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The essential phone apps you need to travel around Norway

Whether you prefer IOS or Android, apps make travel easier. Long gone are days of spending hours deciphering road maps and timetables. Here are the best for getting around Norway.

Published: 1 April 2021 16:40 CEST
Updated: 10 April 2021 10:16 CEST
The essential phone apps you need to travel around Norway
Photo by Dominika Roseclay from Pexels

Vygruppen is a state-owned Norwegian transport group. On the Vy app you can plan your journey door to door using trains, busses, taxis, metro and boats. In addition to this it will show you nearby scooters and city bikes for hire in the bigger cities.

Currently you can book tickets with Vy and other companies such as Go-Ahead Nordic, SJ Nord and Ruter, as well as several smaller regional public transport companies. More regional companies will be coming to the app soon many you will be able to prebook many more journeys.

Vy is available on the IOS app store and on the Google Play store . 

Wherever you live in Norway be sure to download the city or regional specific public transport app. For Trondheim it is AtB. For Oslo, it’s Ruter. In Bergen, it’s Skyss. In Stavanger, it’s Kolumbus. And in Tromsø, its Troms Billet. All are avlaible in English.

Taxis in Norway are a very expensive way to get around. Prices aren’t regulated so tariffs can vary from company to company and between regions. Mivai is a taxi booking apps that gets quotes from nearby taxi companies and allows you to book the cheapest one directly. The app also allows you to rate the journey and driver afterwards.

Mivai is on both the Google Play and the App Store.

Olso is a great city to bike in. Luckily, renting a bike in Oslo is cheap and easy. The Olso City Bike app allows you to rent either a winter bike, with studded tires, between November and April or a regular city bike between April and November.

A season pass costs 499 kroner allowing you unlimited journeys under an hour until the end of November 2021.

It is on both Android and IOS 

READ MORE: ‘Out of this world’: Norwegian beach named ‘best in Europe’

Driving? Then Waze is the way to go. Waze works just as well in Norway as it does everywhere else it is supported. Waze provides directions, live traffic maps, road alerts as well as information on the nearest place to fill up, or to park.

Waze is available on both IOS and Android.

Don’t own a car but need to rent one for a day or two? Car-sharing app Nabobil has a selection of 8000 cars in Norway. In Oslo and Bergen, they have 950 cars with keyless entry. Insurance and breakdown assistance are included.

Nabobil is on both IOS and Android.

Spring has sprung in Norway and soon the ski season will give way to summer hiking trips.

Ut.no is the Norwegian Tourist Associations own app, however it is loved by locals too. The app gives you access to thousands of hiking trips and other outdoor excursions based on your location, giving you the lowdown on the best spots and hidden gems in your area. The app isn’t just for hiking but for, skiing, biking, kayaking and more.

The trips also have a good description of what to expect, colours for difficulty, the length of the trip and how long it should take. You can save your favourite trips and create a to-do list.  

UT.no is available on both Google and Apple stores.

In case you run into trouble on your trip it is also worth having the Help 113 app. It shows your exact coordinates for your location in case you need someone to come to your aid. Should you get lost Sports Tracker is always a handy app to have on your phone too. It tracks your route leaving a virtual trail of breadcrumbs which you can follow to get back home.

Help 113 is on IOS and Android. 

Sports Tracker is both iPhone and Android friendly too.

It’s always important to check the conditions before heading out in Norway. The weather app used by the majority of Norwegians is YR. The forecasts are for more accurate for Norway than the bog-standard weather applications on your phone. YR offers detailed forecasts wherever you are in Norway.

YR is available on Android and Apple.

Another essential app if you are planning a trip to the mountains or the fjords. Varsom Regobs offers forecasts for landslides, avalanches and floods. If you are driving, then you can also check Varsom to see how much ice is on the roads where you travelling to and from.  

IOS and Android both support Varsom. 

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BERGEN

How much does a city break in Bergen cost in 2024?

If you're considering a city break to Bergen, you might be wondering about the expenses involved. We've prepared a breakdown of the essential costs during a break to the picturesque city.

Published: 31 January 2024 17:16 CET
Updated: 18 February 2024 18:30 CET
How much does a city break in Bergen cost in 2024?

Bergen, renowned for its captivating blend of natural beauty (nestled amidst seven majestic mountains) and cultural treasures (including the UNESCO-protected Bryggen wharf), promises an unforgettable city break.

