Ten Things About Norway Culture that Shock Visitors
Greetings from Oslo, Norway! We love to help travelers prepare for their vacations, and other than telling you the best things to do, we love to share the things that will shock you upon arriving in a new destination. Today we’re sharing the top ten travel shocks of Norway travel.
Norway Travel Shock #1: The Cost of Norway Travel
Everything in Norway is so expensive, it is shocking for first-time visitors. Hotels, food, clothing, transport, etc. Norway is a once in a lifetime experience, because you can only afford it once in a lifetime!
Read: How to Save Money While Traveling
Norway Travel Shock #2: The Natural Beauty of Norway
Photos of Norway are impressive, but once you see the natural beauty of Norway in person, it’s shocking. The fjords are amazing, and a quintessential part of any Norway travel. It’s a great place to get out and explore nature, whether you are hiking, skiing, kayaking or just riding along on a boat cruise through the fjords.
Norway Travel Shock #3: Liquor Laws
It is surprisingly hard to purchase alcohol in Norway. If you want a drink outside of a restaurant, you have to go to the state run liquor stores, which have very limited hours. Having a few drinks before you go out for the night is a great way to save money, but you have to plan ahead in order to purchase alcohol.
Norway Travel Shock #4: Norwegian Pride
People in Norway are very proud of their country and their Norwegian culture. This is most evident in the quantity and quality of museums throughout Norway. The Viking Ship Museum and the Folk Museum in Oslo, and you’ll find great festivals and museums all over Norway.
Norway Travel Shock #5: Extreme Light and Dark
If you visit Norway in the winter, it’s dark almost the entire day. The flipside is that summer in Norway means a lot of daylight, as the sun doesn’t go down until late in the evening. This can be a shock to your system, and throw off your sleeping schedule. Along those lines, the chill of Norway can also be a shock. It’s very cold in winter, and chilly the rest of the year. Make sure you bring layers of clothing and are prepared for cool weather year-round.
Norway Travel Shock #6: Beggars in Oslo
Norway is very much about equality and quality of life, but you will still see a lot of beggars in Oslo. Despite the “happiness factor” of Norway, Oslo still has the same problems as any major city, so be prepared to see street people asking for money in Oslo.
Norway Travel Shock #7: Equality in Norway
Despite the beggars you will see in Oslo, there is a shocking equality in Norway. Yes, there are high taxes, but there really aren’t huge disparities of income in Norway. (The Norwegians are the first to tell you that the beggars are not Norwegians.) This shows in many facets of Norwegian culture, including in conversations.
Norway Travel Shock #8: Skiing is Serious Stuff
You might be shocked at how much people in Norway love to ski. Norway always racks up the Olympic medals, most often in the winter sports events. Whether it’s downhill or cross-country, Norwegians really love to ski.
Norway Travel Shock #9: You Can Eat Whale Meat
It’s not an urban legend, you actually can eat whale meat in Norway. It’s not an everyday item on the menus in Norway, but it’s possible to find it if it’s something you want to try. If you didn’t know this ahead of time, it can be shocking to see it on a menu.
Watch: What to Eat in Norway
Norway Travel Shock #10: Lots of Paid Holidays
Pretty much the entire month of July is a paid holiday in Norway, and overall they get a lot of paid time off to travel or enjoy life. This is especially shocking for Americans who visit and only have a couple of weeks off per year.
We hope these ten tips help you prepare to visit Norway, and lessen the shocks you have upon arrival. Have you been to Norway? We’d love to hear what shocked you; just leave a comment below! For more Wolters World travel tips, check out these blog posts and videos: