Planning a trip to Norway? No need to tell you that this is one of the most expensive countries in the world. Saving a little money on high roaming charges would be great and therefore I recommend either an e-sim card for Norway or buying a prepaid sim card on arrival in Norway.
This is a complete guide for finding the best way to stay connected when traveling to Norway. Find out everything about buying a prepaid sim card in Norway, where to buy a sim card, the best e-sim cards for Norway, up to date prices as per August 2023, the best 4G/5G network in Norway, my recommendation, info about international sim cards and more.
Although super expensive, I love traveling to Norway. Its utterly stunning landscapes blow me away every time I visit and road trips in Norway are simply incredible.
If you arrive at Oslo Airport then you can also buy a sim card at Oslo Airport. Check out my guide in the link.
On Traveltomtom you can find more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world: Europe, Asia, USA, Canada, Dubai, Bali, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom, Miami, Istanbul, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and many more.
So next time you are traveling abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest e-sim card and prepaid sim card advice for your holiday destination.
Why buying a sim card for Norway?
First of all a local prepaid sim card saves you from high roaming charges and slow overseas data roaming packages. It is the best way to get connected when using a lot of data. However, the easiest way is an e-sim card nowadays as you arrange everything in a few simple steps online.
Most local bars, restaurants and of course hotels offer fast and reliable public WiFi, but there is no guarantee it is working or fast enough. Just don't rely on others and another reminder that surfing the internet on public WiFi is through an unsecured network. The use of a VPN is recommended in these cases.
Also when road tripping in Norway distances are long. Trust me you want to be connected when driving in Norway, Google Maps will be your best friend to look for nearby gas stations, restaurants, get directions, etc. Many reasons I could come up with for staying connected when traveling to Norway.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim cards for Norway as it turns out to be cheaper than buying a local prepaid sim card for Norway on arrival. In case you decide to buy a prepaid sim card in Norway then Traveltomtom recommends a Telenor sim card for Norway. They have the best 4G/5G network and they offer prepaid sim cards for tourists with large data bundles. But those are not cheap!
However, the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Norway AND the cheapest way to stay connected is an e-sim card. E-sim cards for Norway already start from $4.5 USD and for $21 USD you already get 10 GB data. For $49.90 USD you get 20 GB + unlimited calling and texting and you can arrange everything online, right here, right now! More info below.
If you are considering to get a travel sim card with global coverage you should read my article about the best international prepaid and e-sim cards in 2023. There are some great sim card deals available for traveling in Norway.
When ordering a prepaid or e-sim card for traveling in Europe always double check if Norway is included in the FREE data roaming. Norway is a European country, but NORWAY IS NOT PART OF THE EU!
Best e-sim cards for Norway
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Norway in 2023 is an e-sim card. You can arrange everything online within just a couple minutes. No more swapping physical sim cards. You order an e-sim card online, receive a code, follow the instructions and done. Check out the following e-sim cards for Norway:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $7 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $9.5 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $21 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $32 USD
Click here to order an e-sim card for Norway directly online.
The above data-only e-sim cards for Norway are from Lofotel and data is only valid in Norway. Lofotel operates on the Telenor 4G/LTE network in Norway.
There are also e-sim cards for Norway that include calling and texting. These international e-sim cards are valid all over Europe in up to 70 countries around the world:
- 10 GB data + $2 calling credit for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 8 GB + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $29.90 USD
- 20 GB + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $49.90 USD
Click here to order an international e-sim card for Norway.
Before ordering an e-sim card for Norway make sure your phone is unlocked and your phone is e-sim compatible. E-sim cards only work in the newer smartphones. To make sure simply ask Google, they know everything!
However, not every phone is e-sim compatible and for therefore you can also still order an international prepaid sim card for Norway. For $49.90 USD you get 20 GB data + unlimited calls in Europe. Click here to directly order the above European sim card deal for Norway and see more offers and info.
Norway sim cards and EU roaming
Although Norway is NOT part of the EU, some Norway prepaid sim cards have free EU roaming included. Always check first with the mobile internet provider when buying a sim card in Norway. Ask them if EU roaming is included if you are traveling onwards to other countries in Europe and what are the limitations.
You can easily avoid this by buying a prepaid sim card or e-sim card for traveling in Europe. Check out my comparison of the best sim cards for Europe in 2023 in the link.
Mobile internet operators in Norway
There always used to be 2 mobile internet operators in Norway, but there is now a 3th one called Ice. Ice is a pure 4G mobile data network provider and although it recently announced it surpassed 800,000 mobile costumers, its mobile data network is still very limited. Therefore an Ice sim card is not recommended for traveling in Norway and Traveltomtom left Ice out of its comparison finding the best sim card for Norway.
In fact ICE Norway does not even sell prepaid sim cards for tourists.
The main mobile internet providers in Norway are Telenor and Telia. Both mobile operators are also present in neighbouring country Sweden.
At Oslo Airport you can also buy a Lycamobile sim card for Norway, but that is a so-called MVNO. Lycamobile Norway operates on the network of Telia and Telenor in Norway.
Where to buy a sim card for Norway
Oslo Airport
The most convenient place to buy a sim card in Norway is of course on arrival at Oslo Airport. Check out my guide for buying a sim card at Oslo Gardermoen Airport for more detailed info.
