Working in Oslo Norway

Airport

Oslo airport is situated about 50kms north of Oslo and services over 22 million passengers each year. Oslo Airport has been selected as Europe’s most punctual airport four times by the Association of European Airlines. There are plans to expand the airport in coming years so make sure to keep up-to-date with how any scheduled works might impact on your travel plans by visiting http://www.osl.no/en/osl/frontpage.

Getting to and from the airport is pretty easy as there are good public transport services between the airport and the city. Options include a train link, a variety of bus services, taxis and, of course rental cars.

Railway station

Railway lines run for more than 3,000 kilometres across the Norwegian landscape. In total the railway lines feature 775 tunnels and 3,000 bridges. Trains are a great option for seeing the country and your rail journey can start when you catch the Oslo Airport Gardermoen Express Train that covers the journey from Airport to Oslo Central Station in just 20 minutes.

Transportation

Public Transport: Ruter – the public transportation system in Oslo and Akershus (adjoining area) is wide-ranging, very good and operates on a ticket system by which the same ticket can be used across all modes of public transportation – bus, tram, metro, train and ferry.

Purchase tickets from metro ticket machines, 7-Eleven and Narvesen Convenience Stores as well as the Ruter’s Customer Service Centre (outside of Central Station). The ‘RuterBillett’ App also enables you to buy tickets easily. The accompanying “RuterReise” App can be downloaded free of charge and provides public transport departure times.

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Try to buy your tickets in advance as purchasing them on-the-spot and onboard transportation will usually cost around NOK 20 more. Use the RuterBillet App to buy in advance. You can access single, 24-hr, 7-day and 30-day tickets ahead of time.

Taxis: There is a taxi service in all cities and many towns throughout Norway. In Oslo, you would normally catch a taxi at one of the many taxi ranks that are located around the city. You do not have to catch the first taxi in the queue and can instead go with whichever company you choose. If there is not a taxi rank handy, you can hail an available taxi on the street or phone for one if you prefer.

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Check out taxi pre-determined rates at the airport prior to catching a taxi – just to ensure you have all the right info you need.

Cost of Living

In comparison to Australia, the cost of living in Oslo is generally higher. Many everyday items including food and beverages a very highly priced in comparison to other places. In fact, according to some surveys, Oslo is now one of the most expensive cities in the world.

Despite prices being high, the trade off is an excellent lifestyle in a clean, safe and prosperous country. You may have to work a bit harder to ensure that your hard-earned money covers your expenses but it will be worth it.

According to the online database, Numbeo (www.numbeo.com) prices for typical items are as follows:

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Moneyconverter.com is an excellent resource for converting any local currency to that of your home country. This is a great tool for budgeting and stretching your “hard-earned” cash.

Accommodation

Like any Major city, Oslo offers a range of accommodation options. The sort of accommodation that you are seeking is really a matter of personal preference and budget. Once you have decided what kind of accommodation you are seeking, then it is simply a matter of finding something that suits.

You will have to make some decisions about whether you are seeking short or longer-term options. For short-term accommodation, backpacker hostels are always an excellent option.  Throughout Norway, there are also hotels, cottages, farm stays, and even the occasional lighthouse that offers accommodation.

In Oslo itself, some options include:

Budget

Oslo Youth Hostel Haraldsheim

Oslo Hostel Central

Anker Hostel

Mid-range

Best Western Hotel Bondeheimen

Anker Hotel

Park Inn by Radisson

High-end

Grand Hotel

The Thief

Lysebu

Shopping

Shopping on a budget in Oslo can be challenging given the generally high cost of goods. However, there are plenty of interesting places to choose from an interesting array of shopping destinations. Aker Brygge offers shopping on the harbour front while both the Baerums Verk and the Norwegian Folk Museum’s Old Town offer small boutiques and shops featuring local artists and craftsmen.

You will be able to find shopping to suit your budget with some of Oslo’s malls featuring lower-cost alternatives to the more boutique locations.

Emergency

Emergency telephone numbers

Police                        112

Fire                            110

Ambulance             113

Insurance and Healthcare

If you are living and working in Norway under a working holiday residence permit then you will be covered by Norwegian national insurance. This coverage should entitle you to treatment by a doctor or at a hospital. A number of essential medicines are also covered by the insurance scheme. You will still have out-of-pocket medical expenses when seeking treatment or purchasing medication. In Norway these charges are referred to a “patient’s changes”.

If you do have health related concerns while in Norway you can always use the Nordic Social Insurance Portal http://www.nordsoc.org/en/Norway/Insured-in-Norway/ as a resource.

As with any travel experience, before heading off on your working holiday in Norway you should confirm the health-care services that will be available to you and also consider taking out your own, personal travel insurance.