Page 632 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

630  SC ANDINA VIA

Practical & Travel Information change money at hotels, some
camp sites, and (in Oslo) exchange
Norway has a reputation as an expensive destination, but the booths. The greater the amount,
cost of traveling around the country is fairly reasonable. the better rate you will get.
Norway’s public transportation system is comprehensive and Major credit and charge cards
reliable, although visitors should expect a reduced service are accepted in most places.
Banks are open from 8:15am
during winter. Once within the Arctic Circle, there is a period to 4pm Monday to Wednesday
around midsummer during which the sun never sets (the and Friday, and 8:15am to 5pm
“midnight sun”). Conversely, there is a “polar night” around on Thursday. Between June
midwinter, during which the sun never rises at all. These and August, they close
effects occur for longer periods the farther north you travel. 30 minutes earlier.
Tourist Information Visa Requirements Communications
Norway has around 350 local Citizens of the EU, the US, Canada, Telecommunications and
tourist offices, as well as almost Australia, and New Zealand do postal services in Norway are
20 regional offices. Visitors to not require a visa for stays of very efficient and reliable. Coin­
the capital can use Oslo less than three months. Citizens operated phone booths are
Turistinformasjon in the of most EU countries can use a being phased out in favor of
center of town. For brochures national identity card instead of those that will only take phone­
and more general information a passport for entry to Norway. cards (Telekort). These cards can
on all parts of the country, be purchased in news kiosks.
contact the Norwegian Tourist Safety and Emergency E­mail can be collected at
Board before you leave home. Internet cafés (all major cities
As well as providing useful Norway is a safe country, have at least a couple)
information on hiking routes and crime against tourists is or at most public libraries.
and guided mountain tours, relatively rare. Standards of Thanks to state subsidies
Den Norske Turistforening healthcare are excellent. Hotels and loans, there is a large
(Norwegian Mountain Touring and tourist offices have lists of number of newspapers in
Association) sells a range of local doctors, or you can look in Norway. Most British and
maps and hiking gear, and the telephone directory under some American newspapers
maintains more than 300 doctors (leger). You will have to are sold in large towns from
mountain huts throughout pay a fee for a doctor’s appoint­ Narvesen newsstands.
the country. ment and for prescriptions, but
EU citizens with an E111 form Tax-Free Shopping
will be reimbursed for part of
Opening Hours
the cost of any treatment. Visitors to Norway can benefit
Many museums and attractions from the nation’s decision not to
are open all year round, Banking and Currency join the EU by taking advantage
although a few have seasonal of the tax­free shopping scheme.
opening hours. Stores are The Norwegian unit of currency This means that if you buy goods
generally open from 10am is the Norwegian krone (NOK). over a certain value from any one
to 8pm Monday to Friday, Cash and traveler’s checks can of the 3,000 outlets that take part
and from 10am to 6pm on be changed at banks and post in the scheme, you can have the
Saturday. Most stores are offices for a small commission. VAT refunded. You will receive a
closed on Sundays. Outside banking hours, you can tax­free voucher, which you
must present upon your
The Climate of Norway departure from the country. The
OSLO goods must be unused for you
The climate of Norway to receive the refund.
experiences intense seasonal
changes. The short summer °C/ºF
(roughly mid­June to mid­ 21/70 Arriving by Air
August) can be quite hot, Most international flights arrive
though rain is regular and 9/48 12/54 9/48 at Oslo’s airport, Gardermoen,
0/32
temperatures in the far 1/34 3/37 -6/21 60 km (37 miles) north of the
north can plunge during 5 7 3 2 city, although some carriers also
the summer nights. Winter hrs hrs hrs hrs fly to Stavanger, Bergen, Tromsø,
is long and dark, and the 48 79 99 58 and Kristiansand. From Britain,
north is subject to sub­zero mm mm mm mm daily direct flights are operated
temperatures which can month Apr Jul Oct Jan
persist for months at a time. by British Airways, SAS
(Scandinavian Airline System),
Norwegian, and Ryanair.

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