whilst weaving through the canals in Venice. Never once was Norway a fixture of my European fantasies. :p Yet, I wound up here :)
Even if you are not an outdoors/nature-lover, it is a refreshing change of scenery/environment, especially when arriving from a city like Paris. Whilst big cities have more people, more buildings, more indoor things to do; there is more space, fresh air, slower pace and outdoor activities here. If you are an extreme sports lover, Norway was named one of the top sites by Lonely Planet - doubt I need to say more :)
The Mister & I have learnt to manage our expectations and in turn, manage the budget, whenever we holidayed in Norway. For hotels, it must be clean, basics-met (i.e must have hairdryer, no bedbugs, etc), centrally located, with breakfast included. Best if the hotel provides small meals throughout the day. Reason? It is expensive to keep eating out on a daily basis. A main course at a sit-down restaurant normally costs 175 to 300,-NOK. This is the menu of a hotel's restaurant in Flekkefjord. Of course, you could get the 10,-NOK burger of the day at Burger King's or have a hotdog meal set at Narvesen to save some money. But, with a hotel that includes breakfasts & evening meals - you could make a sandwich for lunch and come back in the evening to have what they serve. So, it could translate to some savings yet still have a proper meal.
For transport, IF you are in cities like Bergen & Oslo for just a night or two, walking and public transports are the best ways to go. Taxis are not cheap, here is a price list from a taxi operator in Oslo for reference.
For sightseeing, if you are into museums & history, it may be worthwhile to consider the cities' passes (i.e Oslo pass/Bergen Pass) as they normally include free entrances to main sights and public transports. If not, there are plenty to see/do around & outside of the cities.
Another factor that cropped up during our visitors' planning was getting to & from Norway. From our experience, flexibility with airlines & dates helped alot in keeping the budget manageable. I would highly advise folk to take the time and be creative when searching for the most suitable route. This may help to save a big chunk of money.
I think it's high time more people come to visit Norway :) More folks to appreciate the impressive & dramatic landscapes, crisp, fresh air, friendly people & experience the Norwegian way of life. One day... just maybe one day soon, someone may mention Norway as a top must-see/visit country in Europe :)
Norge!
ABE