As a regular visitor to Norway, until this summer every single one of my journeys had taken me up 30,000 feet to get there.

However, with a five-week stay pencilled in throughout July and August, this time around I decided a road trip would be something different and the decision to drive to Norway was made.

Is there a ferry to Norway from the UK?

Unfortunately gone are the days where you could hop onto the Newcastle-Bergen ferry, that sailed for the last time in 2008 after being established for over 140 years.

The advent of cheap flights means there are currently no direct ferry routes between the UK and Scandinavia, although there are rumours for a new one. More on that later.

Norway Travel Resources: When you're in Norway, make the most of your time with a guided tour. Check out the to meet your needs. And don't forget travel insurance.

As a result, to get your car into Norway, you'll need to go on a bit of detour, but on the plus side you'll see more of Europe, get to put your foot down when you hit the unrestricted autobahn and avoid some of the general annoyances that only seem to ever crop up at UK airports.

Why Take Your car to Norway?

For a short stay, taking a car is pointless, but if like me you've got an extended trip, or if you're moving to Norway for a longer period, then taking a vehicle has many advantages.

Firstly, the minute you set off, your holiday commences. You can take detours, stop in cities you have never visited before and travel at your own pace.

The other plus point is that you can carry far more items with you when compared to flying; bikes, camping gear, sporting equipment etc. and it's much less hassle packing. Finally, if you plan on exploring Norway, a car makes things far more accessible for seeing Scandinavian scenery and landscapes.

What's the best way to leave the UK and get to mainland Europe?

The first decision you'll have to make is how to leave UK shores, and there are six options, one of them by rail, the others by sea:

• Eurotunnel: 35-minute crossing
• Dover to Calais: 120-minute crossing
• Harwich to Hook of Holland: 8-hour crossing
• Hull to Rotterdam: 11-hour crossing
• Hull to Zeebrugge: 15-hour crossing
• Newcastle to Amsterdam: 16-hour crossing

Which one you take might depend on whereabouts in the UK you are starting your journey from, but the easiest, quickest, likely cheapest and one I recommend is the Eurotunnel.

What about the Immingham to Brevik freight ferry?

If you've been Googling ways to get over to Norway via Ferry from the UK, you have probably seen some blogs and forums talking about the Immingham to Brevik Freight Ferry.

Up until 2016, this ferry did allow general passengers to board with their vehicles. However, this option is now unavailable after UK border agency cutbacks meant they refused to do immigration checks. You can however still load your car onto the ferry, but you cannot travel with it. So you will have to fly and collect it when it arrives.

Tips for getting from the UK to Norway by car and ferry

The journey I took started in London. Then it was Folkestone to Calais, up through France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Denmark. The end destination before Norway is Hirtshals in Northern Denmark, and from Calais, that's around a 12-hour drive excluding stops.

Book yourself onto an early Eurotunnel

For my trip, I set off from Central London around 5 am and for the 7.50 am Eurotunnel from Folkestone. Choosing an early train has two advantages:

• They're generally cheaper
• You have got a full days driving ahead of you to take a big chunk out of the journey to Denmark.

If you live closer and can get there even earlier then do it, the earliest departure is usually 5.50am. With one at 3.27am before that.

Make sure you give yourself a decent amount of time to get sorted and check-in. The good thing is if you do get there earlier and there's a train ready to depart, the staff will fast-track you onto that one if there's room. I ended up getting the 7.20am train for that very reason.

Use Waze for Navigation

If you have a smartphone then I can't recommend Waze enough, it's saved me a ton of hassle by rerouting me past traffic jams I'd otherwise have been none the wiser to. It's basically Google Maps with a community aspect where users update the maps in real time along with Google's own live traffic data.

Luckily my car has Android Auto so I can hook it up to the main display making it very easy to use and follow. If you can't do that, get a and run it from your phone screen.

Be aware though Waze does use mobile data so depending on your allowance you might want to get a bolt on or use a different SIM card for it. I've got a dual SIM phone so pre-journey I picked up an EE Flex SIM that . I got 10GB for £25, and that lasted me the whole trip and EU/Norway roaming is included. But there's a few to choose from on the comparison site I used.

Spend the night in Northern Germany or Southern Denmark

You can certainly stagger the trip to Hirtshals over as many days as you want, but if you want to get to Norway as quick as possible then try to get well into Denmark in one day and spend the night there.

