Norway

This beautiful Scandinavian country has very much to offer for cyclists and it is famous for it's wild and unspoiled nature.

First of all it has very good and well paved roads with usually enough space for cyclists and if there isn't the drivers are behaving well. Also many dirt tracks can be cycled.

From the capital Oslo you can cycle north to climb the Hardangervidda the biggest European plateau from which you can descend into the land of fjords which are represented amongst almost all the southwestern coast. Cycle next to the fjordwaters with huge cliffes to be seen all around you and take bridges and ferries to hop the countless islands around the coastline.

Also very popular is to cycle to the North cape, as known by many this is seen as the most northern point of Europe. On the way to it do not forget to include the Lofoten as there seem to be very scenic places that would blow away your imagination.

Really recommended to take good rain clothing because in some places it could rain more than 300 days per year.

Going out for dinner is usually very expensive in Norway.

Feel free to write your own experiences of Norway.

The people are friendly and hospitable, but will not easily approach you of their own accord. If you ask them something, they are very friendly and helpful.

Norwegian is a language related to German and Dutch. If you read a text out loud, it often makes sense. The spoken language is incomprehensible to a beginner. Don't worry, almost all Norwegians (except older people in the north) speak good English.

People from EU, Canada, Japan and USA don't need a visa. All other people need a Schengen visa to visit this country. You can find more information here https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/tourist-schengen-visa/. The visa is valid for 90 days, and allows you to travel through all Schengen countries.

There is plenty of food and drink available everywhere. The prices are a lot higher than in Belgium or the Netherlands.

Cooking fuel

Unleaded petrol and diesel are readily available. I have used camping gas with valve tanks. They are expensive but obtainable. Spiritus is called rødsprit (pronounced "reu-sprit") and I've only come across it at gas stations; sometimes it's not on the shelf and you have to ask for it. Esbit blocks are not available.

**Supermarkets/shops
**

Supermarkets are your source of food. Stock up enough. There is a supermarket in all larger towns. If you are short, you can often still buy something at gas stations, but you will then pay the main price.

Along the coastal route there are many villages with supermarkets within a short distance of each other. Opening times vary widely, often until 8pm in larger towns and are occasionally open on Sundays as well. In small villages they may close at 5pm. The shops are often closed before 10 am. If you have left a village before that time and you do not have emergency rations, then you have to be sure that you will find a shop or eatery before 5 p.m.

Food items such as bread are also available at some campgrounds and gas stations.

Stalls on the street

No experience with it, except in the fruit harvest time. Stalls with boxes of strawberries and raspberries are then unmanned. You put the money in a bowl and take the fruit with you. Usually it comes in an open box, so eat it on the spot.

Restaurants

Restaurants abound, but eating out in Norway is very expensive.

Drinkable water

Water from rivers and streams is pure and drinkable. Water from fjords is salty!! I'm hesitant to drink water from lakes (still), but Norwegians assure me that you can just drink that.

Mosquitoes can be very annoying sometimes. Buy a good mosquito oil, provide a "mosquito-proof" tent and always stand in the wind. Cook before the wind dies down in the evening. Jim: "During my 3-week holiday in August there was no wind and I had hardly seen any mosquitoes."

Best time to cycle

Anyone who goes cycling in Norway should prepare for (a lot of) rain. However, once a high pressure area has settled above Scandinavia, it can also linger there for a long time and you might as well have a warm sunny summer. During the day it is warm while in the evening it cools down and it remains light indefinitely. In recent years, it appears that June is the best summer month. July and August are often very wet. Although September can sometimes still be a beautiful month, keep in mind that from mid-August the summer comes to an end and the temperatures can already drop considerably.

Every season is wet. Norway has only two kinds of rain: 1: a lot and 2: a lot. A good rain suit is a basic requirement for cycling in Norway. The weather can change quickly, by the way: heavy rain in the morning and radiant sun in the afternoon or rain in the evening and at night, followed by a bright day. You go to Norway for the views and when it rains you don't see anything. Therefore, build in your planning rainy days when you do not have to move. There also seem to be longer dry periods, but I was not allowed to experience that during two bike rides of several months each.

There are big differences in temperature and precipitation between north, west and south of Norway. In general, the weather can change quickly. In summer, the chance of rain, especially on the coast, is high.

The autumn period (September/October) is very beautiful, because of the intensive autumn colours. You are also hardly bothered by mosquitoes. The weather can then still be reasonable (sunny and reasonable temperatures), but can quickly turn to cold weather (snow).