After telling you guys that Norway Isn’t as Expensive as You Think I promised to write up some more detailed guides about budget travel in Norway. And then I promptly forgot all about it because I am the worst. But after a nudge from a Norway bound reader I got my act together and have drafted three in depth guides about budget travel in Norway: accommodation, food, and transportation.
First up: transportation! Because even if you’re on the tiniest of budgets you’re going to want to get places while in Norway, right?
Walk
Erm, so I said you’re going to want to get places even if you’re on a really tight budget, but the truth is, transport in Norway isn’t exactly cheap. The solution? Bring those walking shoes!
Most cities in Norway are quite walkable (at least if you’re sticking to the picturesque downtowns), and I’m a big believer that there’s no better way to quickly get to know a city than walking around it. And if you are planning on doing a lot of walking in Norway, you’ll want to pack accordingly: good shoes/boots, and warm clothes in winter or rain gear the rest of the year.
Train
So, public transport in Norway is expensive and trains aren’t really an exception – except when they are. You see, if you book in advance (on vy.no) you might be able to nab one of those golden 249 kroner (about 30 USD) Minipris tickets.
These are available if you book anywhere from 90 days to one day in advance, and the number of tickets and price (249 kr is the lowest) depends on availability and demand. So basically if you’re going to be traveling in high season, aim for booking closer to 90 days ahead than one day.
249 kr might still seem a little steep if you’re just going to be on the train for two hours, especially as distances in Norway are long so 2 hours is nothing, but the beauty of the Minipris ticket is that it can take you as far as you want on a single journey (including short stopovers). So while the cheapest ticket for the two hour train ride from Bø to Oslo will cost 249 kr, I can also book a ticket all the way up to Trondheim for that price.
It can be hard to get the 249 kr tickets, especially on longer stretches, but if you book well in advance you should at least be able to get a really good Minipris discount. For example, I just checked and right now I could book a ticket from Kristiansand to Harran on September 1, which is a 19 hour train journey, for 299 kr, while the regular price would be 1,458 kr.
Norwegian trains are also just really comfortable, usually have free WiFi, and are one of the best ways to see Norway’s beautiful landscape – especially if you’re prone to motion sickness, because Norway’s windy mountain roads can make driving brutal.
One annoying thing about booking the Vy trains yourself is that the website won’t process credit cards from the United States, Canada and Australia, because apparently they lack a security protocol used for safe payments in Europe.
Instead you can pay online with PayPal, or if you don’t have PayPal (though really, you should have PayPal) you’ll have to call Vy at +47 23 62 00 00. They speak perfect English, so you can just tell them which routes you want to book and then they’ll send you a link to pay with your card. It sounds like a pain, but it should actually be really easy!
Bus
I’m including buses here because there’s often no other public transport option, but if there is take it. What I’m saying is, Norwegian buses are not my favorite. They’re often bizarrely expensive, and on Norwegian roads they have a way of making even the toughest tummies queasy.
On the plus side, they usually have free WiFi and can take you to much more remote places than a train can.
The golden rule for traveling Norway by bus is always book in advance! Most Norwegian bus companies offer considerable discounts if you book online instead of on the bus. Usually you do have to book a day in advance to get the discount. And then the driver can just scan your pdf ticket on your phone, so you don’t need to worry about tracking down a printer.
In cities like Oslo and Trondheim, you’ll also save on city buses and trams by booking in advance. You can download the bus app (ATB is the one I used in Trondheim, though you need to load a minimum of 200 kr on it), but for tourists it’s much easier to head to the Tourist Information center to get a bus/tram card. It’s also always going to be cheaper to get day, weekend or week cards if you’ll be using buses and trams a lot.
Car
I’m usually all about public transportation, but for travel in Norway I actually always recommend that people rent a car, especially if they’re traveling with others. In fact, if you’re traveling with several people, renting a car will almost always be cheaper than buying bus tickets for everyone.
Just make sure to factor in the price of petrol when working out your budget. And if you’re based in Europe and have a car, definitely consider making your trip to Norway a road trip!
Norway is big and the truth is a lot of the more remote places are really hard to get to on public transport – if there is a bus it will probably only run once or twice a day, which isn’t exactly convenient if you’re on a tight schedule. And I guess this is my personal preference, but I definitely think that the more remote a place in Norway is, the more beautiful it tends to be.
Having a car also makes it easier to camp, which means that you can save on accommodation (especially if you wild camp, which is free). Plus in a car you have the freedom to stop for as many fjord selfies as you want and I mean, isn’t that the whole point of visiting Norway?
Car rentals usually start at around 550 kr/day with companies like Sixt, or 400 kr with Rent-A-Wreck. Rent-A-Wreck cars are older and thus cheaper, though they have strict mileage regulations, so if you’ll be driving long distances they’ll often end up being more expensive. Map out where you’d like to drive to and figure out which option will be the cheapest.
