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Norway

3,386 bytes added, 19:54, 9 August 2022
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In the North
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{{Infobox Country
|country = of Norway
|language = Norwegian, Sami, Finnish
}}
'''Norway''' is a country in [[Europe]]. It is a member state of the [[Schengen Agreement]], but is not part of the [[European Union]]. Its capital is [[Oslo]]. Its neighbouring countries are [[Sweden]], [[Finland]] and [[Russia]].
The main challenge while travelling in Norway is the rapidly shifting weather, so be prepared for anything, as they say here: '''NorwayThere is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing''' is a country in . Most people speak [[EuropeEngland|English]]well enough for reasonable communication. People have been told to be wary of foreigners. It is Recently, it's been all over the news that some gypsies wait on the road with a broken car and steal cars from people stopping to help them, and it doesn't help much, especially if you're not quite white. If you look like a member state hobo your chances decrease further. Look presentable to increase your chance of getting picked up and be friendly. Ask questions. == Regions & Cities ==__TOC__=== In the North ===* [[Alta]]* [[Kautokeino]]* [[Schengen AgreementLofoten]], but is not part an archipelago* [[Narvik]]* [[Nordkapp]], the Northernmost point of the [[European UnionEurope]]* [[Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands]]* [[Trofors]]* [[Tromsø]]* [[Bodø]]. Its capital is  === Other Cities ===* [[Oslo]]. Its neighbouring countries are * [[Bergen]]* [[Fredrikstad]]* [[Horten]]* [[Kristiansand]]* [[Skien]]* [[Stavanger]]* [[SwedenTrondheim]], * [[FinlandVoss]] and * [[RussiaOtta]].
The main challenge while traveling in Norway === License plates ===There is the rapidly shifting weather, so be prepared a coding for anything, as they say hereareas: ''There the two first letters identify the region in which the vehicle is no such thing first registered, but as bad weatherthe plates migrate with the vehicle and Norwegians travel pretty much all around the country, just bad clothing'it's not something hitchhikers rely on.See also [[:wikipedia:Vehicle registration plates of Norway#Prefixes_and_sequence_numbers|List of codes on Wikipedia]]
Most people speak [[England|English]] well enough for reasonable communicationVehicles with Norwegian '''green license plates do not have back seats'''. People have been told to be wary So if you are not traveling alone, hitching a ride with such a vehicle is of foreignerslittle use. RecentlySome vans have a double bench for passengers in front, but except for those, green plates means seating for one passenger only. Even if it's been all over the news is a vehicle that some gypsies wait on had back seats when it left the road with a broken car and steal cars from people stopping factory, they will have been removed upon importation to help them, and it doesnNorway. This is done for tax reasons. Vehicles affected by this include ''t help much, especially if you're not quite white. If you look like a hobo your chance decreases further. Look presentable to increase your chances of getting picked almost all pick-up trucks ''including'' 4-door models''', and some minivans and be friendlySUVs. Ask questionsAlso some old station wagons.
== Hitchhiking culture ==
 
[[File:2002 hitch hiking in Norway.jpg|thumb|280px|right|[[User:Sigurdas|Sigurdas]] hitch-hiking somewhere in the middle of Norway. January 2002.]]
'''Norway''' is difficult to class as a good or bad country for hitchhiking (see the Discussion page). There are both very good and very bad feedback from hitchhikers in Norway:
 
[[Hitchhiking]] is not easy, although still very possible and chances of finding a long ride are quite good. In [[Tromsø]] it's even possible to hitchhike instead of taking public transport, by using a 2km sign (not as fast as the bus, however still better than walking).
 
