Advice for Traveling Norway

Hi Carla, We really enjoyed taking the ferry from downtown Oslo to Bygdøy. At Bydgøy has the Kontiki Museum, Fram Museum, and with a 10-minute bus ride, we also visited the Folk Museum. In Oslo, we also went to Vigeland Park to see the statues, and the view is fantastic from Holmenkollen where the ski jump and ski museum are. For me, the hardest thing about driving in Norway is remembering that at an intersection, the car on the right has the right of way. Watch your speed, it's easy to go too fast and then get caught by a speed camera. If you drive on a toll road, a camera records your license plate and sends the bill to car rental company. Last time we just paid them at the end of your trip. I'd ask about that when you pick your car up. We always buy our train tickets when we get to the station. I'm not sure there's any advantage in buying them early. You've chosen a beautiful time to go. Have fun!

Thank you so much for your information. We have relatives in Risor - south of Oslo so will be spending some time there and then driving to Bergen and taking the train back to Oslo. We are looking forward to the trip.

What a coincidence, my husband comes from Risør! So we're familiar with the drive from Oslo, which we usually make in one trip. Last time we drove along the coast to Kristiansand (saw the zoo with the kids - they loved that) and then to Stavanger. Their "old town" is cute, and our family liked the oil museum a lot. If you have time, Prekestolen (Preacher's Pulpit) near Stavanger is a great side trip, definitely a one-of-a-kind hike and view. The weather can change daily, so bring layers. Even in the summer we bring a fleece jacket, something to wear when boating on the fjord or riding on the ferry (if you take one). I'm sure your relatives will have lot's of good tips and ideas. Sounds like you'll have a great trip!

"Also, any advice on tolls and driving in Norway?" The toll road system in Norway is the most non-intuitive I've ever encountered. You will see signs that indicate the approach of a toll payment point, but no booth or any sort of machine to pay. Rather, there's a camera that takes a picture of your registration plate. If the car has a pre-registered toll balance, it automatically subtracts the amount from the account. If the car is not registered, you can take the next exit and pay at a petrol station. If you don't pay, you will probably receive a bill much later in the mail. If you're renting the car in Norway, ask the rental agent what you need to do. Don't get too concerned about the "priority on the right" rule. It only applies at unsigned insections on non-priority roads (priority roads being indicated by this sign. You will generally only encounter this situation on purely residential back streets. In Oslo, I particularly liked Frogner Park and the Norse Folk Museum. If you have a warm sunny day in Oslo, definately use that day for Frogner Park. The place will come alive with hundreds of people enjoying the weather. PS- I plan on taking a driving tour of Scandinavia next year, so please share your experiences by writing a trip report when you return!

Thank you all so much. We are so looking forward to this trip and any advice will certainly be taken into consideration. We will be staying in Flam two nights on the fjord. Anything we shouldn't miss while there?

Is there anything special to see if one travels from Risor Norway directly to Ullensvang, Norway?