Helpful Information

• Accommodation
See designated item in the menu.

• ATMs (automatic teller machines)
ATMs are available everywhere in the city centre.

• Business Centre
At the venue hotel, the host will set up a complimentary Business Centre for the delegates, with a number of computers, connection points for laptops, and printers. The computers will be equipped with standard software (Microsoft Office).

• Business hours

* Grensen post office in the centre of Oslo. Opening hours vary from post office to post office.
** Most shopping centres. Opening hours vary from shop to shop.

• City Bikes (Oslo Bysykkel)
The city bikes are available from a large number of bike stations around the city. You need an electronic smartcard to use the bikes. Most of the stations are in the city centre, but you can also find bikes at at Bygdøy (the Viking Ship and Kon-Tiki Museum), and new stations are being built continuously. There is a station at the back of the Radisson BLU Scandinavia Hotel. The bike stations are open 6 am - midnight.

Tourists and others can rent a smartcard at the Tourist Information for NOK 80 for one day. A photocopy of a credit card is needed as a deposit.

Read more information on City Bikes.

• Climate and clothing
Regardless of season, the Norwegian weather is liable to change from day to day.  September can be fairly warm and pleasant, but as autumn is setting in, visitors may also experience cooler weather and there is a chance of rain. In September, the average day temperature in Oslo is 10.8 °C, with an average maximum of 15.1 °C and an average minimum of 8 °C.

We advise delegates and accompanying persons to include some light clothes in their lagguage, i.e. clothes they can layer depending on temperature. A waterproof coat and/or umbrella and comfortable walking shoes/boots/trainers would also be convenient.

See the weather forecast for Oslo.

• Cost of living
Please note that Norway has a high cost of living. Prices for certain products (like cigarettes/tobacco and alcohol) and services may be higher than visitors are used to.

• Credit cards
All major credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops.

• Currency/exchange
The Norwegian currency is kroner (crown in English) which is made up of 100 øre. Notes are issued in the following denominations: 1000, 500, 200, 100 and 50. Coins in use are: NOK 20, 10, 5 and 1, and 50 øre.

As of end March 2010:

(The exchange rates are approximate and given for information purposes only.)

Travellers may exchange foreign currencies at banks, Post offices and exchange offices. At Oslo Central Station they will find both exchange offices and a bank exchange office. Exchange offices can also be found at other locations in downtown Oslo.

• Electricity supply
Voltage is 220 volts at 50Hz, and round two-pin plugs is the Norwegian standard. If travelling with electrical or electronic devices, it is recommended to bring a two-pin continental adapter although adaptors may be purchased in shops in the city centre.

• Health/vaccination
There are no health certificate requirements for entering Norway, and the general standard of healthcare is high.

Please be aware that since Norway is a rabies free country, there are strict rules with regard to bringing pets into the country.

• Insurance
The host committee cannot accept any responsibility for accidents, losses of/or damages to any luggage and/or personal belongings which may occur. Delegates and accompanying persons are advised to obtain travel, medical, personal accident and luggage insurance in their home country prior to departure. It is advised that European nationals should hold a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

• Language
Norwegian is the official language of Norway, though English is widely spoken. Signs, however, are often written in Norwegian only.

• Safety
Norway is a safe country in which to travel. However, travellers should still take sensible precautions to avoid petty-theft.

• Smoking
In Norway, smoking is prohibited in public buildings and other places open to the public. This also includes offices, public transportation, hotels, bars, restaurants and all other establishments where food and beverage are served.

You must be 18 years old or more to buy tobacco and tobacco products in Norway.

Within the limit of NOK 6 000, travellers are allowed to import 200 cigarettes or 250 g of other tobacco products and 200 leaves of cigarette paper free of customs and excise duty.

• Taxes
A sales tax is added on most products in Norway. The general tax is 25 %, and on food to go (grocery stores and take away) the tax is 14 %. For some services, like cinema tickets and public transportation, the tax is 8 %.

All taxes are included in the price indicated on the product.

Visitors leaving with goods purchased in Norway can claim the VAT refund at the airport at their departure by showing the goods and producing the invoices or receipts exhibiting VAT paid for the goods in question. VAT is only refunded on goods totalling a minimum value of NOK 315. No refund will be made if the claim is not lodged before departure. (This does not apply for Nordic visitors.)

• Telephone
All regular telephone numbers in Norway consist of eight digits, and there are no area codes. (There are also some five digit numbers mainly used by companies.)

… calling to Norway 
The international telephone access code is + 47.

… calling from Norway
The outgoing code from Norway is 00.

For calls from the hotel, please see information at the hotel.

Mobile phone
Norway has three national network operators: Telenor, NetCom and Network Norway (NetworkN).

• Time Zone
The time zone for Norway is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) + 1 hour. From the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, we have daylight saving time (DST), which gives us the opportunity to enjoy sunny summer evenings by moving our clocks an hour forward in the spring.

In September the time will be Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) + 2 hours.

• Tipping
Tipping in Norway is seen upon as a voluntary gesture rather than an expected economic compensation for services rendered. However, tipping is customary if the service is satisfactory. Service and sales tax are always included in the bill at restaurants and bars. Customers kan round up to the nearest 10 or 100 NOK. A 10 % tip is considered generous.

• Visas
The general rule is that all foreign nationals require a visa to visit Norway. However, there are several exceptions to this rule. In the link below is a list of those who do not require a visa. Please make sure to get sufficient information on the requirements for nationals of your country before travelling to Norway. For more information, you should contact the nearest Norwegian Embassy or Consulate or a travel agent in your country.

All foreign nationals who wish to enter Norway must have a valid passport or other identification that is officially recognised as a valid travel document.

If a visa is required, and you request a formal invitation from the host, please fill out the relevant section of the registration form.

For more information on visa, please see the homepage of the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration.