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πŸ’Έ Budget snow: how to ski in Norway without breaking the bank

Winter in Norway is absolutely amazing! It's the perfect time to experience the stunning fairytale landscapes, incredible slopes and fantastic conditions that make it the ultimate destination for your next skiing holiday! But many tourists are just itching to get away and experience everything this amazing destination has to offer! Believe it or not, you can have the most amazing budget holiday in Norway! All it takes is a few simple but super effective life hacks.

We've got a super-detailed guide to help you save big on ski passes, accommodation, grub and transport.

A fjordside ski resort in Norway with skiers on the slope and a village below.

🎟️ How to save on ski passes: the main secrets

Ski passes are one of the most significant expenses on a skiing holiday in Norway. But even here, there are opportunities to save money:

βœ… Buy online in advance

● Most Norwegian resorts offer discounts of 10–20% when you buy online at least a month before your trip.

● For example, a day ski pass in Hemsedal costs around NOK 520 at the ticket office, but if you book online in advance, the price drops to NOK 420–450.

βœ… Take advantage of package deals

● The resorts of Trysil and Hemsedal regularly offer "accommodation + ski pass" packages. Savings can be up to 25%.

● Check the SkiStar and Norway Home of Skiing websites for great deals.

βœ… Ski in the evening or on weekdays

● An evening ski pass (usually from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.) is about 40–50% cheaper than a day pass.

● Prices are 15–20% lower on weekdays, and the slopes are almost empty.

πŸ“Œ Real review from the BudgetTraveller blog:

"By buying ski passes online in advance and skiing in the evening, we saved up to NOK 1,000 per week."

Skiers enjoy evening runs on Norway’s slopes with cozy wooden cabins at the base.

🏠 Accommodation: how to find a budget option?

Accommodation in Norway is expensive, but there are many ways to save money:

βœ… Book in advance

● If you book your accommodation 3–4 months in advance, you can save 20–30%.

● For example, apartments in Trysil can cost NOK 900 per night when booked early, but closer to the season, the price rises to NOK 1,300.

βœ… Choose small resorts or nearby villages

● Instead of popular resorts (Trysil or Hemsedal), choose lesser-known and cosier places (such as Rauland, Gautefall or Gol).

● Accommodation here is on average 25–35% cheaper.

βœ… Apartments instead of hotels

● Apartments or cottages with a kitchen allow you to cook for yourself and save extra on food.

πŸ“Œ Tip from TripAdvisor:


"Our apartment in Rauland for four people cost only 800 NOK per night, and we saved a lot on restaurants."

🍽️ Save on food: delicious and inexpensive

Food is another important expense. Here's how you can save:

βœ… Buy groceries in supermarkets in advance

● Coop, Kiwi and Rema 1000 are the most budget-friendly chains.

● Prices for groceries in supermarkets are 2–3 times lower than in cafes or restaurants in resorts.

βœ… Bring a thermos and snacks for the slopes

● Tea or coffee at a cafΓ© on the slopes costs NOK 40–60, while homemade tea costs less than NOK 5.

● Bring energy bars, nuts and fruit with you to save 100–150 NOK per day.

βœ… Choose set meals (Dagens rett)

● Many restaurants offer a "dish of the day" (Dagens rett) for 120–150 NOK, while a regular order costs 250–350 NOK.

πŸ“Œ A Reddit user shares:


"On our last holiday in Trysil, we cooked for ourselves and bought groceries at Kiwi β€” it was half the price of eating out."

πŸš— Transport: how to get there and not overpay

βœ… Public transport instead of car rental

● Direct SkiBus buses from Oslo to most resorts cost 400–500 NOK for a round trip.

● The train to Geilo or Lillehammer costs from 250 NOK one way.

βœ… If you rent a car, book in advance

● A car rented in advance at Oslo Airport costs from 300 NOK per day, while booking on the spot will cost at least 500–700 NOK.

πŸ“Œ Review from Lonely Planet:

"The SkiBus is a super convenient and cheap option if you don't want to overpay for rental and petrol."

πŸ’³ Budget for a Week of Skiing in Norway (1 Person)

Expense Usual Price (NOK) Budget Option (NOK)
6-day ski pass 3 100 2 600 (online, in advance)
Accommodation (7 nights) 8 400 5 600 (apartments, in advance)
Meals (per day) 300 1 200 (self-catering)
Transport (round trip) 1 400 800 (public)
Total for the week 15 920 10 200
Savings: 5 720 NOK (~35%)

πŸ“ Final Savings Checklist

Buy ski passes online in advance.
Choose evening skiing and weekdays.
Book apartments with a kitchen at least 3 months ahead.
Cook your own mealsβ€”shop at supermarkets.
Use public transport instead of renting a car.

A nighttime ski slope in Norway with illuminated trails and skiers enjoying a cold winter evening.

I can't wait to find out how to save money when travelling in Norway! We would love to hear your life hacks and tips, so please share them with us in the comments below. And if you have any interesting blogs, photo reports or websites that have helped you save money, we'd love to hear about them! Be sure to share them with us and other readers.

We can't wait to share the most useful recommendations with you in future articles in our catalogue! We can make travelling in Norway affordable – and fun too!

Ksenia
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Ksenia

Post:I write about Norway β€” simply, clearly, and with respect for the details.

I’m 33 years old, and I’m one of the contributors to the Norway travel guide. I write for those who want to understand the country more deeply β€” not just what …

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