Norway Travel Blog & Travel Tips

Norway is the ideal destination for nature lovers and road trip fans. But be careful: the country is big, much bigger than most travellers think. If you don’t have more than a month, focus on one region.

Norway is famous for its fjords: the Geirangerfjord, Sognefjord, Hardangerfjord, Lysefjord and Nærøyfjord (a branch of the Sognefjord and a UNESCO World Heritage Site). There are more UNESCO World Heritage Sites too: Bryggen, the old town of Bergen, Urnes Stave Church, Vemork, the Struve Geodetic Arc, the Alta Museum and the Vega Archipelago.

My scenic highlights: the Lofoten Islands, the island of Senja and above all Svalbard.

Norway is huge, and there are no motorways. The main roads are often like a country road, sometimes a two-lane main road. The speed limit is usually 70 to 80 km/h.

In summer, long traffic jams build up in Fjord Norway and on the Lofoten Islands. Add roadworks with traffic lights and you can end up waiting 2 to 3 hours. Not fun.

My advice for a 2 to 3-week trip: choose one region. For the fjords, I recommend the ferry from Hirtshals to Bergen and exploring the fjords from there. For the Lofoten Islands and Northern Norway, the faster option is the E10 through Sweden to Narvik.

Want to go to the North Cape? Then read about my road trip. The same applies here: rushing to the North Cape in just 2 weeks isn’t worth it. It’s only one place, and not even the real northernmost point of Norway. Think it over carefully.

Norway isn’t part of the EU, but it is part of the Schengen area. EU citizens don’t need a visa and can enter with an ID card or passport. Travellers from the UK and the US need a passport and can stay visa-free for up to 90 days within 180 days in the Schengen area. Children need their own travel document. The document must be valid for the whole trip. There are border controls on Svalbard. You can find out what you’re allowed to bring in terms of alcohol, food and pets further down under import rules.

By ferry with a car or campervan

For campervan travellers, the ferry is the most comfortable option: fall asleep, wake up, almost in Norway. The most important routes from Denmark and Germany:

I compare and book departure times and prices on Direct Ferries. Book early: popular crossings sell out quickly, especially in summer, and are cheaper the earlier you book.

You’ll find all the information about getting there and the pros and cons of ferry vs. overland in my article Norway by campervan tips.

We booked our ferry tickets in advance through Direct Ferries and I was very happy with it.

Especially in summer: book early. You’ll get a better price and won’t risk the ferry being fully booked.

Overland by car through Denmark and Sweden

If you’d rather not take a ferry, you drive through Denmark and Sweden. You cross the Great Belt Bridge (Storebæltsbroen) and the Øresund Bridge to Malmö, then continue via Gothenburg to Norway. The combined ticket for both bridges costs around €150 for campervans up to 10 m.

You’ll find all the details on costs and route choice in my Norway by campervan tips.

• Detailed information from Marc at mobile-abenteuer.de (in German)

By plane

For short trips to Oslo, Tromsø (in winter for the northern lights), Bergen or Trondheim, flying is worth it. If you’re planning a campervan trip in Northern Norway and only have 2 weeks, it’s better to fly to Narvik or Tromsø and rent a vehicle there.

By train or bus to Norway

If you have time and want to travel sustainably, you can also get to Norway by train. From Germany via Copenhagen to Oslo takes at least 16 hours, so I only recommend it if you have enough time or are a railway fan. You can book tickets on bahn.de or on the Norwegian railway website vy.no.

Flixbus is cheaper and more direct: from Hamburg to Oslo the journey takes around 14 hours, from about €55 if you book early, a solid option for small budgets. You’ll find all connections on flixbus.de.

For a city trip to Oslo, Bergen or Tromsø you don’t need a car, public transport is good. For a road trip through the fjords, to the Lofoten Islands or to the North Cape, however, your own vehicle is essential. No bus goes where Norway is really beautiful.

If you don’t have your own campervan: it’s best to rent one before you arrive (I’d rent in Germany, for example) rather than in Norway. The choice there is small and prices are much higher, expect around €100 per day. You’ll get a good overview of providers and prices at Camperdays, or alternatively at Roadsurfer or TUICamper.

