Oslo Hotels

Set between a fjord and acres of woodland, Oslo is a beautiful city, filled with beautiful buildings and populated with beautiful people. Even on a grey day, there is an eternally sunny feel to Oslo, where the water is as impossibly blue as the eyes of each passing Nordic beauty and life seems full to the brim of exciting pursuits to keep you entertained. You’ll feel like you’ve landed in a Disney movie, where the orchestra swells with every step you take and you feel the urge to sing… sing… sing…

(Ahem…)

The people of Oslo are cheerful, accepting country folk who happen to find themselves in a city. Sailing, hiking, hunting and skiing are all popular pastimes, and with a close proximity to ski slopes, woods and, of course, the breathtaking Oslo Fjord and Oslo Harbour, Oslo cultivates a sensible and unshakeable balance in its population between city life and outdoor bliss.

Whether you want to explore the Edvard Munch Museum (he was the dude who painted the famous/creepy artwork ‘The Scream’), get your literary fix at the Ibsen Museum, gawk at some amazing sculptures at Frogner Park or go skiing at Holmenkollen, one of the best snow spots in the country, Oslo will take your hand and (ever-so-politely and enthusiastically) guide you through the wonders this city has to offer.

OSLO’S TOP 10

OSLO LOCAL

City Centre

Home to some of the most popular attractions, including the Royal Palace, the Akershus Castle and Fortress and the Oslo Cathedral (underwhelming from the outside, a treasure trove of artistic flair, gold trimmings and stained glass within), the City Centre is also Oslo’s shopping and restaurant quarter. Eateries and malls such as Oslo City abound, then once you’ve spent a pretty penny (or a pretty krone), slap on your finest threads and catch a performance at the National Theatre. Not your thing? Then try the bevy of bars and clubs that are also in the area.

Situated on the west side of Oslo, Bygdoy is quite fancy and just a little bit posh, so make sure you’re dressed to impress. Explore the stack of museums, including the Holocaust Centre, the Kon-Tiki Museum and the Viking Ship Museum. Now it’s time to hit up those big labels at Bygdoy’s many boutiques. Norwegian fashion has been on the up for years, and if you don’t mind shelling out the krone, you’ll pick up some amazing pieces. If you’re around during the warmer months, don’t forget a visit to Huk – Paradisbukta Beach, a favourite with locals and tourists alike.

Frogner

One of Oslo’s most chilled-out areas, Frogner is well worth a visit. Frogner Park/Vigeland Sculpture Park is a place to relax and take in the beautiful craftsmanship of the sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. Once you’re done there, the Frognerbadet (outdoor pools) next door will delight, not least because of the healthy helping of bronzed blondes (and blonds) taking a dip.

Holmenkollen

Make sure you bring your skis, toboggans, snowboards and fluoro ’80s getups to Oslo’s premier ski area. One of the best in the country, it attracts hundreds of thousands of people every winter, so it’s not the place to go if you want to get off the beaten piste. Still, the Holmenkollen Ski Museum and Tower, a museum about the history of skiing (anyone else find that slightly amusing?) offers up something a little different, as well a hell of a view.

If the idea of strapping your feet to a board and hurling yourself down an icy slope makes you slightly ill, why not come in the summer? There’s fishing, canoeing and hiking to keep you entertained, and not a puffy jumpsuit in sight.

OSLO EAT & DRINK

OSLO EVENTS

If you like your country tunes, make sure you’re around during June for the Norwegian Wood Festival. Crowds fill Oslo’s Frognerbadet for performances by both Norwegian and international country artists. Neil Young and Bob Dylan have both played in the past. BYO cowboy hat.

June’s Oslo Summer Festival includes a bevy of markets, concerts, fairs and other street entertainment over three fun-filled days. Kick back in the sun and enjoy the buzz of an Oslo summer.

Go and have some ye olde medieval fun at the Oslo Medieval Festival in mid-June. It’s an all-ages festival that offers a bunch of pretty exciting medieval experiences such as knight tournaments, historical plays, jugglers, jousters and jesters, as well as medieval-themed concerts.

Oslo Pride Week (June) is a week-long GLBT pride festival that hosts concerts, exhibitions, cruises, comedy and sport events, parades and a film festival at a number of places around the city. Most events are free.

December is made even more exciting with The Great Annual Christmas Fair. There’s a market at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History (make sure you pick up some cute little gifts and souvenirs), the historical buildings in the city are merrily decorated and a bunch of Christmas concerts hit the streets. Prepare for a Santa sighting.

WHEN TO GO

· Unless you’re after some skiing, forget the cold winter months and visit during late June to September for sunny days and minimal rainfall.

· Oslo’s average temperatures are -4°C (25°F) in winter, 12°C (54°F) in spring, 20°C (68°F) in summer and 9°C (48°F) in autumn.

· A better gauge of when to visit may be in terms of daylight hours. In the depths of winter, there’s less than six hours between sunrise and sunset. In summer, though, that rises to almost 19 hours.

WHAT TO MISS

· If you’re around during the winter, be wary of falling bits of ice and slabs of snow that drift from buildings – they hurt. Same goes for frozen rivers. It may look fun to slide across them, but if they crack, you’re up the creek (or in it) without a paddle.

· Avoid shifty street peeps who try to strike up a conversation with you and ask you to ‘play a game’ with them. Street scammers are pretty common in Oslo, so it’s best to just keep on walking.

GETTING AROUND

· The T-bane metro is one of the best and cheapest ways to get around this city. If that doesn’t rock your boat, there is also a bevy of buses and trams for your convenience.

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