Norway

Etiquette & respect

Norwegians are generally open-minded and tolerant and there are few, if any, dos and don'ts that foreign visitors need to keep in mind. If anything, it is important to keep in mind that Norway is perhaps the most egalitarian country in the world. Behaving in a way that suggests either party is inferior or superior is considered exceptionally rude, and the flaunting of wealth or rank (if any) is frowned upon. Most Norwegians will handle misunderstandings or possibly offensive comments in a friendly manner and almost all will respond well to compliments paid to the country in general. Many Norwegian people can however be mistaken as s…

Tipping guidance

Traditionally, the tip has not been common, but is getting more so by outside influence. Tipping is never considered offensive, but not tipping is also completely normal. In Norway, like most of Europe, waiters are well paid and thus not dependent on tips from customers. However, a tip can be given to show appreciation for the service. It is common in mid- to high-end cafés and restaurants. In restaurants, rounding up is the norm, and 10% is considered generous. It is not normal to tip outside restaurants and bars, but in situations where change is common it is polite to leave the change (for example, taxis). Tipping cab drivers is common if you travel for more than 200 kr, but you will get no reaction from the driver should you choose not to tip, perhaps a new experience to American and English tourists.

Health & wellness

The water quality in Norway is adequate and mostly good or very good. Unlike continental Europe, most of the tap water in Norway is from surface water like rivers and lakes typically in hills above towns. Unlike groundwater, surface water is mostly low in calcium and rarely hard. Tap water is always drinkable (except on boats, trains etc.) and there is generally no need to buy bottled water (in fact, bottled water often comes from the same source as tap water). In the mountains, water from streams and rivers is usually drinkable and often high quality, but some common sense is needed to judge the source. The hygiene in public kitchens is very good, and food poisoning rarely happens to tourists. Norway can get relatively warm in the summer, but be prepared to bring warm clothes (sweater, wind breaking/waterproof jacket), as they might come in handy. It's hard to predict the weather, and in summer, you may experience severe weather changes during your stay. Tourists hiking in the high mountains (above the forest) should bring sports wear for temperatures down to freezing (0 °C) also in summer. Rain and strong wind can occur at any time adding to the cooling effect. Norway has a high density of pharmacies. Nose sprays and standard painkillers (paracetamol, aspirin) can also be purchased in grocery stores and gas stations. Do not underestimate the power of the Nordic sun! The sun is generally not as strong as in Southern Europe, but the air is often very clear and clean in the North and UV-levels can be quite high despite the low sun, especially in the high mountains. This sometimes applies also in cloudy weather. Snow fields and water surfaces multiplies the radiation. And in cool conditions (low temperatures or wind) you don't feel that the sun burns your skin. Bring sunglasses when you go to the high mountains, when you go skiing in spring and when you go to the beach. Animals and insects In southern Norway, there are ticks (flått) in summer. They can transmit Lyme disease (borreliosis) or TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) through a bite. Both can be very serious. The risk areas for TBE are mainly along the coast from Oslo to Trondheim. Although incidents are relatively rare and not all ticks carry diseases, it's advisable to wear long trousers rather than shorts if you plan to walk through dense or tall grass areas (the usual habitat for ticks). You can buy special tick tweezers from the pharmacy that can be used to remove a tick safely if you happen to get bitten. You should remove the tick from your skin as soon as possible and preferably with the tick tweezers to reduce the risks of getting an infection. If the tick bite starts to form red rings on the skin around it or if you experience other symptoms relating to the bite, you should go visit a doctor as soon as possible. Since ticks are black, they are more easily found if you wear bright clothes. It is advisable to inspect the skin after a day out, particularly on children. Dogs that run around in grass and bushes often attract lots of ticks. There is only one type of venomous snake in Norway: the European adder (hoggorm), which has a distinct zigzag pattern on its back. The snake is not very common, but lives all over Norway up to the Arctic circle (except for the highest mountains and areas with little sunshine). Although its bite is hardly ever life-threatening (except to small children and allergic people), be careful in the summer, especially when walking in the forests or on open fields. The adder can also bite hands you bend to pick wild berries or mushrooms. If you are bitten by a snake, seek medical assistance. The probability of being bitten is however very small, as the adder is very shy of humans. Contact For minor injuries and illness, go to the local "Legevakt" (emergency room/physician seeing patients without appointment) 116 117 (in country only). In cities this is typically a municipal service centrally located, be prepared to wait for several hours. In rural districts, you typically have to contact the "district physician" on duty. For inquiries about toxins (from mushrooms, plants, medicine or other chemicals) call the national Toxin Information Office at +47 22 59 13 00

Scams & street smarts

Food safety is very good in Norway. Salmonella is very rare compared to other countries, and health officials inspect restaurants at a regular basis. Also tap-water is usually very nice; Voss water from Vatnestrøm in Aust-Agder is actually exported abroad, including the US.