To rent a vehicle, you need a valid driving licence and a credit card in the driver’s name, and you usually have to be at least 21 years old. Campervans over 3.5 t also need an AutoPASS tag, and as the renter you are responsible for it yourself.

Fees for ferries, bridges and tunnels

Newly built bridges and tunnels in Norway charge tolls until they’re paid off. On top of that, there are city tolls in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and other cities. The system is fully electronic: your number plate is captured automatically by camera and the invoice arrives by post.

Without registration, billing runs through Epass24, but since May 2025 with an extra fee of €5.10 per invoice. You avoid it if you register with Epass24 for free in advance and add a credit card.

If you’re travelling for longer, an AutoPASS tag (brikke) is worth it: around 20 % off all tolls, plus a monthly cap. Order it from AutoSync or Flyt and plan at least 2 weeks ahead.

For ferries within Norway: with AutoPASS for ferje you save up to 50 % on almost all domestic ferries. That pays off considerably on a longer trip.

I’ve summarised all the details on the toll system, tag tips and ferry discounts in my Norway by campervan tips.

Depending on the region, you’ll take several ferries on some days. Don’t worry, it sounds more complicated than it is.

Spontaneous or booked?

In Fjord Norway I hardly paid attention to departure times. The ferries simply shuttle from shore to shore, and there was almost always room for campervans. In high season, though, I recommend booking in advance, just to be safe.

It’s different on certain routes:

• Andenes ↔ Senja: This ferry only runs until mid-September. I missed the last one by 2 days and had to take a long detour, so check before you go!
• Geirangerfjord: In summer, definitely reserve tickets early. I only travelled after the Scandinavian summer holidays and could drive on spontaneously, with only 2 other campervans on board.
• Bodø → Lofoten (Moskenes): Definitely book ahead in summer.
• Ferries to Senja (from Sommarøy): Very popular in summer, sometimes you have to wait for several ferries.

Exceptions: reserve early here

• Geirangerfjord ferry: Reserve your ticket early in summer.
• Bodø → Moskenes (Lofoten): Definitely book ahead in summer.
• Senja ferries: In summer you often have to wait for several ferries. Also, the ferry from Senja to Andenes only runs until mid-September. I missed it by 2 days and had to take a long detour.

On Norwegian ferries you can stay seated in your campervan. Sometimes there’s a small restaurant or at least coffee machines. Don’t forget to turn off the gas, cooking on board isn’t allowed. Most crossings only take 15 to 20 minutes.

Payment & discount

Your number plate is photographed and the vehicle length is estimated automatically, which isn’t always right. On my invoices the same vehicle was listed as “0–6 metres” one time and “6.01–8 metres” another time. A tip I got from Norwegians: put the vehicle length on the side of the driver’s door so it’s recorded correctly.

The invoice comes by post, or you sign up in advance with AutoPASS for ferje, pay an amount into your account and get up to 50 % off almost all domestic ferries. That’s not only cheaper but also much more convenient.

On board

On most short ferries (15 to 20 min.) you can stay seated in your campervan. You have to switch off the engine, that applies on all ferries. There are toilets, and often a coffee machine or a small restaurant on board.

On short crossings you don’t necessarily have to turn off the gas. It’s different on long ferries such as Bodø → Moskenes (Lofoten, approx. 3.5 hrs): you have to leave the vehicle there, so turn off the gas to be safe before you drive on board.

Norway offers a wide range: from campsites and campervan pitches to rustic self-catering cabins (hytter) and modern hotels in the cities.

Campsites are often in dreamlike locations, right on a fjord, by a lake or with a view of the mountains. In high season (July/August) popular sites fill up quickly, especially on the Lofoten Islands, so it’s worth booking early. If you’re looking for more peace and quiet, go for campervan pitches, often free or €5 to €15 per night. The right to roam also allows 1 night free in car parks in nature, unless a ban is signposted.

You’ll find all the details on camping, pitches and service points in my Norway by campervan tips.

For city trips to Oslo, Bergen or Tromsø: book early to get good prices. Hotels fill up quickly, especially in high season and around 17 May (National Day). I compare hotels on Booking.com.

