Tourist Information
Visiting the Arctic can be the experience of a lifetime. To ensure you enjoy every moment, there are a few
pieces of information we advise you to make yourself aware of prior to or during your visit.
ICE (In Case of Emergency)
Other numbers: Emergency line for deaf people: 1412 | Police (non-emergency): 02800 | Doctor (24/7): 116117 | Anti-poison center: 22 59 13 00
EMERGENCY NUMBERS: AMBULANCE: 113 POLICE: 112 FIRE: 110
Driving & Road Conditions
Driving in Norway, and especially in Arctic Norway- can be very different from driving in your own country. As a rule, Norwegian roads are much narrower, speed limits are commonly slower and road conditions can be much more challenging, more specifically in the autumn or winter. Here are some rules and tips you may have to follow to avoid any incident or accident during your stay in Malangen.
To learn about the current road regulations in effect in Norway, as well as real-time traffic and road conditions, always start by checking out Norway's Road Department (Statens vegvesen) website.
Speed limits & safety
In Norway, most roads are limited to 80 km/h if not indicated otherwise. In the Troms area, some portions of road can be limited to 90 km/h (on E6-E8). They will be indicated. Roads in villages are limited to 50 km/h but you can find 40 km/h and 30 km/h zones ('sone' in Norwegian), especially in dangerous areas or near schools and densely populated areas. Rural areas with habitations along the road are often limited to 60 km/h. It is imperative you respect this limitation, as many locals (including children) walk along the road. In Malangen, you'll find 80, 60, 50, 40 and 30 zones. Below are some speed limit and speed limit ends signs.
To ensure people's safety, the Norwegian police ('politiet') or Road Department ('Statens vegvesen') run very regular speed and car controls, even in seemingly unpopulated or isolated areas. In Norway, speeding fines are very expensive. As of 2024, for 60 zones and under, 1-5 km/h over the speed limit starts at 1150 NOK. 21-25 km/h over gets you 12700 NOK and over 26 km/h over the speed limit will get your drivers license suspended, as well as potential legal issues (including possible expulsion / black list). For 70 and 80 zones, 1-5 km/h over the speed limit starts at 1150 NOK. 31-35 km/h over gets you 15200 NOK and over 36 km/h over the speed limit will get your drivers license suspended, as well as potential legal issues (including possible expulsion / black list).
​
Before driving, make sure all car lights are working and that all passengers wear their seatbelt. DUI (Driving Under the Influence) is also severely penalized in Norway so make sure the person who drives is not under the influence of alcohol, drugs or illegal medication / substances. The use of phones when driving, even when the car is stopped in traffic is strictly forbidden in Norway.
Driving rules, road tips & courtesy
Most of the driving rules you learned in driving school apply in Norway. Yet there are a few other rules worth knowing.
-
Test-drive the car in a safe area before taking it out on the road.
-
It is illegal to stop in the middle of the road unless there is an immediate danger, a stop, an accident, a traffic jam or a signal. Please do not stop in the middle of the road and get out of the car (even with the hazard lights on) to take a photo or admire a landscape / animal / northern lights. Find the nearest parking place to stop and do so.
-
It is forbidden to stop and/or park your vehicle in a turn, a tunnel, a hilltop, or a 'møteplass' (meeting place or lay-by signaled by a blue 'M' sign).
-
If you get involved into a road incident / accident, try to stop the car on the side of the road and turn on your hazard lights immediately. Put on your reflective vest and set up the warning triangle provided with the car 100 meters from the site so that it is visible to other people when they are passing you. Call 112 (emergency number: police) and/or 113 (emergency number: ambulance).
-
All collisions with people, animals and infrastructures must be declared to the police immediately, however insignificant they may appear.
-
When you are driving in front of faster-going traffic, please let it pass you. Slow down and hold your right. You may light up your right blinker to signal others you're letting them pass.
-
Some rural roads are very narrow. You may have to slow down almost to a stop to let bigger vehicles on the opposite lane pass. That's often the case with semi trucks or snowplow. Do not hesitate to stop completely and hold your right if you deem the situation dangerous.
