Oslo, Norway

With its population of around 550,000, Oslo is one of the smallest capitals in Europe and is flanked by nature on almost all sides. The city's public transportation system is convenient, with buses, trams, a subway system, trains and ferries. This extensive network will take you all around town, into the wilderness or out to one of the islands of the inner Oslofjord, all in less than 20 minutes.

City Center & Karl Johans Gate

All your transport and information needs can be met right in the city center, where you can easily access much of the city's history and metropolitan life once you are situated. The city's transport hub is Oslo Sentralstasjon/NSB (Oslo Central Station). The main Bus Terminal is situated diagonally across the street. The train station itself is served by local, intercity and international trains, as well as the Airport Train (Flytoget). The Byporten shopping center is adjacent to the railway station. Across the street is another big shopping center, Oslo City.

Just a short walk up Universitetsgaten, the most extensive collection of art in Norway is on display at the National Gallery. You can see work by famous Norwegian artists such as Edvard Munch, Christian Krohg and J.C. Dahl, as well as international names like Picasso, El Greco, Matisse and Van Gogh. Around the corner is the University Museum, which is composed of a historical section displaying Viking finds, runic stones and religious art, and an ethnological section with artifacts from all over the world collected by Norwegian anthropologists. On St. Olav's Gate, there are two reasons to visit the Museum of the Applied Arts: the Norwegian and foreign applied arts and fashion and design items exhibited here, and the delightful 19th-century museum coffee shop, Café Solliløkka.


Karl Johans Gate runs all the way up to the Royal Palace built by the eponymous 19th-century king, Karl Johan, who ruled the union of Sweden and Norway. Strolling in Slottsparken, the royal gardens surrounding the palace, you can discover memorable statues, enjoy a picnic, or take a nap in the shade of a tree. From here, you should be able to see the twin towers of Rådhuset the Town Hall, inaugurated in 1950 to coincide with Oslo's 900-year anniversary. The Town Hall, facing the harbor, is open every day except Sunday and frequently hosts various exhibitions.

Akershus Fortress stands guard at the harbor. This was originally a residence for kings, but later (in 1592) it was remodeled to become a fortress armed with cannons. Today you can find the famous author Henrik Wergeland's office, the Castle Church, the Royal Mausoleum and the Resistance Museum inside the fortress. The army still uses parts of the fortress, so you can see the daily changing of the guards here. At the waterfront, you can also find the main Tourist Office. Further along the pier, Aker Brygge beckons with its exclusive shops, restaurants, pubs and bars. It's probably the most packed area of Oslo in the summer!

Further back on shore, Akershusstranda runs uptown past the Astrup Fearnley Museum of modern art. Temporary exhibitions show predominantly post-war art, and the museum keeps a permanent collection as well. More modern art is on display in the innovative Museet for Samtidskunst at Bankplassen. Stop by Christiania Torv, where the immense statue of king Christian IV's glove in the center of the square points out the spot where he decided to rebuild the city after a disastrous fire in 1624.

To the west of the city center, you'll head into Frogner, named after the vast 18th-century estate of Frogner Manor that now houses the Oslo City Museum. Including the traditional town of Frogner, this large borough also spans over the city districts of Uranienborg and Majorstuen. Frogner Park contains the Vigeland Sculpture Park and Museum, the most visited tourist attractions in Oslo. Do not miss this amazing collection of 212 larger-than-life granite and bronze sculptures, representing all stages of life. Even the park gardens themselves are masterfully sculpted, providing pleasant, leisurely walks for visitors amidst always-in-season greens.

From the harbor of the city center, you can also take a ferry to Bygdøy and Dronningen, technically considered part of Frogner, but distinct in its own right. This is where the five most popular museums of Oslo are located, the open-air Norwegian Folk Museum being the largest. It contains architectural examples of more than 150 old original buildings from all over Norway, including a stave church. There is also a large collection of traditional costumes, furniture, silverware, jewelry and artifacts. The Viking Ship Museum is just a short stroll away and features three ritual ships in which Viking kings and queens were once buried.


Three other museums are located at Bygdøynes. At the Kon-Tiki Museum, you can see the papyrus boats Ra I and Ra II, and the Kon-Tiki raft, which the well-known explorer and anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl created for his oceanic voyages to prove his theories on the spread of ancient civilizations. The Fram Museum is dedicated to Arctic explorers Roald Amundsen and Fritjof Nansen and their polar ship Fram. You might also want to take a look at the recently renovated Norwegian Maritime Museum located next door.

Grünerløkka

Grünerløkka is probably the most modern and hip area of Oslo, definitely the destination point for younger locals and travelers looking for a party night out. This area is completely littered with bars, restaurants and nightclubs, providing a social hotspot for those looking for some high energy while in Oslo. But there's an echo of much history here, as well, being that Grünerløkka was once the 19th-century working class zone of Oslo. Despite the industrial feel having moved out, there's still a lot of culture to be witnessed here. Paulus Kirke is a major religious sight and feat of Neo-Gothic architecture, which can be found along Grünerløkka's main boulevard, Thorvald Meyers Gate. You can also stop by Olaf Ryes Plass, a pedestrian park square, before heading over to the Norsk Form, a premier institute for design and architecture.

Gamle Oslo & Oslofjord

Oslo stretches far outside the main city center into the cold northern terrains as well as further south and into the bay of the Oslofjord. Below the Akershus fortress, where Akershusstranda road leads to Vippetangen quay, boats frequently depart for the islands of the inner Oslofjord, all part of the Gamle Oslo (Old Oslo) borough. The trip across takes 5-30 minutes, depending on which island you would like to visit. At Hovedøya, you will find the ruins of a Cistercian monastery built by monks from Kirkstead, England, during the 12th Century.

Back on shore, Gamle Oslo also includes the neighborhoods of Grønland, Helsfyr and Tøyen, to name a few. Tøyen particularly overflows with museums, including the Munch Museet dedicated to the Norwegian symbolist Edvard Munch, as well as the Zoologisk Museum and Paleontologisk Museum, both housed in the gardens of the illustrious Botanisk Hage og Museum.

Holmenkollen & Greater Oslo

You have not seen Oslo unless you have been to Holmenkollen, a professional arena for international skiing events every winter. Finish your day enjoying the panoramic views of the modest city of Oslo and the Oslofjord from the famous ski jump tower. If you don't dare to exit the tower on a pair of skis, take the elevator back down and try out the three-dimensional ski simulator to safely experience an Olympic event.

The OsloCard is a discount card that is worth considering if you are staying for a few days and want to see all the sights. It will give you discounts on many things, including transport. You can buy the card at tourist information centers, the Central Station, Trafikanten hotels, Narvesen-newsagents, and certain post offices. You can buy the card for one, two, or three days, and at single or family rates.