Norway Transport

Airports
Norway has a vast number of airports across the country; however as a holiday maker arriving for a weekend trip or a fortnight’s vacation, there are probably only a handful of airports that will be relevant to you. The country’s main international gateways are Oslo International Airport (OSL), Stavanger International Airport (SVG) and Bergen International Airport (BGO). 

Oslo International Airport provides air transportation to and from the capital of Norway and is consequently the country’s most significant international gateway.

A multi-storey car park at the airport provides 4,000 spaces and is connected directly to the terminal building. There’s an outdoor car park next to the multi-storey and another more significant one situated further away from the terminal and connected via a free shuttle bus. This park is split into areas P1 to P5 and offers both short and long-term parking options, as do the multi-storey and the other outdoor car park.

Facilities within the airport include cash machines and bureau de change counters in both the Arrivals and Departures halls and fax and photocopy machines at the information desk in Arrivals. Wireless internet access is available throughout the terminal building. A duty-free shop can be found beyond passport control in the international departures lounge while ahead of security are a variety of other retail outlets such. For eating and drinking, there’s a good selection of bars, restaurants and take away outlets. 

Getting to and from the airport is a simple enough affair, as the airport is facilitated by trains, airport buses and taxis which all run from their respective points of origin within the airport grounds. Car hire companies are on hand for those who prefer to make their own way to their onward destinations.

Bus
Coach services are available from the UK to Norway from National Express (www.nationalexpress.com) while Eurolines offers routes from other countries (www.eurolines.com). From the UK, coaches go via Brussels and Copenhagen or via Amsterdam and Copenhagen.

Car
Norway shares borders with both Finland and Sweden so it’s possible to enter the country by car from both of these countries. Visitors from EU countries can drive in Norway using their domestic licences, while all other visitors are required to have an international driving licence.

Sea
It’s possible to get to Norway by ferry from Sweden, Denmark and Germany and also from the UK. From Newcastle, England, there are ferries to Bergen, Kristiansand, Stavanger and Haugeshund. All services from Newcastle are operated by Fjord Line and DFDS Seaways. Visit their respective websites for more information: http://www.fjordline.co.uk/ http://www.dfds.co.uk/dsw/en

Bus
Norway has local, regional and national bus companies who together share a reputation for providing efficient and reliable services. Occasionally, adverse weather conditions in more remote areas can affect the punctuality of certain services but on the whole, buses run to a rigid timetable. In Oslo, public transport is provided by Oslo Sporveier who offers common tickets that can be used for transfer between the bus, metro, tram and ferry services. Cross country services are provided by Nor-Way Bussekspress who operate a capped fare system, meaning there’s a maximum figure you can pay irrespective of the distance travelled.

Car
Driving in Norway used to be something of a traumatic affair on account of narrow roads winding around steep mountain faces; however over the years, many roads have been rebuilt improving the quality and therefore the safety standard. The addition of a good number of tunnels has also improved things dramatically by eliminating the need to travel around many mountains. In the more urban areas, the road network between the cities is well designed, allowing for speedy connections between destinations. Visitors wishing to drive hire cars or their own vehicles may do so on domestic licenses from EU countries, while all other visitors will need international licenses. Norwegians drive on the right-hand side of the road.

Taxi
Norway has a good selection of taxi service providers in every city. Booking ahead is generally the best way of securing a cab, especially if you are running to a schedule. In Oslo you can dial 02323 from any phone and book a cab with Oslo Taxi, one of the biggest taxi firms in Scandinavia. In Bergen, you can call 07000 and book a cab with Bergen Taxi and in Trondheim, call Tronder Taxi on 07373. Taxis throughout the country operate on metered fare systems.