Since the time of the Vikings, the best view of the city opens from the shores of the Oslo Fjord. From here, the most famous building in Norway and the main attraction of the capital, the cube-shaped red brick town hall, where every year on December 10, the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony is held in the presence of the royal family, looks especially impressive.
According to topb2bwebsites, The high left bank of the fjord seems even higher due to the medieval fortress Akershus located on it, under the walls of which cruise ships moor. On the low right bank, the high-tech houses of the Aker Brygge embankment crowd each other. In good weather, her cafe and even the wide wooden steps descending directly to the water are always filled with vacationers.
Every day at 13:30, the changing of the guard ceremony takes place in front of the Royal Palace.
Another favorite meeting place and Sunday walks for Norwegians is the Gustav Vigeland Sculpture Park: 227 naked figures carved in stone or cast in bronze, reflecting a person’s entire life path. This is the world’s largest collection of works by a single master, which Vigeland worked on from 1907 to 1942.
6 things to do in Oslo
- Find out what Norwegian waters are rich in at the morning fish market in front of the town hall.
- Find Henrik Ibsen’s favorite table in the cafe of the famous Grand Hotel.
- Arrange a photo shoot in the Blue Hall of the City Hall, where banquets are held in honor of Nobel laureates.
- Climb to the roof of the Opera House for the best views of the city and the Oslo Fjord.
- Hear the howl of the wind in the wheelhouse of the legendary schooner Fram.
- Taste a couple of dozen types of Norwegian herring and choose the best one.
Museums
From the waterfront of Aker Brygge on a pleasure boat, it is easy to get to the Bygdøy peninsula with museums of famous sailors. The Fram Museum is literally built around the legendary schooner, on which Nansen and Amundsen went on polar expeditions.
Under the roof of the Viking Ship Museum, 3 wooden drakkars are laid up. Another Kon-Tiki museum is dedicated to the travels of Thor Heyerdahl. Its main exhibits are a full-size copy of the Ra II papyrus boat and the Kon-Tiki raft, on which Heyerdahl crossed the Pacific Ocean with 5 companions.
Most museums are open from 12:00 to 16:00, the day off is Monday.
In terms of popularity, only modern art galleries can compete with maritime museums, especially the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Contemporary Art, built by Renzo Piano, which is especially similar to a glass sail, and the Munch Museum, which contains the best works of the artist, including the famous “Scream”, included in the list of the most famous pictures of the world.
- What to see in Oslo in one day
Oslo for kids
Oslo is good because it can give everyone a fairy tale. The main thing is not to make noise in the Norwegian Open Air Museum of Ethnography when you pass a tree with a hollow – then from there you can hear the singing of the trolls, who are taught music by an old furry troll. The log peasant houses standing here with sod roofs, barns on stilts, log cabins with small windows are collected from different regions of the country.
Next to the rural buildings, a whole city block has been recreated with half-timbered houses, a grocery store, a pharmacy, a bank, a pumping station and even a wooden prison brought here from the center of Oslo. Here you can ride in an old horse-drawn carriage, try traditional unleavened bread baked by a friendly peasant woman in national costume, and on Sundays see a folklore performance in front of the wooden church, which is more than 8 centuries old.
But a real fairy tale happens here around Christmas, when the Norwegian Santa Claus – Julenissen with his wife Nissemur and a huge bag of gifts slowly walks along the streets of the museum town.
Holidays and events
Oslo hosts a wide variety of theatrical and opera performances, performances of folk dance ensembles, concerts and festivals all year round: the Norwegian Forest music festival, the Oya and Inferno festivals, jazz and chamber music festivals. The fantastic new Opera is a great place to watch world-class opera or ballet.
On the last weekend of May, during the Medieval Festival, the Norwegian capital returns 6-7 centuries ago. In the Akershus Fortress, ancient music sounds, jousting tournaments are held, anyone can practice archery or crossbow shooting. The medieval market is a brisk trade in jewelry, handicrafts and culinary delights prepared according to old recipes. Period-appropriate costumes are welcome.
On the night of June 23-24, on the feast of St. Hans, bonfires and fireworks blaze throughout Norway, driving away all evil spirits. The spectacle is not only beautiful, but also strictly regulated. You can have fun on the shortest night of the year in the Holmenkollen area.
Weather
Thanks to the Gulf Stream, the climate of Oslo is quite mild. The weather in spring is unpredictable – flowers may bloom in late March, and snow may fall in early May. Summer is a great time to visit the city. Despite frequent rains, there are un-Scandinavian warm days. The water in the Oslofjord warms up well for swimming. Autumn is a time of bright colors and crab season. Winters are snowy with comfortable temperatures. The coldest month is January.
