Oslo may be the world's most expensive city, but there are ways to enjoy Norway's sophisticated capital without melting the plastic. The first thing is to find cheap flights to Oslo - Oslo Torp that is - and take the bus to the centre of the city. Another tip is to buy an Oslo Pass, which provides free public transport, free admission to museums and sights and even discounted ice-skate hire.
Thanks to the Gulf Stream, summer temperatures can hit 30 degrees and a spot of open-air swimming in the fjord is a free thrill. Days are long too, 21 hours of daylight in the summer months.
Cross the harbour by boat to the Bygdoy peninsula, where you'll find several fascinating museums including the Viking Ship Museum, Norwegian Folk Museum, Kon-Tiki Museum, which tells the story of Thor Heyerdahl who in 1947 sailed 4,000 miles across the Pacific in a raft, and Fram Museum, which tells the stories of the polar explorers.
Gustav Vigeland's sculptures populate the Vigeland sculpture park. The almost 200 giant sculptures were not only modelled by Vigeland, but he laid out the park too. It's Norway's most popular tourist attraction. The Screaming Baby Statue is one of the best.
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Oslo has perfect weather for winter sports, cold with lots of snow. Winter days are dark and dusky though, and daytime temperatures are below zero (to about -9 degrees). Summers are mild with long sunny days. Oslo is far enough south to not have 24 hours of sun in summer, but the nights never get completely dark. Summertime temperatures range from the teens to low 20s. August is the wettest month and April and May the driest.
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An airport bus travels between the Oslo Bus Terminal in downtown and the airport, with night services connecting to every arrival. There is also an Airport Express train and a variety of taxis that go to the city centre.
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A compact city, Oslo lends itself well to walking, and it is a pleasurable way to take in the sights. When you are ready for a ride, there is an extensive public transport system, complete with trams, buses, and a subway. All public transport runs from 5.30am to midnight, with tickets available from bus drivers or vending machines at stations. Ferries operate on the fjord between April and September.
Discounted passes include the Tourist Ticket, which provides unlimited use over a 24-hour period, and the Oslo Card, which provides unlimited travel and reduced admissions to certain attractions over a three-day period.
Metered taxis are plentiful and can be hailed, called, or picked up at stands typically near shopping centres, city squares, and stations. However, taxis are expensive. During rush hour and in the early hours of the morning, you may need to wait quite a while for a taxi. Registered taxis have their roof lights on when they are available.
The public transport is so efficient and far-reaching, even to remote areas of the city, that driving is unnecessary. With Oslo’s limited parking, not needing a car is good news.
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- The open-air Norwegian Museum of Cultural History features 155 authentic buildings from different national regions. In 2004, Bygdo Royal Farm merged with the museum and the farmyard, fields and grazing lands are now part of the museum grounds. Indoor exhibits feature Norwegian folk art and dress, Norway’s First Parliament Hall and ... antique toys. The Christmas Fair is Oslo's largest pre-Christmas event. Houses are traditionally decorated and there are more than a hundred stalls selling arts and crafts, foods and seasonal treats.
- Karl Johans gate is the main pedestrian street, which connects the railway station with the Royal Palace. It’s a buzzy street with shops, cafes and lively performance artists.
- The Oslo Domkirke, the city cathedral, dates from 1697 and boasts elaborate stained-glass windows. Concerts and exhibitions are held there and the square is a nice place to rest.
- Aker Brygge was originally a dockyard and an industrial site - operated by Aker Mekaniske Verksted AS. It was rebuilt in the 1980s and now the area boasts offices, shops and restaurants, apartments and marina. Aker Brygge attracts more than six million visitors each year.
- Museums, museums, museums. Oslo seems to have one to suit every interest. These include the Football Museum, Ibsen Museum, Munch Museum, Norwegian Scout Museum, Oslo Fire Museum and Norway's Resistance Museum.
- The Nobel Peace Centre, opened in Rådhusplassen in 2005, is where you can learn - through exhibits, films lectures, and interactive installations - about the various Peace Prize Laureates and their activities as well as the history of Alfred Nobel.
- The Vigeland Sculpture Park has a fascinating history with 192 sculptures and more than 600 figures - all full size and modelled - by Gustav Vigeland, the 19th-century sculptor.
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