=== Positive ===
'''Norway''' is not an easy country to hitch in, but it can be rewarding! Even though ''haike'' is not too common in Norway, people are very likely to pick you up and can be very friendly and helpful. Like in Sweden, foreign tourists and immigrants are more likely to [[picking up hitchhikers|pick up hitchhikers]].
According to [[User:Francisco1|Francisco1]] (also said by [[User:Fede|Fede]] [[User:Earlyturtle|Earlyturtle]]) although he didn't look very Norwegian and had no flag (see here below), just common nice cardboard signs, he always found people, many times locals (some foreigners also), any gender, any age, to pick him up, help him and give good advice. He doesn't agree with the idea that most Norwegians are unwelcoming to strangers, and even less nationalist or racist.  ''(see also: [[Talk:Norway|Norway, a paradise for hitchhikers]])'' === Negative ===According to [[User:thomasmyrman|thomasmyrman]] who hitched with a huge Norwegian flag, many drivers said they only stopped because it made them feel nationalistic pride and that it made the hitcher visible from far away. Consider having at least a small flag (even if you are not Norwegian) which you can buy anywhere in Norway. [[User:Grata|Grata]] also had a bad experience.
''(see also: [[Talk:Norway|No, it is not easy to hitchhike in Norway]])''
=== Hitching ferries ===
On hitchhiking short distance ferries that are usually paid by the amount of people in the car, especially around the fjords of Bergen and the Western coast of Norway:
When your driver enters a ferry, be sure he or she is not the first or second car in line. As soon as the person who collects the money from the cars, is with the first or second driver, get out of the car, go to the sundeck - or whereever else in the ferry - and back in the car when the boat is on the other side. Nobody will check on you during the ride or when the cars leave the ferry. Thus I would highly recommend you to be in a car while boarding a ferry. If you are not, just ask a few drivers! If you still cannot find a car, there's also a few possibilities to sneak if you time it right and you are not seen by the officials.
 
In the north, many ferries are free to walk on if you are not in a car. It’s still best to ask around or at least meet people while waiting for the ferry, however.
 
=== More advice ===
Norwegians have a tendency to always be on the rush on weekdays. Waiting times can be a bit longer around [[Oslo]] and in remote areas where traffic is very light. People expect some chatting since distances are long, and seem to have little tolerance for drug or alcohol use while on the road.
A large part of the population lives near the road, which extends from the [[Sweden|Swedish]] border in the South to almost all the way North, so when going North it's pretty hard to get lost, as long as you are headed the right way.
The roads going to Bergen and the West Coast (E16, 7, E134) aren't very big, don't expect motorways. They look more like small mountain roads, and are very nice to hitchhike along, you can stand directly on the road and admire the landscape at the same time. In winter (and fall and spring also) be aware that they might be closed to traffic due to snowstorms or pollution in the tunnels. The information is available for all roads in Norway on the internet.
 
It's common knowledge that truck drivers are very friendly and that the hitching is great if you go out to the shipping areas around Dyre Halses Gate in [[Trondheim]] and North of Strandveien<sup>Which one? Does this question refer to the previous misspelling of Strandveien?</sup>, but some hitchhikers have said otherwise. It's also much faster traveling alone considering that trucks and some commercial vehicle can only take 1 passenger. Around four in the afternoon, drivers have loaded incoming goods from that day and are leaving for a late/overnight haul to the next major city.
 
Do think of the weather, it can get pretty cold and rainy (or snowy) and the distances are very big between the more populated east side of the country and the cities in the West Coast, or the North. Maybe taking a warm tent as I did was the best idea ever, the experience of camping in the woods in those mountains was very nice.
 
Remember, hichhiking is about patience, so maybe you'll have to wait for a good while (it IS true that there are not that many cars), but just enjoy the beautiful landscapes and you can always walk along the roads, they are not highways properly said.
 
The Hurtigruten is a daily shipping service on Norway's coast, it stops in most towns along the way, starting in Bergen and going all the way up to Kirkenes on the Russian border. In many towns it stops for 3 or 4 hours and while it's in port, you can go onboard as a visitor for free. Just have your ID handy. Many ships have saunas and some have hot tubs that you can use for free.
 
In Statoil gas stations, you can buy one of their cups for the equivalent of 30 euros and drink as much coffee, tea and hot chocolate as you like for one year.
 
