Norway anyone been?

miss choc

Thinking of taking a 5 day trip to Norway late Spring plan to see Oslo, Bergen Fjords. How long should I spend in Oslo should I do 3 days in capital and 2 in Bergen or would it be enough to do a day trip to Bergen. I will be flying in Rygge with Ryanair. Is it expensive in Norway in terms of eating, drinking, accommodation transport etc. Any good recommendations for cheap 2/3* hotels. Also what are the must sees. I don't know anything to be honest about Norway but would like to see it.
My rough itinenery would be Rygge - Oslo (2days) - train to Bergen (2 days) back to Oslo for one day -Dept for Rygge was trying to avoid the return train trip Oslo to Bergen as it's dear but trying to get from Rygge to Bergen (latter 3 days in Oslo) first might be awkward connection wise. If anyone know of reasonable Oslo/Bergen/Fjord package tours in Dublin would be great I looked at one or two but some are coming in at near €1000 each :eek: so figured I might do a DIY trip.

whomitconcerns

eating, drinking...if you like both budget at least 200/night...try 9-15 euro for a beer and 15-16 for a burger even in a pub..BUT its great fun and the people are really friendly you will have no problems with being there as an independant!

See the Vigeland Sculpture Park definitely....very weird and very cool. The ski slope isnt far from the city either and theres a great traditional restaurant up there. The city centre is nice too and this time fo year may be some ice sculptures around. Some of the museums and down around the fiord is very nice also. You can do tours down there too. It will be expensive

melekalikimaka

been to bergen a few times, and oslo also, tbh i'd spend more time in bergen, much nicer place and its not THAT expensive, think dublin proces, maybe a little more, thats what i found

Tabnabs

If you're going to Norway, stay out of pubs and restaurants and self cater. Buy beer and food in the supermarket and enjoy the spectacular outside scenery they offer. For accommodation in Bergen I'd recommend the Montana youth hostel http://www.montana.no/en/ I imagine that the other YH are of a similar high standard and "value" for money.

Here's why Norwegians don't tend to socialise in pubs
http://planetbergen.no/images/uploads/Scruffy_meny_02.05_.12_web_.pdf

whomitconcerns

god that menu made me miss Norway. I need to go back! Beer in a supermarket i never found too cheap..well relatively i guess...55 quid or so for 24cans of ringits....

Irishrossoblu

Try Norway in a Nutshell bustour. Leaves from Oslo or Bergen and does a bit around the fjord etc.

http://www.norwaynutshell.com/en/explore-the-fjords/norway-in-a-nutshell/#about

2 days in Oslo are grand. Nice city, but expensive. Prices are double Dublin prices. Bergen can be done in a day, as its small and not all that great. Miserable weather is the big pitfall of Bergen.

Remember that the Rygge airport bus to and from Oslo is €45 return.

miss choc

Just saw this link projectravel.ie that specialises in travel to Norway from Dublin a package covering return flights, 4 nights in 3*hotels - 2 in Oslo and 2 nights in Bergen, the Oslo - Bergen railway trip, norway in nutshell (train, boat and bus) for €945 per person

DIY

Flights say Ryanair €90 return
Bus from Rygge to Oslo €50
Accommodation say for 4 nights Oslo/Bergen €250
Bergen Railway €75
Fjords travel ??

More hassle but if I just book the Ryanair get the bus and just book the NIN ticket and Bergen Railway when I get to Oslo might save more money. Think it will be trips to supermarkets and pizza joints and not much drinking at those prices

Raekwon

melekalikimaka wrote: »

been to bergen a few times, and oslo also, tbh i'd spend more time in bergen, much nicer place and its not THAT expensive, think dublin proces, maybe a little more, thats what i found

Are you being serious? Nearly everything is double the price in Oslo compared to Dublin. Even people from other Scandinavian counties agree that Norway is a very expensive country and that says it all really.

whomitconcerns

Think it will be trips to supermarkets and pizza joints and not much drinking at those prices

budget all right for it and the bars are great fun as I said very friendly, worth it for the experience. But whatever you think it cant cost more than...double that...TBH the only place for cheap food is indeed mcdonalds,etc.

melekalikimaka

whomitconcerns wrote: »

budget all right for it and the bars are great fun as I said very friendly, worth it for the experience. But whatever you think it cant cost more than...double that...TBH the only place for cheap food is indeed mcdonalds,etc.

i dont know how i missed this or maybe i just dont notice it over there the figures speak for themselves i suppose.

whomitconcerns

to be honest i shut my brain down as soon as i picked up a first round of 2 pints and 2 jaegers for 47€...had no choice..would drive yoruself mad if you kept thinking about it!!

