November 11, 2023
Exploring Norway on a budget
Hej, hej! 😀
Norway, with its stunning fjords, majestic mountains, and vibrant cities, is a dream destination for many travellers. However, this Scandinavian paradise often comes with a reputation for being expensive. However, with careful planning, it’s entirely possible to explore Norway on a budget and still savour the breathtaking landscapes and rich culture. This is exactly what I did with my friends this summer 😀
Oslo
We started off by visiting the capital city – Oslo. Oslo merges modernity with its cultural heritage and it offers several museums and galleries, including the Historical Museum or the Munch Museum. Personally, I really like visiting museums as it usually teaches me about the place I am visiting. Unfortunately, the first stop during our trip, the Historical Museum, came somewhat as a disappointment. It had several exhibitions which were nice but we lacked Norwegian or Scandinavian history. What we found interesting in the museum was the oldest runestone. It was discovered in the autumn of 2021 during an excavation of a grave near Tyrifjord, west of Oslo. It is thought that these runes were inscribed between A.D. 1 and 250.
Our next activity was much more engaging and rich in information. Namely, we booked a guided city tour. This is when we strolled around the city centre and we visited the Cathedral, and Parliament as well as some smaller streets where we got to know interesting facts from Norwegian history. Lastly, we wandered along the Aker Brygge district where Oslo’s waterfront (photo above) and the Opera House (photo on the right) are located. It is quite a captivating blend of old and new. Altogether, the tour was enjoyable which was thanks to our guide who was humorous and informative.
The last stop in Oslo was the Vigeland Park. Vigeland Park stands as a testament to Gustav Vigeland’s art and a celebration of the human experience. Home to over 200 bronze and granite masterpieces, the park’s centrepiece is the iconic Monolith, a towering sculpture composed of intertwined figures that symbolize the circle of life. The art and nature harmoniously converge so it’s a place gladly visited by the locals as well.
In the afternoon we left Oslo and headed to our Airbnb accommodation (photo below). If you plan on visiting Norway, make sure that you check cheap accommodation! It can save you a lot of money! On our way, we had some stops to admire beautiful nature. Most of the food and everything else that we expected to use during the trip, we took from Sweden. So we only dropped by the grocery store to buy some minor things we had forgotten to take. Looking at the prices in Norway, we were very glad to actually be prepared with everything in advance 😉
Nærøyfjord
The key attraction of our 2nd day was a cruise trip along the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord. The cruise started from Flåm (a quaint village nestled along the Aurlandsfjord) and finished in Gudvangen. Nærøyfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a narrow, serpentine fjord surrounded by towering cliffs. It was a bit pricey (750 SEK) but it was totally worth it! Every minute of the cruise was simply breathtaking; the cascading waterfalls, snow-capped peaks, and charming villages that dotted the shoreline. After coming back to Flåm we also visited a railway museum, local market and the local brewery which according to the reviews is one of the best in Norway.
An alternative to the cruise is a train trip. The Flam Railway is one of the steepest railways in the world and it apparently also offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
On the way back
We were driving west for several days but only a few hours per day but our return journey was supposed to be done in one day. Thus, it was supposed to take 10 hours in total to reach Gothenburg. Based on our plan, we were supposed to start around 8 am, have a few stops on the way (viewpoint, church and dinner) and be back around 9 pm in Gothenburg. Let me tell you… it did not go like that 😀
We actually managed to start on time but we got a bit lost because the maps weren’t in line with the roadworks at that time. But eventually, we reached the Stegastein viewpoint. And as with everything that we had seen in Norway, this viewpoint was also breathtaking. So getting lost was totally worth it.
Then, we visited our 2nd stop – Borgund Stave Church. It is located in the Sogn og Fjordane region and this iconic stave church is a masterpiece of intricate wooden architecture, dating back to the 12th century. The church’s remarkable preservation and intricate details, from its dragon cresting to the delicate wooden filigree, make it a jewel of Norwegian history. The museum that is connected to the church provided us with a lot of information about the history, religion and architecture of Norway across centuries.
The rest of the trip went quite fine until we reached Oslo where the bad weather conditions did not allow us to drive reasonably fast. Therefore, we reached Gothenburg around midnight. However, the trip was amazing! 🙂
Some tips
As we all were students on this trip, it must have been a budget-friendly exploration and indeed it was. As I mentioned earlier, we brought a lot of things from Sweden so we didn’t have every meal out but still explored some traditional delicacies such as brown cheese or cured meat. Also, we travelled by car thus, we didn’t have to spend a fortune on public transportation. This also meant that our Airbnb was in the villages so it was way cheaper. Moreover, since there were 5 of us, the costs of fuel didn’t amount to an excessive amount.
Overall, Norway proved to be a captivating adventure filled with both cultural exploration and awe-inspiring natural wonders. I fell in love with magical Norwegian landscapes and I can’t wait to visit it again. Hopefully soon!
/Alexandra, Experimental and Medical Biosciences
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