I often hear that people skip traveling to Norway because of the expenses. Norway is indeed an expensive country, but it doesn't have to be costly traveling around Norway. I have written down 17 ways for you to travel on a budget in Norway. If you follow this guide, I am sure you will leave this country with a smile on your face and still some money left in your pocket.

Imagine cruising through the fjords, hiking mountains shaped by glaciers, see glaciers for free, surf in ice-cold water, find hidden and uncivilized beaches, walk through small villages, finally be able to see the "Hytte" Norwegian way of vacationing and roam free in the wild and pitch a tent anywhere.

Read my list of how to travel cheaply in Norway and book your next trip. The best time to see the beauty of Norway is late spring, early summer (bright colors and light green and lush mountains) or late winter, January and February are excellent, especially up north.

1. NABOBIL FOR NORWEGIANS ONLY

Not everyone knows about this, but in Norway, we have something called “Nabobil,” and it is a place online where you can actually rent a car from a local. For instance, if you go to Lofoten in Northern Norway, and you see that renting a car from rentalcars.com or other sites seem very expensive, you can go to nabobil and make some good deals.

HOW NABOBIL WORKS: 

Go to www.nabobil.no, if you prefer English you can just quickly click on the “Use the English version.” Then you will see the section where it says find a car to rent, for small and big trips. Then just put in the necessary information such as location, from date to date and what kind of car you need; regular car or a van. You will have to include the intended mileage, like how far will you go, rental prices shown in search results will include the entered mileage. Finally, click on the “show cars nearby” button and you are all set. You will be contacting the owner of the car, and you guys will figure out the price together and where to meet.

GOOD TO KNOW:

Insurance up to Kr 1 000 000,- is included ( as of today’s current: $117,106.88) It is safe. (I have done it a couple times myself, and I saved so much money) Read more about Nabobil.

2. NORWEGIAN TAP WATER

In Norway it is safe to drink tap water, it is actually among the best and cleanest water in the world. So I would recommend you to bring (hydro flask) or something that you can clean instead of wasting plastic bottles. You can also drink water from streams and waterfalls, literally everywhere out in nature. Just make sure the water isn’t murky or brown. I always fill my bottles from streams when I go hiking.

3. GUESTHOUSE OR AIRBNB IN NORWAY

I feel that Airbnb is starting to become a bit expensive, but not in Norway. I find it much cheaper to book a stay with Airbnb compare to hotels. A guest house is also an option if you want cheap but straightforward. Sometimes you won’t even stay in the room if you just need a bed, then the guest house will be perfect for you. Ask yourself what is more important, a nice place to stay and less money to use or a decent place to stay with more money to spend.

4. CAMPING IN THE WILD (FREEDOM TO ROAM ANYWHERE)

Welcome to the worlds best place when it comes to camping anywhere you want, without someone telling you to move or make you pay fees. Just follow the basic rules that say you are not allowed to camp in someone’s backyard without permission, or camp 150 meters from a house or cabin. There are so many beautiful places to camp next to the fjords, in the mountain, nearby a lake or just close to the city center. I think it is rude when I see someone camp like 150 meters away from a campground, but I probably would do it myself to save money, but sometimes it is good to actually pay a little to get showers and free WIFI, but this is all up to you.

5. EXPLORE NORWAY TICKET BY AIR

If you want to explore Norway in a heartbeat, you should definitely go for this ticket. The ticket is valid for 2 weeks, and you can travel unlimited. The company has divided the country into 3 zones, which means you can choose one zone, 2 or just travel everywhere in Norway, the difference is the price.

Zone 1 costs about $435 (3460 Kr)

Zone 2 costs about $512 (4070 Kr)

All of Norway costs about $589 (4680 Kr)

Additional week ( if you think that two weeks isn’t enough) $255 extra (2040 Kr)

THE DIFFERENT ZONES:

Zone 1:

Zone Southern Norway (south of Norway from Trondheim)

Zone Nordland (includes Trondheim, Nord-Trøndelag, Nordland, and Tromsø)

Zone Finnmark (Covers all of Finnmark and includes Sørkjosen and Tromsø in Troms)

Zone 2:

Zone Southern Norway (south of Norway from Trondheim) + Zone Finnmark (Covers all of Finnmark and includes Sørkjosen and Tromsø in Troms) or you can choose a zone, Nordland.

Zone Finnmark (Covers all of Finnmark and includes Sørkjosen and Tromsø in Troms) + Zone Nordland.