Depending how on early you get to Calais, it's certainly possible to get to Hirtshals in one day to make one of the early evening ferry crossings to Kristiansand or Larvik.

For my own trip, I drove from Calais to Kolding in Denmark in around 13 hours, stopping in Antwerp for lunch in and amongst a couple of other stops. Kolding is around a 3-hour drive from Hirtshals, so after a night in Kolding, you can make the 11.45am sailing to Kristiansand comfortably. More on that below…

Which ferries sail from Hirtshals, Denmark to Norway?

There are seven options for you and which you take depends on where in Norway you are heading. I recommend the  to Kristiansand which is the quickest and ideal if you are wanting to see the West Coast and Fjords. It's a modern fast catamaran ferry and takes just 2 hours and 15 minutes.

A further option is a ferry from Kiel to Oslo via the Stena Line, this is usually pricier and a 20 hour sailing time making it almost a mini cruise.

Can you drive from the UK to Norway without taking a ferry?

Yes, you'll obviously need to take the Eurotunnel. But it's possible to drive through Germany, into Denmark then cross the Öresund Bridge (a toll bridge) from Denmark to Sweden.

You then continue up along the Swedish coast until you have reached the Norwegian border. This is a long way around and you will be racking up the mileage but if you want to see a cool bridge and some of Sweden, then go for it.

What about the return journey, is there a ferry from Norway to the UK?

There's no ferry running in the opposite direction either, so to get back you'll take the exact same route through Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and France before getting to Calais.

I took the Hirtshals – Kristiansand ferry to Norway with a one-way booking, so my return leg I decided to take the Bergen to Hirtshals overnight ferry.

This departs at midday and arrives in Hirtshals at 7.30am the next day. The reasoning being I'd driven up the West Coast for my trip, so rather than a 7-hour drive back down to Kristiansand, a night on the ferry with an early morning arrival meant a full days driving again in Europe to get to Calais.

Overall though I much prefer the shorter ferry time to between Kristiansand and Hirtshals, so if I were to do the journey again I'd drive to Kristiansand, spend the night there and catch the 8.30am ferry to Hirtshals.

Will there ever be a UK to Norway Ferry again?

Right now it looks unlikely as the ferry companies clearly don't see it as a viable business model.

Over the years there have been a smattering of petitions for the reinstatement of a ferry from the UK to Norway and some sailing firms have hinted at a new route being established but unfortunately, nothing has ever come to fruition.

However, a startup Norwegian company has announced plans to launch a regular car, passenger and cargo ferry link between the U.K. and the west coast of Norway.

Tentatively , the route will run between both Bergen and Stavanger on the west coast of Norway and Newcastle on England’s northeast coast.

What things should I be aware of about driving in Europe?

There are a few things to consider specifically for this trip. For driving in France you'll need a which contains:

• Headlamp converted
• Hi-viz vest for each passenger
• GB sticker (if you have an EU GB numberplate this is fine)
• Warning Triangle
• Spare Bulbs
• Breathalyser

Remember to make sure your car insurance has European Cover too. Most firms offer it in your standard policy but it's often only third-party so you might want to ring them and arrange full cover for the duration of your trip.

There are no tolls on the route from Calais to Hirtshals so you don't need to buy any Vignettes or stickers.

Depending on the time of year, you'll also need winter tyres to be fully road legal in Norway. That being said, if this is a holiday I recommend only taking this sort of trip in Summer.

Finally, petrol prices are usually cheaper in Europe. Germany and Belgium are the cheapest, but it's better to fill up in Denmark before you cross into Norway where the prices are higher.

Is driving a right-hand drive car difficult in Europe and Norway?

This trip was my first time driving a right-hand drive car in Europe so before landing in Calais I was wondering how tricky it would be. That question was answered pretty quickly and it's not difficult at all.

The roads are much quieter in Europe, generally better quality, and when there are other cars on the road around you then it's easy to reset the mind to drive on the right. Just take it steady for the first few miles of the journey and it soon feels like you've been driving on the right for years.

Norway Travel Resources: When you're in Norway, make the most of your time with a guided tour. Check out the to meet your needs. And don't forget travel insurance.

The only issue you'll have is if you're a solo traveller trying to overtake on a single carriageway road, sitting on the right does restrict your view of oncoming traffic somewhat if you are trying to get around a slower large sided vehicle.

