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Travel information

Passport and visa

Some foreign nationals can visit Norway without a visa, but most people from countries outside the EU/EEA must apply for a visitor's visa. Visitors from the Schengen countries do not need a passport or visa when entering Norway, but must show valid and sufficient ID. A European Union ID-card or passport is recommended. To find out if you need a visa, visit The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration website.

For information on what you are allowed to bring with you into Norway (gifts, merchandise, etc.), please go to Toll/Customs (https://www.toll.no/en/shopping-abroad/the-value-limit/).

LETTER OF INVITATION

Conference participants who need an official letter of invitation in order to obtain a visa should contact the Local Organizing Committee. The invitation letter will be issued once the registration form and payment has been received by the Conference Secretariat. The letter does not constitute any financial commitment on the part of the Conference.

Electricity

The standard electricity supply is 220 volts, AC of 50 Hertz. Electric appliances use continental-style two-pin plugs. Participants are advised to bring their own adaptors.

Tipping

Service is not included in restaurants, so it is customary to add a 10% tip to the total. Another rule is to round up to the closest 50 or 100.

Currency

Norwegian kroners is the official Norwegian currency. Participants can exchange currency in the tourist information office Oslo Visitor Centre or in one of several exchange bureaus located in the city centre.  Visa, Eurocard, MasterCard, Diners Club and American Express are widely accepted cards in Norway. Visitors are advised to use cards instead of cash, if possible.

ATMs can be hard to find in the streets in Oslo. They are often located inside small convenience stores such as 7-Eleven, Deli de Luca or Narvesen; look for a sign that says “MINIBANK”.


Weather


Early July is the heart of Norwegian summer with average temperatures of 20℃, and usually climbing up to 26℃. Some hours of rainfall are not unusual, but visitors should expect an average of 7 hours of sunshine per day, and more than 18 hours of proper daylight. Lighter attire is recommended during the day (shorts, skirts etc.). In the evening, nicer jeans or a simple skirt and a nice shirt are acceptable wear at just about any restaurant. Bringing a jacket for chiller nights is advisable.


Trans­portation


FROM THE AIRPORT – Oslo Lufthavn Gardermoen

The airport express train – Flytoget

The train departs every 10 or 20 minutes depending on the time of travel and arrives at Oslo Central Station (Oslo S) at the city centre in ca. 20 minutes. The cost for an ordinary ticket is NOK 196 (ca. $22), while students aged 21-31 with a valid ID get a discounted ticket at NOK 98 (ca. $11). There is no discount for return journeys. This is the most straightforward option, but not the least expensive.

Tickets can be bought in advance here: https://flytoget.no/en/, or at the entrance to the station.

Norwegian State Railways – NSB

All regional Norwegian State Railway trains on the route to Skien-Oslo-Lillehammer-Trondheim as well as various NSB local trains go via Oslo Airport Gardermoen. They arrive at Oslo in approx. 23 minutes and depart at various times throughout the day. The cost is NOK 105 (ca. $12) for ordinary tickets and there is no discount for return journeys. This is the best and cheapest alternative, but not as frequent as the express train.

Tickets can be bought in advance here: https://www.nsb.no/en/frontpage, or at the train station.

Shuttle busses

Shuttle busses connect the airport to the main bus terminal, located at the city centre (very close to Oslo S and several major hotels). The journey takes between 40 minutes to an hour, and the ordinary tickets cost NOK 179 (ca. $20) with discounted price for students aged 21-31 at NOK 95 (ca. $11). Unlike the trains, the buses operate during the night.

Tickets can be bought in advance here: https://www.flybussen.no/?dir=from, or on the bus.

Taxi

We would not recommend taking a taxi as this is quite expensive, not as comfortable and takes longer than the trains.

FROM THE AIRPORT – Torp Sandefjord Lufthavn

Train

A shuttle bus service transfers passengers from the airport to the train station, from where they continue to Oslo Central Station (Oslo S). The journey takes about 1,5 hours, with trains departing usually once per hour. An ordinary ticket costs NOK 273 (ca. $33), while the student ticket costs NOK 205 (ca. $25).

Tickets can be bought in advance here: https://www.nsb.no/en/frontpage, or at the train station.

Torp Express bus service

The Torp Express bus service corresponds with most international flights to/from the airport. Buses arrive at Oslo bus terminal in approx. 2 hours. The ordinary ticket costs NOK 260 (ca. $31) with a discounted price for students at NOK 200 (ca. $23), while various discounts apply for web and return tickets. 

Tickets can be bought in advance here: http://torpekspressen.no/index.php/torp_eng, or on the bus.

