Nightlife - Norway on a budget (2024)

FAQs

Does Norway have good nightlife? ›

There are concerts, DJ line ups, game bars and everything perfect to make your night a remarkable one. When we speak of Norway nightlife, you must pick the destination wisely. Oslo, Bergen, Tromsø and Stavanger are among the places with happening nightlife in the country.

Norway is known for being very expensive, and in addition to the general expensiveness of the country, all alcohol is highly taxed. This has lead to some of the highest costs of beer in the entire world, so exactly how much should you expect to pay for a beer in Norway in 2022?

The nightlife in Oslo boasts a thriving and vibrant scene with a wide range of hip bars, laid-back co*cktail lounges, themed dance clubs and speakeasy-style dark-wood pubs.

A simple Gin Tonic will easily cost between 95 and 100 NOK. And if you want more 'fancy' co*cktails they can set you back about 120 NOK.

The time at which bars, pubs and clubs must stop serving alcohol varies by location. In most of the country, it is 2am. Some clubs may stay open for an additional hour, but you will only be able to drink water or soft drinks. At the time of writing, pubs, bars and clubs in Oslo can serve alcohol until 3am.

Norway. Norway, situated in the Arctic Circle, is called the Land of the Midnight Sun, where from May to late July, the sun actually never sets. This means that for around a period of 76 days, the sun never goes down.

In Norway, tipping is not cumpolsory. It is however usual for Norwegians to leave a tip in restaurants and bars if they are happy about the service. A 10-20% tip is expected if the customer is satisfied. For Norwegians it's uncommon to tip taxi-drivers or cleaning staff at hotels.

If you're on a tight budget, the cheapest time to visit Norway is between November and April. You can find some pretty affordable tickets when you visit during this period. People around the world are less likely to travel during these months, so the low demand for tickets means lower prices.

Whereas most Norwegian girls still like to put on a nice and fancy shirt and most Norwegian men wear button shirts, you will also see a lot of people in jeans, casual t-shirts, tops and sneakers. Just wear whatever feels comfortable and do not let Norwegians' clothes intimidate you.

Can you drink alcohol in Oslo? ›

You have to be 18 years old to buy alcohol (wine, beer) but 20 to purchase hard liquor (anything with an alcohol content of 22%). Most bars and clubs have an age restriction, usually 20-21 years of age.

And this is in spite of the prices of wine, beer, and spirits in Norway being among the highest in the world due to taxes. Every year, the average Norwegian consumes about eight liters of pure alcohol.

Cost of living in Oslo (Norway) is 32% cheaper than in New York City (United States)

The price of 1 co*cktail drink in downtown club in Oslo is kr 140. This average is based on 10 price points. At this point it is only a guess. Latest update: March 12, 2022.

It is prohibited to import the following without special persmission: Drugs, medicines and poisons (minor quantities of medicine for personal use are permitted) Alcohol over 60% alcohol by volume. Weapons and ammunition.

Visitors should be aware that drinking in a public place is illegal in Norway, and even drinking on your own balcony where you can be seen by others is technically against the law.

Aquavit. As for alcoholic beverages, the top Norwegian spirit drink is definitely Aquavit, also often called Akvavit. This Norwegian liquor is derived from potatoes and grain and is traditionally consumed during celebrations like Christmas and weddings.

Norway has a reputation for being super expensive, and there is some truth to that, but actually, after spending 3 weeks roadtripping throughout the entire country, I can tell you it's totally possibly to visit Norway on a budget!

You should plan to spend around kr1,026 ($105) per day on your vacation in Norway, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, kr278 ($28) on meals for one day and kr162 ($17) on local transportation.

It is never completely dark all the time

Even though the sun remains below the horizon, Northern Norway is not blacked out completely. On clear days, we can see beautiful sunset colours in the south while the sky to the north is a deep midnight blue.

Can you use dollars in Norway? ›

Foreign currency is rarely accepted, so you need Norwegian currency to get by.

All stores are also required by law to accept cash, so you can always choose to pay in cash, but this is very uncommon for Norwegian people. Bring your credit card when you want to go shopping in Karl Johans gate in Oslo.

Complete your plans today by reserving a ride with Uber in Oslo. Request a ride up to 30 days in advance, at any time and on any day of the year.

English, a foreign language, is the second most widely spoken language in Norway. As of 2013, there are 4.5 million English-speakers (approximately 88% of the Norwegian population).

A hamburger, a pizza, or a sandwich meal at a café costs around 150-250 NOK/ 15-25 EUR. Pasta dish costs from 180 to 280 NOK/ 18-28 EUR. The main fish or meat course at a restaurant will quickly cost you 300 NOK/ 30 EUR. Dessert prices at a restaurant start at around 120 NOK/ 12 EUR, often up to 200 NOK/ 20 EUR.

We recommend a minimum of 5 days to really explore and delve into what Norway has to offer. If you have less time than that, don't worry – there's still lots you can see and do. Obviously, there is no one-size-fits-all trip to anywhere as everyone has different requirements and expectations.

