The Unexpected Dining Etiquette Tourists Need To Know Before Visiting Norway

Planning a trip to Norway soon? You might want to brush up on your knife and fork skills — especially for foods you'd normally eat with your hands. Because, while you might be used to digging into a burger or sandwich using nothing but your hands back home, Norwegians actually apply a pretty strict dining etiquette to almost every meal — and it involves always using these two utensils, no matter the fare.

In fact, this dedication to proper table manners runs very deep within local customs. So much so that eating with your bare hands while in public might raise a few eyebrows — and it might even get you some disapproving looks from other patrons as they gently poke and cut into their pizzas, tacos, or sandwiches.

Beyond actively using these utensils, there's also a proper technique as to how you use the knife and fork correctly. Per local tradition, this involves holding your fork upside down in your left hand while keeping your knife in your right — a method that can prove difficult for visitors who aren't used to balancing food on an inverted fork. Once you've finished your meal, Norwegian customs also dictate that you should place your knife and fork across the center of your empty plate — that way, your server will know that you're done eating.

Other Norwegian dining customs to keep in mind

Beyond utensil etiquette, Norway's dining culture follows plenty of other important customs that visitors need to follow if they're planning a foodie vacation to the Scandinavian country. For starters, there's the importance of punctuality. In Norway, arriving even a few minutes late to a meal can create a poor impression — especially considering that locals value precise timing and consider punctuality a sign of respect. Once at the table, always wait for your host to start eating — or to initiate the first toast — before digging into your own food.

Speaking of toasts, these traditions play a significant role in Norwegian dining culture. In most cases, the most common word you'll hear used is "skål" — pronounced "skoal." Along with that, proper toasting etiquette generally requires you to make eye contact with everyone at the table while gently raising your glass. This is especially important — and you'll definitely want to avoid breaking this tradition unless you want to condemn yourself to seven years of bad luck ... or bad sex!

Lastly, as for dealing with the food itself, don't be afraid to experiment with some of Norway's most adventurous off-beat delicacies. From rakfisk — a type of fermented trout — to brunost (brown cheese) and lutefisk (lye-soaked cod), Norway's food scene is deeply rooted in tradition, which ultimately creates unique flavors that you won't find anywhere else. These distinctive dishes, albeit a little challenging for foreign palates, showcase the country's culinary heritage from farm to fork (and knife, of course).