I usually book with Sixt in Norway as it always ends up cheapest (I also had a really bad experience with Hertz here!), and they offer a lot of discounts. Click here to check current prices and save 10% (and if you’re renting for a week or more click here to save up to 35%)
And of course long term rentals will also usually be cheaper. Dan and I paid 4,500 kr/month (about 18 USD a day) for a Rent-A-Wreck, which included 3,000 kilometers.
Renting a car can of course be a more expensive option, especially if you’re alone, but it will allow you to see much more of Norway, so while you might technically spend more money you’ll get more travel value, if that makes sense.
You can read my complete guide to planning a road trip in Norway here.
Hitchhike
If you can’t afford to rent a car then hitchhike! Hitchhiking might not be as easy here as it is in a lot of Eastern Europe, but it’s still totally doable.
In fact, the first time Dan and I drove from Trondheim down to Bø we picked up a Polish hitchhiker who had hitchhiked all around Norway without any problems (his longest wait was actually in Trondheim before we picked him up).
If you do choose to hitchhike, it’s easiest if you bring a tent, which will give you a lot more flexibility as you can sleep wherever you manage to get a ride to. And make sure you have very warm clothes, even in the summer! Also, our Polish friend did note that most of the rides he got were from other foreigners, not Norwegians, who can be a bit too shy to pick up strangers.
As always, it helps to look presentable – I’ve found it easier to get rides when dressed nicely, and also when I have a large backpack with me, as I guess it shows that I really am a backpacker not a killer. I’ve also heard in Norway it can help to hold up a large Norwegian flag? It makes you easier to spot, plus I think the Norwegian flag just makes Norwegians really happy.
If you’re having trouble getting a ride, you can hang out at gas stations or truck stops and try to get a ride on a truck because:
- truck drivers are usually happy for some company
- a lot of truck drivers here are Eastern European and thus more used to hitchhikers
- if they are Norwegian, Norwegians are really bad at saying no so if you ask them directly they will probably say yes
- riding in a truck is so much fun!
And if you do get a ride with a Norwegian definitely don’t worry if they don’t talk to you much – Norwegians aren’t really into small talk and are perfectly happy sitting in silence. If you want to get them talking though, ask for advice about the area, as most people will be very happy to help you out, plus I’ve found that most Norwegians really enjoy talking about Norway with foreigners.
Ferry
To be honest I don’t really know much about ferries in Norway (yet!). But if you’re just trying to get across the water cheaply, be sure to opt for the local ferry, not the tourist cruise which will take you in through the fjords, but cost a fortune. Unless that’s how you want to see the fjords, in which case splurge away, it really is an amazing experience!
Plane
If you’re on a tight schedule and want to cover large distances, you can also often find cheap domestic flights within Norway – again, just book well in advance! If you’re in Norway during the summer this means you’ll miss the impressive views out your window, but in the winter it’s dark for so much of the day that you won’t actually miss too much anyway.
If any of you have any advice to add, please share in the comments!
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Geri says
I’m travelling for ten days now in Norway and can say that train is best option for solo traveller- best price for gorgeous views you will not see otherwise. This evening will take the ferry from Alesund to Trondheim and expect more amazing views. However, this was not cheap option probably because it is “the most scenic sea route” of Europe. Will see. 🙂 You make really good points – if I was not alone I would rent a car and camp in the nature. Norway is so beautiful and safe!!!
Silvia says
Oooh I’m jealous of your ferry ride! It sounds amazing.
sona says
Hi Geri, we are a family of 3 people and planning to spend around 14-15 nights in Norway. Would appreciate if you could share the best places to visit and the road/rail travel plan. Thanks
Rachel says
Or bring your own car! And if it’s a camper you can stay in it for free in some of the most fantastic places!
We also met a Swiss couple up in the north who’d hired a motorhome in Rovaniemi, Finland, as it was a lot cheaper and an easy drive from the northern Norwegian border.
Silvia says
Oh good points! I actually looked up the price of renting a caravan in Norway because I thought I could include it as a good transport + accommodation option but oh no, they are crazy expensive in Norway! Renting from Finland is so clever.
Ahimsa says
Haha, the buses killed me in Norway. I ended up walking lots and hitched a bit no problem. In the summer time, having use of a small tent can save a lot of money on accommodation since camping is free in many public areas.
For food, I found shopping at Kiwi or the markets in Gronland to be quite cheap. Turnips make for a great snack!
Silvia says
Great tips! And I couldn’t agree more about camping – it’s such an amazing money saver here.
Dominique says
Great tips! I don’t have plans to travel extensively in Norway just yet, but the thought of going to Oslo for a short trip has crossed my mind. It’s a good thing to know that if I would attach longer distances onto the trip I have to book well in advance!
