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Norway | 8x tips and things to see and do in Oslo

Feel the Scandinavian atmosphere during one city ​​trip in the bustling Norwegian capital Oslo! The city distinguishes itself from others by its combination of special features. Oslo is full of modern architecture, but also historical monuments. In addition, it is surrounded by greenery, so you can even admire the Norwegian nature during a visit to it, for example Oslofjord. Walking through the streets of Oslo you feel the freedom and relaxed atmosphere of Norway, while it is still a vibrant and busy city.

You can read which one in this blog sights there are and what you should have done anyway!

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1. Visit the Oslo Opera House  

To immediately see a good example of the modern architecture in Oslo, you must visit the opera house (location here). This is one of the pearls of Oslo and is certainly one of the most beautiful sights in the city.

The Norwegian Artists Kristian Blystad, Kale Grude en Jorunn Sannes have designed the building in an innovative way; you can walk up the building from all sides, or choose a spot along the way to sit, wonderful by the water. The opera house is located in central Oslo, right on the harbor. You can see the cruise ships arrive and you have a view of the city from the roof! In addition, it is great to book a ticket for one of the performances of successful opera singers and ballet dancers, who perform in beautiful halls.

The special architecture of the building has ensured that there is a lot of interest from artists to perform in Oslo. Open-air theaters and performances are also organized, which is easy to achieve, because you can take a seat on the outside from all sides of the building!  

Oslo Opera House | Oslo, Norway
Oslo Opera House | Oslo, Norway

2. Admire 'The Royal Palace' and watch the changing of the guard  

During a city trip to Oslo, a visit to The Royal Palace (Location here) are not missing. This royal palace is one of Norway's most important buildings. It is not only a historical monument, it is also the home of the Norwegian king harald en queen Sonya.

The Royal Palace (in Norwegian: Slottet) is open for tours in the summer. The royal family itself is on holiday around this time. A tour costs 95 Norwegian Kroner, which is about 8,65 euros.

The building stands on a hill and is surrounded by two beautiful parks, which you should definitely take a walk after visiting the palace. Don't forget the changing of the guard! Because the building is used extensively nowadays, it is also well secured. Every day at 13:30 you can watch the changing of the guard as a spectator, on the outside of the building. This special ceremony lasts 40 minutes and consists of two parts. It is an attraction for tourists.  

The Royal Palace | Oslo, Norway
The Royal Palace | Oslo, Norway

3. View the special art in Vigeland Park  

This is a free open-air museum not to be missed in Oslo. It consists of more than 200 images created by Gustav Vigeland. It is located in Frogner Parks and you will walk around with wide eyes and a confused look.

The artist has depicted the life course of man, from birth to death. Although it is sometimes not entirely clear how these are related… They are ambiguous statues where you can let your own imagination run wild. For example, at the top of the park is a large pillar of entwined people.

The Vigland Park is one of the most popular attractions in Oslo and is open 24 hours a day. You can also visit the museum next to the park. This is the former home of the artist Gustav Vigeland. In exchange for all his works of art, Gustav received a house and studio from the capital at the time. Interesting to visit this museum!

You may have heard of The Angry Baby, a well-known artwork of a boy stamping his feet with clenched fists (Sinnetaggen in Norwegian)? You can also find these in the Vigeland Park.  

Vigeland Park | Oslo, Norway
Vigeland Park | Oslo, Norway

4. Admire the artworks on the harbor of Oslo  

During a visit to Oslo you can walk around for hours and be surprised again and again by what the city has to offer. You will not get bored by the surprising statues that you keep encountering. Located on the water, this makes for beautiful pictures.

Not only buildings make the city beautiful, modern and historic. They are also the images that you find in front of and along the buildings. You don't even have to purposefully seek out this art. Just go out and let the city guide you along the harbor and the beautiful streets. Along the water, on the outskirts of Oslo, you will find beautiful places to stop and enjoy the fresh air and beautiful views!  

