Norway boasts not only a very high standard of living for its citizens, but also a well-established activity of the transport system and a widely ramified network of road and rail routes and flights.
In Norway, the following main modes of transport can be distinguished:
- motor transport (including taxis and car rental);
- public transport (buses, trams and metro);
- railways;
- water transport (ferries and boats);
- airlines.
Automobile transport
The movement in the country is right-handed. From the capital of the state - Oslo - dozens of modern highways differ in different directions, including covering and remote areas in the far north. The roads are in excellent condition, they are very fast, but rather narrow, often with steep turns and lots of tunnels.
Traffic regulations in Norway
In all the Scandinavian countries, including Norway, the rules stipulate that when driving at any time of the day, the vehicle must be equipped with dipped headlights or parking lights. The reason for this is the frequent change of weather conditions, which can sharply worsen visibility. On some roads along the fjords traffic with trailers is prohibited. Significant penalties are provided for driving under the influence of drunk driving and a seat belt not fastened.
Rent a Car
In order to rent a car in Norway , you will need an identity card, an international driving license, a credit card and paid insurance or a cash deposit for the car you took. The driver's age must be at least 21 years, and driving experience - from 1 year. In addition to a car, you can rent a bicycle.
Toll roads and parking lots
All parking in Norway is paid, you can park on them only. Entry to Oslo and Bergen - for a fee. To travel on toll roads, you can use the AutoPASS electronic subscription (for its purchase you will need the AutoPASS contract and the special electronic device AutoPASS On-Board Unit (OBU)). If you do not have such a subscription, you can pay the fare in the window "Mynt / Coin" or "Manuell". Please note that payment is made by Norwegian coins and credit cards.
Taxi
The car in Norway can be either stopped on the street, or called from the hotel or found in a special parking lot. This pleasure is not cheap - about $ 3.2 will have to pay to land in a taxi ($ 4.3 after 19:00 and on weekends) and then about $ 1.4 for each kilometer of the route. We accept credit cards from all major payment systems, including VISA, American Express, Diners Club and MasterCard.
Public transport in Norway
It includes a network of bus lines, metro and trams. The ticket for 1 trip to any type of transport costs about $ 2.2 and is valid for 1 hour from the time of composting. If you plan to travel a lot, you can take a daily travel "dagskort", which costs almost $ 5.35, or a week ($ 18.15). There is also a "flexikort" ticket, for which 8 trips cost $ 13.9. Transportation of bicycles, ski equipment and large baggage is paid separately. For children, students and the elderly, some transport companies offer travel benefits.
The network of bus routes in the country is rather branched. This also applies to the vicinity of the fjords and provincial towns. Express buses run between large settlements, airports and ferry terminals. Standard bus routes are cheaper than rail and ferry travel, but take more time. The vast majority of intercity buses leave from the capital's central terminal of the bus station on Shvegaardstrasse. Please note that for larger companies, as well as for long trips, tickets should be booked in advance.
Railway transport
The length of the railway tracks in Norway is over 4 thousand km, including about 800 tunnels and more than 3 thousand bridges. Traveling by train opens up wonderful landscapes of mountains, lakes and fjords to tourists. The railways connect Oslo with the major cities of the country - Bergen, Trondheim , Buda , Stavanger , as well as with neighboring Sweden. Perhaps the most exciting route connects the cities of Oslo and Bergen and passes through the mountain plateau of Hardangervidda , otherwise known as the "roof of Norway". This trip takes from 6 to 8 hours, so it is preferable to leave at night. The northernmost railway station in Norway - Bodo - is located beyond the Arctic Circle. There are no direct rail flights from Russia to Norway, but you can take the route with a transfer to Helsinki.
In addition to paying the cost of the train ticket, you will need to pay for the seat reservation. Only in this case you can get a ticket on hand. You can do this either in the machine (biletteautomat) or at the cashier on the train. You can buy tickets online using the Minipris system. Tariffs for it are very democratic (from $ 23.5 to $ 35), but it is worth remembering that such tickets are not refundable.
Maritime transport in Norway
This mode of transport is also very popular in Norway. It includes ships, ferries and boats. Tickets for them are purchased from ferry companies (payment by credit cards) or at the ticket offices of the stations before departure. Ferry tickets are quite expensive, so you should either book them in advance (in this case, many companies offer discounts of up to 20%), or purchase as part of the stock and sales. The most popular route is Hurtigruten, which lies between Bergen and Kirkenes and back. It takes 11 days, during which time you will be able to fully enjoy the natural beauties of the Scandinavian country. During this journey, you will see such cities as Alesund , Trondheim, Tromsø , Svolver, Honningsvåg and, of course, Bergen. Among other exciting trips by ferry we will choose the way from Geiranger to Hellesilt, from Gudvangen to Kaupanger and from Larvik to Lysebotn.
Ferry crossings are made every day. In addition, many routes provide for a large number of stops along the coast. On large ships it is possible to transport even cars, which is convenient for those who combine a cruise and a trip around the country.
The Norwegian ferry service also includes international transport of passengers to Denmark , Germany, Scotland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands . Russians can get to Norway by getting on a ferry to Sweden and making a transfer there.
Airlines
Domestic air traffic plays a big role in the country. Since Norway has a considerable length from north to south (2.5 thousand km) and a complex mountainous terrain, it is not always possible to reach the remote regions by bus or train. In winter, air travel is the only opportunity to be on the islands or in mountain passes.
Norway's main airport is in Oslo and is called Gardemoen (Oslo Gardermoen Airport). In addition, there are airports in Bergen, Buda, Moss and Stavanger. Gardemoen serves most international flights. The flight from Moscow to Oslo takes 2.5 hours and costs from $ 80 to $ 160. From the airport to the center of the Norwegian capital, you can get on the Flytoget high-speed train (journey time 20 minutes, adult ticket price $ 19, student ticket - $ 9.5) or Flybussen bus (about 40 minutes, $ 11.7). A taxi ride to the center of Oslo will cost $ 71.5 to 17:00 and $ 84.5 after 17:00.