Norway is renowned around the world for the Fjords that stretch along the coast and offer some breathtaking views. Norwegian cuisine is renowned for its dependence on its seafood. Whale meat, mackerel, and salmon are some of the most popular among other Norwegian foods. Stave churches based on the original hof’s or Norse worship sites remind everyone of the Vikings which at one point struck fear in the hearts of Europeans.

Traveling info

Norway is not part of the EU however it is part of the Schengen agreement. This means that citizens of countries which are part of the Schengen agreement may travel to and from Norway freely without the need for a visa, the only requirement being is an ID or a passport. Certain states have agreements with Norway meaning citizens of these nations do not require a visa in order to visit Norway. (List in sources). All other visitors are required to obtain a visa prior to their trip. When driving in Norway, drivers must have their driving permit, certificate of insurance and car registration with them at all times. Visitors coming from the outside of EU or EEA may be required to have an International driving license. The IDP does not replace the national driving permit and both must be carried at all times whilst driving. Winter tires are mandatory from November until April. Norwegian law also states that headlights must be turned on at all times whilst driving.

Traveling hazards

Roads in Norway are in excellent condition however weather conditions is what severely changes safety on the roads. Main roads and most of the rural roads are paved however mountainous roads can be very narrow and steep. Most mountainous roads are closed during the winter due to heavy snowfall. When driving on the rural roads it is important to drive defensively as large animals such as elk of reindeers often cross the roads. This sounds like an unlikely event but what is almost impossible really happened to a man in Norway. Driving on a country road 220 km north of Oslo a man swerved not to hit an elk and drove straight into a bear that came out running onto the road. Given that there are over 100 thousand elk in Norway it is not uncommon to meet one, but there are only about 150 years.

Environmental hazards

Svalbard is an archipelago located halfway between Norway and the North Pole. The archipelago is made up of glaciers, mountains, icy fjords, and about 2 thousand polar bears. The estimated 3 thousand inhabitants are strictly forbidden from making any contact with these behemoths of earth’s predators. These animals have very little contact with humans and did not develop an instinct to avoid people. Polar bears will not hesitate to hunt a human and because these animals are stealth predators, its prey does not usually realize it is hunted until the bear attacks. Mainland Norway has a very small population of brown bears and wolves however these animals prefer to stay far from areas of human activity. Unlike polar bears, these animals will not hunt down humans as prey unless they are starving which is rather very unlikely due to the abundance of herbivores to prey on. Although swimming is not a common practice in Norway, some of the boldest and cold resistant people practice swimming off of the Norwegian coast. There have been only two recorded shark attacks in the history of Norway however these cannot be ruled out. To minimize the risk of such attacks it is advised to avoid swimming after dusk and to avoid swimming with bleeding cuts.
Although there are no active volcanoes or dangerous seismic activity in Norway, there are several other natural hazards. A large part of the country is mountainous and prone to dangers such as landslides, falling rocks, and avalanches. Extreme weather conditions, particularly up north, can be very hazardous particularly for inexperienced tourists.

Health hazards

There are currently no outbreaks of any diseases in Norway nor are there any vaccination requirements in order to enter the country. There are however several vaccinations which are strongly recommended in order to ensure a safe trip. These include the routine vaccines, hepatitis A and B and the rabies vaccine. Public healthcare in Norway is universal for its citizens and provides some of the best quality services in the world. Expats must pay for their services with the exception of European health insurance card holders. The EHIC holders are entitled to free services or services are a greatly reduced price. This also covers a stay in a public Norwegian hospital for a certain amount of time. Expats who are not eligible for EHIC should purchase health insurance to cover for the medical services which may be very costly. Doctors, as well as staff in both public and private facilities, speak English which allows for easy communication with tourists.
In case of an emergency dial 112.

Crime

Norway experiences a low crime rate with almost no violent crime and some petty crime. Petty crime mostly involves pickpocketing, theft of unattended good and scams. Normal precautions are advised due to the low possibility of falling a victim of crime. To minimize the risk as much as possible, staying low key is advised. This means avoiding to expose signs of wealth by indiscreet handling of money or wearing flashy jewelry. Criminals often pick their targets by estimating wealth by tourists appearance. To keep money out of sight money belts are advised. These can discreetly store money, credit cards or documents such as IDs. Terror attacks are a possibility in Norway. Norway is considered as a medium threat level when it comes to Terrorism. Muslims who were granted Norwegian citizenship has been reported to leave the country to join ISIS. Terrorist attacks in Norway are a possibility and cannot be ruled out. Norwegian drug laws punish for possession, cultivation, distribution, transportation, etc. with penalties ranging from 2 to 10 years in prison.

Summary

There are many incredible attractions in Norway among which are the northern lights which may be witnessed during winter or the bright nights where the sun shines 24h a day during the summer season in the northern part of the country. Norway is certainly a place to visit. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/norway-visa/
https://www.udi.no/en/word-definitions/persons-who-do-not-need-a-visa-to-visit-norway-/#link-709
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/norway