People travel to Scandinavia to enjoy the natural beauty, the unique Norwegian fjords, ski on the Swedish ski slopes, enjoy Norwegian cuisine and learn the traditions of these countries. I had been planning to go on a trip to Scandinavia for a long time, but since this trip requires special planning, it was postponed all the time. But finally I solved all the issues, planned routes, opened visas, saved up money. After all, what to hide and Finland, and Sweden, and Norway - countries are not cheap. By the way, in Norway there is no prohibition, but the prices for alcoholic beverages are very high, as well as for tobacco products. Therefore, if you go on a trip to own car, stock up on basic products. Note that there are restrictions on alcohol, so consider this fact. True, my acquaintances said that they were not checked, but nevertheless God protects those who are careful. This nuance did not concern me, since I decided to rent a car upon arrival in Stockholm, it is much easier, as for me, especially since I was not sure that my car would not stall in the middle of the highway. Therefore, I chose the rental option. To rent a car, you will need an international license, a credit card, insurance or a deposit equal to the cost of car rental. Driver's age from 18 years, but for some models from 24.
By the way, you need to take care of the connection in advance. We already had two Orange cards with us. But this time, at work they said that I should be in touch and be able not only to answer an e-mail, but also to call if anything. I told them about such SIM cards. And they bought for such cases a sim card of the Estonian Globalsim, there both calls are turned on, and the Internet. As a result, they took both Orange and Globalsim. Globalsim was mainly used for work calls ($ 0.05 per call minute is not bad), email and social networks. Orange has been used on other devices. Determined the location and looked for where to dine. It should be noted that both SIM cards have good coverage.
There is no maximum age limit. Now a little about my impressions of Sweden.
Traveling on Swedish roads
Highways in Sweden pleased with their quality, as well as the fact that foreign visitors do not have to pay for the journey for it. What I didn’t believe when I first read this information, because, in general, travel in most European countries is paid. And then such a surprise, by the way, is very pleasant. But do not relax completely, because you have to pay for travel on some sections. In addition, there is an additional transhipment tax. This is important to consider if you are going to travel in a trailer. For example, I paid 19 kroons to cross the Svinesund bridge, which connects Sweden and Norway, because I was traveling on passenger car... Travel for motorcycles and mopeds is free. But for a truck you will have to pay 95 Swedish kronor. This bridge is part of the E6 highway, its total length is 704 meters, two lanes in each direction. You can pay for travel in cash (Norwegian or Swedish kronor) or using automatic systems(credit cards).
If, after traveling in Sweden, you decide to go to Denmark, then the easiest way to do this is to cross the bridge that connects Malmö and Copenhagen. It is called Öresund. The tariffs here are slightly different, it's good that Denmark was not included in my plans. After all, judging by the information from the official website, the owner of the motorcycle will need to pay 26 euros for traveling on the bridge, 48 euros for the owner of a car whose length does not exceed 6 meters, 96 for up to 6 meters with a trailer, for longer car houses and for vans up to 6 meters the same fee will be charged. You can pay at special payment stations, which are marked different colors, depending on the payment method:
- Green markings mean that they only accept payments from customers.
- Markup of blue color indicates that here you can pay with credit cards BroKort, Visa, Visa Electron, Maestro, MasterCard, EuroCard, American Express and others.
Accepted for payment:
- The yellow mark is for cash or iTICKETS payments. By the way, motorcyclists can only pay for the service here.
- Danish crowns.
- Swedish crowns.
- Euro.
But keep in mind that change is only issued in kroons, even if the client pays in euros.
Tolls are also paid on the Sundsvalls Bridge (from 9 to 20 CZK depending on the type of vehicle) and the Motala Bridge (from 5 to 11 SEK).
I would like to say a few words about the special congestion tax in force in Stockholm and Gothenburg. Earlier, by the way, it applied only to local cars, but since January last year, taxation has affected foreign Vehicle... It is noteworthy that you do not need to stop and pay. Special cameras will record the number of the car, and send it for analysis to the Transport Bureau. After that, the driver will be sent a receipt for payment.
Parking in Sweden
Parking regulations in Sweden are stricter than anywhere else. I was convinced of this personally, so be very careful, do not catch woof, it can be expensive. So, the main thing you need to know when you want to park your car is that you can only park on the right. In Stockholm, as in other large cities, parking is paid for everything weekdays from 8 to 18.00, for an hour, depending on the area, you need to pay from 10 to 30 SEK. Parking in specially equipped places, in parking lots, will cost a little more, from 30 to 60. But you can find a cheaper option, which I did, because I read about it in advance. I parked on the outskirts of town using the Park & Ride system. Parking cost me only 15 CZK (unlimited time). Having parked the rented car, I calmly went about my business. After all, I wanted to ride bicycles. By the way, it is in Sweden that this is very common, I would say, even fashionable. Besides,. Very convenient and safe. You can go around the center and see all the sights. There are many specially equipped paths and parking lots in the city. After cycling, having dinner in a cafe, I went to my hostel, which was ten minutes walk from the parking lot with my car. I would like to note that I really liked the Swedish cuisine, it is simple but tasty, in many ways similar to Russian.
