Plan a trip to Oslo

It unfolds in the shape of a horseshoe and overlooks about 40 islands that surround the “Sentrum – the city center. And in the background the mountains rise above the city covered with woods and forests and lakes, truly unforgettable views. Like most capital cities in the world, Oslo has many fascinating museums, art galleries, shops, restaurants as well as cruises that sail between the islands in the fjords.

The city has managed to blend together the “old with the new” and thus the new neighborhoods with modern architecture fit in harmoniously with the historical buildings of the older parts of the city. 

Many of the city's main attractions are concentrated in the center and are easily reachable and convenient to get to by foot, or one can easily take advantage of the efficient public transportation system. To get to main attractions, shopping, pubs and restaurants one can follow the main street - Karl Johans Gate, which starts at the Oslo Central Station and reaches the Royal Palace (Slott Kongelige Det) on the other side, passing the Oslo Cathedral which was refurbished and preserved from the late 1600’s. As well, as you continue, you will see Norway's special parliament building “Stortinge” and its well-kept gardens. Adjacent to them is the Spikersuppa Ice Skating Rink (free and open usually from the end of November – to the end of February).

There is more to the Nasjonalgalleriet (National Gallery) than Edvard Munch’s icon painting "The Scream"!  It is now, after extensive renovations and updates, the largest gallery in all the Nordic countries. From the rooftop you have an incredible view of the Rådhusplassen (city hall square), the fjord and the popular Aker Brygge in the Sentrum area, known for its renovated pier, where entertainment and good food is the rigor of the day.  Oslo’s City Hall Rådhuset, where the annual Nobel Peace Prize is awarded is not only the seat of the city council but has the largest carillon in the Scandinavian countries. Down the street, in student park, Studenterlunden, in front of the National Theatre building, is a (well-deserved) statue of the playwright known as the father of realism, the playwright Henrik Ibsen. 

There are a number of fascinating museums here, including the Kon-Tiki Museum, the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, the Viking Ship Museum, the Fram Museum and the Norwegian Folk Museum (Norskfolke), which is a wonderful open-air museum displaying over 150 traditional houses from around Norway. 

The Viking ship Museum (Vikingskipshuset) displays Viking ships that were discovered in various archeological excavations and have been masterfully preserved. The Kon-Tiki Museum displays maps and vessels from the expedition by the same name – which was a fascinating sea voyage on a raft from South America to Polynesia in 1947, which was led by Thor Heyerdahl. 

A ship that is a museum! The Fram Museum Oslo is the actual ship that sailed with the Norwegian crew to explore the Arctic and Antarctic regions. 

The Bygdøy Peninsula, on the western side of Oslo, has a large public park established by King Karl Johan and is a popular place for recreation and outdoor activities, especially during the spring and summer seasons. As well there are many museums of interest and the port area and the waterfront of the fjord have many exciting attractions in the city.

The Akershus Fortress or Akershus Castle stands on the eastern side of the fjord, a medieval castle built as a residence and as a fortress. There is a magnificent view of the city as well where you can watch the ceremony of changing of the guard.  Towering over the harbor is Oslo's red-brick Rådhuset (Oslo City Hall) where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded.  The city hall, with its picture-windows offering a view of the harbor has alternating art exhibitions on the walls, with murals from everyday life.

Next to the City Hall is the Nobel Peace Center, with a permanent exhibition of all the who were awarded the prize as well as temporary exhibitions. Further along, on the west side, is  Aker's Brygge pier (mentioned above) which overlooks the fjord as well as the impressive Akerschus medieval castle/fortress )Akershus Festning) from the early 14th century. The castle was eventually refurbished and renovated to make it suitable as a royal residence-a modern Renaissance castle for King Christian IV (1588-1648).

At the end of the pier, on the banks of the fjord, is an unusual architectural structure, the privately owned Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art. 

Then, if you’re looking for a grand view of the fjord and the city, go down to the southern end, make sure to take your camera and go up to the roof (which is known to be public space) of the Oslo Opera House. This unique building is home to the Norwegian opera and ballet companies. It was designed to look like a white glacier, either sliding into the fjord or arising from the fjord.

On the eastern side of the Opera House, you have the Stenersen Museum of Fine Arts together with the Munch Museum.

To the west of the city is the Frognerparken (Frogner Park) with more than 200 bronze and granite sculptures by Gustav Vigeland.  The sculpture garden is in the center of Frogner Manor, which is in the southern area of the park where you’ll also find the Oslo Museum.

The Holmenkollen Mountain is a resort area and the 500-meter ski slope is a popular site for international competitions from the 19th century to this day. Holmenkollen is also a residential neighborhood and you can also visit the Ski Museum with the same name, being the oldest such museum in the world.  You can take the elevator to the top of the springboard from which skiers jump and “on a clear day, you can see forever”. North of Holmenkollen, Oslomarka's enchanting forests from the nearby Oslomarka are spread out, allowing for hiking trails into nature adorned with spectacular views

Oslo's hidden attraction: Enjoy the eight-km walk along The Akerselva River, which flows through the whole city and into the Oslo fjord. The trail will take you through woods, parks, past waterfalls and over many bridges. The area where old factory buildings stood, getting its energy and being fueled by the many waterfalls, is now a trendy, popular place to get together in the cafes, restaurants, pubs with live music, galleries etc. 
Kodak Moment: One of the most photographed attractions is a one hundred and fifty-year old chain bridge. A “warning inscription” on one of the posts of the bridge reads:  "100 men I can carry, but l collapse from rhythmic marching."

Open year-round and free, on top of a hill, overlooking the east bank of the fiord is the Sculpture Park Ekebergparken, which is also a national heritage park. Trees and natural vegetation make for a magical background, sharing the grounds with unusual works of art by internationally renowned artists. 

Grünerløkka neighborhood fondly referred to as "Løkka" by the residents, was originally a working-class suburb and today it is a vibrant and exciting area, the buildings in the neighborhood have been renovated and vintage shops, second-hand shops, designer shops, galleries and cafes fill its streets and many artists have taken over. Grünerløkka is ”the soho” of Oslo wandering the neighborhood, shopping, dining, window-shopping or shopping you will enjoy being in its special ambiance 

Oslo and music are synonyms! The city hosts hundreds of concerts and music festivals throughout the year, especially in the summer. Oslo is a city for everyone – you’ll find everything you could possibly dream of for the perfect vacation: culture, nature, special attractions and warm hospitality!