Changes

|hitch = {{average}} to {{good}}<rating country='no' />|BW = NO

The main challenge while travelling in Norway is the rapidly shifting weather, so be prepared for anything, as they say here: ''There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing''Norway. Most people speak [[England|English]] well enough for reasonable communication. People have been told to be wary of foreigners. 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' is re not quite white. If you look like a country in 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]]* [[Lofoten]], an archipelago* [[Narvik]]* [[Nordkapp]], the Northernmost point of [[Europe]]. It * [[Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands]]* [[Trofors]]* [[Tromsø]] === Other Cities ===* [[Oslo]]* [[Bergen]]* [[Fredrikstad]]* [[Horten]]* [[Kristiansand]]* [[Skien]]* [[Stavanger]]* [[Trondheim]]* [[Voss]]* [[Otta]] === License plates ===There is a member state of 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 [[Schengen Agreement:wikipedia:Vehicle registration plates of Norway#Prefixes_and_sequence_numbers|List of codes on Wikipedia]] Vehicles with Norwegian '''green license plates do not have back seats'''. So if you are not traveling alone, hitching a ride with such a vehicle is of little use. Some vans have a double bench for passengers in front, but except for those, green plates means seating for one passenger only. Even if it is not part of a vehicle that had back seats when it left the factory, they will have been removed upon importation to Norway. This is done for tax reasons. Vehicles affected by this include '''almost all pick-up trucks ''including'' 4-door models''', and some minivans and SUVs. Also some old station wagons. == Hitchhiking culture ==[[European Union]]File:2002 hitch hiking in Norway. Its capital is jpg|thumb|280px|right|[[OsloUser:Sigurdas|Sigurdas]]hitch-hiking somewhere in the middle of Norway. January 2002. Its neighbouring countries ]]'''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: [[SwedenHitchhiking]]is not easy, [[Finland]] although still very possible and chances of finding a long ride are quite good. In [[RussiaTromsø]]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).

The main challenge while travelling in === Positive ==='''Norway ''' is the rapidly shifting weathernot an easy country to hitch in, so but it can be prepared for anything, as they say here: rewarding! Even though ''haike''There is not such thing as bad weathertoo common in Norway, only bad clothing''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]].

Most people speak According to [[User:Francisco1|Francisco1]] (also said by [[User:Fede|Fede]] [[EnglandUser:Earlyturtle|EnglishEarlyturtle]] well enough for reasonable communication. People have been told to be wary from foreigners. Recently, it) although he didn's been all over the news that some gypsies wait on the road with a broken car t look very Norwegian and steal cars from had no flag (see here below), just common nice cardboard signs, he always found people stopping , many times locals (some foreigners also), any gender, any age, to pick him up, help them, him and it give good advice. He doesn't help muchagree with the idea that most Norwegians are unwelcoming to strangers, 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 up and be friendly. Ask questionseven less nationalist or racist.

'''Norway''' is not an easy country === Negative ===According to hitch in[[User:thomasmyrman|thomasmyrman]] who hitched with a huge Norwegian flag, but 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 be rewarding! Even though ''haike'' is not too common buy anywhere 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 [[pick up hitchhikersUser:Grata|Grata]]also had a bad experience.

A large part of the population lives near the [[E6]] 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.

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. Yuu 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 passanger so that would be sneaking. In a few ferries the driver might have paid for the car not dependant on passangers, but that is a rare case. 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 any more as of November 2012: extra passenger is 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 sterna Stena lines and probably colorline Colorline as well. only Only drivers allowed. when i asked several trucks in frederikshaven Frederikshaven they all said not possible.

[[File:Erga_trying_to_hitch_from_Alta_to_Tromso.jpg|320px|right|Erga hitchhiking in Alta]]According to [[User:markusMarkuspetz|markus]] and [[User:abstorz|abstorz]], two dudes.* [[Stavanger]] - Mandal (near Kristiansand) - '''1 day'''* Mandal - [[Oslo]] - '''1 day'''

 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.  

There is According to [[User:peregrine|Peregrine]] in 2013, one gal*[[Stavanger]] - Mandal - half day (14:00 to 18:00)*Mandal - [[Oslo]] - "1 day" (09:00 to 16:00)*Mandal - Kristiansund - 30 minutes (10 min wait)*Kristiansund to Tonsberg - 4 hours (10 min wait)*Tonsberg to [[Oslo]] - not recommended as it was bad to wait on interstate: 1st attempt - 30 min, failed, got something to eat, returned and it was rush hour - the slower traffic helped! 10 min wait, hour ride to Oslo!*[[Oslo]] - Swedish border - a coding few hours, 20 min wait in the rain, do not use hitch wiki's suggestion for areasthe spot, 2 women took pity on me because they'd seen others standing at the "dangerous spot" and it was raining... According to [[User: the Francisco1|Francisco1]]*[[Göteborg]](Sweden) - [[Bergen]] - two first letters identify the region days by road number 7 (camping in which the vehicle is registeredFlå, but between Honefoss and Gol)consider a complete day (with as Norwegians travel pretty much all around light hours as possible) for [[Oslo]] - [[Bergen]]I definitely recommend taking road 7 passing by the countryAurlandsfjordet (fjord) at Aurland and Flåm, itvery beautiful '''Distances'''s - Note: By car, not something hitchhikers rely onincluding waiting time and change of rides: * Oslo - Bergen : ca. 7 hours* Oslo - Trondheim: ca. 7 hours* Oslo - Kristiandsand: ca. 4 hours* Oslo - Stavanger: ca. 7 hours* Oslo - Tromsø: ca. 22 hours* Stavanger - Kristiandsand: ca. 3 hours* Stavanger- Bergen: ca. 3,5 hours (2 ferries)* Trondheim - Bergen: 10 hours* Trondheim - Tromsø: 15 hours* Most southern point of Norway(Lindesnes) - northern point (Nordkapp): ca. 1 day, 8 hours.See also Hope that's of any help :)Check out [http://enno.wikipediaavstand.org/wikinordkapp/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_Norway#Car_number_prefixes_and_sequence_numbers List of codeslindesnes] on Wikipediathis :)

==Regions & Cities== [[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 === * [[Tromsø]]* [[Alta]]* [[Narvik]]* [[Trofors]]* [[Nordkapp]], the Northernmost point of [[Europe]]* [[Lofoten]], an archipelago* [[Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands]] === Other Cities === * [[Oslo]]* [[Bergen]]* [[Stavanger]]* [[Trondheim]]* [[Voss]]* [[Fredrikstad]]* [[Horten]]* [[Skien]] ==Border Crossing== 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 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. Take as much food across the border as you can possibly carry. [[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. ==Accommodation & Sleeping==It is legal to pitch your tent in Norway, 500m from the main road and 500 meters from habitations.Another rule says that you can stay as long as you want, 'till somebody require your spot to pitch his own tent.It is tolerated to pitch your tent in a park at night, or behind a petrol station if you kindly ask. Few train stations are open 24h, it can be handy for a warmer night in winter time (Oppdall, Mosjoen ...) 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 carpark. 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). ==Other Useful InfoSee also =={{nomadwiki}}* [https://lavprisekspressen.no/ Lavprisekspressen] runs buses between Stavanger and Trondheim* [http://www.nsbfacebook.nocom/ticket_and_traveltermsgroups/miniprishitchhikersnorway/minipris-article24726-2752.html MiniprisHitchhikers in Norway] are cheaper fare train tickets on the NSB.FB group

[[wikitravel:Norway]][[trashwikivoyage:Norway]]