There are enough Park & Ride parking lots in Stockholm, more than 20. And this is really the most profitable option. By the way, some parking lots offer a special rate at night, parking in this case will cost 40 CZK from 6 pm to 12 am.
Penalties for wrong parking very large up to 1400 SEK. Therefore, be careful. Pay attention, when you park your car at night, whether the street will be cleaned or not (there is a special sign).
A little about traffic rules and fines
You can move around the city at a speed of 30 to 60 km per hour. Abroad settlement- from 70 to 100 km, on the motorway - up to 120 km. If you have a license and you don't see any speed limit signs, I advise you to drive 70 km per hour, at least until you see the speed limit sign. Please note that the dipped beam must be on at all times, otherwise you will receive a fine. Alcohol consumption is also very strict here (up to 0.2 percent). Not only a fine is possible, but also imprisonment, confiscation of a driver's license. All passengers must be wearing seat belts. I note that local police have the right only to write out a receipt, and you need to pay for the violation at the bank within 2-3 weeks.
Roads in Norway
In Norway, I was surprised by a lot, including the famous Norwegian fjords, which many told me about. And I was finally able to enjoy this beauty. But let's return all the same to the journey and to my experience as a motorist who is already familiar with the intricacies of driving on Norwegian roads. Unlike Sweden, Norway has 45 toll tracks. On 25, special electronic barriers are installed, which are also intended for tourists. Even to enter the center of some cities you have to pay. So, I had to pay 32 kroons for travel in the center of Oslo. For trucks a trip weighing more than 3.5 tons will cost more. For motorcyclists, travel is free, free of charge. In addition to toll roads in Norway, payment is provided for certain sections (bridges). For example, to cross the Svinesund bridge, which connects Oslo and Gothenburg, you will need to pay NOK 20. If the car is cargo, then the cost increases by about 5 times, that is, you will need to pay 100.
You can pay for travel in several ways:
- If you are going to be in the country for less than 3 months, you can pay through the Visitors Payment system, with the help of which you can make an automatic payment. But for this you need to register your Visa or Mastercard credit card on the website. This method is convenient in that there is no need to waste time on manual payment, when the client drives along the toll section of the highway, money is automatically withdrawn from his account. The maximum rental period is 3 months.
- For those who are going to stay in Norway for a long time (more than 3 months), it would be better to get an AutoPAS subscription with a special electronic device... To do this, you must conclude an agreement with a company that works in the EFC system, as well as make a deposit of 200 NOK.
- But after learning about these methods, I decided that it would be too confusing for me. Therefore, I chose a simpler option - manual payment. There is no need to register anything in advance. Payment can be made on checkpoints which have the designation Mynt / Coin ”. You can pay for travel in cash using special machines that accept coins or using credit cards. I can say that it does not take much time, the service is fast and of high quality. Therefore, for tourists this is the most the best way... I would like to emphasize that in Norway there are also automatic payment points; the road bill comes to the owner of the car later.
If you are going to visit Norway in winter time years, then it should be borne in mind that some roads may be closed. It is also worth checking the weather forecast in advance if you want to go to the mountains.
Parking and basic traffic rules
From Monday to Friday, parking on the road or in the parking lot is paid. But if there is no sign that you need to pay, then consider yourself lucky and you can park your car free of charge. Automated parking lots (P-machines) are common in Norway. The procedure is as follows: you drive into the parking lot, park your car and buy a parking ticket in a special machine (gray rectangle), it accepts coins of 1, 5, 10 and 20 kroons. It is also possible to pay with a credit card. After purchasing, do not forget to put the coupon under windshield... If you decide to park your car in the garage, then the procedure in this case is slightly different: we take a coupon at the entrance, and pay at the exit.
Now I'll tell you a little about the basic rules. road traffic that everyone should be familiar with. It is allowed to drive around the settlement at a speed of up to 50 km. Outside the city, you can accelerate up to 80 km, as well as on the motorway. At the same time, you can drive from residential areas at a speed of 30 km. Not all speed bumps are marked, so be careful. But still, in Norway there are faster sections where it is allowed to accelerate to 110 km per hour. But in bad weather, we reduce the speed to 80 km per hour.
Penalties
Like the Swedes, Norwegians are very strict in terms of alcohol consumption (the allowable rate is up to 0.2 percent). While in the same Spain or Italy, up to 0, 5 is allowed. If the level of intoxication is from 0, 21 to 0, 5 you will have to pay 6 thousand Norwegian crowns. If the level of alcohol in the blood is from 0, 51 to 0, 8, then the fine increases to 10 thousand, in addition, they can be sentenced to imprisonment.
