Travel Norway on a Budget. It’s Easy!

It had been a month since I had a sip of succulent French wine. Had I been a savvy traveler I would have stocked up on several bottles before heading to Norway. Now after my third week here I can find nothing remotely affordable (5 Euros can get amazing wine in France). But I couldn’t take it any longer, I’ve been eating sardines, ramen, and grass in Norway trying to stop the bleeding of money. I have to splurge a little.

So off I went to the closest Vinmonopolet (a state-run where you can buy wine and spirits) to purchase two bottles of French red wine. The cheapest one I could find was in a twist off plastic bottle conveniently advertising that it was made in “France.”

Later that night, I prepared dinner at the hostel and shared a table with an elderly French couple. The husband lamented about how expensive the booze is in Norway so I cracked a slight smile and said, “Well you’re in good company tonight my friend!” Then I reached down for the bottle of red wine I bought and pointed at the “Made in France” label in front of him. He took the bottle, curiously scanned it up and down and squeezed it a few times.

He noticed the twist off cap and cheap plastic bottle made to look like it’s made of glass. Then glared at me with this disdainful look on his face, shook his head, and with a nasally thick French accent yelled….”No!” “Sacre bleu, No! No! This is not French! No!” Then off goes the room with raucous laughter!

Pardon My French Plastic Bottle Wine and Munkebu Hut

Bonjour Norway! Norway is one expensive country to visit. For people who like to indulge in a glass of red wine or two. Feeling this effect is immediate. The average cost for a pint of beer is almost 20 bucks. A medium pizza will run you almost $50. The hostels I stayed at averaged $25-$30 a night.

Travel Norway in a budget

Yeah, it’s expensive. But I wasn’t going to let money get in the way to check Norway off the bucket list. Amazing photos I saw in travel magazines and various blogs made put Norway on the top of my bucket list. I was determined to spend a month exploring its mountains, lush green forests, amazing fjords, northern lights, and phenomenal coastal views.

I spent a month in total exploring Norway’s magical fjords, it’s evergreen forests, majestic mountains, and endless waterfalls. I’ve camped in people’s backyard, parked my car on the motorway and slept in it overnight, and I’ve done all I can to make the trip as cheap as possible without compromising the whole Norway Experience.

I will share what I’ve learned on how to do Norway on a budget as well as things you can see and do as a tourist without breaking the bank.

The one thing I will advise you on is, don’t drink.

Fuck alcohol. Maybe this a good time and place to make your new year’s resolution of drinking less happen. Norway’s got a great social welfare system and it’s partly due to the tax imposed on alcohol and other shit that’s not good for you but you want to do anyway. It’s not cheap to booze it up in Norway, like ever. Stay sober, there’s enough eye candy here to keep you distracted from drinking. Use this time to detox, anything, just don’t drink!

It’s not cheap to booze it up in Norway, like ever. Stay sober, there’s enough eye candy here to keep you distracted from drinking. Use this time to detox, anything, don’t bother with the booze in Norway. I know I splurged a little on the booze, but I saved a lot on food from going College commando mode and going a diet of Ramen noodles I bought in Germany.

Buy food elsewhere and cook it yourself

You should buy your food at the grocery store and cook it yourself. Better yet buy it outside before entering Norway. I met an Austrian couple who spent no money on food, they took some backpacking food with them before going to Norway.

Pro Tip: If you’re staying at a hostel. You can sneak in a lunch from your breakfast. Most hostels offer a free breakfast buffet and what they serve is really good. Eggs, meats, cheeses, bread, or whatever. Make yourself a sandwich or two from the deli meats included and pack that up for lunch later. You got two meals covered right there :)

Go Foraging

I was fortunate enough to have met a plant biologist during one of my hikes and learned which plants/berries were edible. I learned that stinging nettles are edible and putting that on my Top Ramen made it a little healthier. There are berries growing everywhere in the wilderness when it’s in the season. It’s tasty, free, and fun to harvest.

Pitch a tent, car camp, or Couchsurf

Driving is the best way to experience Norway. Norway’s also got a cool right of access law that allows you to pitch your tent almost anywhere that’s unfenced for free. Hostels aren’t cheap but if you have a Hostelling International card, most hostels are offering free breakfast.

Couchsurfing is another option. It’s very popular in Norway. I stayed a week for free in the Drammen, just on the outskirts of Oslo. You’ll have an easier time finding a host in smaller less popular cities.