Mobile internet provider stores
There are official Telenor and Telia retail stores in the city center of every city in Norway. Everyone speaks English and is very helpful. If you decide to buy a prepaid sim card on arrival in Norway and you missed the opportunity to buy a sim card at Oslo Airport then Traveltomtom recommends to go to an official retail store. In these stores they give you the best service, the best advice and they make sure your sim card and data plan is working when you walk out of the store.
Convenience stores and gas stations
In some bigger convenience stores you can also get a Lycamobile sim card, but it is not common. The same counts for gas stations. Recommended? Not really, because you have to activate the sim card and data packages yourself and if something doesn't properly work you still have to go to an official mobile phone store.
Online
The easiest place to buy a sim card for Norway is of course on the internet. As I already showed you buying an e-sim card for traveling to Norway is very easy through either Airalo or SimOptions. But for those who don't have an e-sim compatible phone there is the option to order an international prepaid sim card for traveling to Norway.
Best 4G/5G network in Norway in 2023
Not only the price determines the best sim card for Norway, the network coverage is also important, especially if you are going on a Norway road trip. We don't want to get stuck with a 3G signal! Norway is a huge country and I traveled around in the South only, but even there I came across many places with little to no phone signal. I guess that is the charm of traveling in Norway.
Is there 5G in Norway?
Yes, there is 5G in Norway. But surprisingly in one of worlds most developed and organized countries the 5G network is not that wide spread yet as of 2023. Some tourist destinations in Norway offer 5G depending on the internet provider you have. The bigger cities all have a 5G network.
Let’s compare the mobile network coverage maps of the internet providers to determine the best mobile data network in Norway in 2023.
Telia 4G/5G network coverage map
Telenor 4G/5G network coverage map
From the above Norway network coverage maps of Telia and Telenor we can clearly see that Telenor has the best 4G/5G network in Norway in 2023. That said in all Norway tourist destinations you will also find a Telia 4G signal. But especially if you go on a road trip in Norway I recommend buying a Telenor sim card.
Prices Norway prepaid sim cards in 2023
All prices and info about Norway prepaid sim cards are updated as per August 2023. Prices are in Norwegian Kroner: $1 USD = 10.2 NOK and 100 NOK = $9.84 USD.
Telia Norway prepaid sim card
A Telia Norway sim card costs 99 NOK ($9 USD). The Cash Starter Pack includes the following:
- 1 GB data + unlimited calls & sms valid for 14 days.
You can buy additional data sim packages, for example:
- 6 GB data for 30 days = 269 NOK - $24.6 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = 299 NOK - $27.4 USD
- 16 GB data for 30 days = 359 NOK - $32.8 USD
- 30 GB data for 30 days = 429 NOK - $39.2 USD
- 40 GB data for 30 days = 479 NOK - $43.8 USD
All prepaid sim card plans include free EU roaming, including Switzerland and the UK up to 65 GB data and unlimited calling and texting in Norway.
For more info check the Telia Norway website.
Telenor Norway prepaid sim card
A Telenor prepaid sim card starter pack costs 99 NOK ($9 USD) and gives you 500 MB and unlimited calling and texting. Then you can top up with one of the following prepaid data plans:
- 2 GB data for 30 days in all of the EU = 299 NOK - $27.4 USD
- 8 GB data for 30 days in all of the EU = 349 NOK - $31.9 USD
They also offer a packages in where you pay 20 NOK ($1.8 USD) per day for unlimited internet.
For more info check the Telenor Norway website.
Best sim card for Norway in 2023
A Telia prepaid sim card with data is a little cheaper than Telenor prepaid data plans, but Telenor has the advantage that it has a much stronger 4G/5G mobile data network and therefore Telenor is the best sim card for Norway in 2023!
All in all buying a prepaid sim card with data in Norway turns out to be pretty expensive and when comparing the Norway prepaid sim cards with the available e-sim cards for Norway that you can simply order on the internet Traveltomtom comes to the conclusion that e-sim cards for Norway are more affordable. Definitely given the fact that you don't need to swap sim cards anymore or visiting a sim card store.
Buy a sim card for Norway online
Does all the above sounds like too much hassle or you just want to make it easy for yourself? Then simply order a sim card for traveling in Norway online. Below you can find international sim card deals that cover Norway and all of Europe. These sim cards are pre-activated and will be delivered to your home address before your trip.
Three data pack 10 GB - $24.90
- 10 GB data in all of Europe and UK
- Unlimited calls/sms within Europe and UK
- Valid 30 days
O2 Go Card - $24.90
- 10 GB data in all of Europe and UK
- $2 calling credit
- Valid 30 days
Orange Holiday Europe - $49.90
- 20 GB data in Europe and in the UK
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe and the UK
- 120 minutes worldwide
- 1,000 sms worldwide
- Valid 14 days
Click here to order an international prepaid sim card for traveling in Norway directly online.
Personally I have traveled many times in Europe with the Orange Holiday Europe sim card and never had any issues.
Also another reminder that you can order a data-only e-sim card for Norway or an international e-sim card for Norway including calls and texting and arrange everything online, but only if your phone is e-sim compatible.
I hope the above tips for buying a sim card for traveling in Norway were helpful for your upcoming trip. If you have any questions don't hesitate to leave me a comment below or reach out to me on social media. I am more than happy to help you out!
Curious what it looks like trying to visit every country in the world? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along. As of August 2023 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.
Enjoy your trip to Norway!
Some links in this article about the best way to stay connected in Norway are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don’t worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you!