Is traveling in Norway expensive?

Practical tips to help you visit one of the most beautiful (and expensive) countries in the world

If you’re thinking or dreaming about visiting Norway, this is probably one of the first questions that crosses your mind.

So, how much does it really cost to travel in Norway?

I asked myself the same question, did a lot of research, crunched numbers, and racked my brain until I finally came up with a I did a lot of math and racked my brains until I came up with 12 day itinerary through Norway, all within budget! Even so, it ended up being one of the most expensive destinations we’ve visited in recent years, even pricier than Japan, United States e Spain, for example.

But it was worth every penny. The beauty of Norway’s landscapes is worth every dollar spent. And when you leave, you’ll likely think: I could’ve saved more and stayed one more day!

With simple strategies and adequate planning, it is possible to reduce the cost of your trip and still make the most of everything Norway has to offer.

Here, I’ll share what we did to make this dream a reality. Come see how much it costs to travel around Norway!

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How to save on accommodation in Norway

Accommodation is usually, after airfare, the biggest expense of a trip, and it’s often one of the easiest areas to save effectively.

Accommodation prices in Norway, like anywhere else, vary greatly depending on location, type of stay, and level of comfort.

For 2-3 star hotels, you can expect to pay between US$70 and US$130 per night for a double room. In Oslo, we stayed at Citibox Oslo, which offered the best value we could find, at US$106 for a double room and US$220 for a family room (we traveled in July, peak summer season).

In other cities — Flam, Geiranger, Bergen, and Stavanger — we took advantage of traveling in a group of seven and stayed in apartments. . We spent between US$50 and US$80 per person per day on these accommodations, which you can check out in our complete our complete itinerary through Norway.

In an expensive country like Norway, staying somewhere with a kitchen offers an extra benefit: we could prepare meals at home and cut down on food costs.

Another way to save is by choosing accommodations slightly away from the main attractions. Skip the prime location and opt for a nice place that’s just a little further out — it can make a big difference to your budget.

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In Geiranger, we gave up the spectacular location(imagine a hotel overlooking the most beautiful fjord in Norway) and chose a charming and comfortable chalet, but a little farther from the main attraction. The same happened in Flåm: we couldn’t find reasonably priced accommodation in the village, so we stayed in a comfortable house about 40 km from the starting point of the tours. Since we had a rental car and easy, free parking, the more remote location wasn’t an issue. In Stavanger, our cozy home was just a short 15-minute bus ride from the city center.

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In Bergen, I wanted to stay in Bryggen, the historic part of the city with all the action, restaurants, and shops. We ended up opting for a house that wasn’t perfect in terms of beauty and cleanliness, but its location was spot on , and the price fit our budget.

In other words, in each place we stayed, we had to give up something that, had it been a more “affordable” country, we might not have compromised on.

The key is to do your research in advance. The earlier you start looking, the more options you’ll have, and the more likely you are to find accommodation that meets your criteria at a price you can afford.

Another factor that can influence costs is the time of year . In Norway, summer is the high season, so if you have flexibility, traveling in spring or autumn can be a great way to lower accommodation expenses.

 So why not start searching for your accommodation in Norway now?

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Food in Norway

Restaurant prices in Norway can be quite a shock.

A simple meal at an average restaurant can easily cost around US$30-40, while a dinner at a more sophisticated restaurant can exceed US$80 per person, without drinks.

To cut down on food costs, the golden tip is to eat at home.

We took full advantage of the fact that most of our accommodations had kitchens:   we made breakfast at home every day and prepared almost all of our dinners too.

On the day we visited Preikestolen and during our kayak tour in Flåm, we packed sandwiches and fruit for a picnic lunch by the stunning fjords.

Try to make the most of local markets and prepare your own meals – especially because, in my opinion, the local cuisine isn’t spectacular enough to justify more than a few meals in traditional restaurants.

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Alcoholic drinks in Norway

Alcoholic drinks in Norway are VERY expensive. VERY EXPENSIVE indeed.

The first (and only) time I ordered a beer in a restaurant I almost died when I saw the bill, something like US$18 (without tip) for a measly standard beer in an ordinary restaurant.

If you don't like alcohol, perfect! This is a very simple and efficient way to save money on your trip to Norway. But if you, like me, think that vacation goes great with a good wine enjoyed in great company, here are my tips:

• Buy in the free-shop amount of alcohol you intend to consume on the trip, or the maximum allowed.
  From what I researched on the Norwegian customs website, the limit for non-residents is 1 liter of spirits and 2 bottles of wine (or zero spirits and 4 bottles of wine) and 2 liters of beer, per person over 18 years old. For drinks with more than 22% alcohol, the age limit is 20 years old, and it is prohibited to bring drinks above 60%.
  Not to mention that, by staying in an Airbnb and making dinner at home, you already enjoy drinking wine, without having a guilty conscience and without worrying about driving or finding your way back.

