There are two arctic regions within Norway. The small volcanic island of Jan Mayen found itself off the beaten track (and actually away from any trails). The indescribably beautiful Svalbard archipelago (the largest island is Spitsbergen) challenges adventurers, who don't hesitate to pay a lot of money for a one-of-a-kind experience.
Norway is not called "the country of the polar day."”. Tourists who come here in summer often make a special trip to the north, to find out about this particular phenomenon in areas beyond the Arctic Circle. From mid-May to early August, nightfall in the southern part of Norway falls very late, while in the counties of Nordland, Troms in Finnmark, and also in Svalbard and |an Mayen the sun doesn't set for weeks. In Longyearbyen, Svalbard, the sun does not hide below the horizon at all 20 April to 21 of August! On the other side of the coin, the winters here are chilly, extremely frosty and dark. North of the Arctic Circle after the summer period, when the sun is shining around the clock, suddenly the polar night begins. In Tromso the sun does not rise at all from 25 November to 17 January, and Longyearbyen dozes in darkness for almost 4 months – from 26 October to 16 February. Coming to Norway during the gloomy winter season has only a few bright rays of hope, such as the possibility of skiing in places considered to be the most beautiful in the world (downhill and cross-country skiing, many artificially lit slopes), a proposal for an adventurous dog sled trip or a chance to admire the mesmerizing spectacle in delight, what is the aurora borealis.
In this barrel of honey, however, a tablespoon of tar was drowned. Due to government policy, extremely high taxes and remoteness, and at the same time being isolated from the rest of the world, Norway is – to put it mildly – dear country. Simply put, but without exaggeration: from four- up to seven times more expensive than Poland. Tourists on a tight budget, to make ends meet somehow, have to do a lot of header, and redefine the phrase "small budget”. Fortunately, you don't pay anything for wild camping, Rail multi-journey tickets allow for relatively easy travel in the southern part of the country, and thanks to supermarkets, you can avoid horrendous prices for dining at restaurants. However, there are no miracles – if someone really wants to know magic, the irresistible charm of Norway, he should first of all stock up on money, tighten your belt and forget about converting expenses into your home currency!