The Port | Oslo, Norway
The Port | Oslo, Norway
Scuba diver statue | Oslo, Norway
Scuba diver statue | Oslo, Norway

5. Walk through Karls Johans Gate, the heart of Oslo  

Do you want to look up the culture in Oslo? Then follow the Karl Johans Gate (Location here). It is a wide, long street of 2 kilometers long that stretches from the station to the royal palace. This is the perfect route to get acquainted with the history of the Norwegian capital, as it is close to several of Oslo's top attractions. On the street there are well-known buildings such as the Parliament, the National Theatre, Oslo Cathedral and some university buildings. The latter are sometimes, in my opinion, more beautiful than the royal palace.

Karl Johans Gate | Oslo, Norway
Karl Johans Gate | Oslo, Norway
Deposit set | Oslo, Norway
Deposit set | Oslo, Norway

The street is named after Karel III Johan and today the street is the beating heart of the city. You will find nice restaurants, cafes and it borders the beautiful parks. One of the pearls along this street is the parliament building Malfunction set from 1866 (see the photo above). The Norwegian flag proudly flies atop the tower of the building. Inside, the Norwegian Parliament meets. It is also wonderful to get a coffee bakery and enjoy one of the nice squares.  

Coffee from Backstube | Oslo, Norway
Coffee from Backstube | Oslo, Norway

6. The Central Station  

Speaking of Karls Johans Gate, the street that starts from Oslo station; It is not unimportant to mention that the station is even worth a look. It Oslo Central Station is modern, luxurious and has everything you are looking for.

The main station | Oslo, Norway
The main station | Oslo, Norway

There is a ground floor full of restaurants and shops. It was one of the most beautiful stations I have ever seen and at the same time it is the largest in Norway.

Tip: If you plan to travel from Oslo, you must take the train Oslo-Bergen to take. This is a 7-hour train journey that has been voted one of the most beautiful in the world by the Lonely Planet. And I can confirm that this is correct!

It takes you through all seasons and all natural phenomena you can think of. Along the fjords, through the mountains, past countless waterfalls and beautifully flowing rivers. In addition, trains in Norway are not standard. They offer a lot of comfort, the staff is friendly, you have a café where you can buy coffee, tea and Norwegian snacks, and sometimes there is even a play corner for children. Don't forget to reserve your ticket. This is important because the trains are very popular and fill up quickly. 

7. Vikingr – Historical Museum  

Those who have immersed themselves a bit in Norwegian culture know that the Vikings were very active in Norway thousands of years ago. The Vikings were Scandinavian inhabitants and were known for their ruthless raids and conquests. These Vikings still live on in Oslo through the museums that exhibit all well-preserved weapons, jewelry, clothing and stories.

Vikingr Museum | Oslo, Norway
Vikingr Museum | Oslo, Norway

I liked visiting the historical museum Vikingr (Location here) highly recommended. It's not expensive, big and you really get a picture of how these Vikings worked. Spread over different rooms you can see the beautiful jewels and objects that these horrific people used to use.  

8. The Viking Ship Museum  

Another interesting museum to visit is The Viking Ship Museum (Location here). Because when you think of Vikings, the large wooden ships are indispensable in this picture.

The Vikings took to the water in boats made of oak planks protected by wool and animal hair. The Vikings invented this method to keep their boats in good condition. Thousands of years later, this technique was still used by other countries and cultures.

The Viking Ship Museum | Oslo, Norway
The Viking Ship Museum | Oslo, Norway

They were real speedboats, even though you might not immediately say that when you see them. Yet they achieved considerable speed due to the long hull that lay firmly in the water. You can see the best preserved Viking ships in the world in the museum, which makes it certainly interesting to visit during your city trip!

It's a very small museum and you can get through it in no time, so don't plan hours for it. Also nice is the exhibition with a piece of history about the Vikings.  

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Ilse

Hi! I'm Ilse, 23 years old. Since a backpacking trip through Scandinavia, my love for travel has grown and so has my bucket list! I fell in love with Norway and have since returned to the beautiful country twice. I have already seen many places in Europe. In September and October I will travel to Indonesia and Thailand, and in March next year I will explore Central America.

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