Bargaining is not usually accepted in Oslo. So, please do not waste your time to bargain.

Tipping | Oslo Guide

Service charges are included in restaurant pricing. It is appropriate to tip 10 % for good service. Taxis fare are usually rounded up to the nearest 5 or 10 NOK.

Local Cuisine | Oslo Guide

In Scandinavia, including Oslo, ‘Koldtbord’ (Cold Table) or Buffet style meal is very popular. They usually put salmon in it. Salmon is nationally popular. Reindeer appears on many menus, particularly further north, similar to beef, but richer, slightly sweet flavored meat. The Norwegians are partial to wild berries, either as an accompaniment to meat or as a dessert. Two varieties native to Norway are Lingonberries, similar to cranberries, and Cloudberries, like orange colored raspberries, they are a little crunchy and taste sharper.

Drink Specialties

In Norway, people often drinks coffee. Although alcohol is very expensive in Norway, the favorite tipple is the local brand of Aquavit, a potato based liqueur, common throughout Scandinavia, usually served ice cold and drunk as a shot.

Shopping

The main shops are located about 1 mile from the ship’s berth, centered around Karl Johans Gate. You can find a lot of shops at Aker Brygge. Shops generally open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, close at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Local handicrafts include the traditional knitted sweaters in Nordic design, good quality silverware, pewter, wrought-iron accessories, glass and ceramics, national costumes and furs. Trolls make popular souvenirs, as do candles and the Norwegian invented Cheese Plane or slicer.

U.S. Dollars may be accepted in some of the more touristic stores and most major credit cards are widely accepted.

Value Added Tax (VAT) is added to most purchases. Visitor who spend over a certain amount may be entitled to re-claim some or all of the tax paid. In Scandinavia many stores participate in “Tax Free Shopping”, ask for a “Tax Free” receipt to get reimbursed.

Local Currency

The unit of currency in Norway is the Krone (NOK). There are 100 ore to the Krone. Krone bills are available in the following denominations; 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000.

Post Office And Telephone

Post Office is at Dronningens gate 15. You can buy telephone cards at the Post Office, Narvesens and/or newspapaer kiosks. You have to have local coins to use public telephones. It is possible to dial-direct for international calls, (00). You can also make a call with your personal calling card using the following access codes (coin may be required):

AT&T: 800-19-011
MCI: 800-19-912
SPRINT: 800-19-877

Tourist Information

The tourist information office is located in the old Vestbanen railway station, Sentralstasjon.

Transportation

If you choose taxis when you get around Oslo. You can either pay it by meter or hire it by the hour. Besides, you can also get on a good bus and tram network. All services stop at Jernbanetorget opposite Oslo ‘S’ Station. You can buy the tickets on boarding. There is also a subway system, of which all lines converge at Stortinget, which is about a mile from the Cruise ship terminal.

A ferry service operates from Radhusbrygge (City Hall Pier) to Bygdoy Peninsula, the site of the Viking Ships Museum, Kon-Tiki Museum and Fram Museum.

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