Please note that the low beam in Norway must be switched on at all times, otherwise the fine is 2000 CZK. All passengers in the car must wear seat belts, for each not wearing a fee of 1500 NOK is charged.
Police in Norway collect fines on the spot. In the event of a refusal, the car can be skidded to an impound parking lot. Note that here are some of the highest fines for speeding (you will have to pay even for 1 km).
Traveling by car in Finland
I must say right away that Finland made me very happy with its loyalty to tourists, because the fee with foreign cars not charged. Therefore, I will not talk about the prices for local motorists, I will go straight to the issue of parking. After all, many tourists who travel by car are interested in this. In small towns in the area of main attractions and near large shops (Citymarket, Anttila), parking is free. But in Helsinka you have to pay for parking and the cost can reach up to 3 euros per hour. At the same time, in some places it is impossible to park without vignettes or parking clocks. I'll tell you more about this, since this feature surprised me. Places where vignettes are required to park a car are marked with special signs indicating the time, for example, 30 minutes, etc. The parking clock is placed under the windshield, but at the beginning it sets the exact time of the driver's return. Such vignettes are purchased separately in specialized stores, at the stations of those. service or in R-kiosks. Note that the watch should only be used in free parking lots. The fine for violation during parking is from 10 to 40 euros.
Basic traffic rules in Finland
As always, I'll start with the speed limits:
- In settlements - no more than 50 km.
- Outside residential cities - up to 80 km per hour.
- On the motorway - up to 120 km.
Please note that from October to March, the speed can be reduced by 20 km for each value. I note that the Finns are very strict about speeding. Their modern system cameras monitors all violations. Therefore, you should be careful. As a rule, there is a sign on the road that warns of the presence of the device. But you need to be careful, because after passing the first chamber, there is no guarantee that the second one is located almost immediately after it.
There are severe fines and penalties for drinking alcohol while driving. The permissible blood alcohol level is up to 0.5 percent. If the indicator is exceeded to 1, 2, a penalty of 15 daily rates is imposed. If the indicator is higher than 1.2 percent, a criminal punishment in the form of imprisonment and a large fine are provided. Foreign citizens are placed in a pre-trial detention center.
Another nuance - in Finland, as in other countries of the northern region, the dipped beam must be turned on constantly, day and night. For violation - 100 euros fine.
Passengers in the car must be fastened both in the front and in the back, it is forbidden to talk on the phone.
A police officer does not accept payment on the spot in case of violation, he issues a receipt, which must be paid through a bank, terminal or online no later than 2 weeks in advance.
I would like to point out that in Finland there are two types of violations, which are assessed differently. For a minor violation, the motorist will be issued a fixed fine, and for a serious one you will have to pay a daily rate.
Fixed fines are also different - it can be 20, 40, 70, 120 or 200 euros, depending on the severity of the fault. But with daily earnings it is more difficult, they are calculated based on the income of the offender and can be all of his daily earnings and more than one (15, 30, 60). Therefore, it is better not to break the rules and be careful. By the way, for speeding up to 33 km within the city and 36 km outside the city, not only money penalty, but also the confiscation of rights from 1 to 6 months.
And finally I will say: I have been preparing for this trip for a long time, so everything went well, a lot of impressions, acquaintances and no problems with the police. The main thing is to be aware and not to lose vigilance.
As a rule, the maximum permissible speed for cars on the roads of Norway is 80 km per hour.
Residential areas: sometimes no more than 30 km per hour. Pay attention to the "speed bumps", they are not always indicated by road signs.
Built-up areas / city center: all vehicles must travel at a maximum speed of 50 km per hour.
Roundtrip roads and motorways: 90 or 100 km / h for cars. Vehicles with a maximum permissible total weight of more than 3.5 tonnes and vehicles with a wheeled trailer / trailers are prohibited from driving at a speed exceeding 80 km per hour, even if a higher speed is permitted in the region. Vehicles with wheeled trailers / unbraked trailers with a total weight exceeding 300 kg are prohibited from driving at speeds exceeding 60 km / h, even if higher speeds are permitted in the region.
Speeding fines:
when the speed limit is 60 km / h or below and the speed is exceeded,
a) up to 5 km / h - NOK 600
b) up to 10 km / h - 1600 NOK
c) up to 15 km / h - NOK 2,900
d) up to 20 km / h - 4200 NOK
e) including 25 km / h - 6,500 NOK
when the speed limit is 70 km / h or higher and the speed is exceeded,
j) up to 5 km / h - NOK 600
k) up to 10 km / h - 1600 NOK
l) up to 15 km / h - NOK 2,600
m) up to 20 km / h - NOK 3600
n) up to 25 km / h - 4900 NOK
o) up to 30 km / h - 6,500 NOK
p) up to 35 km / h - 7,800 NOK
when the speed limit on motorways is 90 km / h and above and the speeding is
q) 36 km / h to 40 km / h - NOK 9000
Extract from the Regulations on the simplified payment of fines in case of violation of traffic rules
Driving and drinking alcohol
Alcohol can have a serious impact on mental clarity and ability to drive. The legal maximum is 20 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood. There are severe penalties for drunk driving. You should also refrain from taking certain medications if you intend to drive. These medications are marked with a red triangle.