Still I love the place!

miss choc

True this is meant to be a surprise 40th birthday pressie for hubby and was planning a merged long haul which would cost more anyway. To be honest I will just want to be sightseeing and having a bit of food won't want to be getting mad drunk as I want to be able to get up early and enjoy the sights:o esp getting up early for the Bergen railway. Once I'm aware of the costs of alcohol there it would put me off tbh. How much would a coffee or soft drink be there just as dear as alcohol? Might have to make some sandwiches in my room

melekalikimaka

check out tromse if you can...still northern lights season

miss choc

Think I'd probably just do Oslo/Bergen for the mo get my head around the expense of everything

Irishrossoblu

miss choc wrote: »

How much would a coffee or soft drink be there just as dear as alcohol? Might have to make some sandwiches in my room

Coffee can range from 28 to 45kr. Soft drinks are pretty much the same. Juices can be up to 50kr.

There is little point in traveling to Oslo if you are going to have to eat sandwiches (eg McDonalds wrap costs 86kr/€12) in your hotel room in my opinion. It will take away from the experience. I would advise you to just pay the money for good meals and enjoy the visit. There are plenty of fantastic restaurants who do a 3 course meal for 400kr/€55. You wont be disappointing with the food. Hamburgers are good here in restaurants and usually are good value at 150kr/€20.

munchkin_utd

Tabnabs wrote: »

If you're going to Norway, stay out of pubs and restaurants and self cater. Buy beer and food in the supermarket and enjoy the spectacular outside scenery they offer. For accommodation in Bergen I'd recommend the Montana youth hostel http://www.montana.no/en/ I imagine that the other YH are of a similar high standard and "value" for money.

Here's why Norwegians don't tend to socialise in pubs
http://planetbergen.no/images/uploads/Scruffy_meny_02.05_.12_web_.pdf

for those (like me) who automatically cant tell if a beer is cheap or dear in a currency that means nothing to them, I looked up the conversion and the cheapest local lager served in a 0.4L glass is a shade over 10Euros.
A guinness is €12.50 for a pint
A vodka red bull €14.59
And for food a burger (and no chips!) is €25.50.

Norway isnt exactly a budget destination is it? !!

Tabnabs

Norway is quite the opposite to a budget destination. It's a very wealthy country with high wages and high taxes. You go for the unforgettable experience, not for cheap thrills.

miss choc

Even though they are dear they probably have better healthcare system, good public transport, high wages and good summers so it justifes their high cost. Whereas Ireland has high cost with low wages, crap healthcare and transport and s*** weather all year oh to retire abroad :rolleyes:
Will be a 5 day max holiday so will be careful with money but will splash out too dont want to spend my hols in McDonalds. If I dont plan it now it will always be in the back of my mind to go. My long haul idea anyway was going to work out dearer anyway in terms of flights alone!!

long range shooter

Tabnabs wrote: »

If you're going to Norway, stay out of pubs and restaurants and self cater. Buy beer and food in the supermarket and enjoy the spectacular outside scenery they offer. For accommodation in Bergen I'd recommend the Montana youth hostel http://www.montana.no/en/ I imagine that the other YH are of a similar high standard and "value" for money.

Here's why Norwegians don't tend to socialise in pubs
http://planetbergen.no/images/uploads/Scruffy_meny_02.05_.12_web_.pdf

Don't think that's the reason,it's more a culture thing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_in_Europe_by_monthly_average_wage

Binge drinking is common in Scandinavian countries, even in Norway and Sweden despite their history of high prices of and restricted access to alcohol in recent decades. For example, the Norwegian cultural phenomenon known as Russ provides high school seniors with a socially accepted venue for binge drinking. For younger people, from about 14–15 years and until leaving adolescence, binge drinking may be the main form of drinking. In Sweden people tend to drink huge amounts every weekend and especially during holidays. Denmark, which has the most lax access to alcohol in Scandinavia, unsurprisingly also has the highest alcohol consumption among teenagers, not only the highest in Scandinavia but also in the world. Still, the alcohol consumption among teenagers in Denmark is lower than the alcohol consumption of adults in Denmark, which is only average worldwide.