Thanks to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream, Bergen enjoys mild weather compared to the rest of Norway. Temperatures can in August reach up to and beyond 20°C / 68°F and Bergensers and the many tourists that visit Bergen at this time of year may enjoy sunny days in their summer clothing. However, Bergen is wetter than other areas, due to rain clouds regularly being trapped by the surrounding mountains, and visitors are warned to bring their umbrellas!

The official currency in Norway is NOK (Norwegian Kroner). One krone is divided into 100 øre. Coins of 50 øre, 1 NOK, 5 NOK, 10 NOK and 20 NOK are in circulation. Bills are issued in denominations of 50 NOK, 100 NOK, 200 NOK, 500 NOK and 1000 NOK.

Currency Exhange
All Norwegian banks and major post offices exhange foreign currency. Currency exchange offices are also located at Bergen Airport Flesland and at the train station.

Credit Cards
The use of credit cards is widespread in Norway, and they are accepted almost everywhere. Eurocard, MasterCard, VISA, American Express and Diners Club are the most common. It is a good idea to check with your credit card company about the degree of acceptability and available services before you leave home. Note that most food stores however only accept debit cards.

Traveller's Cheques
Traveller's cheques are accepted and should be purchased before arriving in Norway.

In summertime, the banks in Bergen are open between 10:00 and 15:00 hours during working days. On Saturday and Sunday the banks are closed. ATMs/cash dispensers are normally easy to find.

Post offices are open from Monday to Saturday. The central post office is located in Smaastrandgaten 3 (in the shopping center Exhibition). It is open between 10:00 and 20:00 hours from Monday to Friday and from 10:00 to 18:00 hours on Saturdays.

Please note that there are post offices in several of the supermarkets in Bergen. These post offices follow the opening hours of the supermarkets and are generally open until late at night.

Norway is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+1).

In summertime, usual operating hours for shops in Bergen are as follow:

Shops on city streets
Monday- Friday (except Thursday): 10:00 to 16:30 (or 17:00)
Thursday: 10:00 to 19:00
Saturday: 10:00 to 15:00 (some close as early as 14:00, whereas others don't close until 18:00)

Shopping centres
Monday -Friday: 09:00 (or 10:00) to 20:00 (or 21:00)
Saturday: 09:00 (or 10:00) to 18:00

Supermarkets
Monday-Friday: 08:00 (or 09:00 or 10:00) to 20:00 (or 21:00, 22:00 or 23:00)
Saturday: 09:00 (or 10:00) to 18:00 (or 20:00 or 22:00)

In Norway VAT is included in the retail price. As a visitor to a foreign country you are entitled to a VAT/GST refund on the purchases you export from Norway. Approx. 300 shops in Bergen offer 12-19 % cash refund of VAT when your purchases in one store exceed a certain amount.

Restaurants, hotels and taxi drivers include a service fee in their charges. Customers who are satisfied with the service they receive normally tip an extra 5-10%.

Electricity in Norway is 220 V AC with 50 Hertz cycles. Plugs used are round-ended, two-pronged plugs such as those used in most of Europe (with the exception of UK). Adapters are required for appliances from USA, Canada or other non–European countries.

Conference organizers cannot be held responsible for accidents involving conference participants or accompanying person, for damage, or loss of their personal property, or for cancellation expenses, regardless of cause. Participants are advised to organize their own travel insurance to cover them for their stay in Norway.

Smart casual wear is suggested for all conference events, except the conference supper, where we suggest a more formal outfit. A jacket is advisable as it can get cooler in the evenings.

Telephone
To call Bergen from abroad: +47.
To order trunk calls abroad, dial 115.
Direct dialling 00 + country code.
AT&T 80019011.

Emergency & Hospitals
Fire: 110
Ambulance: 113
Police: 112

Accident and Emergency Department, Vestre Strømkai. 19. Tel. (+47) 55 56 87 00. Open 24 hours.
Emergency Dental Care, Vestre Strømkai 19. Tel. (+47) 55 56 87 17. Open daily.
Duty Pharmacy, Apoteket Nordstjernen, Bus Station. Tel. (+47) 55 21 83 84. Open daily.

Taxi Numbers
Bergen Taxi, Tel. 07000
Bergen Taxi, Tel. 08000

Tourist Information
Tourist information in Bergen
Vågsallmenningen 1, NO-5014 Bergen, Norway
Tel.: (+47) 55 55 20 00 , Fax: (+47) 55 55 20 01

Airport and Transport Information
Bergen Airport Flesland
Service Center: Tel: (+ 47) 55 99 81 55, Fax: (+47) 55 99 81 58