Driving with headlights on
For all types of transport, even on a sunny summer day, driving with the dipped headlights on is mandatory. This also applies to motorcycles and mopeds. Remember to stick the black triangle on the headlights of right-hand drive vehicles, which is usually provided. transport company with which you are traveling, or attach removable reflectors so as not to dazzle drivers driving towards cars. You should also have spare headlight sockets with you.
Seat belts
The use of seat belts is compulsory. Children of all ages should use safety devices that are appropriate for their age, size and weight, and wear seat belts securely. Children less than 135 cm tall are transported in child seat(The portable cradle must also be fastened with a special belt). Children taller than 135 cm can use a normal seat belt.
Tires
Minimum tread depth summer tires should be 1.6 mm, winter - 3 mm. Motor vehicles can only be operated if they have sufficient traction.
In winter, it is necessary to use Winter tires with or without thorns. You can also use all season tires... Studded tires are permitted from November 1st to April 15th. In the Nordland, Troms and Finnmark regions, studded tires are permitted between 15 October and 1 May. Studded tires can also be used at other times of the year, if warranted by weather conditions and the nature of the road surface.
In case studded tires are used on a vehicle weighing less than 3.5 tonnes, they are mounted on all four wheels. On vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 3.5 tonnes or more, snow chains must be used if ice or snow is expected on the road. They are attached to the wheels of the vehicle.
Snow chains can be purchased at affordable price... Studded tires can be rented. In Trondheim or Oslo, driving a car with studded tires in the city center requires a tax of approximately NOK 30. This requirement was introduced in order to reduce the level of pollution resulting from the use of studs.
Special emergency vests
It is mandatory to have at least one brightly colored emergency vest in the car.
Mobile phones
Usage mobile phone holding it in your hand while driving is an administrative offense.
Insurance
Third party liability insurance is compulsory; the presence of a green card is welcomed. In the absence of her, tourists with vehicle insured in their country of residence are entitled to the minimum coverage required by law. Due to the presence of a green card, the amount of this coverage rises to the level provided for by the tourist's insurance policy.
Gas stations
In order to protect the environment gasoline and fuel prices are quite high. However, gasoline dealers set their own prices, and as a result, on different cars filling stations gasoline prices may vary. In mountainous and remote areas gas stations can be at a great distance from each other.
Toll roads
Norway has over 70 years of experience in using toll roads as a vehicle to finance the construction of bridges, tunnels and roads.
There are approximately 50 toll points in Norway, 20 of which are automatic.
To simplify the payment procedure, you can use the Visitors Payment system. By going to the website autopass.no and registering your credit card, you will be automatically charged the fare. In this case, you can immediately pass in the lane where the Auto-Pass stands, and this applies to absolutely all toll stations.
In the event that you do not have Visitors Payment or other agreement, then you will have to pay at each point. In those places where automatic payment points are installed, you can drive without stopping and without making any payment, but within a few months you will be sent an invoice for payment.
More detailed information For information on Visitors Payment and payment points in Norway, please visit www.autopass.no.
Road condition information
Call from Norway: 175
Call from abroad: (+47) 815 48 991
Please note that some roads are closed in winter.
Gas / LPG
There are over one hundred gas dispensers in Norway, located at gas stations throughout the country. Full list stations can be viewed by clicking on the corresponding link in the left menu.
The most common type of adapters used in gas stations is the Dutch bayonet. Some people use the Italian dish type. Many stations have adapters that allow you to refuel any type of system. However, it is safest to carry your own adapter, which can be purchased in Norway for about NOK 300.
What documents are required?
You need to have valid driver's license issued in your country of residence, which are valid for at least one more year at the time of travel. If your license was issued in a country that is not a member of the EU / EEA, an international driving license will be required.
Norway can be called one of the most disciplined countries in terms of traffic. Here are the strictest speed limits among the Scandinavian countries and the most severe fines and penalties for traffic violations.
Road traffic
More than half of the roads in Norway are free. Highway designation system - European (E + number). Secondary roads are numbered 2-3 digits. Sometimes on maps and signs they are indicated by Rv + number.Norwegian roads are distinguished by a large number of tunnels (there is even a spiral one!), In the area of fjords there are frequent “serpentines”. To the amazement of autotourists, the road often runs into a water obstacle. There is no need to worry, it is enough to get to the pier, and the ferry will not keep you waiting.
