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Getting Around by Air
Domestic flights are operated by Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY) (website: www.norwegian.com), SAS Scandinavian Airlines (SK) (website: www.flysas.com) and Widerøes Flyveselskap (WF) (website: www.wideroe.no) which is a subsidiary of SAS. A comprehensive network of scheduled services links numerous domestic airports. Norwegians are among the world's most likely to choose this mode of transport for getting around in their own country due to the long distances involved, and the terrain, which makes surface transport slow. Charter sea or land planes are available at many destinations. Reduced fares are available for families, children under 12 years of age (who pay half price), groups and pensioners.
Getting Around by Water
All coastal towns are served by ferries, catamarans and hydrofoils. The Hurtigruten (Coastal Express) (website: www.hurtigruten.com) from Bergen to Kirkenes (near the Russian border) takes 12 days round trip, leaving daily and stopping at 34 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 (tel: 5765 6999; website: www.fjordcruise.com).
Getting Around by 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 (Sørland Railway).
Overnight sleeper services operate on some routes, including the Oslo-Bergen, Oslo-Trondheim and Trondheim-Bodø lines.
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.
Recent years have seen the introduction of tilting trains on some routes, which have significantly cut journey times, particularly between Trondheim and Oslo (minimum journey time now around 6 hours 45 minutes), and between Bergen and Oslo (7 hours 30 minutes).
Rail Passes
Overnight sleeper services operate on some routes, including the Oslo-Bergen, Oslo-Trondheim and Trondheim-Bodø lines.
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.
Recent years have seen the introduction of tilting trains on some routes, which have significantly cut journey times, particularly between Trondheim and Oslo (minimum journey time now around 6 hours 45 minutes), and between Bergen and Oslo (7 hours 30 minutes).
InterRail One-Country Pass: offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within Norway. Travel is not allowed in the passenger's country of residence. Travellers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children's tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from Rail Europe (tel: 0844 848 4064, in the UK; website: www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).
Getting Around by 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 (journey time - 8 hours); and from Ålesund-Molde-Trondheim (journey time - 8 hours) 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 contact NOR-WAY Bussekspress AS for seat reservations and route information (tel: 8154 4444; 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 designated ranks or booked by telephone, they cannot be hailed on the street. It is not customary to tip taxi drivers.
Car hire: Available in airports and most towns, but costly; in general, problems of low speed limits, difficult roads, 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 are charged on certain cross-country roads, underwater tunnels and in certain cities such as Bergen, Oslo and Trondheim. There are severe penalties (usually involving imprisonment) 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. This includes motorcycles and mopeds. Carrying spare headlight bulbs is recommended. Speed limits are 80, 90 and rarely 100kph (50, 56 and 61mph) outside built-up areas and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas. Snow chains or winter tyres are advised during the winter (however, most urban areas now levy a toll on vehicles with studded tyres). More information on driving in Norway is available from the Norwegian Automobile Association (NAF) (tel: 2234 1400; 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.
Bus: Principal long-distance internal bus routes are from Bø (in Telemark) to Haugesund (journey time - 8 hours); and from Ålesund-Molde-Trondheim (journey time - 8 hours) 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 contact NOR-WAY Bussekspress AS for seat reservations and route information (tel: 8154 4444; 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 designated ranks or booked by telephone, they cannot be hailed on the street. It is not customary to tip taxi drivers.
Car hire: Available in airports and most towns, but costly; in general, problems of low speed limits, difficult roads, 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 are charged on certain cross-country roads, underwater tunnels and in certain cities such as Bergen, Oslo and Trondheim. There are severe penalties (usually involving imprisonment) 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. This includes motorcycles and mopeds. Carrying spare headlight bulbs is recommended. Speed limits are 80, 90 and rarely 100kph (50, 56 and 61mph) outside built-up areas and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas. Snow chains or winter tyres are advised during the winter (however, most urban areas now levy a toll on vehicles with studded tyres). More information on driving in Norway is available from the Norwegian Automobile Association (NAF) (tel: 2234 1400; 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.
Getting Around Towns and Cities
Generally excellent public transport systems operate in the main towns. Oslo has bus, rail, metro, ferry 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.
Trondheim has a comprehensive bus network, and one tram line linking the city centre with Lian, a major ski centre high above the city, while other cities rely on buses for public transport.
Trondheim has a comprehensive bus network, and one tram line linking the city centre with Lian, a major ski centre high above the city, while other cities rely on buses for public transport.
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Oslo to other major cities/towns in Norway.
| Air | Road | Rail | |
| Bergen | 0.35 | 9.00 | 8.00 |
| Stavanger | 0.35 | 7.00 | 8.00 |
| Tromsø | 1.40 | 20.00 | - |
| Trondheim | 0.40 | 8.00 | 7.45 |
