Planning a Winter Trip to Norway with Family of 4

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Discussion Overview

The thread discusses planning a winter trip to Norway, specifically focusing on the cities of Oslo and Bergen. Participants share advice on travel logistics, weather conditions, and activities to consider during the visit.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant mentions the importance of packing warm clothes due to the harsh winter weather in Norway.
  • Another suggests obtaining an "Oslo-card" for public transport and discounts, highlighting the accessibility of Oslo.
  • Several participants discuss the best transportation options from Oslo to Bergen, weighing the convenience and safety of train travel against flying.
  • Concerns are raised about driving conditions in Bergen, with one participant recounting a dangerous experience due to slippery roads.
  • Participants note the high cost of living in Norway, sharing personal anecdotes about expensive food and general expenses.
  • Weather conditions are discussed, with participants providing current temperature estimates for Oslo and Bergen and mentioning the impact of wind on perceived temperatures.
  • There is speculation about the visibility of fjords during winter, with one participant suggesting that fjords are rarely frozen over.
  • One participant shares their recent travel experience, describing the cold temperatures and scenic views during their trip.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of agreement and differing opinions regarding travel logistics, costs, and weather conditions. No consensus is reached on the best mode of transportation or the overall experience of visiting during winter.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various assumptions about weather conditions, travel safety, and costs, which may depend on individual experiences and definitions of "expensive." The discussion reflects a range of perspectives without resolving the uncertainties expressed.

Who May Find This Useful

Travelers planning a winter trip to Norway, particularly families considering visits to Oslo and Bergen, may find this discussion helpful.

Bladibla
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Me and my family (4 memebers altogether) are going off on a brief holiday to norway on boxing day. We are planning to visit just Oslo and Bergen for the winter season. So i was wondering if any of the peeps here have advice as to what to look out for, interesting stuff etc?

Also, what is the best way to get from Oslo to Bergen? I heard train is the most convenient and safest, but prices do approach 400 pounds level with 4 adults.

Cheers!
 
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1. MOST IMPORTANT:
The weather is ghastly in Norway at this time of the year, so be sure to pack warm clothes!

2. Oslo:
Oslo is quite small by European standards, so you can get around quite easily. Try to get hold of the "Oslo-card" (or something like that) which give you and your family free access to use of public transport and discounts in various stores.

Most galleries and museums are free of charge.

A mandatory walk is to go down the Karl Johan (the main street), which starts out in front of the Royal Palace, ambles past the National Theatre on your right hand side, the old University on the left hand side, the Parlament (the "great ting") on your right hand side (you'll meet a couple of lions dozing there), and ending up at the Central rail station, in that order (of course, you could proceed in reverse order..). If you just walk, the whole trip doesn't take more than 20 minutes.

You might want to visit the magnificent Akershus fortress (built in the 13th century or so). It ought to be open for visitors at this time.


If you're interested in sports, you could travel up to the Holmenkollen area, which has a winter sports museum and a professional ski-jumping "facility".

3. Oslo to Bergen:
You've got two realistic options:
By airplane or the railway.
Boat is not an option, and renting a car and trying to get there on your own will most likely get you snowed down in the middle of nowhere (in the mountain regions in between). Not very fun..

Airplane fares aren't a lot more expensive than train fares, so check out the price levels!

4. Bergen:
The whole of Bergen is a sight.
 
Beautiful place, Bergen. I went diving once over there at this time of the year (now, THAT is a crazy idea), about 10 years ago. However, if you can avoid Bergen by car, that's a good thing. I remember driving 20km/h on very slippery roads in the nearby mountains, it was a very dangerous experience.
Also, I think there was a quite heavy tax on driving into the city - I don't know if that's still the case.
 
vanesch said:
Also, I think there was a quite heavy tax on driving into the city - I don't know if that's still the case.
About 1 pound sterling. Same as in Oslo.
 
Bladibla said:
Me and my family (4 memebers altogether) are going off on a brief holiday to norway on boxing day. We are planning to visit just Oslo and Bergen for the winter season. So i was wondering if any of the peeps here have advice as to what to look out for, interesting stuff etc?
Also, what is the best way to get from Oslo to Bergen? I heard train is the most convenient and safest, but prices do approach 400 pounds level with 4 adults.
Cheers!