Speed mode
In settlements, all vehicles must move at a speed of no more than 50 km / h. If you entered a residential area or a village with private houses, then here you need to keep the speed no higher than 30 km / h. Although, you will not go faster, because the whole road is covered with speed bumps. On main roads, as a rule, the maximum permissible speed for cars is 80 km / h, on roads with two lanes - 90 km / h, on express roads separated by a barrier - no more than 100 km / h. Overtaking does not entitle you to overspeed.If the car weighs more than 3.5 tonnes or has a trailer, it is prohibited to exceed 80 km / h, even if even the sign permits more high speed... The same rule applies to trailers and motorhomes. And if you drive a vehicle with a trailer or a trailer without brakes and weighing more than 300 kg, then driving at a speed exceeding 60 km / h is generally prohibited.
Alcohol intoxication
In Norway, the law allows a maximum level of 0.2 ppm (20 mg alcohol per 100 ml of blood). You should also refrain from taking certain medications. These medicines are marked with a red triangle on the packaging.Vehicle equipment
In Norway, special attention is paid to the health of the vehicle, including the condition of the tires. In areas with heavy snowfall, the use of snow chains is recommended. You can buy them at any gas station.In addition to the obligatory autodialing of a disciplined driver (first aid kit, fire extinguisher, emergency stop sign), you must have at least one brightly colored vest in the car. It must be worn in the event of an emergency stop.
Before the trip, it does not hurt to get acquainted with the weather forecast and remember that in different parts of Norway it changes unpredictably quickly.
Special characters
There are many Lakse signs along the roads. This means that here you can catch salmon or salmon yourself, buy or eat freshly caught fish.
None of those who saw me park or rent reverse, will not suspect me of love for driving a car. But love is a strange thing, sometimes it happens without reciprocity. And I really love the road.
But there is usually nothing to talk about the roads, if nothing has broken, has not flown anywhere and has not driven into anyone. Especially about foreign ones - ours represent a much wider scope for emotions and impressions (an employee just arrived from a business trip to Poltava, the second day excitedly tells that there are holes in the center of the city about his waist).
The only strong emotions that Norwegian roads evoke is unbridled admiration for the scenery around.
And so this is asphalt of normal quality (a couple of pits encountered during the whole time caused only a nostalgic smile "well, just like ours!"), A small number of cars (we partly write off this due to the fact that June is not yet a season) and a loyal attitude to the wishes of tourists jump out with a camera, leaving the car in the middle of the road.
The drivers are polite, the speed limit is sacred - just heaven for a driver of my type "aunt at the wheel".
To enjoy such a trip to the fullest, you need to be driving and be a photographer. And I was having a great time. And on back seat riot matured - the girls very quickly got tired of these roads: everything is as one, beautiful, but in some ways the same.
And, if not for the return ferry tickets (and they need to be bought very, very in advance for the car), we would have greatly reduced the trip almost by mutual agreement.
For general harmony, all fellow travelers should have at least an approximate idea of what they will see - and next time I will ensure this, even if I have to take an exam before getting into the car.
The girls behaved courageously, agreed to any of my "I'll stop here too, but, honestly, this is almost definitely the last time!", But no one, except me, got out of the car. And I evilly took advantage of the fact that they would definitely not let me out of the car - although in their place I would try to take the camera away.
The more interesting it was for them to look at the photographs: “So beautiful! Have we seen that exactly? " I saw that I can't vouch for the rest.
Road construction in Norway is not a trivial task. But at the state level, there is a belief that every citizen has the right to a developed infrastructure, regardless of where he lives.
There are simply inexplicable things. This alpine farm has exactly two houses, and a pretty decent road with a serious tunnel (a couple of turns underground), a parking lot and a completely civilized toilet for tourists has been laid to it.
It is not clear why we were carried there, and we did not observe any other traces of life during our presence.
There are 45 toll roads in Norway. Electronic barriers are installed on 25 of them - this is generally very nice, especially when the barrier appears unexpectedly in the middle of the field, approximately in the middle of the road, away from any home, and disdainfully chews your card. And you wonder where to go if he doesn't accept her.
List of toll roads as of 2013.
And a link to a good site that contains a sea of information about roads, traffic rules, parking in all European countries
There are toll roads in Norway, but I still don't know how much we paid for them. I was registered in the Avtopas system. I saw the waypoints ten times, there is a high probability that I missed the same amount.
300 kroons were written off back in Norway, another 300 after returning, the decryption has not yet arrived. The difference should be written off / returned, in theory, within 90 days.
This is the Snow Road - guess why it's called that.
Registration rules in the AvtoPas system are ripped off
If you plan to stay in Norway for less than three months, it is recommended to use the Visitors Payment system. With this system, you can automatically pay for roads.
Register your credit card (VISA or MasterCard) on the Visitors Payment website. You decide for yourself how long the contract will be. The maximum agreement time is three months.
- No additional device... When you drive through toll sections, the license plate is photographed and the amount is deducted from your prepaid bill.
- You can drive without stopping on the lane with the AutoPASS sign. You can go immediately after registration.
- You can register in advance or up to 14 days after passing the first paid section.
