Charming Scandinavian fjord side city with plenty of attractions, the capital of Norway, Oslo has been characterized as one of the most beautiful cities of Northern Europe. With ski jumping hills, museums, shopping facilities and cultural sights, Oslo is an attractive travel destination for a reason. The city might be expensive, but all the same, it is interesting.
Outdoor sports. As the Norwegians are a dedicated outdoor sport nation, it would be strange to find no sporting facilities in their capital city. The most famous sporting place in Oslo is Holmenkollen Ski Stadium that attracts many with its ski jumping hill, the tower of which offers excellent views over the city. However, do come down along the stairs, as there are more suitable places available for an average person to practice outdoor sports in Oslo. You could try for example the cross country skiing tracks of Holmenkollen, or the walking trails of the many recreational areas located in the forested surroundings of the Norwegian capital, offering possibilities for outdoor sport activities such as trekking in Oslo and biking in Oslo. Another popular green hobby, also golf in Oslo is offered, after which you could try for example the services of the public swimming pools or the modern spas in Oslo.
Attractions of Oslo from Holmenkollen to new Opera House:
Located at the coast of the Oslofjord, and formerly known as Christiania, Oslo is the political, economic and cultural center of Norway. The medieval Akerhus Castle and Fortress standing in front of Oslo's harbor is the most important architectural sight of the city. In addition to Akerhus, Oslo has also other famous buildings such as the Oslo Cathedral and the Royal Palace, which is the home of the king of Norway. The spectacular new seaside Opera House of Oslo can be admired also from inside when attending concerts, ballet and opera in Oslo. There are several interesting museums in Oslo to be visited. You can start from for example with the Folk Museum, and get on with more special places such as Viking ship museums or the Nobel Peace Center. See also the famous Vigeland Sculpture Park within the Frogner Park of Oslo.Outdoor sports. As the Norwegians are a dedicated outdoor sport nation, it would be strange to find no sporting facilities in their capital city. The most famous sporting place in Oslo is Holmenkollen Ski Stadium that attracts many with its ski jumping hill, the tower of which offers excellent views over the city. However, do come down along the stairs, as there are more suitable places available for an average person to practice outdoor sports in Oslo. You could try for example the cross country skiing tracks of Holmenkollen, or the walking trails of the many recreational areas located in the forested surroundings of the Norwegian capital, offering possibilities for outdoor sport activities such as trekking in Oslo and biking in Oslo. Another popular green hobby, also golf in Oslo is offered, after which you could try for example the services of the public swimming pools or the modern spas in Oslo.
Practical information for your trip to Oslo
Weather in Oslo is changeable. Summers (June-August) are usually warm with up to 20-25°C temperatures, and winters (November- March) have below zero temperatures. Some rainfall is received by Oslo all around the year. Overall, Oslo is worth a visit anytime, but at its best outside winter from April to October.
Photo: Lyng883, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
How to get there. Located in Scandinavia, Norway's capital is in most cases best reached by air. Flights to Oslo are available from all over the world, in addition to which this capital city in the south of Norway is easily reachable also by car ferry from Germany and Denmark, and by train from Sweden. The efficient public transport system in Oslo consists of buses, trains, trams and metro, which are all available with the same ticket, making moving around in Oslo very easy. If you want to be independent, also renting a car in Oslo is easy, but by no means cheap.
Visitor services. Oslo is a popular touristic city with well-maintained tourism services. The many hotels in Oslo and restaurants in Oslo offer good quality for visitors. If you do not have shortage of money, the Norwegian capital offers also nice possibilities for shopping in Oslo, and many suitable places for nightlife in Oslo. Finally, tourist services of Norway have one unpleasant feature, which is their high price. Overall, Norway is a very expensive country, which however offers excellent use for your money. Oslo is also a quite safe destination, although pickpocketing and theft are not unheard of. Local people in this wealthy city commonly speak also English.
hint See also these nearby destinations: Lillehammer
