Tips for activities

OSLO

Oslo is a small city but with lots to offer. It’s located by the ocean, with lots of parks in the city and surrounded by forest and places to hike only a metro ride away.

Downtown you’ll find the Royal Castle where you can watch the shift of the guards, shopping in department stores or in the shopping street Karl Johans gate, or take a walk by the water and around the fortress.  All major museums are located downtown, you can take the boats out to the Folk museum or the island Hovedøya to see old monastery ruins. You may also enjoy a swim at Sørenga, or take the metro to Holmenkollen ski jump for an amazing view over Oslo – and zipline down the ski jump for the adventurous! The architecture in the area Frogner and the hipster area of Grünerløkka with it’s niche boutiques are worth a visit, and the food scene in Oslo is diverse and exciting. (unfortunately, museums aren’t free in Norway)

As a small preparation, you might find this article about 10 Norwegian phrases that should exist in English fun, or this list of 13 unmistakable Norwegian habits! Note number 12, and fyi number 13 does not count for the wedding party 😉

The website Visit Oslo has a lot of tips for the city, but we have collected a few of our favorites here:

Museums

  • The brand new Munch museum, downtown by Bjørvika (close to the Opera House)
  • The brand new National museum opens in June and we hope it’s worth a visit!
  • The Folk Museum at Bygdøy, outdoors museum with buildings from centuries ago
  • Kon-Tiki museum at Bygdøy
  • Oslo City Museum in the Frogner Park
  • Vigelands museum by the Frogner Park
  • 22. July Center, in the City Center
  • Let us know if there is something specific you are interested in and I’m sure we can find something around the city!

Sights

  • Frogner Park, or “The Naked Statue Park”. Statues by the artist Gustav Vigeland. Free enterance, very nice to walk around. Tram to Vigelandsparken or metro to Majorstua.
  • The Opera House. Beatutiful building you can walk around on, on the sea. Free entrance (to the building). In the city center (close to Oslo Central Station)
  • Holmenkollen ski jump, Frognerseteren restaurant. Beautiful view of Oslo, very old and nice restaurant. Metro to Holmenkollen or Frognerseteren.
  • Akerselva (The Akers River). Nice walk up or down the river, with sights, bars and beautiful nature along the way.
  • Ekeberg sculpture park – “The park for the woman”. Sculptures of and art by women located in a very nice park – free entrance. The Ekeberg restaurant is a nice stop if you want to enjoy a meal or drink with a beautiful view over Oslo. Tram to Ekebergparken.
  • Sørenga – Small park, beach and city waterfront recreational area. Go for a swim, get some sun or enjoy a meal at one of the restaurants by the waterfront.

 

Activities

  • Kaja’s favorite activity in Oslo: Sauna and a swim! Saunas have become increasingly popular over the past few years, and there are lots of providers. You can book a private sauna or just go to a drop-in session, and you can take a dip in a cold barrel, or a jump in the sea! Check out:
  • Paddle down the Akers River! Check out Akerselva river tours
  • Zip line down the Holmenkollen ski jump – with a view of entire Oslo
  • Tree top climbing park – Oslo Summer Park, just a metro ride from the city center

 

Food

Food courts have become very popular and there are about five very cool places to go.

  • VIPPA (by the sea)
  • Oslo Street Food
  • Mathallen, Vulkan
  • Via Oslo (higher end)
  • Barcode Street Food

Other popular restaurants:

  • If you want to splurge: Bon Lio! Tapas with Norwegian ingredients and a Norwegian twist.
    • Splurge but not as expensive: BASS, just up the street of Bon Lio
  • The area Grünerløkka there are plenty of nice (and affordable) restaurants in all categories; enjoy a southern delicious meal at Way Down South by the river, an authentic Italian dinner at the intimate Arno, vegetarian middle-eastern at Ben Redikk, a Mexican evening at Tijuana Taqueria and Rum House – or simply whatever you wish to order to enjoy in a park through the delivery services Foodora or Wolt.
  • While in Grünerløkka: Enjoy a world renowned coffee at Tim Wendelboe, and/or a glass of wine at the tiny, intimate winebar Territoriet in Markveien. If the weather is on our side, enjoy a beer and saussage at St Pauli biergarten!
  • the City Center can offer lots of nice restaurants in Barcode/Bjørvika/Sørenga/Aker Brygge. Enjoy a delicious sushi dinner at the top of Oslo; Nodee Barcode, or find a spot by the waterfront at a restaurant at Aker Brygge or Sørenga.
  • Enjoy an afternoon beer at Festningen (the Fortress) bar and restaurant, and perhaps a “catch of the day” seafood platter for dinner at Festningen restaurant or Skur 33 just on the side of the Fortress (should probably book!)
  • If the weather is not on our side, enjoy a warm and comforty soup at San Fransisco Bread Bown at Frogner, or a glass of sparkling bubbles at Champagneria.

Ask us for recommendations or other suggestions!

Areas of the city

  • Center: the Royal Castle, the Opera House, the City Hall, shopping, waterfront.
  • Gamle Oslo (Old Oslo): Diverse area with lots of international grocery stores and restaurants, the oldest buildings in Oslo and ruin parks. The Botanical garden and Tøyen torg for lunch, or a coffee at Kampen (by the church) are nice places to visit.
  • Grünerløkka: Hipster area. Lots of cool and hip bars and restaurants, niche boutiques and parks – and lots of vintage stores. Markveien and Thorvald Meyers gate are the main streets, tram stop Schous plass or Olaf Ryes Plass.
  • Frogner: Old, high end (“Upper East side”). Beautiful architecture. Close to the Frogner park and Majorstua

Nature

Oslo is located on the waterfront in the south with “marka” (the forest/the woods) surrounding the city on the east, west and north side.

  • Take the boat out to Hovedøya or one of the other islands just a short 5-20 min boat trip from the City Hall harbour (Rådhuskaia). You can spend the day hiking, swimming or just enjoying the parks.
  • Marka (the woods) are just a metro or bus ride away. the most popular hikes are around Frognerseteren, Sognsvann or Grefsenkollen. Take metro nr 1 to Frognerseteren, or number 5 to Sognsvann, or bus nr 56 towards Solemskogen. Frognerseteren and Grefsenkollen also has a great restaurant with beautiful view over Oslo.
  • Oslo has a lot of green, beautiful public parks. It’s great to stroll around while in the city, or bring a picnic blanket and just relax.
  • The Botanical gardens are also a relaxing, beautiful place, with a cafe located in the middle of the grounds.