Make sure you take a LOT of money. Norway is very expensive :-) Nice place but so very overpriced. I was there about a month ago. If you have heard of the Big Mac scale. Well I paid 28E for 2 big mac menus!
 
I just love the fact that I can log in and talk with people from England, Norway, France, and Brussels, all in one thread, and while sitting in a converted barn, in a pasture. :biggrin:
 
Cheers for all the information all. Another question: What the temperature like in Bergen and Oslo now? And would train be considered the safest way from oslo to bergen?
 
Bladibla said:
Cheers for all the information all. Another question: What the temperature like in Bergen and Oslo now? And would train be considered the safest way from oslo to bergen?
Today, the temperature in Oslo is a couple of degrees below zero (Celsius, that is).

It should be about the same in Bergen, but remember that presence of wind will make the "effective temperature" a lot lower. Bergen in particular might suffer from "windiness", but don't count on the weather staying calm in Oslo either.

Airplane is equally safe as train as transport, and not a lot more expensive.
 
Anttech said:
Make sure you take a LOT of money. Norway is very expensive :-) Nice place but so very overpriced. I was there about a month ago. If you have heard of the Big Mac scale. Well I paid 28E for 2 big mac menus!
I think it is great that rubbish is over-priced here! :smile:

On the other hand, our electricity is a lot cheaper than yours. So there.
 
  • #10
I think it is great that rubbish is over-priced here!
On the other hand, our electricity is a lot cheaper than yours. So there.
LOL is it? never lived there so wouldn't know :smile:
For one of largest producers of oil (all stolen of the socts hehe) your petrol prices weren't any cheaper.
WShat I did notice is that clothes weren't too bad, they were more expensive but not too much...
come on join the EU and get rid of that Kroner crap :smile: hehe at least your fish will be competative again...
Its funny one of my good friends from here (Brussels) is Norweigen, but he landed a Job in the UN, to help develop Malawi. Now imagine that going from the prices of Norway to the prices of Malawi :-).. He bought a bed for 5E!
 
  • #11
Rock&water are also cheap in Norway! :smile:
 
  • #12
Snow as well! :smile:
 
  • #13
And ice! :smile:

And freezes&sneezes..

Awful country I live in, actually.
 
  • #14
hehe... not so bad.. Rich place.. but give me the med any day of the week :-)
 
  • #15
Have a nice trip, Bladibla!
Be careful not to catch a cold.
 
  • #16
arildno said:
Today, the temperature in Oslo is a couple of degrees below zero (Celsius, that is).
It should be about the same in Bergen, but remember that presence of wind will make the "effective temperature" a lot lower. Bergen in particular might suffer from "windiness", but don't count on the weather staying calm in Oslo either.
Airplane is equally safe as train as transport, and not a lot more expensive.

Awesome information. Thanks for that. If you won't mind, another question: Would it be reasonable weather nowadays to see the fjords in clear view? or would it be an effective iceberg only land over there? (not that its a bad thing)
 
  • #17
Fjords are hardly ever frozen over.
You'll see your first one when arriving in Oslo. :smile:

From the Akershus fortress, you'll get a beatiful view of both Oslo and its fjord.

The fjord is not ringed in by high mountains like those in Western Norway; it shouldn't be too difficult to get a trip to some of those from Bergen as well, although the most spectacular ones, like the Geiranger Fjord is a bit far to the north of Bergen (I think..)
 
  • #18
Just in torque airport atm writing this nessage. Had a nice trip around bergen and Oslo. Ill try to post some pictures and proper sayings after i arrive back in the UK.

Cheers.
 
  • #19
I hope you enjoyed yourself! :smile:
 
  • #20
arildno said:
I hope you enjoyed yourself! :smile:

Yeah, it was a nice trip. (The pictures still yet to come..) Me, my bro and mom and dad arrived in Oslo on the 27th, about 2:00 in the morning. Took the 'torp ekpress' to central oslo, arriving at the central bus terminal about 2 hours later.

Checking in our hotel, the next day, we checked out the the sights: the cathedral/chruch, the University of Oslo, and other stuff. (ill mention more as soon as the photos come up). One other thing i noticed is how COLD Oslo is compared to london, -6 degrees vs +7 degrees. Still, it was managable.

Bergen. The 7 hour trip from Oslo to Bergen was lots of mountains, snow, snow, and snow. awesome sights.
 

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