 
== Highway rest areas with paid showers ==
 
 
Eastern Norway
 
E6 Svinesundparken, Halden, Østfold
 
E6 Fugleåsen, Ski, Akershus
 
E6 Ormlia, Eidsvoll, Akershus
 
E6 Circle K Minnesund, Eidsvoll, Akershus
 
E6 Biri travpark, Gjøvik, Oppland
 
E6 Vinstra vegpark, Nord-Fron, Oppland
 
E6 Dovreskogen, Dovre, Oppland
 
E18 Ørje, Marker, Østfold
 
NR 3 Myklagard, Løten, Hedmark
 
NR 3 Shell Koppang, Stor-Elvdal, Hedmark
 
NR 3 Alvdal, Hedmark
 
 
Southern Norway
 
E18 Kjellstad, Lier, Buskerud
 
E18 Furulund Kro & Motel, Stokke, Vestfold
 
E18 Horisonten Lillesand, Aust-Agder
 
E18 YX Lillesand, Aust-Agder
 
E18 Circle K Lillesand, Aust-Agder
 
E39 Circle K Livold, Lindesnes, Vest-Agder
 
 
Western Norway
 
E16 Shell Dale, Vaksdal, Hordaland
 
E16 YX Skulestadmo, Voss, Hordaland
 
E16 Shell Gudvangen, Aurland, Sogn og Fjordane
 
E16 Steinklepp, Lærdal, Sogn og Fjordane
 
E39 Esso Vikeså, Bjerkreim, Rogaland
 
E39 Søylandskiosken, Gjesdal, Rogaland
 
E39 Heiane, Stord, Hordaland
 
E39 Bergen travpark, Vågsbotn, Hordaland
 
E39 Haugsvær, Masfjorden, Hordaland
 
E39 Esso Skei, Jølster, Sogn og Fjordane
 
E134 Best Kyrping, Etne, Hordaland
 
 
Central Norway
 
E6 Oppdalsporten, Oppdal, Trøndelag
 
E6/E39 Circle K Klett, Trondheim, Trøndelag
 
E6 Stav Gjestegård, Malvik, Trøndelag
 
E6 YX Gråmyra, Levanger, Trøndelag
 
E6 Best Brekkvasselv, Namsskogan, Trøndelag
 
E39 Digerneset, Skodje, Møre og Romsdal
 
NR 70 Håsøran, Sunndalsøra, Sunndal, Møre og Romsdal
 
 
Northern Norway
 
E6 Mosjøen, Vefsn, Nordland
 
E6 Fauske, Nordland
 
E6 Innhavet, Hamarøy, Nordland
 
E6 Buktamoen, Målselv, Troms
 
E6 Circle K Storslett, Nordreisa
 
E6 Shell Talvik, Alta, Finnmark
 
E6/E75 Tana bru, Finnmark
NR 80 Bodø havn, Nordland
 
== North Norway ==
Hitchhikers had varying experiences in the beautiful North. Some locals hitch regularly to commute. You can hitch a ride from mostly anywhere as there is not much traffic. Another challenge are the long winter nights, which make the hitchhiking day very short unless you are well equipped for [[Hitchhiking at night|night hitchhiking]]. In the North, total darkness sets in from around mid-November. Don't forget the specifics of [[Winter|winter hitchhiking]].
It's common knowledge that truck drivers are very friendly and that the hitching is great if you go out to the shipping areas around Dyre Halses Gate in [[Trondheim]] and North of Strandveien<sup>Which one? Does this question refer to the previous misspelling of Strandveien?</sup>, but some hitchhikers have said otherwise. It's also much faster traveling alone considering that trucks and some commercial vehicle can only take 1 passenger. Around four in the afternoon, drivers have loaded incoming goods from that day and are leaving for a late/overnight haul to the next major city.
=== Hitching rides on ferries ===
 
