Top 10 Things to Know Before Visiting Oslo, Norway
#1 - Oslo is Expensive
Everyone talks about how expensive Scandinavia is. It’s definitely expensive in places like Denmark and Sweden, but they can’t even compare to just how much more expensive Norway is. The other Scandinavian countries are approximately 25% less expensive to visit compared with Norway. And Oslo, being the capitol, is more expensive than average. Expect to pay at least $30 for a standard meal and pay an average of $230 per night at a standard hotel.
#2 - Use the Oslo Pass
One major tip for saving money in Oslo is to get the Oslo Pass. Cost varies depending on how many days you pay for, but it covers admission to most attractions, transportation, and discounts on some food and souvenirs. All Scandinavian countries have their own city pass system, which is great when you’re trying to save money while on your trip. So far, we’ve noticed that only the Oslo Pass provides you with discounts on food. When we calculated how much we did by the end of our pass, we saved roughly $600 each.
#3 - Oslo is Not as Busy as Other European Cities (Or Even in Norway)
Whenever you think of France, what do you think of? Paris? What about the Czech Republic? Probably Prague. For a lot of people, when they think of Norway, images of the Fjords usually come to mind, not Oslo. Norway is more so known for its nature, not its cities. So it’s not surprising that a lot of people go to see the fjords and the hiking trails rather than Oslo. Much of the time, Oslo feels a little empty. It’s a rather large landscape, yet also feels small at the same time. This can be very refreshing if you’re used to bigger crowds in large cities in Europe. Oslo may be the city for you!
#4 - Oslo is a Modern City
It may surprise first-time visitors that Oslo is actually a very modern city. You’ll see modern-style buildings with very little heritage or older buildings. There are some castle ruins and palaces that you can visit, but Oslo is very unique from other European cities. Oslo is constantly building and changing. You’ll definitely see cranes everywhere.
#5 - Public Transportation is Expensive But Easy to Get Around
As I stated earlier, public transportation is included if you get the Oslo Pass. If you do end up paying for each transport ticket, you’ll likely spend about $6 one way to a destination. That doesn’t seem like a lot, but it adds up quickly. However, we recommend you take public transportation because of how easy it is to get around the city. There are metro stations scattered everywhere throughout Oslo. You can hop on a train and get to the other side of the city relatively quickly.
#6 - Norwegians are Friendly and Accommodating
Norwegians tend to be stereotyped into being cold, reserved, and unfriendly. However, this is simply not true. Every Norwegian we’ve talked to has been very friendly and accommodating. Personally, I’ve never seen so many people go out of their way to help us while on our trip. You wonder how so many negative stereotypes could have come about. It’s all false. Sure, Norwegians won’t be bubbly and come up to you and start talking like Americans do. Honestly, as an introvert, I’m happy they let me keep to myself. I felt right at home.
#7 - Don’t Bother with Cash
Cash is not widely accepted in Oslo. In fact, most of Scandinavia is card-reliant rather than cash-heavy. Some stores do not even accept cash as a form of payment. Since you’re using your card more, you’re probably going to end of spending more money. Many people lose track of how much they’re spending with the currency conversion, which currently stands at 1 NOK to .095 USD.
#8 - The Tap Water Tastes Better Than Bottled Water
Contrary to what some say, the tap water doesn’t come from the glaciers. Rather, water comes from nearby lakes and rivers using an ultrafiltration system that seems to trump any other system. I’m not exaggerating - the water really does taste incredible. It’s better than bottled water we’ve had. And it is free when you go to restaurants. You shouldn’t have any problems staying hydrated.
#9 - No Problem if You Don’t Speak Norwegian
Norway’s population is rather small, only consisting of a little over 5 million people. Roughly 17% of that population belongs to immigrants whose first language is not Norwegian. Therefore, Norwegians understand if you don’t speak Norwegian. They will often be accommodating and speak English with you if you need assistance. We also heard Norwegians speaking other languages with tourists, such as Spanish, French, and German. Didn’t I say they were accommodating?! Haven’t seen this much knowledge or care for tourists quite like I saw in Oslo.
#10 - Oslo is Very Safe
Oslo, and Norway for that matter, is considered extremely safe. You can wander around at night and feel completely at ease. You can’t say that about every city in Europe. Some people get anxious because of the terrible terrorist attack that happened in 2011. It resulted in the death of 77 people. However, Oslo cracked down on the extremism and has since had no issues. Oslo prides itself in being one of the safest places on earth. You will have no problems here.
