Oslo Travel Guide | My Life Trips

Oslo

Information

Oslo is the capital and largest city in Norway. It is considered one of the cities that have a very high standard of living worldwide, although 25% of Oslo’s population is immigrants. Oslo has a population of about 670,000 and is one of the smallest Europeann cities. As it absolutely normal, Oslo is one of the most important cities in the whole Scandinavia, and a very popular destination for cruise ships, that transport thousands of tourists to the country daily. The capital of Norway is considered one of the fastest growing cities in the world, but at the same time is not losing its beauty but also the very high standard of living, which its permanent residents enjoy.

The Norwegian currency is the Norwegian Crown and 10 Norwegian Crowns equals to 1,05 Euro . For the latest updated exchange rates visit the XE Currency Converter page.

What To See...

Vigeland Park

Vigeland is undoubtedly an impressive park in the heart of Oslo, and certainly one of the most impressive parks we have ever visited. The highlight of this park is the incredibly realistic statues that someone can find here, culminating the amazing “Monolith” which is located in the center of the park. These statues depict human forms in different attitudes, expressions and ages. Definitely, Vigeland Park is one of Oslo’s top attractions that should be visited.

Royal Palace

The Royal Palace of Oslo is a very beautiful building built in the 19th century. It is the official residence of the Royal Family and is located in the center of Oslo, at the end of Karl Johans Gate street. It is possible to visit the palace only with a guide and the ticket costs 135 NOK per person. The duration of the tour is one hour, and you can see some of the most beautiful rooms and exteriors of the palace.

Karl Johans Gate

This street is the heart of the city and one of its busiest spots. The street starts from the Royal Palace, and reaches up to Oslo’s main railway station and harbour. Along its length you will find many shops, restaurants, cafes and also some very expensive hotels. Karl Johans Gate is certainly one of the most important sights to see in Oslo, along with the Opera, the Royal Palace and Vigeland Park.

Akershus Fortress

The medieval castle of Akershus is located on the north side of Oslo and is one of the most interesting sights in the city. This 13th century castle now operates as a museum, but also hosts special events taking place in the city. From the castle you can also enjoy some beautiful views of the city and relax by walking. Entrance is free of charge.

Oslo Opera House

The Opera House is the most characteristic building in the city and certainly the most photographed. Oslo Opera is located at the end of the harbour in one of the most central parts of the city. Its construction began in 2003 and ended in 2007, where it became the symbol of Oslo. You can walk on the platform of the opera completely free but also you can visit the interior of the building by paying 120 NOK per person. The opening hours of the opera are daily from 10:00-19:00.

Rådhuset

The famous Oslo town hall building is located on the northern side of the city, in the Pipervika district. Various events and ceremonies are taking place here, including the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony every December.

Oslo Harbour

Oslo’s harbour is one of the busiest spots in the city and a beautiful place to go for a walk. Of course the opera building is what will attract your attention with its very unique shape, but it is definitely worth some of your time.

Nearby Excursions

Oslo is in a very beautiful location between Oslofjord, but the true beauties of Norway are a few hours away from Oslo. Some of Norway’s famous fjords such as Geirangerfjord, Lysefjord and many more are within 5 hours driving from Oslo, so it is impossible to visit them with one day excursions. Our suggestion if you find yourself in Oslo for several days is to rent a car and drive northwest, where you can find some landscapes of unparalleled beauty. The only negative thing about this option, is that the cost of your trip will go up considerably, and it will also take you at least one week to see some of the fjords that we mentioned above, but also some once in a lifetime experiences, such as Preikestolen, Trolltunga, and many more.

A cheaper option is to take a mini cruise to Oslofjord, which in our opinion can not be compared with the places that we mentioned above. If your budget is limited, be patient and organize your trip by taking a look at our article ” Norway on a budget ” to get some ideas …

What To Eat

Oslo is a very expensive city, and if your travel budget is low then you will find it extremely hard to find cheap food choices. If you decide to eat daily at a restaurant, then you have to be prepared to pay lots of money. For a two person meal in a relatively inexpensive restaurant, it is absolutely normal to pay 1000-1300 NOK for 3-4 dishes. Unfortunately, we were pleased with more cheaper, fast food options, due to limited budget, and we preferred to spend that money to see as many places as we could during our 15 days stay in Norway. If you want to waste a lot of money to try Scandinavian cuisine and restaurants in Oslo, then you can find infinite informations on pages such as tripadvisor etc, that will help you in your search.

How to move

Oslo may not be the most populous city, but it is not small in size, so you have to walk a lot to see the major sights. The best option is to combine walking along with the city’s excellent public transport, to save time and effort. The metro of the city is an excellent option, and as it does not have many lines and stops, it can take you very close to almost all of the city’s attractions. The ticket costs 56 NOK for one hour per person and 108 NOK for 24 hours. The same ticket can be used for all of the city’s means of transport such as the metro, buses, trams, train and ferry boats.

Oslo Gardemoen Airport is 49 km away from the city center and is easily reached in about 35 minutes by car or train from the main station.

Where to stay

Accommodation in Oslo as expected is very expensive. Prices in the city center, around major sights such as the Royal Palace, the Opera etc. are not affordable at all, and an average price for a double room is around 1500-2000 NOK per night. If these prices seem to you prohibitive, as they seemed to us, then your only choice is to stay outside of the city center. Do not expect to find dramatically lower prices, as you will find it extremely difficult to find a room below 1000 NOK a day. You can make your reservations via Booking.com

Booking.com