Oslo in the Travel magazine

Docking in Oslo

City Hall

Harbour view & Square

Palace / Akershus Castle

Akershus Castle museum

There is plenty to see and do in this charming city when let loose for a single day

Where better to start than a serene approach to Oslo along Oslo Fjord, enjoying beautiful scenery then docking beneath the walls of Akershus Castle. An added bonus is the close proximity to the centre so it’s off the ship and straight into the heart of things. Tourist Information on the quay can provide passes (Oslo Pass etc.) for all kinds of travel on public transport as well as information on where to go and how to get there. Duty free shopping is tempting and VAT refunds can also be made here. The main Tourist Office is located just along the street heading north behind the City Hall. There are ATM’s a plenty in the vicinity of the Town Hall; much the cheapest way to exchange money.

The Oslo Pass enables free travel in 4 zones on buses, ferries, trams, underground and local trains. Prices in 2006 are 210 NOK for 24 hours (£1 = 11.50 NOK) but these are available at the Cruise Terminal with a 20% discount. Museums and swimming pools are free, and there are discounts for sightseeing trips e.g. the Glass Bus. A small red train chugs its way around the city at a more sedate pace for those who prefer to just sit back and enjoy observing life in the city. A selection of sight-seeing trips by boat is on offer, including one with a prawn lunch.

If you’re ‘doing your own thing’, stroll along the harbour towards the huge, hulking edifice of the Town Hall. Still controversial but it overlooks a spacious, pleasant square and the ferry terminal beyond. At the far side of the Town Hall is the Nobel Peace Centre and a little further along the Music Theatre. A left turn along Stranden by the harbourside comes alive at lunchtime where enticing eateries vie for attention. On the right at the start of Stranden is Aker Brygge, Oslo’s first big shopping centre. If you only feel like a snack, there is a snack bar/cafe on each floor and toilets on the third floor. The pastries and sandwiches in the cafe on the ground floor were delicious but others offer different fare. To see the Royal Palace (Slottet) set in a large park (Slottsparken) head up Haakon VII’ Street which runs uphill from the side of the City Hall. This leads past more shopping opportunities at the Vika Centre and to the National Theatre. Climb the steps at the top of the street and the park is across the road. There is much to explore just in the cluster of streets in the centre but leave plenty of time for Akershus Castle. Akerhus was built in the 14th century as Oslo’s first fortress and palace. The castle was rebuilt in the 17th century along with much of the town after being burnt down. Here, is where Norway’s kings were crowned and buried and where the sarcophagus of Haakon VII is on view. Furnishings lend atmosphere to a wander around this building. Resistance fighters were imprisoned and shot in the castle so it is apt that the Resistance Museum is within the castle grounds. A great place to spend some time and from where there good views out over the harbour.

Take a 15min ferry ride from the terminal over to Bygdoy where five museums lie in wait; ferries leave every 40min. To visit the Viking Museum and/or the Folk Museum alight at the first ferry stop and follow the road uphill. The Folk museum is off right part way uphill but continue to the top and the Viking Museum with an almost complete Viking Ship is easily spotted. A left turn here along the road leads to the second ferry stop and the other museums in around 15min. The Kon-Tiki Museum is full of information and of course Thor Heyerdahl’s reed boat. Polar exploration and explorers is the subject of the Fram Museum and you can actually walk the decks of an expedition ship. Our favourite was the huge curved screen cinema show in the Maritime Museum where we were taken on an amazing journey along the coast of Norway. We really felt as though we were living the experience. Shows run for 20min every half an hour.

It’s amazing how much can be packed into a day but, our suggestion would be to start with a ferry ride to the museums, come back for lunch alongside the harbour, then see how much time was left for further sight-seeing. We would have loved an overview of the city from the Holmenkollen Ski Jump and a chance to visit Vigeland Park to see the sculptures. Ah well! Another time!