Norwegian cuisine is simple and based on high-quality local ingredients. Here are just a few ideas:
- Fish and seafood: Norway is famous for its salmon (laks), as well as cod (torsk), herring (sild), halibut (kveite), and fresh shrimp (reker).
- Meat: Lamb (lam) is commonly eaten, as well as traditional meatballs (kjøttkaker). In some regions, you can try reindeer (reinsdyr).
- Dairy products: The most famous is brunost, a brown caramelized cheese with a slightly sweet taste.
- Berries: In summer and autumn, forests are full of blueberries (blåbær), lingonberries (tyttebær), and cloudberries (multer).
- Baked goods: Try Norwegian waffles (vafler), usually served with sour cream and jam, or cinnamon buns (skillingsboller).
You can buy groceries in supermarkets of various chains.
- Major chains: REMA 1000 and Kiwi are discount stores with the lowest prices. Coop offers different store formats (small Prix, mid-size Extra, large Mega). Meny is a more premium chain with a wider selection and higher prices. Spar is also common. Small stores like Joker and Bunnpris often operate on Sundays.
- Selection: A good range of basic groceries, lots of fish, dairy, and bread. Imported goods and some fruits/vegetables can be expensive.
- Prices: Norway has one of the highest grocery prices in Europe. Be prepared for significantly higher food costs than in most other countries.
- Opening hours: Supermarkets are usually open from 7:00/8:00 until 22:00/23:00 on weekdays, and have reduced hours (until 18:00–21:00) on Saturdays. Very important: On Sundays, most stores are closed except for small “Sunday” shops (søndagsåpen) like Joker or Bunnpris. Plan your main grocery shopping for weekdays or Saturday.
- Alcohol: Alcohol sales are strictly regulated. Beer up to 4.7% can be purchased in regular supermarkets but only during certain hours (usually until 20:00 on weekdays and 18:00 on Saturdays; no sales on Sundays). Wine, spirits, and stronger beer are only sold in government-run stores called Vinmonopolet, which have even shorter hours and are always closed on Sundays and public holidays.
While supermarkets are the main place for grocery shopping, it’s worth looking for local markets if you come across them during your trip. In some coastal cities, like Bergen, you’ll find famous fish markets (Fisketorg) offering extremely fresh seafood (though prices are often tourist-oriented). Norway also has farmers' markets (Bondens Marked), which usually operate periodically (for example, on weekends during certain seasons) in various cities. These markets offer products directly from local farmers: vegetables, fruits, cheeses, meats, honey, and baked goods. Information about dates and locations is typically available online.