How to travel to Scandinavia and not go broke
Travels / / December 19, 2019
Timur Shakurov and Maria Zimnyakova
Bloggers, travelers, photographers, architects, drafters and #eurotaz TRUE BERLIN. Instagram profile.
We Masha and Timur, travel for several years in his spare time on the domestic machine 2002 2114 with mileage of 280 000 km and visited 24 countries. We call our baby "evrotaz" because after thousands of kilometers on the home country switched to the next European country.
On trips lasting from a week to a month we visited the most popular areas of the EU, and Scandinavia has always remained a mystery that we want to solve itself. We started our journey from the capital of Germany, and completed the Scandinavian tour in the cultural capital of Russia - St. Petersburg - four weeks later, knurled 8000 km. On the way we had tips that may be helpful to travelers.
availability of natural law
The tent can be placed anywhere (except private land) in Norway, Sweden and Finland, so spending on housing can be immediately deleted from the expenditure. On the way a lot of comfortable parking and toilets, seating areas, a lot of slopes to the water and beautiful places where you can quickly and easily call the machine and put
tent.Petrol
In the Nordic countries we have not found the 92-th gasoline and refueled always the 95th. Fixed price of gasoline also not own at each refueling, so be careful. If you are around 3-5 gas stations, it is better to go round them all in search of more lucrative offers.
In Norway, the cheapest way to refuel at the weekend and on Monday morning. In some regions, there are discounts on Thursdays, but not so significant. The higher in the north, the greater the cost of gasoline. We met in Norway in gasoline prices in the range of 12,5-16,8 crown (90-120 rubles per liter).
ferries
Carefully study the map and components of the motion path, as in Norway are so many ferries. In some cases, more comfortable, easier and cheaper to overtake them on the road, but sometimes the ferry saves you time and money that you would have spent on gasoline. The price depends on the distance and travel time varies from 100 to 1 000 kroons (700-7 000) for a car with a driver and one passenger.
During the trip we ride on the ferry as many as 10 times and spent on them 12 thousand rubles. Each ferry is different in size, usually inside there is always a coffee shop and an outdoor deck to enjoy the views of the fjords. Due to the water method of transportation we did not even have thoughts to take an optional excursion to the cities of the fjords.
Payment
In each of the Nordic countries, its own currency, therefore a universal approach to payment terms - is the use of the card. The card can be paid and ferries, and toll bridges in Denmark, and the products and even souvenirs.
For example, we do not have the cash to himself and did not change in the local currency. Almost all gas stations are billed card through the terminal. First you need to insert the card, it will take a deposit of 500 CZK 800-1 (5 600-11 000). Once you fill the car and hang the gun in place, the rest of the amount returned to you on the map for 2 minutes or a few days depending on your bank.
If you do not have the required amount on the card, fill up will not work. We'll have to look for a gas station with a shop and a cashier, where you will be able to pay the amount you need. On Sundays and night work only payment terminals map.
National travel road (National Tourist Routes)
In Norway, we took care of avtoputeshestvennika and mapped out 14 routes with a particularly beautiful views. These roads are equipped with convenient car parks with toilets, tables, seating area and lookout points.
You can download the app Visit Norway and plan your route around the country, including road-sights. For each of the routes have a selection of places to visit. All the places are marked on the cards themselves, and the way you will be assisted by brown signs with a special symbol.
Price: Free
Price: Free
Trails and huts
For fans of walking in the mountains also exists network paths which are connected between the cabin where it is possible to sleep for a certain amount. Huts can also be used during the day, they have always been a reference to the beauty of the trail for us.
All hiking paths are indicated by a large red letter "T", so getting lost is unlikely to succeed. Keep in mind that the weather in the mountains is changing, and with a need to have warm clothes. After the rains the trail can turn into streams, so take care of shoes.
Food
Prices of products in the Nordic countries are not encouraging, especially in Norway. We took a torch and gas cylinders, cereals and canned food, nuts and dried fruit, dried milk for coffee and cereals, so the shops mainly came from interest.
Foods that ends with the expiration date, sold at a discount of 30-50%. Unfortunately, red fish at a discount, we have not seen, but bought a few times, and without the discount. The most budget store - REMA1000. There we took the smoked salmon, raw cooking / fighting and raw sashimi SALMA. If you are in Norway, the red fish be sure to savor! Please note that on Sundays, most grocery stores do not work.
In Sweden, Denmark and Finland as a whole, food prices are lower than in Norway, and the choice is huge in comparison with Russia. Something you can buy even more profitable. In Finland, for example, we enjoyed the gentle mozzarella.
Toll roads
In the Nordic countries in general, roads are free, but there is little pitfalls that you should consider.
In Denmark, free road, but the toll bridge and ferry. If you want to get from Denmark to Sweden, you can ride over the bridge cost 56 euros or swim on ferry in about the same amount, but the bridge will save you a lot of time, and you will have time to enjoy the ferries in Norway.
In Sweden, there are paid area around Stockholm and Gothenburg. And in Norway, Oslo, some areas also paid, but the payment is non-standard way. Your numbers reads the camera, and after some time, the total amount you send to your home address in your home country. The forums write that receipts in Russia no one would come, but we are yet waiting.
Weather
Weather in Scandinavia unpredictable, so you need to go fully armed. We were just very lucky: almost all the journey the sun was shining. We had time to sunbathe and swim in the icy sea water and mountain lakes. But there were days when the icy wind knocks down and tears flowed from the cold in the middle of summer.
Always prepare in a convenient way windproof and waterproof clothing and shoes, especially if you plan to climb the mountains. Bear with light sandals and closed at least two comfortable pair of shoes in case one gets wet. Umbrella you will not help: if there is rain, then together with him, most likely, plaque and strong wind. Therefore, it is best to carry a raincoat.
It is surprising, but we recommend you to bring with you sunscreen and do not forget to use it, because regardless of the weather in the mountains face still burns.
Nature
The most beautiful part of Norway - is its nature. Snowy mountains in the summer, endless fjords along the coastline, azure water and sandy beaches, the midnight sun, the birds singing. Do not waste time on the road and stricter city, take a look at them, just for a moment and get lost in the beauty of nature, forgetting for a couple of weeks of urban life. Nature impossible to describe. You need to go there myself to give vent to the feelings and cry from its beauty and magnitude.
conclusion
I hope that you use these tips, and hit the road to check them out and possibly after the thank. We are thinking of new journeys, which would be able to get any car enthusiast on any machine to continue to share their discoveries (for travel can be followed on social media hashtag #eurotaz).
And the most important advice: do not be afraid to travel alone. Tent and eating with them will make your trip anywhere budget, because virtually the only item of expenditure - this is petrol. Emotions can not be transferred from the travel and buy, and then later being put on the shelf to gather dust. Your memories are always with you, and new goals will light a fire in his eyes to new discoveries!