The krone is the official currency of Norway. The plural of krone is kroner. Each krone is worth 100 Øre. There is no plural for this; the plural and singular are exactly the same. The international code for the krone is NOK but it is commonly abbreviated to kr. In English, krone means crown.
The krone has been in circulation since 1875. At this point Norway became part of the Scandinavian Monetary Union that had only been formed to in 1873. This union lasted until 1914 and then it was dissolved however Norway, Denmark, and Sweden decided that they would all keep the name krone.
Coins for the Øre are only issued in the form of a 50 Øre. Kroner are issued as a 1 krone, 2 kroner coin, 5 kroner coin, 10 kroner coin, and a 20 kroner coin. Notes are issued in the form of a 50 kroner note, 100 kr, 200 kr, 500 kr and 1000 kr note.
The krone tends to be quite strong as a currency and indeed from 2005 it has successively been strong vis a vis the United States Dollar.
However, this makes it quite an expensive place to visit and prices in Norway tend to be quite high, so this has resulted in many people finding that Norway is simply out of their price range for a holiday, which is a shame because it really is a wonderful country to visit.
Since Norway is a developed country there is no problem getting kroner. Obviously it is possible to exchange kroner prior to your visit or you could take traveller's cheques. However ATMs are relatively common in Norway and there should be no problem in being able to access funds when you are in the country. Most cards will be accepted.
In Norway an ATM is called a mini bank. In the towns these are quite plentiful: you can even withdraw dollars, Euros and British pounds in the central station in Oslo. Most shops and hotels, even restaurants and cafes will accept all major credit cards. But you need be aware that you should have some form of identification with you when using a credit card (or even a debit card), which means that you may have to carry your driving licence or your passport with you at all times. For security reasons it is probably better not to carry both your driving licence and your passport together, because if you lose them both, it will be very hard to prove your identity. So for safety's sake only carry either your driving licence or your passport, one of these will be enough for when you are using your card.
In Norway, the risk of street crime is almost minimal. It is an extremely safe country to visit and it has an exceptionally low rate of street crime. This is one of the few countries that you will visit, where you do not have to worry too much about being pick pocketed, having your handbag stolen or having your bag slashed, because such things are relatively unheard of. In Oslo there are some areas in which are not particularly safe, however, it is easy to spot these because you simply won't feel safe going into them. Skippergata is one such area and you should probably try to avoid this area. But otherwise, you will be very safe and secure.
Norway is a very gentle country, the people are very warm and welcoming and it can be a really beautiful place to visit in the summer. It is known as the land of the midnight sun, because in June the sun only dips for a short while at night, resulting in almost 24 hours of daylight, around the time of the summer equinox.
If you visit Norway in the winter, the days are, conversely extremely short. It can also be quite cold and although there is a real air of festivity around December time, it is probably better to wait until the summer when you really do get to enjoy the fabulous quality of light.
The dramatic fjords are a really striking sights. They were caused by seismic earth changes and are actually the top parts of mountains and volcanoes, which the sea has shaped over many thousands of years, into a truly wonderful spectacle. Cruises to Norway are popular as a chance to get to see the fjords from the sea, but they can still be very dramatic when viewed from the road or simply from the ground.
One thing that people often remark on after they have visited Norway is the quality of the light, particularly in May and June. Although sunlight is basically sunlight, the light seems much brighter than in other parts of the world and as a result it is a joy to just walk in the open air and feel the quality of the very special sunlight.
Doing or seeing anything in Norway is likely to involve money and you need to bear in mind that it is an expensive country anyway, but with the added strain of a very strong krone, it really starts to add up and you may find it quite an expensive place to visit.
In particular, alcohol is very expensive, so much so that many people declare that it is actually a 'dry' country, meaning that it does not drink. In the cities, such as Oslo, Trondheim and Bergen, you may find that the number of bars and licensed cafes brings the price of alcohol down to being simply expensive, but it is never cheap.
It is possible to buy beers at the supermarket for a reasonably affordable sum, but you have to visit a state owned alcohol store, if you want to buy spirits or anything over about 22% volume. Wine also has to be purchased at the state-owned liquor store.
So if you are travelling to Norway and you like a good drink, it may be worth thinking about buying some beers at the supermarket or even going to the alcohol store and buying a couple bottles of wine.
Eating out is also expensive. Many of the foods on offer are a fish related however sometimes you can get steak or meatballs that are made from deer or game and even reindeer. Ironically, given that fresh fish is so available, the Norwegians have a particular penchant for, of all things, frozen pizza. So while you are in Norway you really should partake of this culinary delight, for no other reason than to say that you enjoyed it, or that you tried this local delicacy!
For people who are visiting Norway on a budget, it may be worth thinking about going self-catering, because the food is much cheaper to buy in supermarkets than it is in restaurants.
However, if funds permit, then there are some good restaurants where you will find a good range of food. The Norwegians do eat whale meat but, it is quite a rarity and you'll not find it readily available, and even if you do it is likely to be very expensive, so it really is a delicacy.
Vegetarians may struggle in Norway due to the lack of vegetarian dishes on offer, but most restaurants will make you something if you can specify what you will eat. That being said it is likely that it may not be the most appetising of meals and vegetarians may definitely want to consider going self-catering.
Norway has lots of different things that you can do, from trekking in the hills to taking part in extreme sports. So whatever your interests, you are more than likely to find something that will interest you……. although if your interests revolve around shopping a lot, then Norway is not exactly renowned for its shops and outlets for retail therapy. But most other people will find that they can find something to enjoy.
The wildlife in Norway is simply amazing. You can even go on polar bear expeditions or you can try your luck at whale watching. The birds are also of great interest to people who are avid ornithologists or rank amateurs. Basically whatever your interests in wildlife, be they small cute and cuddly animals to the fierce pride of the polar bears, you can find something for everyone.
Norway sometimes can feel like another world, not just another country. It can literally feel as if you are on the edge of the world, which of course, to some extent you are, since you are very close to the Artic circle (part of which is in Norway)
However, the people also make this a special place. Reserved and proud, they often seem a little aloof or as if they are just watching you and almost taking stock of you, to see who you are and what they think of you. You may find that you have to talk to them first, and they may not make the first move. But, once you do get talking to them you will probably find them much more friendly than you had found them initially. They are just reserved and do not assume that everyone wants to talk to them. Yet once you have broken the ice they can be extremely hospitable and welcoming.
In a sense this is the beauty of this country. Here you will not be hassled for money, you will not have to fight off beggars and you do not have to worry about your handbag being stolen or you being pick pocketed.
It almost feels as if you have stepped into another world, where you can simply enjoy the fantastically clean air, some wonderful wildlife, very friendly people and some bracing sea air. Undoubtedly Norway is not for everyone. If your idea of a holiday is lying on a beach somewhere and getting drunk every evening, then Norway will not be your dream destination. But, if you like your holidays to be just that little bit different, then Norway really can be a heavenly place for a holiday. Particularly in the summer, when the days never end and you can almost become disorientated by the lack of darkness: a purely magical place!