Practical Information
Visas |
Getting Here |
Hotels |
Money |
Food |
Weather |
Time Zone |
Electricty |
http://www.udi.no/templates/Tema.aspx?id=7403 to find out if you require a visa to enter Norway. Note that securing a visa can take several months, and it is advisable to begin applying early. If you would like help in applying for a visa, including an invitation letter from the Forum organizers, you may indicate this when registering for the Forum. Countries that do NOT require an entry visa to Norway: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda (BDTC passport), Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong (SAR passport), Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korean Republic, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau (SAR passport), Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Uruguay, USA, Vatican State, Venezuela
Getting to Oslo
Oslo’s main international airport is the Oslo Airport at Gardermoen, where the Forum will organize transport to your hotel. Coordinate your arrival with the Forum secretariat to be met at the airport. IF YOU HAVE SUBMITTED YOUR FLIGHT INFORMATION TO THE FORUM SECRETARIAT, THEN WE WILL RESERVE SPACE FOR YOU ON A BUS THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO YOUR HOTEL. If you have not provided us with your flight information then we will be unable to guarantee you a spot on one of our chartered buses. Consult this webpage for instructions to help you to get from the airport to your hotel. There will also be a staffed booth at the airport with the GFFE logo and GFFE representatives there to assist you.
Other airports and transportation options are listed here. NB: these options will not be covered by the Forum administration. The airports Torp & Rygge are sometimes significantly cheaper to fly into, but are farther from the city center, and can take over twice as long to get to and from. The two easiest ways to get into the city are to take the Airport Express Train, or the Airport Express Bus. Both are easy to find and use. The train leaves about every 10 minutes, is a 20 minute ride and costs 160nok (approx 20€). The bus leaves about every 20 minutes, is a 40 minute ride, and costs 140nok (approx 17€). The bus travels directly to the SAS Radisson Hotel. You can find other options here. Whatever you do DO NOT TAKE A TAXI, as fares to the city centre are especially expensive.
From Oslo Central Station to your Hotel
If you arrive in Oslo by train or bus, here is how to get to your hotel:
To Thon Munch Hotel:
You will need to buy a ticket for a tram ride to your hotel. A single fare ticket (25NOK) can be purchased at convenience stores in the train station: 7-11, Narvesen, or Deli DeLuca. From the main exit of the train station, walk down the stairs, and you will see a mass transit stop of buses and trams. Take the 11 tram heading toward Majorstua, and get off at Tulinløkka. Head right when you get off of the tram and take your first left at Universitetgata and walk two blocks until you get to St.Olav’s circle. Walk down the first street on your right, Munchs Gata. Thon Munch Hotel is at Munchs gate 5.
To P-Hotel:
You will need to buy a ticket for a tram ride to your hotel. A single fare ticket (25NOK) can be purchased at convenience stores in the train station: 7-11, Narvesen, or Deli DeLuca. From the main exit of the train station, walk down the stairs, and you will see a mass transit stop of buses and trams. Take tram 18 Rikshospitalet and get off at Grensen. Head left when you get off the train. Walk two blocks and the P-Hotel is on your right. The address is Grensen 19.
To Cochs Pensjonat:
You will need to buy a ticket for a tram ride to your hotel. A single fare ticket (25NOK) can be purchased at convenience stores in the train station: 7-11, Narvesen, or Deli DeLuca. From the main exit of the train station, walk down the stairs, and you will see a mass transit stop of buses and trams. Take tram 11 heading towards Majorstua and get off at Welhavens gate. Head left when you get off of the train and walk two blocks. Cochs Pensjonat will be on your right. The address is Parkveien 25.
To Perminalen Hotel:
You will need to buy a ticket for a tram ride to your hotel. A single fare ticket (25NOK) can be purchased at convenience stores in the train station: 7-11, Narvesen, or Deli DeLuca. From the main exit of the train station, walk down the stairs, and you will see a mass transit stop of buses and trams. Take the 13 tram toward Lilleaker, and get off at Wessels Plass. When you get off the train head right, along the tram track. Walk one block and turn left on Øvre Slottsgata. The hotel will be on the right handside of the street. The address is Øvre Slottsgate 2.
To Rica Holberg:
You will need to buy a ticket for a tram ride to your hotel. A single fare ticket (25NOK) can be purchased at convenience stores in the train station: 7-11, Narvesen, or Deli DeLuca. From the main exit of the train station, walk down the stairs, and you will see a mass transit stop of buses and trams. Take the 17 or 18 tram towards Rikshospitalet, or the 11 tram toward Majorstua. Get off the at Holbergs Plass and head left. You will see the Rica Holberg across the street. The address is Holbergs plass 1.