Those who do not have an AutoPASS or Visitors Payment e-pass must pay their fare at the checkpoints in the window marked "Mynt / Coin" or "Manuell". The fare is paid either manually or at a coin-accepting machine. Only Norwegian coins are accepted for payment. Credit cards are accepted at most points.
Speaking in Russian, this means that after passing each toll section, you must go to look for a payment point. And if you don’t find it, then you will most likely be fined. Or they won't be fined, but why bother?
Met three times separately toll roads with barriers: Atlantic road, Dalsniba entrance, and 53 road.
Strictly speaking, if we did not get into these three places. you would have lost a little.
On weekdays, parking in cities is paid, as in most parking lots near attractions. Usually you need to pay through parking meters - they accept cards and coins.
Payment is not required unless explicitly stated.
For a tourist, this means that you can always find free parking near a supermarket or some pocket a hundred meters from the attraction.
Always is free parking near the ferry.
If you are staying at a campsite, you can always park your car near the house.
In short, everywhere. apart from Oslo, there are plenty of free parking spaces. Skill parallel parking again not useful to me
Gasoline is very expensive - around 2 euros per liter 95.
You need to start looking for a gas station well in advance, and they rarely work around the clock. But there are self-service gas stations where you can refuel at any time and pay with a card. In the overbooking of funds, the Norwegians, unlike the Swedes, were not noticed.
Standard speed limits in Norway.
in a settlement 50 km / h outside a settlement 80 km / h, on a motorway 100 km / h, in residential areas not higher than 30 km / h.
On dangerous serpentines there is usually a speed limit of 70 km / h, and that was enough for me.
There is no overspeeding limit, i.e. theoretically, they can be fined for exceeding 1 km / h.
Fines for speeding are among the highest in Europe (if the speed is exceeded by more than 20 km / h, up to 6,500 of theirs kroons = 9,100 of our hryvnias).
Maximum Alcohol Level in Blood0.2 ‰., further draconian fines.
Dipped beam is required 24 hours a day all year round.
The use of seat belts is compulsoryfor front and rear passengers. Calling on a mobile is, of course, prohibited.
It is compulsory to wear a reflective vest during an emergency stop, but foreign drivers can be fined for its absence only if they are driving a car with a Norwegian license plate.
Cameras on the roads are marked with signs. We saw the police posts three times, and they did not particularly react to us.
Eighteen sections of Norwegian roads with a total length of about 1,700 km have been selected for the National Tourist Routes project. I don’t know how they were selected, there are simply no ugly roads in Norway, and some of the regional roads along which we drove are not inferior in terms of landscape. In fact, 51 roads participated in the competition, those that were not selected, presumably, are simply worse equipped - there are fewer toilets, garbage cans and tourist information points.
The tourist roads were marked with a special sign, which I did not bother to photograph anywhere, and they set up cool, simply stunning observation decks and tourist centers.
The National Tourist Routes project does not have a very convenient, but incredibly beautiful site - just take a look. what incredible photos there are.
They are on Facebook
And take a look at the "architecture" section: what is built on these roads is not "small forms", but chic modern architecture, very high quality, avant-garde, bold and incomparably inscribed in the landscape.
And I’m mad at myself — why didn’t I look at this site before the trip? I would have very much corrected the route to see all this. In my opinion, this is no less beautiful than the environment.
This goat is the mascot of one of the campsites we passed by. Let him stay here, I don't know where to put him in - I'm not going to talk in more detail about the goats in the reports about Norway.
More beautiful than Norwegian landscapes are the Norwegian observation decks and tourist information centers.
In Norway we respect architect, professor, historian, critic and architectural theoristK. Norberg-Schultz. So, right off the bat, and I don't remember what was outstanding he built, but his ideas had a great influence on the entire Norwegian architecture. In particular, he believed that aArchitecture is not something introduced from the outside, but a process that reveals existing essential characteristics and reveals the hidden qualities of a particular place.
I have never seen such a respectful and reverent attitude towards nature as in Norway: architectural objects are ideally inscribed in the landscape, and the choice of materials is determined by the surrounding landscape: wood, glass, concrete or stone in the color of the surrounding mountains - the structure does not argue with nature, but works perfectly with her. I used to think that wood + glass is an impossible combination. But not in Norway.
The observation deck above Stegastein is a thirty-meter squiggle of glass, steel and laminated wood at an altitude of 650 m above the fjord, the view from it is incredible.
Several architectural awards. Architects Todd Saunders and Tommy Wilhelmsen.
Flotane is a recreation area with parking and benches. The purpose of this building remained unclear - on it, it seems, solar panels stand. Architect: Lars Berger.
Flotane is a convenient starting point for hikes along the old road to the mountain plateau. The beauty around is incredible, there are enough cars in the parking lot, regardless of the weather, as well as stone pyramids around - which means that the place is quite tourist.
