IO things to do in Oslo
Oslo is known for beautiful green spaces, fascinating museums and a mad ski jump
ISee the northern lights
In winter, it’s technically possible to see the northern lights in Oslo, but it’s pretty rare as it’s a long way south of the Arctic Circle. You can increase your chances by escaping the city on a tour. Fjord Travel Norway has a five-night Northern Lights Safari, which flies to the Arctic town of Tromso where you can eat in a Sami tent, try dog sledding, and see the lights dance.
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Cycle to the Royal Palace
Oslo’s Royal Palace has housed royalty since 1849 and the lavishly decorated building is open to the public. Cycle Tours Global has a three-hour Royal Oslo tour that will take you to the ruins of the old city, the medieval Akershus Fortress, and the official home of King Harald V, who has served as Norway’s monarch since 1991. It operates every day between April and September.
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Explore the Oslofjord
Fjords aren’t limited to Norway’s west coast. In fact, Oslo has one of its own, which is more than 100km long. This is where you’ll find the locals if you choose to visit in summer and it’s a great place to hike, swim, paddle and picnic. As you might expect, the water temperature is pretty nippy, but you can always then thaw out in one of the saunas along the water’s edge.
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Explore Grunerlokka
Most cities have at least one suburb that has experienced a Cinderella story, transforming from a working-class neighbourhood into the trendiest spot in town. In Oslo, that’s Grunerlokka, which is where you’ll find great shopping, excellent brunches and expertly mixed cocktails.
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Stroll in Aker Brygge
Another must-see neighbourhood is that of Aker Brygge, about 4km away on the water’s edge. This is where you will find art galleries, museums, boutiques, restaurants, cute alleys, and a boardwalk with great al fresco dining. It’s also a very good spot to scout for fun pop-up events.
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Learn about Vikings
If the surge in Viking-related content on streaming services is anything to go by, we can’t get enough of bloodthirsty northern European history. The best place to dive into Norway’s fierce past is at the Viking Ship Museum, which displays finds from four burial sites unearthed around Oslo. There are all kinds of artefacts, but the piece de resistance is its 9th century burial ship.
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Spend hours in museums
While we’re on the topic of museums, there are lots to explore. The Fram Museum tells stories of Norwegian polar exploration, the Folk Museum explores the evolution of Norwegian culture, and the Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology dives into modern history such as oil and gas production, hydroelectric power, and some of the world’s first audio recordings.
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You can learn a lot about a city by exploring its parks. In Oslo’s case, Frogner Park is home to 212 statues carved from bronze and granite, which are the works of realist sculptor Gustav Vigeland. They are bizarre but totally worth seeing – naturally, you’ll need to imitate the poses and snap some cheesy photos. The most famous one is called Sinnataggen (Angry Boy).
Giggle in Frogner Park 9
Try Norwegian food
Farikal is one of the most famous dishes in Norway, made from lamb, cabbage, and potatoes. You’ll quickly find that hearty comfort food is very popular, including dishes such as sausages, meatballs, dumplings and, of course, a lot of seafood. To sample classic dishes Norwegians eat at home, book a table at Dovrehallen, Schroder, Smalhans, Cafe Elias, or Kaffistova.
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See insane ski jump
Norwegians are famously good skiers and there’s no better place to verify their prowess than Holmenkollen Ski Museum. This spot has hosted ski jumping competitions since 1892, with no shortage of crazy people launching themselves off the 134-metre-tall hill. It’s also home to an incredible ski simulator so you can find out what it’s like to fly down the famous ramp.