Silvia says
It is good to book in advance. And if you want a short weekend trip to see Norway in a nutshell (at least sort of) I’d definitely recommend flying to Bergen!
Charlotte says
Thanks for writing this! I’m going to Norway this summer, hiking from Sandefjord to Stavanger. My question to you is if they also accept PDF tickets on the train, since I have no idea when exactly I’m taking the train and probably don’t have a printer in my backpack 😉
Silvia says
They do! Or when you order your ticket online you can choose the option to pick it up at the station, which means you’ll get a code to type into one of the ticket machines before you board, which will then print your ticket. Either way works!
Jonny Duncan says
I spent my entire time in Norway and Scandinavia hitchhiking everywhere. Was easy and free 🙂 Didn’t use public transportation at all. Naturally in the middle of winter would be a bit cold for that though!
Silvia says
Yeah, it would definitely be less pleasant in the winter! Though having said that I totally hitchhiked in Siberia in the winter and didn’t die, so it’s not impossible, haha.
David says
Wow, this is completely amazing. You just put something on my bucket list!
Ashley @ Married Wanderlust Love says
Great suggestions! Will bookmark this. My husband and I have been fascinated in Norway for a long time and prefer car rentals Good information! 🙂
Silvia says
Oh you should definitely try to do a Norway road trip then!
Madi | Restless Worker says
I’m a walker as well. If I can walk anywhere I definitely will .. even if it means walking for hours! ha.
Silvia says
My kind of traveler!
Andi aka @SilentThunder_ says
Great tips ! Thanks to your blog I found Minipris tickets from Stavanger to Oslo. Booked them few months ago. Doing the Preikestolen hike. Can’t wait to go.
Will be going to Alesund too, do you have any tips?
Debashree says
Hi Silvia..I love your blog..Very useful and informative. I am planning a trip to Norway next Feb/March. Can you pls tell me how do I include Geiranger fjord in my itinerary..was reading that cruise is closed in winter months… Also if I plan a trip during mid feb for 2 weeks, how many hrs of day light I can expect in the stretch between Oslo to Trondheim..
Silvia says
Actually the best ways really to see the fjord is driving anyway. I would recommend renting a car and staying at some of these places: http://www.heartmybackpack.com/norway/best-geirangerfjord-hotels/. Also if you can, try to go to Alesund! http://www.heartmybackpack.com/norway/alesund-travel-guide/
stav says
Hi,
Thanks for the fantastic information.
You wrote above that a ticket permits stopovers but many websites say stopovers are not permitted on Norway’s trains.
Could you clarify ?
Thanks
Silvia says
Do you mean for the train? They do allow stopovers, as long as it’s already naturally included in the route. So, if I were booking a ticket from Bø to Trondheim, it would include a stopover in Oslo. Then if you click “show details” on the bottom right of the itinerary you can change the time of your second train by clicking “later” to extend the time of your stopover. So maybe originally it would include a 30 minute stopover, but I could then change that into an 8 hour stopover – the price might go up if the second train is more expensive, or it might even go down. Does that make sense?
Mystina says
“Norwegians are really bad at saying no so if you ask them directly they will probably say yes”
This perfectly sums up the story of my life! Love it! Have really enjoyed becoming familiar with your blogs as I embark on my lifelong dream of visiting the country of my Grandparents. I only wish I could have more time there, but hoping to make this trip not AS expensive as everyone proclaims it will be, so I can talk the hubby into visiting again… and again, and again. 🙂
Silvia says
You can definitely make it affordable and visit over and over! Hope you have an amazing time 🙂
Angela says
Hi Silvia! Thanks your information help me a lot☺ me and my husband are planning to Norway in next early March in hopes to see NL. Do you have any advice and suggestion for best places in norway to see NL?
And is it possible to rent a car in early March since I think it still late winter and it might be dark outside?
We’re planning to land in Oslo take a nutshell trip to see the fjord (is it worthed? Or should we just drive ourselves?) ,heading to Trondheim,.alesund then any city up north to see NL, is it possible to do this in a week(since we’re planning to visit other city in west europe) in early March and still get the scenery? 😊
Silvia says
Norway is enormous so it will take a really long time to get between all the cities you mentioned – it takes at least 10 hours to drive from Bergen to Trondheim, and then another 13 hours to get up to north to see the northern lights. If you only have a week I’d consider flying from Bergen up north instead. The best place to see the Northern Lights is actually right over the border in Sweden in Abisko. I wrote more about it here: https://www.heartmybackpack.com/blog/best-northern-lights-europe-abisko/
Prober says
Are the roads smooth and straight for the most part when driving in Norway? Or should one also be ready for twists, turns, gravel, dirt etc.?
Silvia says
Be prepared for lots of twists and turns, and if you go on smaller roads sometimes they will be gravel.