This is the 55th road passing by the highest mountain peaks. What touches Norway - you can drive to any extreme on decent asphalt. 
With the help of this device, they offer to orientate themselves on the terrain: all mountain peaks are signed. This is also the beginning of many tourist routes of varying difficulty.
Erneswingen is an observation deck above Geiranger. The place has long been loved for its gorgeous view of the fjord: Geiranger is in full view with all its slopes, forests, waterfalls and coastal villages. The feature of the site is an artificial waterfall flowing down. By this time, we saw at least half a thousand real waterfalls, but for some reason we were very happy about the artificial one.
Architectural bureau 3 RW.
This is the largest of all Norwegian tourist divorces - the North Atlantic Road, a section of the road between Molde and Ramsdal
An incredibly publicized national road with a separate barrier and a separate entry fee of 175 CZK.
If you look on the Internet, you will see that 90% of all photographs of the Atlantic Road are this bridge. And now the observation deck near it is being repaired, there is nowhere to stop, nothing can be removed from the road. I had to insolently climb over the fence, but even from there the view does not boggle the imagination.
The rest of the landscapes were not particularly impressive either - we had been traveling around Norway for two weeks by that time. But we still missed a couple of viewing points.
This bridge at the exit from Molde does not pretend to be a landmark, but IMHO, much more photogenic
It also had a rainbow as a bonus.
And this is the bridge to the Rundé island. It looks great from every angle. But 15 minutes before that I found a scratch on Avdeya, I was looking for someone to kill and photographed purely mechanically.
This is the Troll Wall - one of the most popular sights in Norway: height 1795m, length 1100m, the highest vertical wall in Europe. You can drive to its foot by car, and, strictly speaking, it does not take your breath away from the asphalt.
But the troll wall is on the list"Big Wal" - the most difficult and dangerous walls in the world. TOroutine, difficult terrain to overcome and a solid death toll when trying to climb the monument next to the tourist center. It seems that after the number of victims exceeded reasonable limits, the wall for climbers was closed - and they did the right thing.
The tourist center is a project of the architectural bureau Reiulf Ramstad Architects .. Here you can see good photos. Luxurious - the broken roof repeats the outlines of the surrounding mountains, the color of the facade is matched almost perfectly.
The cafe is empty, Only the climbers, who were not allowed into the mountains, are enthusiastically building a house made of "Lego".
But in Norway, many cafes look like this - there is any hamburger for the price of an airplane, and a cup of coffee costs a small fortune. Norwegians are used to it, and tourists get used to it quickly.
Such signs are everywhere in the Ramsdal area - tourists from time to time scam them for souvenirs.
And this is the famous Troll Road - far from the most difficult and dangerous road Norway, but the most panoramic (all eleven loops are visible from above), and therefore the most promoted.
The troll trail is part of the national road RV63, which runs in the northern part of western Norway. Its total length is 106 kilometers.The road at an altitude of 850 m was inaugurated by the king himself in 1936 after eight years of construction. And last year, an observation deck and a tourist center were opened here.
The road can be visited only from May to October, it is closed in winter.
Project the architectural bureau Reiulf Romastad Architects are the same ones who designed the tourist center near the Troll Rock. The photos do not convey much, but the building is simply incredibly beautiful. Glass, concrete, triangular roofs repeat the outlines of neighboring peaks.
Evaluate how the color of the concrete matches the color of the natural stone on the neighboring slopes - the building seems to grow out of the landscape.
And how the mountain river Istra is inscribed in the building. A stepped pool widens its bed in order to regulate the flow rate.
And this is not only shops and toilets, but also a retaining wall that protects the tourist center from the flooding of mountain rivers
The main observation deck hangs over the road at an altitude of 200 meters, from the very edge of the visitors from the abyss is separated only by thick glass.
In all guidebooks, the Troll Road is marked as a road for experienced drivers... in fact, nothing complicated, believe me.
And these are the views from the road RV63, near the Troll Ladder
The sheep are out of the question here, but the hand does not rise to remove.
Gudbrandsjuvet is another chic observation deck near the Troll Staircase.
All these bridges and railings are laid over a mountain stream that ends in a twenty-five-meter gorge. The photographs do not show (you still need to master Photoshop) that the water in the stream is of an ideal turquoise color,
A café and a tourist center complete the observation deck. Openwork buildings are delicately tucked into the bushes. And next to it is an ultra-modern toilet - a real quest for tourists: first we try to figure out how to open the door, then figure out how everything works.
Architects: Jensen and Skodvin.
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The empty cafe offers stunning views of the waterfall.
This place has its own history: it is named after a shepherd who stole a bride in a neighboring village and jumped with her on his back across this stream. Wild manners were.
By the way, the shepherd was never caught - he lived his whole life on the next slope. History is silent about what happened to the bride
And driving this road was a victory for scheduling over common sense.
