Oslo
Norway is a country known for its outdoor culture and nature-loving locals and visiting Oslo gives you a flavour of that while at the same time offering all of the benefits of city life.
The city centre is compact enough for you to be able to walk around and take in all the sights. However if you want to use public transport download the Ruter App and buy your tickets in advance.
Harbour Promenade
The promenade going from east to west is just over 5 and a half miles long and is dotted with museums, attractions and cafes along the way.
I would recommend starting at Bjorvika where you’ll find the new Munch Museum. This 13 storey building is where Edvard Munch’s most famous artwork is on display. There are three versions of The Scream there - a painting, a drawing and a print but due to their fragile nature only one will be on display at any time with the other two being stored in darkness. They’re displayed on rotation in order to preserve them for the future. See the Munch Museum website for admission ticket prices.
Close to the Munch Museum is the modern and architecturally impressive Opera House. Take a walk up the sloping rooftop for views out onto the harbour. Check the website for details of operatic performances and guided tours inside the building..
If you’re interested in international affairs, stop by the Nobel Peace Centre. Here you can see exhibitions, guided tours and events which build on the works and actions of Nobel Peace Prize laureates. The aim is to inspire visitors to engage in positive actions to make the world a more peaceful place. See the website for further information and ticket prices.
City Hall
Behind the Nobel Peace Centre is City Hall and this is where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded every December. The building is free to enter and is home to the city council and other municipal organisations. However it is worth visiting for the huge murals in the Main Hall depicting Norway’s history.
Akershus Fortress
Located in the centre of Oslo, this Fortress was built in 1299 by King Hakon V. It’s free to stroll around the grounds of the Fortress where you can get great views over the harbour and the city. If you have time, go inside and visit the Resistance Museum. Tickets are around £12.00. Check the website for confirmation of prices and opening hours.
Aker Brygge
This section of the harbourside in the city centre is lively with shops, bars and restaurants. Wander along the pedestrianised street or cross over the bridge to the island of Tjuvholmen, an art district where you’ll find art galleries and installations.
Outdoor saunas
Saunas are a popular tradition in Norway and there are many places alongside the harbourside in Oslo where you can go for a deep cleanse. If you want to try it, bring your swimwear and then take a dip in the fjords afterwards to refresh.
Check here for further details.
Oslo Fjords
If you’d rather be on the water than in it, take a ferry ride out into the fjords. A short 10 minute journey from City Hall Pier 3 Quayside will take you to Bydog where you can visit the Fram Museum which is dedicated to the Polar Arctic Expeditions which started in 1888 with an expedition across Greenland.
Next to the Fram Museum is the Norwegian Maritime Museum where you can learn about Viking boats and Norwegian coastal culture. The museum website will give you all the information you need on ticket prices and opening hours.
Green spaces
Covering 45 hectares, Frogner Park is the largest park in Oslo.
What to see in the Park:
The Rose Garden - home to the largest collection of roses in Norway with around 150 different species in full bloom in the summer.
The Oslo Museum - learn about the history and development of Oslo with a guided tour of the museum. Admission is free on the first Thursday of the month. Check the website for admission prices at other times.
Vigeland Sculpture Park
Spanning 80 acres within the park is the Vigeland Sculpture Park, the world’s largest sculpture park created by a single artist, Gustav Vigeland. Lining both sides of the bridge are 58 bronze sculptures which are amazing but the highlight is the huge monolith in the centre of the park. It stands at 17 metres in height and is carved from a single block of granite. It depicts human life in all its forms. Every statue and the monolith tell a story of the human condition so take a guided tour to understand it fully.
Getting there - take the Blue Tram 12 from the city centre to Frogner. It stops at the main entrance to Vigeland Sculpture Park.
Food and Drink
Oslo boasts 10 Michelin starred restaurants, including the 3-Star Maaemo Restaurant. Besides that there are many other restaurants offering inspiring, modern Nordic cuisine.
If you want to try something more traditional head for a local cafe where you’re likely to find fish soup, Norwegian meatballs or Farikal, the national dish which is a mutton and cabbage stew with whole peppercorns.
Aside from cafes and restaurants, Oslo also has several food courts serving a range of different cuisines all under one roof. Check out these ones:
Oslo Street Food
A lively area with Food stalls, bars and DJs and indoor/outdoor seating.
Address: Torggata 16b, Oslo
Mathallen
With a huge number of restaurants, shops, delicatessens and food stalls you’ll find modern Norwegian cuisine here as well as international dishes.
Directions: located in the Vulkan area, take the Blue Tram 11, 12 or 18 to Shous plass. From there go down to Nordre Gait and over the bridge to Vulkan.
Final thoughts
Norway is known for being one of the most expensive cities in Europe for tourists. However, with careful planning you can enjoy it without it breaking the bank.
You should also remember that Norway doesn’t use the euro and the Norwegian kroner is the national currency. Having said that, Norway like its Scandinavian neighbour Sweden, is a cashless society and very few places accept cash so be prepared to pay by card/contactless.