To Thon Glydenløve:
You will need to buy a ticket for a tram ride to your hotel. A single fare ticket (25NOK) can be purchased at convenience stores in the train station: 7-11, Narvesen, or Deli DeLuca. From the main exit of the train station, walk down the stairs, and you will see a mass transit stop of buses and trams. Take tram 11 heading towards Majorstua. Get off at Rosenborg. The tram ride should take approximatley 15 minutes. When you get off the tram, follow the tracks in the same direction you’ve been heading, walk two blocks, and you will see the hotel on your left. The Thon Gyldenløve address is Bogstadveien 20 – there is a coffee/variety store right next door on the corner.
Coming From SAS Hotel (Flybussen)
To Thon Munch Hotel:
When standing with your back facing the SAS hotel turn left and walk to the first intersection and take a sharp left onto St. Olav’s gate. Walk 4 blocks on St. Olav’s gate and you will reach a circular intersection with a large sculpture in the center. Walk down the second street to your right. This is Munchs gate. The hotel is Munchs gate 5 and will be on your left. This is about a ten minute walk.
To P-Hotel:
When standing with your back facing the SAS hotel, turn left and walk down the street until you reach the second intersection. Turn left at this street Kristian IV’s gate, and walk for 3 blocks. Kristian IV’s gate turns into Grensen. The P-Hotel is at Grensen 19 and will be on your left. This is about a ten minute walk.
To Thon Gyldenløve:
To get to to Thon Gyldenløve you will need to take the tram. To use the tram you must have a single fare ticket. There is a store connected to the SAS where you can buy a single fare ticket (25 NOK). With your back facing the SAS hotel head right until you reach the first intersection. Take a sharp right and you will see a tram stop. Take the 11 tram that departs on the opposite side of the street. Take the tram until you get to Rosenborg. When you get off the tram, follow the tracks in the same direction you’ve been heading, walk 2 blocks, and you will see the hotel on the left. The Thon Gyldenløve address is Bogstadveien 20 - there is a coffee/variety store right next door on the corner.
To Cochs Pensjonat:
With your back facing the SAS hotel turn left and walk until the first intersection. Turn right and walk about 100 meters with the park on your left. When you reach the end of the park you will turn right, and then cross the street at the first intersection. The Cochs Pensjonat is right on the corner when you cross the street. There is a grey awning with the name of the hotel in blue. Look for the name of the hotel on the doorbell to the right of the door, ring and the reception will let you in. Walk up one flight of stairs and you will be at the reception desk.
To Perminalen Hotel:
If you are staying in the Perminalen hotel it is better to take the train that arrives at the Oslo Central Train station. Flybussen will take you to the SAS hotel. To get from the SAS hotel to the Perminalen: with your back facing the SAS hotel, turn left until you reach the second intersection. Turn left and walk down Kristian IV’s gate, and walk 7 blocks, until you reach Øvreslottsgate. Walk three and a half blocks and you will find the Perminalen hotel at Øvreslottsgata 2.
To Rica Holberg:
You can actually see the Rica Holberg when you get off Flybussen. With your back facing the SAS hotel, turn right, and head to the first intersection. Continue to the next intersection and you will see the Rica Holberg.
Hotels
Hotel prices are not covered by the registration fee, but the Forum organizers have negotiated some price reductions with local hotels. These hotel resrvations can be accessed and booked through the registration fee payment site, which you may access once you have registered. Please not that it is not possible to reserve a hotel room without also paying the registration fee. Hotel prices vary between 600-1150 NOK for singles (approx €70 to €130 per person) and between 700-1200 NOK for doubles (approx €40 to €70 per person), depending on the standard and location. Once we announce hotel rooms, they will be available on a first come, first serve basis.
Money
Norway is an expensive country. Be wary about wandering off into the city, as a subway ticket or cup of coffee will cost you about 4€, a beer up to 10€. The good news is that the Forum’s registration fee is ALL INCLUSIVE: covering 3 meals a day during the forum, nightly events with entertainment and refreshments, in-city transportation, participation in all Forum events listed in the programme, and all Forum related services, including internet access and translation. At 400Euro and Norwegian prices, this means a very good deal. Exchange rates can fluctuate dramatically in these turbulent times. You can check current Norwegian currency exchange rates here.
Food
As mentioned above, food can be expensive in Norway, but registration comes with 3 full meals a day. If you have any special dietary requirements , these will be noted during the registration process.
Weather
The week of the Global Forum is the week that has statistically had the best weather for the last 20 years (see the data here), so you can expect a beautiful Scandinavian summer, with warm summer days (hovering between 20-30ºcelsius), daylight lasting long into the wee hours (bring a sleeping mask, especially if you will be jet-lagged), and a city full Norwegians thoroughly enjoying the summer. That said, the occasional summer shower has been known to invade when least expected.
Time Zone
Oslo is GMT+1
Electrical information
220 volts AC (50 Hz) is the Norwegian standard. If you are travelling with electrical or electronic devices be sure to bring a two-pin continental adapter with you.
