Travel to Norway

Browse listings of  Home Exchange, Vacation Rentals, Homestay, B&B (furnished apartments, villas, cottages, condos, farmhouses and other types of accommodations) of Norway:

Vacation Rentals

Home Exchange

Bed and Breakfast

Homestay

Last Minute Tips Before you Travel to Norway

• Time Zone: GMT/UTC +1
• Electricity: 230V, 50 Hz (bring an adapter/transformer for your hair drier, laptop, cellular phone etc.)
• Currency: Norwegian Krone (NOK)
• Country Dialing Code: 47

Must See - Properties on UNESCO World Heritage List

• Bryggen
• Urnes Stave Church
• Røros
• Rock Drawings of Alta
• Vegaøyan -- The Vega Archipelago
• Struve Geodetic Arc
• West Norwegian Fjords – Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord

Norway

Location
Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden

Capital
Oslo

Population
4,593,041 (July 2005 est.)

Regions
19 counties (fylker, singular - fylke); Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More og Romsdal, Nordland, Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold

Largest cities of Norway
Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger, Drammen, Fredrikstad, Kristiansand

Climate
temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast

Ethnic groups

Religions
Church of Norway 85.7%, Pentecostal 1%, Roman Catholic 1%, other Christian 2.4%, Muslim 1.8%, other 8.1% (2004)

Languages
Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities

Government type
constitutional monarchy

Background
Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe tapered off following the adoption of Christianity by King Olav TRYGGVASON in 994. Conversion of the Norwegian kingdom occurred over the next several decades. In 1397, Norway was absorbed into a union with Denmark that was to last for more than four centuries. In 1814, Norwegians resisted the cession of their country to Sweden and adopted a new constitution. Sweden then invaded Norway but agreed to let Norway keep its constitution in return for accepting the union under a Swedish king. Rising nationalism throughout the 19th century led to a 1905 referendum granting Norway independence. Although Norway remained neutral in World War I, it suffered heavy losses to its shipping. Norway proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World War II, but was nonetheless occupied for five years by Nazi Germany (1940-45). In 1949, neutrality was abandoned and Norway became a member of NATO. Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late 1960s boosted Norway's economic fortunes. The current focus is on containing spending on the extensive welfare system and planning for the time when petroleum reserves are depleted. In referenda held in 1972 and 1994, Norway rejected joining the EU.

Flag of Norway
Red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the colors recall Norway's past political unions with Denmark (red and white) and Sweden (blue)

Norway Travel and Accommodation – Your Tips for Travelers

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