Shopping in Norway

Norway has a rich tradition of arts and crafts, and markets across the country- especially in large cities such as Oslo- are flooded with interesting things to buy. The best places to shop in Oslo are Byporten Shopping (newest shopping centre), Oslo City Shopping Center (largest and most popular), Karl Johans Gate Shopping Area (most famous Pedestrian Street) and The Paleet Shopping Center (complementing the pedestrian shopping). Best and most famous of all, is the knitwear- in bright colours and lovely designs, and very warm too. Other good buys include porcelain, crystal, pewter and silver ware, and furniture crafted from pinewood. Native crafts, such as the art of rosemaling (or rose painting, a form of decoration of household items and furniture) are also excellent souvenirs. Norway is uniformly expensive, so don’t expect to get good buys for a song. If your budget is limited, it might be wiser to stick to more modest souvenirs- browse around in local markets and keep your eyes peeled for special sales. Bargaining is not the norm in Norway, so refrain from it.