READ MORE: 24 hours in Bergen: Everything you should see and do

Whether you’re visiting historical landmarks, indulging in the culinary delights of western Norway, or simply immersing yourself in the breathtaking scenery, here’s what you can anticipate in terms of prices for your Bergen experience.

Accommodation and food expenses

Hotel prices in Bergen range from 1,200 to 1,500 kroner per night for mid-range options like the Ole Bull Hotel or Scandic Byparken in 2024, while more luxurious hotels – such as Hotel Norge by Scandic or Thon Hotel Orion – may cost around 2,000 kroner or more per night.

Budget-conscious travellers can always find hostels (such as City Hostel Bergen), apartments, or guesthouses for as low as 400 to 600 kroner per night.

Eating out in Bergen can be a delightful experience – though it’s rarely cheap.

You should expect to spend around 1,500 kroner per day on two meals if you dine in mid-range restaurants (such as Enhjørningen or Pingvinen in the centre).

Opting for budget-friendly eateries (Søstrene Hagelin in the city centre is a good example, especially if you want to try some local seafood specialties) may reduce your daily food expenses to around 400 to 600 kroner (if you’re gunning to eat out two times a day).

If you’re really looking to save money on food, one of the best value options in the city centre is the Sabrura sushi chain, which has an all you can eat buffet option for 279 kroner.

Getting around Bergen

Exploring Bergen is easy with its efficient and easily accessible public transportation system.

A single bus or light rail (Bybanen) ticket typically costs around 40 kroner (valid across the bus and light rail network for an hour and a half), and you can save with multi-day passes if you plan to use public transport frequently.

READ MORE: Oslo versus Bergen: Five big differences between Norway’s two largest cities

You can find more information about ticket options and current prices on Skyss’s website.

Taxis have a starting fare of roughly 100 kroner, with additional charges per kilometre/minute, as well as a minimum price, which differs on weekdays and weekends.

Bryggen winter

Bryggen, a UNESCO-protected wharf in Bergen, stands as an iconic testament to the city’s rich Hanseatic heritage, with its wooden buildings dating back to the medieval era. Photo by Ben Wicks on Unsplash

Activities and attractions

Bergen offers a number of attractions, including the iconic Bryggen Wharf (which you can visit without charge), the Bergen City Aquarium (230 kroner for a day ticket for children up to 15 years and 365 kroner for adults), numerous museums (such as the KODE Art Museum, where a ticket will cost you 150 kroner), and a selection of scenic fjord cruises.

Entrance fees to museums may range from 100 to 200 kroner, while fjord tours will set you back a lot more, anywhere from 450 to 900 kroner per person (for example, the Bergen Fjord Cruise to Alversund Streams on the m/s Eric Bloodaxe sightseeing boat costs 590 kroner).

If, on the other hand, you want to take the Fløibanen funicular, one of Bergen’s best-known and most visited attractions, which takes you to the top of Mount Fløyen, expect to pay 130 kroner for a return ticket between January and March or 180 kroner between April and September.

Going out for drinks, grabbing a cup of coffee, and souvenir shopping

Nightlife aficionados can enjoy a night out at bars or clubs for around 400 to 700 kroner, which includes a couple of alcoholic drinks (a beer at a club or pub goes for anywhere from 80 to 130 kroner) and some salty snacks.

If you’re not a night owl and prefer to relax with a cup of coffee while soaking in a city’s vibe in broad daylight, you can expect to spend anywhere between 30 and 60 kroner for a cup in most of the cafes close to the city centre (you can get coffee cheaper at 7-Eleven or Narvesen kiosks though, starting from 20 kroner).

READ MORE: A beginner’s guide to the Bergen dialect

Don’t forget to budget for miscellaneous expenses, including souvenirs and shopping. You’ll be able to find small Bergen-themed souvenirs for 50 to 100 kroner in gift shops in the Old Town. Bigger souvenirs and shirts can go for 200 to 600 kroner if they’re not branded. If you’re looking for quality and a local or Norwegian brand, such as a sweater from Dale of Norway, don’t be surprised to find pieces in the price range north of 1,000 kroner.

Total estimated cost

For a comfortable two-day weekend city break in Bergen in 2024, with mid-level accommodation, you can expect to spend roughly between 1,500 and 3,000 kroner per day, depending on your choices and preferences.

Keep in mind that these are approximate prices at the time of writing and may vary based on your personal preferences and circumstances, especially when it comes to items such as accommodation and food.

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