Want to visit the Fjords, see the northern lights, sit on Preikestolen or simply meet some beautiful Scandinavian blondes? You’ve probably considered visiting Norway, at some point, but thought… “Nah, too rich for my blood”.
Well, maybe I can convince you to take a second look at some 1st world travelling: it today’s article, I will share my thoughts on how you can visit Norway on a lower budget (and still enjoy it greatly).
This is a perfect guide for those who are more budget-oriented like backpackers or anybody who wants to travel the world without spending a fortune.
Why should you visit Norway in the first place
First, we need to get a few things straight.
Yes, Norway is one of the more expensive places in the world. No matter which way you slice it, you won’t be able to do anything fun without at least 80 dollars per day. (Although anything’s possible, right?)
And yes, the girls are incredibly beautiful. If you have a thing for pure genetic beauty, and by genetic beauty, I am talking about the girls with the best-looking faces in Europe, then you shouldn’t give up on Norway so quickly.
Oslo is known as one of the “hookup capitals of the world.” Norwegian girls enjoy indulging in alcohol on the weekends, and after midnight they certainly aren’t shy about telling you what they want.
For guys – single ones at least – this is definitely one extra, but very solid reason to visit Norway in the first place.
1. Norwegians are nice
To tell you the truth, I am currently staying in Oslo, and I can tell you that Norwegian people are some of the most likable individuals on the planet.
They are courteous and infinitely polite. Everyone minds their own business and will stay completely out of your way. If you want to make friends then contrary to popular belief, there is a place for that as well.
Best of all is, beautiful girls don’t act like the entire universe should revolve around them. Norway has a tradition of humility, stepping from the Scandinavian belief in Janteloven.
This law, or set of rules, which suppresses individuality and personal success also had a nice benefit of scaling down many of the super-nice Norwegian girls’ she-devil shields.
2. Social Customs in Norway
You just have to understand that Norwegians socialize in framed situations. There is a time for making new friends, and that time is late at night at the bar.
During their day to day comings and goings, Norwegians typically mind to themselves, and only in the framed social setting of a bar or a nightclub do they feel comfortable enough to talk to strangers.
This is also why in Norway, night game rules, as many girls simply have never been approached before during the day and will not know what to do or say when stopped in the middle of the street.
3. Norway is VERY safe
Norway is one of, if not THE safest country in the world. You have 0 chance of getting robbed or getting into a fight late at night, no matter how much you end up drinking.
Also, if you leave something in a hotel or bar, as drunk tourists often do, you are almost guaranteed to get it back.
So hopefully I have sold you on considering a visit to the North. Now let’s take a look at how much it’s realistically going to cost to do a 2-week stay in Norway – and what can you do to keep costs as low as possible in this otherwise expensive place.
So, how much will visiting Norway cost?
I won’t get into flight ticket prices, as this will vary greatly depending on which country you are flying from.
Nevertheless, travelling inside Europe with Norwegian Air is cheap and comfortable. Be sure to check out their fares before shopping for other tickets!
For accommodation – stay clear of hotels, as even the cheapest hotel will set you back more than 100 Euros per night.
Airbnb would be my recommendation, although prices have started to go up quite a bit recently. As of 2021, you can get a decent room for around 40 Euros should you be ok with sharing. For a standalone room, 60 Euros should do the trick.
Booking.com is also extremely popular in Europe and Norway as a whole. They started offering more than just hotels and I started to find better deals here than on AirBnb when it comes to renting apartments for the short term. Definitely check them out – you might have some really pleasant surprises if you do.
Tips for visiting Norway on a budget
Here are other things to consider when it comes to keeping costs low when visiting Norway:
1. Never Take a Taxi
Rule #1. for not getting your finances wrecked – Don’t ever take a taxi.
Example: a taxi from the airport to the city center in Oslo will set you back around 120 Euros (usually more than the price of the plane ticket from most European countries).
On the other hand, the train costs 10. (Oh and don’t take the airport train, or “Flytoget” as it’s called in Norwegian: its double the price and only two mins faster than a regular train).
What I recommend for people to do when arriving at the Airport, is to go straight to information and telling them that you want to buy a Zone 1 ticket, for as long as you are staying in Olso.
The public transport in Oslo is exceptionally good. This will get you everywhere for around 25 Euros per week.
2. Shop for drink at duty-free
Second top tip for saving money is to buy alcohol at the airport.
Alchohol is VERY expensive in the clubs/bars, typically 10 Euros for a beer, and much more for a glass of wine or hard liquor.
You can save a good deal by buying alcohol at duty-free prices, which is pretty much in line with normal western alcohol costs.
To see what quota you are allowed to bring in check the photo below and the link in the caption text to make sure it’s still up to date (or for other options)
3. Avoid eating out
Eating out can also be very expensive so you might want to limit this to maximum once a day.
It can be difficult to cook for yourself when on holiday, but if you are staying for a week or longer, eating out will start to eat into your budget.
A simple burger and chips will set you back around 20 Euros, for example. Try to find cheaper options in supermarkets where pre-made meals will be more affordable.
Yes, they are not the healthiest options out there and not great for long term, but great when you are on a budget.
4. Pre-drink
This goes hand in hand with tip no 2, but pre-drinking is the tradition here in Norway. We call it “Vorspiel”, and it typically involves in getting wasted before going out and then maintaining your buzz with 2 or 3 drinks throughout the night.
This is why you find the clubs liven up at around 11 pm, even when closing time is a relatively early at 3 am.
5. Stay until the bars close
This is perhaps the most important tip, as most of the fun in Norway happens after the bars close.
People are very jolly and often invite each other over for “Nachspiel”, which means the afterparty.
Local tip: If you are looking for a girl to spend the night with, walk up to them and tell them you’re just a tourist and want to throw a Nachspiel, else your Norwegian experience won’t be complete.
The chance of them saying yes and coming to your apartment is remarkably high, this trick works best when you approach a group of 2 girls so they feel safe enough to go along.
Where to meet Ladies (in Oslo)
Karl Johann Gate: The main street in Oslo and right opposite the one of the main train station stops. This is the Khreshchatyk of Oslo. Get off at National Theater train station, and you are right there.
Local Tip: Avoid Hard Rock cafe like the plague unless you want to meet American tourists.
Akers Brygge: This is Oslo’s posh waterfront around 10-15 minutes walk from Karl Johan gate. There are as many restaurants and coffee shops as cute Norwegians girls strutting their stuff.
Grunerløkka: This is the cool area of Oslo where all the local students hang out. It is around 10 minutes from Oslo Central Station.
Grunnerløkka is an excellent location for both day game and night game. Note that this is not accessible via train station, so you will need to take a tram or the metro.
As far as other tourist activities go, Oslo isn’t the best place to do sightseeing in Norway; you’re better off taking a trip to Tromso or Bergen.
For pure unadulterated fun, however, make sure you come to Norway before autumn and before it gets too dark and cold, and be sure to follow the tips in this article to save yourself from spending a fortune.