Fernando says
Hi Silvia! Thanks for your excellent information!
My girlfriend and I are planning to visit Norway, and our main goal is to see the Northern Lights. Do you think that the Lofoten Islands are a good place to spot them? I’ve read that the weather is rainy and cloudy there in February.
Would you recommend to get there by train + ferry?
Greetings from Argentina!
Silvia says
It depends where you are coming from, but you can take the train from Oslo to Bodø and then the ferry, or you could fly north. The weather is pretty unpredictable in Lofoten, so if your main goal is to see the Northern Lights then it would be better to go somewhere drier like Abisko, but Lofoten itself is so stunning that you’ll have an amazing time even if you don’t see the aurora.
Wyling says
Your writing in this and other pieces is fun and informative… thanks! I was wondering where within easy/inexpensive bus/train distance from Oslo would be recommended for wild camping?
Lauren Hope says
Hi
I am needing some advice please.
I am going to be travelling to Norway but dont have much time and want to do the following, how would you suggest I do it and where.
I want to do some Fyords but not sure which are best and closest to Oslo. Bergen/Alesund, suggestions?
I also want to see the midnight sun as I am travelling in July. Where is best to see this from?
Would I be able to do some Fyords and keep moving north for the midnight sun?
Thanks so much
Lauren
Silvia says
It would probably be easiest to go to Bergen or Alesund for the fjords, and then you could fly up to Tromsø for the midnight sun.
Kiara Gallop says
I’m just in the process of trying to book the train journey between Oslo and Bergen with a friend for this August. The cheapest she can find tickets is €104 each. Is there anything specific she should be looking for in order to find one of these golden 249 kroner (about 30 USD) Minipris tickets?
Silvia says
There’s only a set number of minipris tickets and they usually sell out during popular travel periods, especially in August. I just checked and it looks like there are some still available in August, but maybe not for her specific dates – especially if she’s traveling on a weekend. If her dates and times are flexible though she should check different days!
Erika says
Hi! I really like your travelling tips to Norway! I am needing some advice, so I’m travelling with my friend and we’re university students so we’re looking for budget options on our trip to Norway in February 2019. So we’ll arrive in Oslo at 3 pm (after approximately 10-12 hours of flight) and we’re planning to do a quick city tour in Oslo before hoping an overnight train to Bergen at 11 pm. We’re still unsure whether we should stay 2 nights at Bergen or 1 night and 1 night in overnight train heading to Trondheim (We have to be in Trondheim on our fourth day). If we’re staying 2 nights in Bergen, we’re planning to catch a morning flight from Bergen to Trondheim. If we’re staying for 2 nights, then the overnight train from Oslo to Bergen we’re going to take the standard seat, but if we took 2 night trains both will be the ones with the compartments. Do you think it’s feasible or do you have any other suggestions? Looking forward to hear from you. Thanks!
Erika says
Hi! I really like your blog posts about travelling tips to Norway and I am needing some advice. So I’ll be visiting Norway on February and I’ll arrive in Oslo at around 3 pm. I have three free days on Norway before I’m going to Trondheim on my fourth day and after I arrive in Oslo I was planning to do a quick sightseeing in Oslo and catch the overnight train to Bergen. I was still debating whether I should stay one or two nights in Bergen, if I stay 1 night that means I’ll spend another night in an overnight train to Trondheim. Do you think it’s a good idea or do you have any other suggestions? I’m a university student so I’m looking for the cheapest and most convenient route during my trip. Looking forward to hear from you, thanks!
Jess Berresse says
Hi Silvia! Planning a month-long trip to Norway this June and really appreciate all the tips from your many blog posts – thank you! One question for you though… I’ve checked rent a wreck and other sites and can’t seem to find the month-long rates/deals you were able to find. Do you think it might be that I’m searching from a US IP address or maybe the season we plan to visit in (June/summer)? I haven’t tried reaching out to any companies yet – just checking rates online. Any suggestions are much appreciated!!
Thanks!
Jess
Sally Patterson says
Hi Jess! How did you go on your trip to Norway? Did you hire a Campervan in the end?
My friend n I are going next May/ June, hiring a camper n hoping to see as much as poss even Nord Kapp as cheaply as poss!!
Would love to hear how you got on! Cheers! Sal
Kim says
Hi, I would like to get some ideas/recommendation from you on Norway. I have a week off and want to visit Norway solo (flying in from San Francisco, Ca) end of January. What would be the best way for me get around, I’ve never driven in snowy conditions. What cities do you recommend visiting? And what is there to do in the winter? I’ve seen northern lights in Iceland and now I want to see it in Norway.
Silvia says
If you want to see the northern lights you’ll need to go above the Arctic circle, so around Bodø or farther north. If you don’t want to drive then Tromsø could be a good place to stay! There are also lots of other winter tours and activities you can do around there.