According to the schedule, we had the Dalsnpib observation deck. The weather did not work out in the morning: rain, fog, wind, but we have the same schedule, we still go to Dalsnibba, a high-mountain plateau above Geiranger at an altitude of 1500 meters, about which we only know that there is always fog. We have the same schedule!
The road with an incomprehensible surface - Avdey is stained to the very roof, and tomorrow morning you will have to look for a car wash - not only Avdey's colors and numbers cannot be discerned, there is already a questionable brand of the car.
Even I don't jump out of the car with the camera - it's too cold and wet.
And skiers are running along the road. Well, skiers, well, in June, well, in the rain .. Let them run! - The skiers remained unimpressed.
Or you drive out of the fog clubs - and there is such a thing on the side of the road. The landscape is already too real, but here you generally want to shake your head and ask "Begone!"
The entrance to the Dalsniba plateau cost 100 kroons. You can pay only with a card - a polite boy in a booth sits there exclusively for advice and questions.
I don't know what we were counting on and what we were going to see from above in continuous rain and fog, but we paid the 100 crowns and moved forward. And here, for the first time in the whole trip, it was really scary to drive - nothing could be seen for three meters. But we are Russian (and Ukrainian) women - we are galloping horses and all that.
Let's go, hurray! Fog, rain and +3.5 overboard. And a wonderful view opens up - solid milk.
This is a tourist center. Two sitting girls, seeing us, shook their heads and mentally, probably, also asked "Begone!" - you hardly expect visitors in such weather, at least sane ones.
But there are even bigger psychos than us: these four left the car at the gate and walked up the hill for five kilometers, saving 100 crowns. Thank God that no one knocked them down in such a fog.
When I heard "No foto!" with a recognizable Slavic accent, I immediately understood: our people!
The site was opened for tourists in 1945, the new building of the tourist center was built in 2004, but I could not understand who the architect was. It's a shame, it's funny.
The whole problem was just to find pictures of this tourist center not in the fog. This is pulled from Dalsnibba's official site.
And from there is a photograph showing what we should, in principle, see.
We descend 800 meters - hurray, finally a view of the fjord, for which we were so wrestling.
Beautiful, you will not say anything.
A car with Russian license plates - the men earn extreme money and have a rest accordingly. It would be strange if they played checkers in their free time.
There are a lot of Russian cars, not a single one has been seen with Ukrainian license plates. Most likely, fellow countrymen prefer to travel in rented cars.
And Avdey with a trident on the number in the parking lots invariably made some sensation - I explained what kind of country it was, and then I always began to tell that no, Ukraine is not Russia
And this is also the observation platform Flydalsjuvet - I love this combination of the incompatible: glass with spruce timber. And the entrance to the toilet is again a whole quest.
The observation deck is in two tiers, connected by a walkway. Architect Arne Smedsvig.
Somehow I spread my thoughts along the tree.
Thanks to everyone who mastered)
Toll roads or road sections are quite common in Norway. Information signs and light boards inform about approaching them in advance. You can pay for travel by card or in cash at the payment points located at the beginning or at the end of the paid section.
There are also roads included in the AutoPASS system (autopass.no) - with automatic payment points. Traffic on such roads is carried out without stopping "Do not stop". To travel on the roads included in the AutoPASS system, foreign drivers can issue a guest pass "Visitors Payment", allowing for automatic calculation on all sections of such roads.
Before the trip, I issued a guest subscription.
The procedure for registering on the autopass.no website is as follows:
- indicate the data of your car;
- set the validity period of your guest subscription, based on the duration of the trip, but no more than three months;
- after specifying the credit card details, 1 CZK is debited from the account.
As soon as in Norway the fact of your car's passage is recorded by AutoPASS cameras, an advance payment of NOK 300 (or NOK 1000 for vehicles weighing over 3500 kg) is paid from your credit card to the pass. A notification will be sent to your e-mail.
Then, when driving through toll sections, the fare is removed from the subscription. If the balance on the subscription is zero, new payment in the amount of 300 or 1000 NOK.
Three months after the expiration of our guest subscription, we received a notification by e-mail with a list of places where we can travel to paid sections and the amount of travel on the corresponding section. Unused funds - 59 NOK returned to the credit card. According to the report, we drove 10 of these places. The fare was 242 NOK, from 5 to 47 NOK for each section.
On the above site there is a list of roads included in AutoPASS. Therefore, you can roughly estimate the total amount, which will result in a trip on these roads. And decide for yourself whether to issue a subscription or not ...
The site also explains what to do if you do not sign up for a subscription. Then you can pay for the use of the road at special points that are found at some gas stations or in a travel agency. Watch out for pointers:
If you do not pay for the fare within three working days, then the clerks from AutoPASS will send you an invoice by mail (it is doubtful that it will be sent to Russia without a database of Russian car owners), which does not include any additional fees.
👁 As always, do we book the hotel on the booking? In the world, not only Booking exists (🙈 for a horse percentage from hotels - we pay!) I have been practicing for a long time