DOWNTOWN OSLO

Downtown Oslo is rather small and walking around or biking using the public bicycle sharing system is the most enjoyable way to explore it. Information about the bicycle sharing system (Oslo bysykkel) can be found here: https://oslobysykkel.no/en.

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Despite the fairly short distances, the urban area is quite hilly and getting to the Blindern University Campus would be more comfortable if using the well-developed and convenient public transportation system.

(Photos: VisitOSLO/Sabine Zoller)

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All public transportation is part of the same ticket/price system operated by Ruter, which means that tickets are valid for buses, trams, the subway, ferries and local trains. Downloading the Ruter mobile application (RuterBillett) makes it easy to check times and purchase tickets. A number of outlets all around the city such as Narvesen, 7-Eleven, and Deli de Luca convenience stores, as well as automated ticket machines sell tickets. Participants are advised to purchase a 7-day ticket, which costs NOK 285 (ca. $33) and gives unlimited access to all means of public transportation within Oslo.

Information about the RuterBillett app, as well as other travel information can be found here: https://ruter.no/en/buying-tickets/mobile-ticket-app/.

Two tramlines (17 and 18) and two subway lines (4 and 5) stop in the vicinity of the conference venue, and get there in less than 20 minutes (tram) and 10 minutes (subway) from Oslo S, respectively. The extensive bus system will also bring participants to a number of museums and attractions around the city. Oslo´s iconic forest area, seaside and lakes are all accessible by public transportation, which makes the use of private cars or taxis redundant. 

Taxi
Oslo taxi: +47 02323
Norgestaxi: +47 08000

Getaways


A little bridge in Fredrikstad’s Old Town in the summer.

Fredrikstad´s Old Town and Hvaler

Photo credit: Visit Oslofjord /Morten Brunslid and Fylkesmannen i Østfold/Vibeke Weibell Eliassen.

Fredrikstad´s Old Town, about an hour south east of Oslo, was founded in 1567 by King Fredrik II according to Dutch architectural models, with wide water-filled moats and high earth ramparts. It is the best preserved fortified town in the Nordic region and offers wonderful views to the whole area. Today it is home to Fredrikstad´s historical museum, many art galleries, eclectic shops and cosy restaurants and cafés. During the summer months there is also a large flee-marked every weekend.

Hvaler 720Further south, the Hvaler islands offer many opportunities for outdoor recreation and experiencing a diverse coastal landscape with more than 800 islands and skerries. This is the sunniest arear in Norway and visitors can enjoy fishing, bathing, paddling and sailing, or simply relax, sunbathe and taste the local cuisine. The scenic Ytre Hvaler National Park consists of muddy seabed and rocky sea bottoms with its rich underwater ecosystem containing corals and kelp forest. People have used the area for thousands of years and many of the prehistoric house sites may date back to the Late Bronze Age.

Norway’s permanent Christmas exhibition in the center of Drøbak.

Drøbak and Oscarsborg

Photos: Frogn kommune and Magne G.

Drøbak, located on the east side of the Oslo Fjord, is a short half hour ride from downtown Oslo. Once a flourishing and prosperous centre for exporting timber and ice, this little town is now worth a visit for its picturesque small wooden houses and narrow streets filled with little galleries, shops and restaurants. In the centre of Drøbak, the visitors will be amazed at Santa´s Post Office, Norway´s biggest permanent Christmas exhibition open all year round.
Oscarsborg 900

A short ferry trip from Drøbak takes visitors to the Oscarsborg fortress, situated on two small islets in the middle of the Oslo Fjord. The fortress forms part of Norway´s contemporary history and is known from the sinking of the German cruiser Blücher on the 9th of April 1940, a feat which delayed the German invasion and allowed enough time for the King and government to escape from Oslo.

The scenic railway route from Oslo to Bergen in the lush, mountainous landscape of the summer.

From Oslo to Bergen: Norway in a nutshell

Photo: Joseph Hunkins

This legendary tour takes visitors through Norway´s most awe-inspiring UNESCO-protected fjord and mountain scenery, including the scenic railway route from Oslo to Bergen and the spectacular step train journey from Flåm.

The western city of Bergen is not only the gateway to the fjords of Norway, but a UNESCO World Heritage City and a European City of Culture, offering its visitors the best of nature, culture, and history, as well as an exciting urban life. The visitors can enjoy walking around the narrow streets of Bryggen with preserved architecture from the Middle Ages, a whole range of museums, exhibitions and performances, including a boasting music scene, and the culinary delights that earned Bergen the 2016 UNESCO City of Gastronomy title.