LANGUAGE

Norwegian

CURRENCY

Norwegian kroner

BEST TIME TO VISIT

May to August

NEAREST RAILWAY STATION

Oslo Central Station (XZO)

NEAREST AIRPORT

Oslo Airport, Gardermoen (OSL)

EMERGENCY HELPLINE NUMBER

112

INTERNET ACCESS

All hotels and hostels in Oslo provide free wi-fi access and some also have computers with internet for guest use. Most bars and cafes also have free wi-fi for those who are eating or drinking there.

VISA

Generally not required for stays of up to 90 days (nor for members of EU or Schengen countries). Some nationalities need a Schengen visa.

Norway is one of 26 member countries of the Schengen Convention, under which 22 EU countries (all but Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the UK) plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland have abolished checks at common borders. The process towards integrating Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania has slowed but they may join sometime in the future.

The visa situation for entering Norway is as follows:

Citizens of Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden No visa or passport required.

Citizens or residents of other EU and Schengen countries No visa required.

Citizens or residents of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and the USA No visa required for tourist visits of up to 90 days.

Other countries Check with a Norwegian embassy or consulate.

To work or study in Norway A special visa may be required – contact a Norwegian embassy or consulate before travel.

HOTEL

If you’re visiting Oslo for the first time, the best place to stay is in Central Oslo, preferably close to Karl Johans gate, the city’s main street. Here, you’ll find attractions such as the Royal Palace, National Theatre, and Oslo Cathedral, as well as an impressive array of museums and galleries. Most of the city’s top attractions are within walking distance of each other.

LUXURY

Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz Oslo

Hotel Continental Oslo

Clarion Collection Hotel Bastion

MID-RANGE

Clarion Collection Hotel Folketeateret

Oslo Guldsmeden

Thon Hotel Munch

BUDGET

Cochs Pension

Smarthotel Oslo

Oslo Hostel Haraldsheim

COST OF LIVING

Oslo is the gateway to Norway’s famous fjords and other natural attractions, so it’s a good thing that it’s usually not necessary to spend more than a day or two in the capital. Charming as it may be, Oslo is very expensive by nearly anyone’s standards, on a level near Stockholm, but without some of the obvious tourist attractions.

The city is a business hub, however, so there are quite a few well-appointed hotels catering to the trade show and convention business. Prices at these Oslo hotels can vary from reasonable during slow periods to outrageous during Nobel Prize week and other busy times.

Transportation is also comparatively expensive, as are the main attractions, so if you are on a backpacker budget it’s important to plan wisely and take advantage of the free things, like the National Gallery. Food is quite expensive as well, and even fast-food options can cost more than a proper meal in southern European cities. Drinks are typically outrageous for Scandinavia, so consider the duty-free shops on the way in.` Oslo is more of a business city than a tourism city from a hotel standpoint, so things can be tough for travelers on a budget. The peak season is during Nobel Prize week in the autumn, when prices skyrocket. Oslo hotel prices are otherwise determined by which conventions and meetings are in town, so it’s always hard to predict. You can sometimes get good deals at nicer hotels on weekend as well.