Hytter (holiday cabins) are a particularly authentic option: simply furnished, often in a dreamlike location. Many campsites rent them out directly, otherwise you can find them on Airbnb or Finn.no.

Norway is in northern Europe. To the south it borders Denmark (separated by the North Sea), to the east Sweden, and to the northeast Finland and Russia. It lies between the Norwegian Sea, the Arctic Ocean and the Skagerrak. In the far north it borders the Barents Sea.

Norway is one of the most beautiful, and most expensive, countries in Europe.

People in Norway speak Norwegian, which is very similar to Swedish and Danish. Almost all Norwegians speak excellent English.

Before my trip I learned the most important Norwegian words with Babbel, which is handy for understanding road signs along the way.

Many readers asked me whether it wasn’t brave to travel through Norway alone in a campervan for 2 months. I think hardly any country in Europe is safer than Norway. A high standard of living and a low crime rate, even in the cities.

The only factor: the driving style of some Norwegians. Overtaking before blind bends, driving 20 to 30 km/h over the limit. Quite hard to understand in a country with such extreme speeding fines.

Alcohol, tobacco and food

Alcohol and tobacco are expensive in Norway, so the import rules are strict, and there are checks especially when you arrive by ferry.

The app or the toll.no website shows exactly how much beer, wine, spirits and tobacco you’re allowed per person. If you don’t bring any tobacco, you can swap the allowance for wine or beer, and the calculator on the website helps with that.

Importing potatoes without a special permit is prohibited.

Entering with dogs

Special rules apply to dogs. You’ll find all the details here at Mattilsynet.

Food and drink

Norwegian cuisine is dominated by fish dishes. Norwegians often catch their own fish, and if you drive through the country, you’ll understand why.

Fish burgers are everywhere in Norway, even in supermarkets. My best experience: at Anita’s Sjømat in Sommarøy near the Lofoten Islands, from their own catch and very fresh.

You can get cinnamon buns (kanelboller) everywhere. I had the best ones at the Unstad Arctic Surf Café on the Lofoten Islands.

Culinarily, Norway isn’t one of Europe’s highlights. You’ll find pizza and kebab even in the smallest village. I mostly cooked for myself, the biggest advantage of a campervan.

You can buy alcohol in normal supermarkets (up to a certain strength). Wine and spirits are only sold at the Vinmonopolet.

Nothing works without a credit card: In Norway you pay for almost everything by card, and you only rarely need cash. On my campervan road trip I only needed cash 2 or 3 times: at a few pitches in marinas and on the Lofoten Islands for private hiking trails or privately owned pitches, where I put money in an envelope. Euros were accepted there too.

You need coins at some campsites for showers, washing machines and dryers, and you get them at check-in.

Fact: No country in Europe uses banknotes less than Norway. Transfers and everyday payments run through the app Vipps, which unfortunately isn’t available to foreigners. Everything else is paid by credit card.

Travel tips

Die besten Reisekreditkarten – Vergleich mit Tipps

Norwegian krone (NOK): as a rough rule I calculate 10 NOK = €1. For the exact rate, I recommend the apps Currency (Apple) or Easy Currency (Android).

Tipping: Nobody in Norway expects a tip. If you were exceptionally happy, you can give one, but you don’t have to. Staff are sometimes confused when foreigners type a tip into the card reader.

Best travel credit card for Norway

In 2026 the best free credit cards for travel (for German residents) are the DKB debit card, the TF Bank Mastercard Gold and the Hanseatic Bank Genial Card. Wherever you’re from, take at least 2 cards without foreign transaction fees, so you can always withdraw cash and pay for free in Norway. Especially when filling up (at unstaffed petrol stations), one card might not work.

Travel tips

Die besten Reisekreditkarten – Vergleich mit Tipps

For my road trip to the North Cape and back along the coast, I had the following things with me in addition to the usual basic campervan equipment. For clothing: layers, the weather can change quickly even in summer.

I can recommend these guidebooks. Please make sure to buy only from established publishers. AI-generated guidebooks are flooding the market and often contain wrong information.