Shopping in Norway
Regardless of where you go to visit, work, or live, you need to adapt to a certain way of life. Generally speaking, adapting to the Norwegian lifestyle is not that hard.
Norway is more casual than people think. Norway is one of the most stunning countries in the world, but it also tends to be more expensive compared to many other nations. Shopping in Norway is easy and stress-free, though. Even more stress-free if you shop online – check out butikkene.no to get a list over online stores easily and convenient.
Norwegian Currency
Okay, the first thing you need to know about shopping in Norway is the currency. Since Norway isn’t in the European Union, its official currency is not Euro but Norwegian Krone (NOK or KR).
The prices on price tags and menus are expressed in Norwegian Krones, obviously, and if you’re an expat or foreigner, you’ll need to learn how it compares to the currency from your native country.
That way, it will be easier to understand how much clothes, groceries, and other things cost. Or simply, you can learn how it compares to USD or Euro. For an estimate, 100 NOK equals to USD 11.25 or €9.51.
It can be expensive
If you’ve never been to Norway before then, the first thing you’ll notice is that prices are quite high.
However, if you already live in the land of fjords, you’ve probably gotten used to pricey groceries. What you need to know is that you don’t really need to spend a fortune on clothes and groceries or other things.
It’s entirely possible to find shops and stores with discount prices and actually save up on items you need. Many supermarkets offer great deals, and some of them have apps for members so that you get a discount when buying groceries every time.
Working hours
Working hours of stores and shopping malls in Norway are similar to those in the rest of Europe.
Typical working hours are from 10 am to 6 pm, or from 10 am to 8 pm. Shopping malls may work longer. For example, Oslo City Shopping Center opens, and 10 am and closes at 9 pm while Lagunen Storsenter, the biggest mall in Bergen, opens at 9 am and closes at 9 pm.
Many shops and stores don’t work on Sundays and their working hours are shortened on Saturdays.
Family-friendly shops
Do you live in Norway with your family? Then you’ll be happy to know that most shopping malls are family-friendly. They have kids, shops, play areas, and much more. You and your kids can shop, have fun, and spend quality time in malls enriched with family-friendly services.
Flea markets rule
Just like everywhere else, the best place to buy great things is flea markets. You can buy authentic, vintage, and classic Norwegian accessories, souvenirs, and other things at affordable prices.
When it comes to affordable prices, you can also shop around the holidays. Not only are the cities full of vendors selling all kinds of things, but they also lower the prices and help you get more by spending less.
You can get fashionable.
Don’t let the Norwegian climate and temperatures fool you. You can easily get fashionable clothes in malls, stores, and elsewhere. Credit cards are widely accepted, so there’s no need to worry if you don’t take cash with you.
Shopping in Norway is a stress-free endeavor. Various malls and stores are around and offer pretty much everything you need. Explore the cities to find the best prices.