If possible, try to find out the ferry schedule. Hitch on the side where the cars drive into the ferry because in many places it's hard to hitch on the other side. You can maybe knock on people's windows when they wait for the ferry, especially if they come early and have to wait long, it's easy to talk to them. You can maybe try to hitch into cars that have already paid for the ferry but on almost all car ferries, and definitely all the short distance ones, you pay extra for each passenger so that would be sneaking. In a few ferries the driver might have paid for the car not dependent on passengers, but that is a rare case.
Blackriding the ferries is also very easy most of times. Just don't show up too much, there is always a queue (long or not) of cars waiting for it, ticket sellers are on board or at the harbour and they go directly, one by one to each car to make the ticket. When the ferry arrives and the ticket sellers (can recognize them easily) are busy making tickets to cars just enter the ferry and nobody will tell you anything, the guys at the entrance of the boat are not supposed to check tickets just to tell cars where to go so they won't stop you nor anything, just think that you have already paid before. Of course if there are other "backpackers" stay away from them cause they are the first to be approached for tickets when the boat arrives. Fede, his brother and a polish Polish hitchhiker (that makes 3 people together) easily entered in that way every time, from [[Lofoten]] Islands to [[Bodo]] as around Sognesfjord and [[Bergen]] 
Popular Ferry routes to Denmark and Germany are Kristiansand-Hirtshals, Larvik-Hirtshals (ColorLine), Oslo-Frederikshavn and Oslo-Göteborg-Kiel (StenaLine). With ColorLine, cars carrying up to 5 people don't pay extra, so it's possible to hitch a ride on the ferry for free (not correct anymore any more as of November 2012: extra passenger is 5€EUR 5. It would be an acceptable price, but since ALL of the drivers buy tickets on-line with 50% discount, it's almost impossible to catch a ride at the ticket office. We had to give up and hitchhike all the way to Oslo, Sweden and then Denmark. So you better don't rely on this possibility) StenaLine operates overnight only, so even if you manage to find a car, they'll still force you to pay for a very expensive berth (500+ kr). If you're heading to Denmark (the ports of Hirtshals and Frederikshavn are quite close to each other) it makes no sense to take the StenaLine from Oslo, because it takes a really long time (12h!!! that's the way to make you spend as much as possible on board) and you can sail from [[Larvik]] in about 4h, which is reasonably close to Oslo to reach in about 2 hours.
A note about hitching trucks! Alert, it is no longer possible to hitch trucks on Stena lines and probably Colorline as well. Only drivers allowed. when i asked several trucks in Frederikshaven they all said not possible.
* Mo i Rana - Karlsøya - '''1 day'''
* Karlsøya to [[Tampere]], [[Finland]] - '''2 days''' or 1 day and 1 night
 According to [[User:Mila77|Mila77]], female* A i Lofoten to Tromsö 2 Days on quite low traffic, maybe possible on 1 day in summertimeNote by Mila77: (now Mila.77) Please do calculate more time than usually in Norway. Remember they have a galhuge land but very few inhabitants. In the areas outside of cities, there are almost no people living. That means especially in the north, you will need much more time for the same distance than in Germany for example. You cannot compare this. Be prepared to wait much longer than you have ever in your life. There are few cars coming. However those who pick you up are very friendly.  
* [[Lofoten]] - [[Trondheim]] - '''2 days'''
According to [[User:ThorRune|Thor-Rune]], one guy.
According to [[User:peregrine|Peregrine]] in 2013, one gal
*[[Stavanger]] - Mandal - half day (2pm 14:00 to 6pm18:00)*Mandal - [[Oslo]] - "1 day" (9 am 09:00 to 4pm16:00)
*Mandal - Kristiansund - 30 minutes (10 min wait)
*Kristiansund to Tonsberg - 4 hours (10 min wait)
*[[Oslo]] - Swedish border - a few hours, 20 min wait in the rain, do not use hitch wiki's suggestion for the spot, 2 women took pity on me because they'd seen others standing at the "dangerous spot" and it was raining...
According to [[User:Francisco1|Francisco1]]
*[[Göteborg]](Sweden) - [[Bergen]] - two days by road number 7 (camping in Flå, between Honefoss and Gol)
consider a complete day (with as much light hours as possible) for [[Oslo]] - [[Bergen]]
I definitely recommend taking road 7 passing by the Aurlandsfjordet (fjord) at Aurland and Flåm, very beautiful
'''Distances''' - NOTENote: By car, not including waiting time and change of rides:
* Oslo - Bergen : ca. 7 hours
Hope that's of any help :)
Check out [http://no.avstand.org/nordkapp/lindesnes]this :)
 
