Oslo
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Beautiful Oslo is third-largest city of Scandinavia and the administrative center of Norway. It is situated on the northernmost end of the Oslofjord, and has appr. 640,000 residents.
Oslo was ranked number one in terms of quality of life among European large cities in the European Cities of the Future 2012 report by the fDi magazine.
The city was founded in 1040 and it was nominated to capital city in 1300. After being destroyed by a fire in 1624, the city was moved closer to Akershus Fortress during the reign of Danish king Christian IV and renamed Christiania in his honour. City were known as Kristiania from 1877 to 1925.
Recreation
Centers of the nightlife and pubbing are Grünerløkka, Aker Brygge, Grønland, and the city centre especially at Youngstorget or Grensen.
Baja Bikes and Alternative Tours in Oslo offers guided bike tours around the city.
Shopping
Akersgata area has several luxury shops and the Eger mall at Egertorget.
Bogstadveien is also a splendid shopping street, where is non-chain stores, focusing on clothes and accessories.
Something to explore
Vigeland Sculpture Park
This is the world’s largest open-air sculpture park located in Majorstua / Frogner, westside of the city.
It is dedicated for artworks of Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland (1869-1943), housing over 200 unique sculptures made of bronze, granite and wrought iron. Mainly completed between 1939 and 1949, the park is one of the most important art sights in Europe and definitely a must-see.
Munch Museum
This museum (Tøyengata 53) is dedicated to the life and works of the Norwegian Expressionist artist Edvard Munch (1863 – 1944). Its cpllection consists over half of t his whole production of paintings and allegedly one copy of all his prints, in numbers it consists over 1,200 paintings, 18,000 prints and six sculptures. The most famous artworks in exhibition are one painted version and a pastel version of The Scream.
Kirkeristen Bazars
This bazaar area along Karl Johans gate and Dronningens gate is an idyllic place for strolling, sitting with a cup of coffee and ecplore the joints of artisans and craftsmen selling their handmade products.
Holmenkollen
Located on the western side of the city, this famous ski-jump area and is the popular wintersports sight, but it also offers beautiful hiking ranges during the summer and fall. Line of the Oslo Metro runs through the neighborhood, serving the stations Besserud and Holmenkollen.
How to get around in Oslo
Ruter operates efficient public transport in Oslo with buses, trams, trains, metro (T-bane) and boats. There are two main hubs for public transport inside the city centre: Oslo Central Station (Oslo S) / Jernbanetorget and Nationaltheateret (underground). All metro lines pass these stations, all trains pass Oslo S and most trains (including the Airport Express Train) pass Nationaltheateret. Ticket prices are here, journey planner here.
How to get in Oslo
Oslo’s main airport Gardermoen is situated in Gardermoen, 47 kilometres northeast of Oslo. List of its airlines is here, list of its destinations here.
Flytoget operates express trains between the airport and Oslo Central Station (Oslo S). The journey takes about 20 minutes. NSB train line goes via Oslo to Drammen, then on to Kongsberg or Skien.
Flybussen operates bus line to Oslo city center from airport.
Sandefjord Airport Torp, 118 kilometres south of Oslo, operates also flights. List of its airlines is here ,list of its destinations here. Torp – Ekspressen operates bus line between this airport, Drammen and Oslo city center. The journey takes about 1 hour 45 minutes. NSB operates trains between Torp Airport Train Station and central Oslo, the train station is linked to the airport via free shuttle buses.
Moss Lufthavn Rygge, close to the city of Moss and 70km from Oslo, is the third airport serving Oslo. List of its airlines and destinations is here. Ryggeekspressen buses will meet all incoming international flights, and leave from Oslo central station for all outgoing flights. NSB operates trains between Rygge, Oslo city center and Halden. A shuttle bus leaves the airport for Rygge train station approx. 15 minutes before scheduled train departures. The shuttle bus is included in the price of train ticket. 3 trains per day operate from Rygge to Gothenburg, Sweden.
There are three daily trains from Gothenburg and four daily Swedish X2000 to Stockholm. See the list of European train timetables here.
Swebus and Nettbuss operates international bus lines daily to/from e.g. Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö and Copenhagen. Nor-Way Bussekspress and Nettbuss operates domestic bus lines.
Oslo is connected to Denmark and Germany by car ferries. Color Line operates from Oslo to Kiel daily. DFDS runs daily services to Copenhagen and Stena Line offers ferry line to Frederikshavn.
Highways E6 and E18) meet in Oslo. E16 runs about 40 kilometres north of Oslo, passing the airport, with a branch to the E18 from Hønefoss to Sandvika just west of Oslo.
Top 5 in Oslo
- Take a city bike and get around.
- Vigeland Sculpture Park
- Munch Museum
- aHHhhhhigguoHaving a good time in Youngstorget
- Hiking in Holmenkollen
Text: Timo Hellman
Photos: Wikipedia Commons with the CC licence / Andy Mitchell, Aavee, Kjetil Ree, Jodyno, Ralf Roletschek, Bjoertvedt[/fusion_text]