Don’t bother with bottled water

Seriously? I don’t understand paying for the most abundant thing on earth in a place like Norway. The water here is immaculate! I was drinking in a pond high on the Hermanndalstinden trail and it was cleaner than the bottled stuff.

Grass Roof

Hitchhike

That goes without saying. If you aren’t driving save more money by hitchhiking. Hitchhiking is very common in Europe. I picked up every type of hitchhikers in Norway. People are friendly and are warm towards strangers and will pick you up if you have a thumbs up.

A River in Norway

Top Sights to See and Things to do in Norway

Norway is all about nature and the sheer beauty of the scenery. Enjoying nature is free here. Screw paying museum entrance fees. Fuck tours. Forget fine dining. Bar hopping is overrated. Hiking and sleeping under the stars are what you should be doing in this country. The fjords, waterfalls and the amazing vistas will blow your mind. Below are my recommendations.

Forsand – Preikestolen (free to hike)

Otherwise known as the Pulpit Rock. This is a very popular destination in Norway, it can be very crowded but still worth the effort.

Overlooking the Pulpit Rock

It’s like a strange square formation of rock resembling an anvil that’s jutting out from the surrounding mountainside that drops vertically to the Lysefjorden. The view is breathtaking and it needs no Spartan effort to get there. Hiking the Preikestolen is free like all other hiking trails in the Norwegian countryside. READ MORE >>

Hordaland – Trolltunga (free to hike)

This is an arduous trail, I came here when it was raining cats and dogs so I hesitated. I came back the next day and it’s raining dung head-first!

Trolltunga

Lofoten – Reinebringen (free to hike)

A beautiful hike with one of the most breathtaking views I have ever seen. Nestled in the Moskenesøya Island, Reinebringen is a 4-hour hiking endeavor surrounded by dizzying steep cliffs. You can reach there from Reine. Just walk southwest along the E10 highway when you reach the Ramsvikstunnelen tunnel, there’s a path just at the end of the tunnel to the left.

Be forewarned, the peaks can be scary…I’m not afraid of heights, but there have been moments where I almost upchucked from looking down. READ MORE >>

Reinebringen

Hermanndalstinden (free to hike)

Hermannsdalstinden holds a special place in my heart. By far my favorite extended hike on the planet. It towers above everything else in the Lofoten Archipelago at just 1029 meters above sea level. Not an impressive height and I’ve climbed mountains nearly three times higher, but the spectacular view of the seemingly never-ending mountain peaks of the Lofoten from the peak is unforgettable. It is by far the most visually rewarding hike I have ever done. READ MORE >>

Hermannsdalstinden Summit

Eidfjord – Kjeasen Farm (free to hike)

Kjeåsen Mountain Farm

This cool farm hovers on mountain ledge 600 m. above the Simadalsfjord. It’s kinda weird how to get there. You can only drive up to the farm every hour, down every half hour because of the parking quota system they have going on. You can hike if you’d like but a car is the fastest way to get there.

Geiranger – Skageflå Farm (free to hike)

I took a transport ferry to get to this trail and boy was it steep! With such steep precipices, hiking the trail can be hazardous to your health. Don’t let your fear of heights stop you from engaging in this adventure. The view of the Skagefla mountain farm from the Homlong trail is worth more than a thousand postcards. It’s the best thing to do in the Geirangerfjord. READ MORE >>

Geirangerfjord

Kongevegen trail (free to hike)

This is a fun trail that’s very fun to hike. This is the best place to experience Norway’s free to roam policy. You’ll meander through people’s backyards and farms. Enter gated places freely. Sleep in somebody’s backyard if you wanted to. There’s a funny story about my experience there, Read More >>

Aksla Viewpoint (free)

Alesund

It’s one of the best viewpoints in the world. Overlooking the fairytale town of Alesund, it provides an epic panorama of the Sunnmøre archipelago. Just a short hike up on the Aksla hill, completely free!

Pro Tip – How To Plan For A Travel Budget

I hope I’ve bumped Norway up your bucket list. You might be hesitant to visit this amazing country because of the costs but don’t let that stop you. If you do some of the things I’ve outlined above you should be able to do it for around $60-$80 a day, give or take.

HAVE YOU BEEN TO NORWAY?