Money, cards and ATMs in Norway

Money and paying for things

Norway uses the Norwegian krone (NOK), and it is not on the euro despite being surrounded by countries that are.

• This is one of the most cashless countries on earth. Cash accounts for under 4% of payments in shops, and many cafes, museums and buses simply do not accept it. Apple Pay and Google Pay work essentially everywhere.
• You can travel here for two weeks without touching a banknote, and most Norwegians do exactly that.
• Vipps is the app everyone uses, and you almost certainly cannot. It needs a Norwegian bank account and BankID, so when a market stall or a ferry says "Vipps only", ask - they will nearly always have a card terminal too.
• Decline dynamic currency conversion, every time. If a terminal or an ATM offers to bill you in your own currency, the markup is roughly 5% to 8% over the mid-market rate. Always choose NOK.
• If you do want notes, use bank ATMs branded Bankaxept; the independent machines in tourist streets add their own fee. Do not change money at the airport kiosks.
• Tipping is not expected. Service is in the price. Rounding up a restaurant bill by 5% to 10% for genuinely good service is normal and anything more is odd; nobody tips taxis, bars or hotels.
• Carrying more than NOK 25,000 in cash must be declared at customs. The penalty for not declaring is 20% of the amount.

What things cost

• Non-resident visitors can reclaim VAT on purchases above a minimum value, through the tax-free refund desks at the airports. Get the form stamped before you check the goods in.
• The cheapest thing you can do here is cook. Rema 1000, Kiwi and Extra are the budget supermarkets, and the gap between a supermarket meal and a restaurant one is wider in Norway than almost anywhere.