Mobile phones Norwegians don’t really 'do’ mobile phone hire because you can buy one for NOK1 and use a card for payments, but the Regus Business Centre (see below) will organise call redirection, etc. Regus is also a useful internet resource, as internet cafés are very thin on the ground in Oslo.

Office rental, phone services and internet Regus Business Centre, CJ Hambros Plass 2C (Tel: 99 60 60, www.regus.no).

LOCAL PRESS

What’s On In Oslo is a free listings guide available in most hotel foyers and tourist offices, near Rådhus or in Oslo S, the main train station. The Oslo City Guide and free city map ARE AVAILABLE FROM WHERE?. For general tourist information, Tel: 4 14 77 00 or visit www.visitoslo.com.

MONEY

The Norwegian currency is the krone (plural kroner), which is divided into øre. £1 is currently worth about NOK 11.80.

TIPPING ETIQUETTE

Restaurants automatically add a 5–10% service charge—you can add a little more if you wish. Tipping in bars and taxis isn’t essential, but Norwegians do tend to round sums up.

VISA/VACCINATION

There are no special vaccinations needed for Norway’s relatively cold climate, where most bacteria don’t feel at home. Airport authorities will ask to see your passport, but a driver licence will do if you come from a European Community country.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Norwegians love holidays and the reigning authorities have given them what they want. Easter and May are the worst in terms of closed shops, the latter also due to National Day. Apart from that, most shops are open all year except on Sundays. A law ensures that only grocery stores with a surface area of less than 100 square metres may be open on Sunday. IKEA, of course, has special permission at Christmas.
1st-2nd January—New Year’s days
Late March/early April—Easter Thursday and Friday
17th May—National Day (all shops except those selling ice cream and Norwegian sausages closed)
25th-26th December—Christmas

WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Oslo’s climate is milder than you might expect, thanks to the Gulf Stream Drift, with average temperatures of 18C in summer, plunging to -3C in mid-winter. Snow clearance is fast and efficient, although good treads on your shoes are essential to navigate icy pavements.

GETTING INTO TOWN

Airport Slick, Scandinavian-style Gardermoen Airport is your arrival point. It is approximately 45kms north of the city. Train Airport Express Trains leave every 10 minutes and take 20 minutes to reach Oslo S, the central train station. The charge is NOK 160.

Car hire Contact Avis (Tel: 81 56 90 44, www.avis.no). Follow signs to the E6 motorway, which leads to the city. Be aware there are toll gates charging NOK 20 on your route. The journey takes 45 minutes.

Taxis There is a taxi rank at the airport entrance/exit. Taxis cost around NOK 600 from the airport to the city centre. All taxis take credit cards.

Bus Airport buses (Flybussen) depart every 20 minutes and take 40 minutes to reach the bus terminal at Oslo S. The charge is NOK 160.