=== License plates ===
There is a coding for areas: the two first letters identify the region in which the vehicle is first registered, but as the plates migrate with the vehicle and Norwegians travel pretty much all around the country, it's not something hitchhikers rely on.
See also [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_Norway#Car_number_prefixes_and_sequence_numbers List of codes] on Wikipedia
== Useful Language Bits ==
* Thank you - Tusen takk
* Cheers - Skål
* How are you? - Hvordan går det?
* North - nord
* South - sør
Additionally, the consonant J and the combination GJ is pronounced the same way you would pronounce Y (young). For instance, "jobb" (work) would be pronounced "yobb".
== Regions & Cities Personal Experiences ==[[File:2002 hitch hiking in Norway.jpg|thumb|280px|right|[[User:Sigurdas|Sigurdas]] hitch-hiking somewhere in the middle of Norway. January 2002.]]
=== In the North ===* [[Alta]]* [[Narvik]]* [[Nordkapp]], the Northernmost point of [[Europe]]* [[Lofoten]], an archipelago* [[Trofors]]* [[Tromsø]]Pls add info
* [[Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands]]
=== Other Cities ===
* [[Oslo]]
* [[Bergen]]
* [[Fredrikstad]]
* [[Horten]]
* [[Skien]]
* [[Stavanger]]
* [[Trondheim]]
* [[Voss]]
* [[Otta]]
== Borders Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==Norway is part of Schengen and doesn't have border check for people coming from Sweden or Finland. It does have a border with Russia though, and there are still checks for goods. Norwegian border checks can be picky, especially if you're crossing it with a truck and even more if it's an empty one.
== Eating & Drinking ==Food is expensive! Fresh fruits and veggies are even more expensive, especially in the North; but the dumpsters are full! especially of fresh fruits and veggies (mostly exotic like mangos avocados and bananas, tonnes of them but also of any other, from tomatoes to strawberries, blueberries, anything your appetite and taste may want) . Take as much food across the border as you can possibly carry, but no worries, when you will have finished it the dumpsters will surely fill your stomach, prefer small villages and towns than big cities since there is more food and dumpsters are (almost) always unlocked; plus food like oat, flat "fullkorn" bread, cooked legumes in metal or tetrapak boxes like beans, chickpeas, lentils, etc are defniitely cheap or at least affordable (around 1E per piece but often even less) and constitute a good way to buy something in order to "borrow" from supermarkets (since the security is not really active) the expensive food you need and can't pay.[[User:Guaka|guaka]] and Erga had a ride from Sweden all the way to [[Alta]] in the North and were smart enough to buy a box of food in a Swedish supermarket. [[User:Fedecicco|Fede]] and his brother hitchhiked and dumpsterdived all across the country for 3 weeks, and paid very few money for food .{{nomadwiki}}
== Accommodation & Sleeping ==It's a common misconception that you can put your tent anywhere for as long as you like in Norway. Norway has very liberal laws on tenting that gives the campers a lot of rights, but it's important to know the limitations.  You are allowed (and even have the right by law) to put your tent anywhere that is defined as "outland", as contrary to "inland"[https://www. That means, anywhere the land is not cultivatedfacebook. For instance, it is not allowed com/groups/hitchhikersnorway/ Hitchhikers in farmland, in a park, in a roundabout, or in a backyard. If it is, however, a untended forest or a wild-growing field, you can by right pitch your tent and stay there for 3 days. After 3 days you are required to move your tent. Though you cannot by right put your tent in a place like a park, it is generally tolerated for a night, but don't leave your tent standing while you explore the city during the day. You can also ask at a place like a petrol station if you may put it up out back.Norway] FB group </br>Few train stations are open 24h, it can be handy for a warmer night in winter time (Oppdall, Mosjoen ...)Other way to not freeze during winter, you can sleep in elevators on the train station like Paradis station in Stavanger. Nobody disturbed till 5[[wikivoyage:00 in the morning. In Oslo, you can pitch your tent around the train station of Skullerud, or in Bygdoy (where you find most of the museums) walk West before the King's property. There take any trails into the forest. The Torp Airport is closed overnight, but there is a nice forest just before the car park. There is as well a nice park on the hill in Sandfjord. Do not hitch on the motorway but take the secondary road between the airport and the town (Sandford train station is closed overnight). Oslo Gardemoen also has a nice pitch of forest somewhere inside that giant parking lot, you can even take the free parking shuttle bus back to the bus stop in the morning ;) == Other Useful Info ==Norway]]
* [https://lavprisekspressen.no/ Lavprisekspressen] runs buses between Stavanger and Trondheim
* [http://www.nsb.no/ticket_and_travelterms/minipris/minipris-article24726-2752.html Minipris] are cheaper fare train tickets on the NSB.
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{{Template:Europe/countries}}[[wikipedia:Norway]][[wikivoyage:Norway]][[trash:Norway]]
[[Category:E6|E6]]
[[de:Norwegen]]
[[es:Noruega]]
[[nomad:Norway]]
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