-
If you are chasing the northern lights at night and come across other aurora tours/chasers at parking spots, please have the courtesy to keep your noise down and lights off after you arrive.
-
If you walk along the road, always have reflective clothing and/or some kind of light. This is especially true during the darker hours of the day and at all times during the polar night (Nov-Feb). Always use the extreme left side of the road when you walk along it.
Driving in Winter
Driving in winter can be very challenging for foreign people, especially when they do not have experience driving on snow.
​
-
Make sure your car (or rental car) is equipped with studded tires and is 4x4. Studded or good winter tires are mandatory each year from October 15th to May 15th in Tromsø but you may need them outside of this window. Rental companies systematically shift to winter tires during those dates.
-
​You may want to equip yourself with an ice scraper / brush (usually around 100 - 300 NOK in any gas station). In Norway, it is illegal to drive with an ice-obstructed windshield or windows. Make sure all your windows are fully clear of ice and snow before taking the road. Fines can be distributed to you if the police deems your window(s) not fully scraped.
-
Before you drive long distances, you need to make sure you have the necessary warm equipment with you (warm clothes, blankets), food and water for all passengers for one day. Sometimes, roads may be closed for some hours due to avalanches, accidents, traffic jams or landslides. You may have to wait in your car for extended periods of time (hours) before being able to drive away.
-
Please be aware that hazardous portions of road and tunnels can be closed unexpectedly because of traffic, construction or bad weather. Ferries can also remain docked. In Malangen, we have the Rya tunnel and a dangerous portion of the Fv286 road (close to Brokskar) that can close on short notice.
-
Please always consult 175.no or this map before driving out. This is the Road Department's website indicating real-time traffic and road conditions.
-
If you have never driven on ice or snow, never attempt to take the road under very windy and snowy conditions (blizzard); the same applies to freezing rain and black ice on the road.
-
Even if you are experienced, always anticipate more than you would on normal road. Drive slowly. Slow down when upcoming traffic approaches on narrow roads, especially with larger vehicles.
Practical information about life in Malangen
Life in the Arctic is generally regulated by the rhythm of seasons and culture. There are a few things you may need to know about the Norwegian way of life.
Businesses & working hours
Norway may seem to have quite conservative rules when it comes to work. Many people work from quite early morning (7- 8 am) to 11am-12pm (short lunch break), and then until 3 - 4 pm. Afternoons are often devoted to physical or social activities. Many small businesses, services (notably public services) or public offices are closed after 3 or 4 pm on week days. Supermarkets and gas stations are the businesses with the longest opening hours (only a few gas station operate 24/7). On Saturdays, most businesses have restricted opening hours, which are often marked in parentheses. For example, a business displaying 8 - 21 (9 - 17) means: Monday through Friday open from 8 am to 9 pm, Saturdays open from 9 am to 5 pm. Note that Norway uses the 24-hour format.
Important note: on Sundays, most businesses and services are closed. There are only a few 24/7 stores (Tromsø) and gas stations that operate on Sundays (some with restricted opening hours). If you arrive or land late on a Saturday or on a Sunday, make sure you stock up on food using providers who are open. In Malangen, none of the grocery stores are open on Sundays. The closest Sunday-opened gas station is on Kvaløysletta (Best) or Storsteinnes-E6 (Esso). Nordskjosbotn has a 24/7 operated gas station (Shell). Some restaurant may be open but you'd need to phone them first.
The polar nights: take your time and plan ahead!
From November 21st until January 21st, the Sun never rises during the day. There are about 4 to 5 hours of twilight centered around midday, which still enable you to see around. The rest of the day and night is plunged into darkness. You may notice that life in the Arctic seems to slow down. Colder temperatures, the absence of sunlight, restricted services and bad weather can make things very challenging for both locals and visitors. Because many visitors are here for a limited amount of time, they try to cram as many activities as they can in that short span of time. This can lead to cancellations and frustration. Instead, we advise you to book maximum 2 activities per day and allow enough buffer time in between activities. Remember that you will need to drive more slowly on winter roads and you will have to plan your meals more carefully.