondheim–Bodø (Nordland Railway); Oslo–Bergen (Bergen Railway); and Oslo–Stavanger (Sorland Railway). There are also services to Charlottenburg (Stockholm) and Halden (Malmö) on routes to Sweden. Seats on express trains must be reserved. There are buffet/restaurant cars on some trains, and sleepers on long-distance overnight services. Heavy luggage may be sent in advance. Children under four years of age travel free; children four to 14 years of age pay half fare. The ScanRail Pass, valid for all of Scandinavia, offers a substantial reduction. For further information, contact NSB (Norwegian State Railways) (telephone number above) or the Norwegian Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses section). Road Traffic drives on the right. The road system is of variable quality (especially under freezing winter conditions in the north), but supplemented by numerous car ferries across the fjords. Bus: Principal long-distance internal bus routes are from Bø (in Telemark) to Haugesund (travel time – eight hours); from Ålesund–Molde–Kristiansund to Trondheim (travel time – eight hours); and from Fauske to Kirkenes (travel time – four days) with links to the Bø line in the north. Inter-Nordic runs from Trondheim to Stockholm. There are also extensive regional local bus services, some of which are operated by companies with interests in the ferries. Visitors can contract NOR-WAY Bussekspress AS for seat reservations and route information (tel: 8154 4444; fax: 2200 1631; e-mail: ruteinformasjon@nor-way.no; website: www.nor-way.no). The official Rutehefte is a must for anyone using public transport, and gives extensive timetable information and maps of all bus, train, ferry and air routes. Taxi: In most cases, fares are metered. Taxis can be found at ranks or booked by telephone. Car hire: Available in airports and most towns, but costly; in general, problems of cost and parking make public transport more practical and convenient. It is also possible to hire bicycles. Regulations: The minimum age for driving is 18. Tolls, ranging from NOK5-50, are charged on certain cross-country roads, underwater tunnels and in certain cities such as Bergen, Oslo and Trondheim. There are severe penalties for drink-driving and illegal parking. Seat belts are compulsory. Children under 12 years of age must travel in the back of the car. It is obligatory for all vehicles to drive with dipped headlights at all times, even on the brightest summer day. This includes motorcycles and mopeds. Carrying spare headlight bulbs is recommended. Speed limits are 80 to 90kph (49 to 56mph) outside built-up areas and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas. Snow chains or studded winter tyres are advised during the winter. Petrol stations are numerous, although tourist are only able to use credit cards in some of them. The contact for AIT (Alliance Internationale de Tourisme) is the Norwegian Automobile Association (NAF), PO Box 6682 Etterstad, 0609 (tel: 2234 1400; fax: 2233 1372; e-mail: medlemsservice@naf.no; website: www.naf.no). Documentation: International Driving Permit or national driving licence and log book are required. A Green Card is strongly recommended (for those with more than Third Party cover on their domestic policy). Without it, visitors with motor insurance in their own countries are allowed the minimum legal cover in Norway; the Green Card tops this up to the level of cover provided by the visitor’s own policy. The maximum legal blood to alcohol ratio is 0.5 per cent. Urban Good public transport systems operate in the main towns. Oslo has bus, rail, metro and tramway services. Tickets are pre-purchased and self-cancelled, and there is one hour’s free transfer between any of the modes. Meters on taxis are obligatory. Travel times The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Oslo to other major cities/towns in Norway.
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