Oslo, Norway

Unexpectedly (though blessedly), a series of cancelled flights allowed me and Matt to spend far more days in Oslo that we ever anticipated when drawing up our Norway trip itinerary this year.

Oslo is Norway’s expensive and beautiful capital city, a center of the Scandinavian world, a hub of trade, banking, and maritime shipping that consistently ranks in one of the top spots for best quality of life. Geographically, Oslo occupies a strategically important place in Norway, right at the end of the wild and beautiful Oslofjord, an inlet that stretches from southeast Norway and slips into the North Sea along the western coast of Sweden. Across the ocean also lies Copenhagen, Denmark, which is just a boat ride or train excursion away.

An important part of appreciating any place I travel is understanding its geography. When you can situate yourself on a map, not only do you get an understanding of the vastness and closeness of the world, but you start to understand the economic, cultural, and geopolitical climate around you.

For example, Norway is a nation of fishermen. All of its major cities sit along the coastline, some wandering as far north as the Arctic Circle. And when you’re living in or visiting a nation stretched and invaded by fjords, waterways, and inlets, you understand why car ferries are a way of life; why you can find dried cod served at almost every Starbucks; why every Norwegian you meet can claim a secluded summer hytta (cabin) in the woods; and why much of the literature that Norway produces takes place in the dark, mysterious depths of winter.

All of this to say–pay attention to your surroundings, both as you navigate the streets and as you look on Google Maps. That sense of direction will also give you a sense of belonging. With that said, let’s explore Oslo. We arrived on a chilly summer afternoon and began a jet-lagged day-and-a-half exploring the favorites:

Opera House and the Waterfront

Sydney, Australia is famous for its Opera House, but so is Norway. If possible, make this your first stop in Oslo because it will give you that sense of belonging that I just described.

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Situated along the Oslofjord, the Opera House is home to the National Opera and Ballet. Its white granite and marble exterior makes the building appear to rise from the water.

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Of course, explore the outside and climb to the top of the building for panoramic views of the city and fjord. After this, make sure to go inside to experience the warm, oak interiors that contrast so beautifully with the building’s clean, modern exterior.

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Akershus Festing

Festing means “fortress” in Norwegian, and this medieval castle should be next on your tour from the Opera House. Luckily, it’s just a 10- or 15-minute walk along the banks of the fjord.

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Constructed around 1290 to protect the royal residence in Oslo, today it is a museum open to the public. Inside, you can find the sarcophagi of several members of Norwegian royalty, including King Hakon V, Queen Maud, and King Olav V. Importantly, no army has successfully besieged the castle, although Norway did surrender it to Nazi forces when Germany invaded in 1940.

Frogner Park’s Vigeland Installation

Although this site requires a bit more work from the city center, it’s something you can’t miss. To be safe, make sure you have at least 3 hours to commute to and explore Vigelandsparken, Norway’s famous sculpture installation.

Sprawling over 80 acres, the sculpture area features 212 bronze and granite sculptures, all designed by Gustav Vigeland. And they’re nothing you’ve ever seen before.

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The sculptures are all naked human figures doing everything from resting to fighting to nurturing to writhing. It represents the best and worst of humanity.

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Take a stroll down the central boulevard to the fountain, where 20 statues concentrate in a cycle from birth to death. To access the park, take the train from the city center. The train stop lets you out close by, and from there, it’s just a 10-minute walk.

Bygdøy Peninsula

Take a bus from the city center heading west to arrive at Oslo’s beachfront. In the summertime, you’ll find the bus is packed with swimmers and families taking advantage of those rare, sunny days, but for tourists, there’s a bigger draw. Bygdøy houses many of Norway’s best museums, including the Norsk Folkemuseum (Museum of Cultural History), Kon Tiki, Viking Ship Museum (featuring two real Viking ships) and the Fram.

Norsk Folkemuseum

We visited the Folkemuseum first, which is an open-air museum that has over 150 historic buildings, including a Gol Stave Church from 1200. Additionally, the museum offers folk dances, demonstrations of Sami culture, farm animals, and folk art.

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The Stave Church and the farm animals were definitely the highlight. Visit the website for pricing and hours.

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The Fram Polar Voyage Museum

Unexpectedly, the Fram, which isn’t nearly as popular at the Folkemuseum, was our favorite. It tells the story of Norwegian polar exploration and honors the great explorers who traveled to the Arctic Circle and Antarctica. Visit the museum to read about Roald Amundsen, who led the first expeditions to the South and North Poles and the Northwest Passage. Or learn more about other Norwegian explorers, Otto Sverdrup and Fridtjof Nansen.

Inside the museum, you can explore the real Fram vessel, which is the ship that has sailed farther north and south than any other vessel. During the planning of the museum, the builders decided to haul the ship on shore and build the rest of the museum around it. You can go down in the hull, walk on deck, and appreciate the cramped, exhausting life of living on a polar expedition ship. Also, this museum houses the Gjøa, the first ship to travel the Northwest Passage.

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Oslo City Center

Don’t forget to explore the many exciting places that Oslo has to offer.

I highly recommend visiting Oslo City Hall (Rådhuset), where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded each year.

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Within the city, you can also walk around the Royal Palace, visit the Henrik Ibsen museum, or go see a show at the National Theater.

Nearby, gaze upon the Storting, Norway’s Parliament building, see The Scream at the National Museum, or take a trek north of the city to the Holmenkollen Ski Museum.

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Mathallen Food Hall

What’s more to say? This is Oslo’s enormous marketplace packed with over 30 different food and drink vendors.

We stopped by on a weeknight and found the place packed with locals listening to live music, drinking beer, and enjoying the outdoor patio spaces. Visit the website for restaurants, events, and hours.

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Take the Train

What if you’re tired of all the wonder and excitement that Oslo has to offer? You can always hop on the train at the Oslo Central Station and journey six hours westward to fishy and historic Bergen. Read more about it on the blog.