Update: Ferry service from Netherlands to Norway

In spring 2022, startup company Holland Norway Lines began a regular service between the Netherlands’ Eemshaven (Groningen) and Norway’s Kristiansand. The 18-hour service had proved popular with British travellers.

In August 2022, one of the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø team tested out the service. Unfortunately, the service is no longer operational.

Have you ever travelled from the UK to Norway by car? Do you have any questions about taking the ferry from the UK to Norway and the drive itself? Leave a comment below and I'll do my best to answer.

The post Driving to Norway from the UK appeared first on 51³Ô¹ÏÍø.

A frequent visitor to the city shares his recommendations on the best places to eat in Trondheim.

I've been lucky enough to visit Trondheim several times in the last 12 months and seen a good chunk of the city both during the day and at night, based on that here's a short guide on where to eat in Trondheim on an evening.

Eating out in Norway is expensive, and Trondheim is no different, so if you're staying in an AirBnB or Serviced Apartment and have a kitchen, then I'd recommend cooking for yourself most of the time.

There are more supermarkets than you can shake a stick at (Meny, Rema 1000, COOP, Bunnpris and Kiwi to name but a few) and all of them have a good offering so rustling something up is never really a problem. But if you want to eat out, which most people do at least once, here are a few options I'd recommend:

Superhero Burger

This burger joint is always in and around the Top 3 restaurants in Trondheim on Trip Advisor and is what I'd call an upgraded McDonalds. If you're looking for something quick and tasty, then  would be my pick. The burgers are decent, the atmosphere is relaxed, and it's reasonably priced. It's usually very busy during peak times so you might have to wait around to get a seat. They also take bookings.

Una

A higher end Italian restaurant/pizzeria in Solsiden,  is another place that you'll find in the Top 5 on Trip Advisor. Great food (especially the pizzas) service and atmosphere. It's always packed out, so you'll need to book. It's quite pricey too, so if you're planning on eating out just the once during your stay for a treat, then Una is worth considering.

Sushime

There are several Sushi places in the city (all with a fairly mixed bag of reviews) but  is one I've tried, and it's pretty good. The sashimi is fresh and well prepared with a good mix of flavours. They also do a takeout option which seems to be the preferred choice for locals. I can kind of see why as the restaurant isn't the best environment for a sit-down meal, but based on price and quality of food you can't knock it.

The following two places close at 6pm and 7pm respectively, so they're not really suitable for dinner. But for a late lunch, consider:

Hagen

Capitalising on the trend that has seen gluten become public enemy number one in Hollywood,  is a vegetarian/vegan/gluten free cafe on the edge of the Old Town. I eat meat and gluten but gave this place a go after feeling the after effects of one too many beers one night, and I'm a fan. It won't be everyone's cup of tea, but even if you're not vegetarian, it's worth a try. The entire menu is produced from plant-based ingredients that are locally sourced.

Dromedar

Local coffee shop chain  has four branches dotted around the city. Their excellent coffee is the main reason to visit, but they also offer sandwiches and other snacks so for a light lunch it's a good choice.

The post Where to Eat in Trondheim appeared first on 51³Ô¹ÏÍø.

If you're visiting Norway for an extended stay or permanently relocating then chances are you'll need access to mobile data on your smartphone.

Luckily you can avoid wasting endless hours researching Norwegian SIM cards thanks to this guide! Here you’ll find information to help you quickly make the right decision, allowing you to concentrate on other matters such as learning the lingo and skiing down the slopes!

First of all, how long are you staying in Norway? If it’s long-term, then you’re probably best off with an (abonnement) contract. This involves paying a monthly fee to a mobile network provider, which gets you a certain amount of minutes and SMS messages and mobile data.

You'll need an ID number and a Norwegian bank account for this. However, if it’s days, weeks or even months, then there are a few, less long-term, options available to you.

Read more: 5G in Norway

Prepaid Norwegian SIM

Let’s first look at the . You can find two main networks in Norway: Telenor and Telia. Both of these networks are known to have substantial coverage and speeds across Norway.

N.B. Save yourself having to make two trips to buy your SIM by taking your passport or ID which is required for purchase.