Zone 3:

All of Norway.

The travel period is from July 1 – August 31, 2019. Availability might be limited, so they advise you to book early. Connecting flights to/from Norway from/to one of their international destinations are included in the price for zone Southern Norway. But this is only valid if you make it as your first or last part of your trip.

You have to register on their site to be able to book the Explore Norway ticket. I recommend this ticket if you want to make the most of your trip. This ticket makes you see so much more than you would do otherwise and you save a lot of money! For more information and book your ticket here. UPDATE: It is unfortunately not possible in 2020.

6. HITCHHIKE IN NORWAY

Hitchhiking is very popular in European countries but illegal on larger roads such as freeways. First off, you should stand somewhere away from a village, since most people there are probably just going home from work anyways. Try to stay somewhere close to gas stations or bus stops, and make sure it is easy for the driver to stop. It is easier for the driver to know where you are heading if you write a note and show it to the cars. Smile, you want to look like you’re a good company. 

You really need motivation, it can take time before someone stops. Make sure you aren’t too dirty, no one wants dirt in their car.

Hitchhiking is a very cheap way to travel, just make sure you don’t go with shady people and be safe, ask them to slow down if you feel they are driving too fast. The first impression is super important. 

7. CARRY ON LUGGAGE

Try to always pack light, so you don’t need to have your luggage checked in. The Norwegian airline company is pretty expensive inland if you are older than 26. Checking in your luggage would add on costs. If you still want to check in your luggage, do it online. The same goes for the other companies such as Wideroe and SAS. There are fantastic carry on suitcases you can buy which will have enough room for your belongings, you can also bring a backpack as well. Remember, less is more.

8. MAKE YOUR OWN FOOD, BUY FIRST PRICE

When you book with Airbnb or guesthouses, there are usually kitchen you can use. This will make everything so much cheaper because eating out in Norway is very expensive, around $50 - $100. Also, remember to drink tap water. The most affordable grocery stores are Kiwi, Rema1000 and Coop Extra. Buy the grocery store's cheap brands like First Price (Kiwi) for instance. 

9. COUCHSURFING IN NORWAY

Download the app Couchsurfing and stay with locals, experience Norway a different way, get to do what the locals do and meet new friends and other travelers. This is also one of the best ways to see Norway, and experience places you wouldn’t go to if you stayed at a hotel. It is usually free, and you get a couch to sleep on, and you don’t need more than that while traveling. You want to save money, especially in an expensive country like Norway. 

Some people say it is better to get the paid version (verified member) because it’s more trustworthy, but I don’t see any problem not too. With the verified member you will get SMS and address verified, ad-free website and mobile apps and be highlighted in search results. Read more about Couchsurfing here: https://www.couchsurfing.com

10. SHARE COSTS WITH OTHER TRAVELERS OR MEET UP WITH LOCALS

There are plenty of Facebook groups for travelers, meet up with fellow travelers, it will be cheaper when it comes to rental cars, food and places to stay. And it is always good to meet other travelers with the same ideas and wanderlust as you. Just hit the like button on many different traveling groups on Facebook and start chatting, then come up with adventures, ask if someone is down to join.

11. FILL GAS ON YOUR RENTAL CAR ON SUNDAYS AND MONDAYS

Put gas on your rental car on late Sundays or early Mondays, as these days are proven to be the cheapest days at almost every gas stations in Norway.

12. CHOOSE WHICH REGION YOU WANT TO VISIT IN NORWAY

If you are planning on going to Norway there are things you have to keep in mind, Norway is a long country, and it takes time to go from north to east. Driving can take up to 2 days, and flight 2-3 hours. I will explain each region so it will be easier for you to know where to go.

NORTHERN NORWAY

Largest region in Norway where you can see the Northern lights, whales, killer whales, Sami (indigenous people in Norway) midnight sun, good hiking with sharply jagged mountains, tørrfisk (Stockfish), which is an ancient Norwegian tradition. The cod is dried by cold air and wind on wooden racks. North is phenomenal for adventurous souls, hikers, photographers and nature enthusiasts. Check out my post about the Best place to stay in Lofoten

EASTERN NORWAY

Where you will find the capital of Norway; Oslo. Eastern Norway has a lot of architecture, art, museums, history, skyscrapers, famous for its amazing fjords, islands (perfect for island hopping) and excellent skiing, actually one of the best in Norway (Geilo, Hafjell, Kvitfjell, Hemsedal, and Trysil) Hike Norwegian tallest mountain; hike to the summit of Norway's tallest peak at 2,469 meters above sea level. Go to eastern Norway and combine your trip with the westside if you enjoy hiking, extreme sport, photography, valleys, glaciers, climbing, mountain biking, and excellent road trips. 