Residents and visitors to Trondheim can now use Uber as an alternative to existing taxi and public transport services. Uber is an app-based platform where professional and part-time drivers can connect directly with people wanting a ride. In cities where Uber is available, you can use the Uber app to request a ride.

On one of our summer trips to Norway, we never actually needed shorts because we were extremely unlucky with the weather (it was an exceptionally bad couple of weeks, the locals told us). But I'd definitely pack them – normally, Norwegian summers are warm enough to wear shorts.

What do you wear to the fjords? ›

Olso is a safe city and the whole country is a very safe one, too. Still, there are some areas, such as Gronland, Toyen, Kuba or Karl Johan street that is best to be avoided, particularly at night. Illegal and unlicensed taxis around nightclubs should never be used.

The mobile connection network in Norway is well-developed and therefore you most likely won't face problems with having cell phone reception in any of the Norwegian cities, large or small. Plus Norway mobile phone coverage is great, with GSM and 3G practically everywhere in the country.

The law prohibits smoking in most indoor workplaces and indoor public places, subject to a few exceptions which permit smoking in living quarters in institutions that replace the residents' home and up to one half of hotel guest rooms. Smoking is prohibited on all means of public transport.

5,509,591 (July 2021 est.) Norwegian 83.2% (includes about 60,000 Sami), other European 8.3%, other 8.5% (2017 est.)

Mutton and cabbage stew, or “fårikål” in Norwegian, has repeatedly been named Norway's national dish. It even has its own festive day on the last Thursday in September. Throughout the autumn months, people all around the country arrange lamb stew parties. “The dish is perfect if you want to invite a lot of people.

Norwegians would usually eat some kind of cured meat (salami, skinke), cheese, caviar or liver pate (kaviar, leverpostei), prawn salad (rekkesalat, skagen) on their open sandwiches (smørbrød). Cooked or scrambled eggs with smoked salmon (røkt laks) are also very common combination for breakfast.

Kvikk lunsj.

Crunchy wafers covered in delectable Freia chocolate. Perhaps the most Norwegian snack.

Do they drink coffee in Norway? ›

Something that most people are not aware of until they actually travel to Norway is the northern nation's love for coffee. In fact, Norway has the second-highest per capita coffee consumption, with over 80 percent of its population drinking coffee on a daily basis.

To be more precise, Norway is a very expensive country to visit from most other countries, because of exchange rates. If you come here to live and work, you'll be earning in Norwegian kroner and spending in Norwegian kroner. This means you should stop comparing prices with your home country as soon as possible.

Generally speaking, Norway is more expensive to visit than Sweden for tourists. But Sweden will still seem expensive to visitors from most countries, so both countries will require some serious budgeting. Accommodation and food will be the biggest costs for most travellers.

Norwegians usually eat dinner starting around 4–7 PM. This is the most important meal of the day and typically includes carbohydrate-rich foods such as potatoes and protein-rich foods such as meat or fish.

To buy wine or beer in Norway, the minimum age is 18 years. For spirits, it is 20 years. Beer can be found in most shops, but is only sold before 8 pm on weekdays or 6 pm on Saturdays. For wine, spirits or strong beer, you must visit one of the Vinmonopolet outlets, found in most large cities and towns.

Las Vegas. The glittering lights of the Strip offer a party experience for nearly every type of guest. If there is any city in the world synonymous with partying, it's Las Vegas.

Europe's Best Party Cities: The Four B's. When in doubt you can't go wrong with the four B's — Berlin, Barcelona, Budapest, and Belgrade. These four cities, according to many people, are considered to be the best nightlife cities in Europe.

Dress tends towards smart-casual in Norway. People are expected to be neat, tidy and well-groomed. However, much less emphasis is placed upon what people wear than on how professional and efficient they are.

Do you shake hands in Norway? ›

Meeting and Greeting

Greetings are casual, with a firm handshake, direct eye contact, and a smile. Norwegians are egalitarian and casual; they often introduce themselves with their first name only.

June, July and August are the best months to go to Norway for warmer temperatures and longer days. The warmest month in Norway is July, when there's the fabled midnight sun – ideal for hiking, cycling, kayaking and berry picking. Prices will be at a premium and midges buzz (and bite) around the marshlands.

What kind of shoes to pack for Norway depends highly on what you plan to do. In general, light sneakers or walking shoes are best for sightseeing. However, if you plan to go hiking, you really need good hiking boots.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest Norway racial/ethnic groups are White (90.4%) followed by Two or More (4.6%) and Hispanic (3.6%).

Aquavit. As for alcoholic beverages, the top Norwegian spirit drink is definitely Aquavit, also often called Akvavit. This Norwegian liquor is derived from potatoes and grain and is traditionally consumed during celebrations like Christmas and weddings.

Aquavit Is the National Spirit of Scandinavia

Heading to Sweden, Norway or Denmark? It won't be long before you're presented with a glass of aquavit. Caraway has long been a common flavor in the region and was once considered a cure for indigestion.