• Heads up, as the sale of alcohol is subject to regulation by the government – which in practice we could see is strictly applied:
  • In markets, it is only possible to buy light beers, with up to 4,7% alcohol.
  • Beer is only sold in markets until 20pm on weekdays, and until 18pm on Saturdays. On Sundays, the sale of alcoholic beverages is not permitted. Only restaurants and bars can sell alcohol outside these hours.
  • any beverage above 4,7%, including wine and spirits, is only sold in state-owned stores, called Vinmonopolet. We didn't find any (but we didn't look for them either). These state-owned liquor stores are open on weekdays until 18pm and on Saturdays until 15pm.

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Transport in Norway

Norway’s public transport system is efficient and, while it may seem expensive, it’s likely the most economical way to get from point A to point B.

The country’s train service, operated by VY, , is known for its comfort and punctuality. However, the main reason to take the train in Norway is to soak in the stunning landscapes you’ll see from the window.

We took the train from Oslo to Voss, and from Voss to Bergen. Check the VY website for updated prices, however at the date of this post, the ticket from Oslo to Bergen was US$51 cheaper.

In Voss, we rented a car for the days we spent in Flåm and Geiranger. We used Hertz, though despite Norway being one of the world’s largest oil producers, gasoline isn’t cheap – unfortunately, I didn’t note the exact prices, but it was higher than what we typically pay.

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Attractions and Activities in Norway

Norway's main tourist attraction is completely free: enjoying the scenery!

However (and there is always a however), you will often have to put your hand in your pocket to be able to truly appreciate this landscape.

Below what we did and the prices (price for an adult)

• Train from Oslo to Bergen (not exactly a sightseeing tour, but the views are amazing): US$51
• Boat trip on the Naerofjord: US $ 58
• Train from Flam to Mydral on Flamsbana: US $ 47
• Bicycle rental in Café Rallaren: US$42/adult
• Kayak Tour: US$120
• Viking Valley: US $ 21
• Driving from Flam to Geiranger: there are no tolls.
• Borgund Stave Church: US$12
• Ferry in Geiranger: US$93 (1 adult + car)
• Entrance to Dalsnibba viewpoint: US$31 per car
• Funicular in Bergen: US $ 12
• Bergen Fortress: free
• Preikestolen trail: the trail itself is free, but if you don't have a car, you will have to pay for transportation to get there. We went by bus, US$37; If you go by car, you will have to pay tolls and parking, estimate a cost of around US$34.

These were the main tours we took; the rest, as I recall, were either free or had minimal cost.

It is possible to do the Flam tour as a day tour from Bergen, including the boat leaving from Bergen, the Flamsbana train and the return to Bergen by train – the tour called Norway in a Nutshell tour: there is several operators of these tours, do your research and see which one is best suited to your needs.

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Cash

 If I tell you that we spent 12 days in Norway and at no point did I see a money note?

We use cards for EVERYTHING. Absolutely all places accept cards. Take your international card and go calmly.

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Best cell phone chip to use in Norway

In Norway, as well as on other international trips I took, I used the Airalo chip, purchased in Brazil and activated as soon as I arrived at Oslo Airport.

It worked very well and, by my count, is always the most economical option.

With the coupon DANAE2375 you get US$3 off your first purchase!

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Airline tickets

The air ticket is normally the item with the highest cost of the trip. I won't go into details, as prices vary a lot depending on the time of year, promotions, use of miles, airline, etc.

The cost of a plane ticket to Norway tends not to be very different from that of a ticket to another destination in central and northern Europe. In this post I comment how we plan our trips and there's a specific section on how to research airline tickets, but basically, there's no secret: it's research, research and research, and start planning as far in advance as possible.

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Travel insurance

You can’t travel without it, especially to an expensive destination like Norway! Have you ever thought about needing something there?

I usually quote from different companies and see what has the best coverage, at the best price. It's another category of expenses that doesn't have much of a secret: just research.

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Anyway, how much does it cost to travel in Norway?

For a comfortable trip, with mid-range accommodation, estimate the following expenses per person, in a double room:

• accommodation: US$60/night
• food: US$50/day (considering that some meals will be eaten at home, or snacks)
• tours: US$50/day
• car rental: US$75/day (economy car, price divided by 2 people)
• other expenses: US$5/day (urban transport, small purchases: water, snacks, ice cream, etc.)
• other expenses: cell phone chip, travel insurance: from US$26 for 1 week of travel

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Remembering that this was approximately what we spent on a 12 day trip through Norway, in JULY, in the European summer, the height of the high season – at other times of the year prices may be different!

Adding it all up, estimate US$240 per day per person, excluding the cost of airfare. It is not very different from the cost of a trip, with the same level of comfort and with the same amount of activities, to other “expensive” destinations such as the United States or England. I think it's expensive, but it's worth it, I assure you!

After you go to Norway, tell me what you think, and if these cost estimates helped you and made sense! Follow us on social media and leave your comment there, or here on the blog:

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What's your verdict? Is it expensive or not to travel in Norway?

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