Tips and Secrets of Norway
Norway is one of the safest countries in the world. Yet, you will not see huge masses of tourists in Oslo, since the majority are more interesting in the hiking opportunities up north, and thus there aren’t too many secrets hidden by the locals… unless they are very well hidden and not even my local friends know about them. There are many tips that could have helped me during my first few days here, but they can all be found on the internet with basic research. The most essential thing to do before moving or simply visiting Norway is to understand the public transportation they offer.
You will never find a local buying their tickets on the machines at the stations (like almost everyone does in Boston). The prices on these machines are almost double the price than if you would buy your tickets inside any convenience store. Most importantly, you need to check the different types of tickets. The discounted ones for students and adults under 25 are usually hidden and you have to ask for them, otherwise you will end up paying full price! In Norway, like many other European countries, a public transportation ticket will not take you all the way to and from the airport. Instead of spending over $100 on a taxi, there are trains that take you between Oslo Central Station and the airport with a price of $20 one way (or $7 if you’re a student!).
Besides getting to know how to use the subway and trams, it is important to note that there are many cool events in Oslo you won’t find on Facebook. They are not advertised on a large scale and rely on locals knowing about them from a young age. I have happened to bump into some of these events, usually out of coincidence when I get lost between streets. They can be anything from bluegrass concerts to moving art exhibitions. In my opinion, the best are Oslo’s flea markets, which I have been told have become very popular in recent years. There are many of them and a good representation of local culture. They sell vintage jewelry, books, clothes, etc. and are a nice way to of talking Norwegian!
