Ok, here we go (and so you know, I have not travelled anywhere yet, but I am planning on doing it, but Norway is my home country, so I know a good bit about it).

Here are some things you might need to know in general about Norway:

It is an expensive country.
Most people there speak English (at a decent, but not necessarily good level), so you can make yourself understood.
The capital is Oslo.
There aren't really any strict dress codes.
You are not allowed to carry a gun.
Don't shop or eat at Aker Brygge...

Climate

Now that you know a little, let's get started. If you don't want to get cold you should not go to Norway in winter. It gets down to below 0 (Celsius) in every single place, guaranteed, though it is colder the more inland and closer to the border you get, and warmer closer to the sea. Although it is cold, a trip to northern Norway can be amazing anyways when you go -- in summer there is the midnight sun (which is cool), and in winter you have the snow, and the northern lights (but I can't say for sure you'd see the northern lights) which is totally amazing.

In summer it gets over 20 Celsius in pretty much all of Norway though, so it's warm enough, and if you want you can go for a swim! (and by the way... we have no sharks or deadly jellyfish in our shallow waters... :) )

Places and things to see

In Norway there is also many things you can see, and here are some places worth visiting (and there are more too!).

Oslo

Aker Brygge -- lies in Oslo and is a "port" if you can say so, where there are shopping malls, cafés, restaurants and other things, but watch out, they're a rip-off, it's really expensive, so you'd rather go somewhere else if you're on a budget...

Rådhuset -- the city hall of Oslo, a building with two tall towers... It doesn't lie too far from Aker Brygge.

"Slottet" and Karl Johan -- Slottet is the "castle" (if you can call it that) of the Norwegian royal family (yes, we are a monarchy), and Karl Johan is the street which leads up to it, and also the main shopping street in Oslo.

In Oslo there are also some different parks with sculptures in them, and different things...

Trondheim

Nidarosdomen -- Yes, in Trondheim lies a church called Nidarosdomen... It is a big church, and you shouldn't miss it if you have time, or are passing through Trondheim.

Other

In many parts of western Norway there are old wooden houses (no, not little cabins), which I guess you could call historical.

Outside of a town called Stavanger there is placed three gigantic swords (a sculpture)-- so if you're a passer-by why not take a look...

When you get to the polar circle (if you're going that far north...) the entire circle is marked with small globes standing across the country, and the polar centre, where they sell souvenirs, and you can make a little Mileston (for free ;) ) just as a memory from you when you were there.

You can also visit Prekestolen -- a mountain in Stavanger, and if you climb to the top you have a wonderful view of the fjords, and a real Norwegian landscape... -- I recommend it... ;) You can also visit Viking museums, and digging sites...

Things you might need to know

In Norway, if you are shopping or eating, don't do it at Aker Brygge, because if you do you are surely going to find what you bought or ate much cheaper somewhere else.

And by the way, if your buying food to prepare yourself, you shouldn't buy it from the regular Norwegian big shops like Rime, Rema, Meny or any other stores like them (you'll know what I mean when you see them). You should rather go to smaller shops, or shops owned by immigrants (you'll surely recognize those too...), because it is much cheaper.

You can buy pretty much anything you need in Norway (clothes, hygiene things, food, travel guides - in English, Norwegian, and a bunch of other languages - other books and magazines in different languages, and in general the things that you might end up needing).

We don't have things like malaria mosquitoes, and contaminated water and stuff...

It's cheaper to buy stuff in Sweden... (shouldn't say that... but it's true...)

Drugs are ILLEGAL.

It's fairly easy to get a speed ticket (for those of you who are renting cars).

Some taxi drivers are going to try to rip you off by driving the "scenic routes"...

Except for a backpack and the language barrier it's probably not gonna be that hard to blend in.

Oh yeah, and there are tourist offices... ;)

Bits 'n pieces

Find & book hostels in Norway.
For discussion and more information: the Backpacking Europe Forum!

About the author

Author: Silje Kleven
From: Norway
E-mail: tigerpusen05 @ yahoo.com