If you are buying a prepaid Norwegian SIM, it might be best to purchase in a phone shop rather than a convenience store. This is because some shop attendants without specialist knowledge might not be able to complete the registration. Wherever you buy, the price is the same so choose the easy option.

Telenor

Telenor is the biggest network in Norway and offers a prepaid SIM called Telenor Kontant. Sold at Telenor branches as well as a variety of convenience stores, it’s available for 200 NOK/£20 and comes with 50 NOK of credit.

One thing to keep in mind is that the Telenor website is in Norwegian and online top-up can only be done with a Scandinavian credit card.

So if your Norwegian is lacking and you don’t have a suitable credit card you’ll probably need to buy a voucher from a convenience store such as 7-Eleven. While the vouchers and their instructions are in Norwegian, it is possible to switch the top-up menu to English – phew!

With Telenor you won’t be billed more than 10kr per day for data. However, you will notice the speed drop off if you exceed the monthly limit of 500MB downloaded data so keep an eye on this. Data packages are available, but these are only sensible options if you’re looking to stay in Norway for at least three months.

The minimum length data package with Telenor is three months and offers 200MB per month for the three months at a price of 299kr. There are also six month and 1-year packages priced at 399kr and 499kr respectively.

Telia

Next up is Telia, formerly known as Netcom, the second most popular network in Norway. Late network tests in 2016 showed that Telia’s coverage has surpassed that of leading network Telenor.

Either way, you’re unlikely to find a problem with the coverage of either network unless you’re up a mountain or down a valley! (even then you might be pleasantly surprised).

If travelling to Denmark, Finland or Sweden is a distinct possibility then Telia’s massively reduced roaming rates may well be for you. Much like with Telenor, you might find Telia a struggle if you don’t speak some Norwegian.

Telia’s prepaid product goes by the name of Telia SMART Kontant and it’s available for 99kr that gets you 50 MB, free domestic calls, texts, MMS for 14 days. You can find it at Telia shops as well as convenience stores across Norway.

Again, unless you have a Scandinavian credit card, you’ll need to buy vouchers in convenience stores when you want to top up. As with Telenor, you can change the top-up menu to English unless you fancy a challenge!

Telia’s data feature packages may offer you better flexibility than those of Telenor, particularly if you’re only in Norway for the short-term. Plans range from 250MB (99kr) to 6GB (399kr) and run for 31 days at a time. SMART Kontant Mikro allows you to add shorter bundles of as little as 1-3 days for express trips!

Other prepaid SIM options include MyCall (owned by Tele2 which has merged with Telia), Chess, Chilimobil and Lycamobile. In the cases of MyCall and Lycamobile, the websites are available in English which can save a lot of confusion.

UK SIM card

If you’re regularly between the UK and Norway, then a UK SIM card may be of more interest than a prepaid Norwegian SIM. One of the best options in this respect is Three who provide a roaming service called Feel At Home.

Available in 42 destinations including Norway (more than any other mobile network in the UK), it can be used whether you’re on Pay As You Go or Pay Monthly and doesn't incur any extra roaming charges.

If for some reason you don't fancy Three then chances are, your network will provide several options for international roaming, so it’s worth enquiring and  to see exactly what's available.

Worldwide Data SIM card

The problem with both prepaid Norwegian SIM cards and UK SIM cards is that they lack flexibility for those who are lucky enough to travel on a regular basis. If you’re in Norway one day and the Germany the next, consider a worldwide data SIM card.

While generally a more expensive option, you can avoid language problems and fiddling about changing SIMS.

Knowroaming

Knowroaming provide a  for $29.99 that can be applied to Micro, Mini or Nano SIM cards. What’s more, it only needs to be applied the one time.

Whenever you’re outside of your home market any calls, texts or data will be through the add-on – ingenious!

The Canadian start-up company offer $10 free credit with the sticker and free WhatsApp usage worldwide which is a nice little incentive. Options available to you include Pay As You Go and Data Packages.

Keepgo

Another SIM card start-up to consider is Keepgo who provide a . Offered in a total of 64 countries, the SIM card is data-only and available for $59.

Keepgo also sells a mobile WIFI hotspot for $119 which is perfect for connecting multiple devices. There you have it!

Gone are the days where you need to spend an arm and a leg to make a call or send a text abroad. Now you can pick and choose the option that suits you depending on the length of your stay and the frequency of your visits.

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