SOUTHERN NORWAY

Known for the Norwegian Riviera. Norwegians usually go here for vacation during the summer months due to the beautiful coasts with white painted wooden houses (which is very typical in Norway) Southern Norway is not as mountainous but perfect for long walks, skiing in the winter, fishing, cycling, shopping, beaches, and cute cafes.

WESTERN NORWAY

Where to start? North and west are definitely my favorites. Did you know that UNESCO has put the west fjords, exemplified by the Geirangerfjord and the Nærøyfjord, on its World Heritage list, but it is very understandable; You feel like you’re in a fairytale between tall mountains, waterfalls and small villages where people actually live. The most beautiful places in the west according to myself is Flåm, Gudvangen, Odda, Lærdal, Stryn, Stavanger, Åndalsnes and Geiranger. 

13. MAKE YOUR ITINERARY BEFORE YOU GO TO NORWAY

You don’t have to make an itinerary to save money, but it will help, because then you know your plans beforehand, and you can make a budget for whatever your plans are. We all know that whenever we come to a new place with no plans, we tend to spend too much time planning the trip, you will not only save money but also time. Do some research, where do you want to go, what do you want to do, how much money are you willing to spend, figure all this out before you go, your trip will be so much better.

14. GO BY TRAIN

Norway in a nutshell by train is something many tourists take advantage of. If you buy the train ticket at NSB in advance you can get some excellent discounts, the prices change all the time, so it's hard to tell you the exact amount, but I find it cheaper than the bus. Also, note that there aren’t train routes all over Norway so make sure to check this before you book, you might have to combine train and bus, which in the will be a little expensive, I would instead go for the car. Read more about the ticket here: https://www.nsb.no/en/our-destinations/explore-the-fjords

15. DNT LODGES

I asked my cousin if he had any ideas about cheap locations in Norway and he said the DNT lodges, which I had totally forgotten about. You need a membership through the Norwegian trekking association so you can be able to visit more than 500 DNT cabins. It is pretty simple, you sign up, get the keys, and then you can enjoy the many cabins in the mountains. This is perfect if you want to trek for days or walk from cabin to cabin. 

You can also download the DNT app so you can have your membership on your phone. The Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT) is actually Norway's most prominent outdoor organization, they promote trekking and improving trails and other outdoor attractions. They put up signs, so you know where to go, how challenging the hike is, how long it is and mark the trail. Read more about DNT here: https://english.dnt.no

I do not recommend hostels in Norway, they aren’t the same quality as the rest of the world. I wish the Norwegian hostels would have a better reputation but maybe in the future when more backpackers come to Norway.

16. HIKING IN NORWAY

Hiking in Norway is free, you can go wherever you want without even thinking about trespassing or that you have to pay a fee. Personally, I wish Norway could charge for some hiking spots as they need more attention and cleanups. But for now, it's free, and you can pitch your tent wherever you want and enjoy the beautiful views. Please note that Norwegian weather condition can change to the worse any minute, a sunny day can turn quickly to a windy, cold, stormy night.

17. NORWAY TRAVEL PASSES

Nordland, travel pass Nordland

If you travel to Nordland (northern Norway), you should buy the travel pass so you can get access to 440 buses and 28 speedboats for seven days. Imagine traveling via the fjords, mountains, and islands for seven days. The price is 990 NOK, at approximately $117. It is a bit expensive but if you want to travel and see a lot without a rental car, this is the way. Please note that ferries are not included, which is a huge bummer. The card can be purchased in their app “Billett Nordland” and on board of all their buses and express boats. Read more about the pass here: https://www.travelpassnordland.com/travel-pass-nordland-english

Oslo pass

This pass will give you unlimited free travel with bus, train, underground and boat with Ruter AS and NSB, within specific zones, which is zone 1 and 2. You can travel to Lillestrøm, Ski, or Asker. You will also have the free pass to Tusenfryd amusement park, which is bus number 500 and is located in zone 2. It also gives you free access to most of Oslo's museums such as Holmenkollen Ski Museum, Munch Museum, The Viking Ship Museum, The Kon-Tiki. Read more about the Oslo pass here: https://www.visitoslo.com/en/activities-and-attractions/oslo-pass/