48 hours in Oslo – Weekend Edition
Oslo In Less Than 48 Words
What often immediately strikes a visitor to Oslo is perhaps its beautiful setting – right at the head of a 110-kilometer long fjord. Both cosmopolitan and historic, it is known for its easy-going air, world-class museums, glitzy shopping centers, fine dining, vigorous nightlife, and memorable outdoor activities.
Tryvann Vinterpark (Photo by GU-JO)
First 24 Hours
You can fly to Oslo and alight at the Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, which is the country’s main international airport. It is located 35 kilometers northeast of the city center, and is connected to the city by the Oslo Airport Express Train. Right from the airport you can take the high-speed train to the Oslo S station located in the heart of the city. The trains arrive every ten minutes, and the tickets will cost Nkr150. You can also take a bus that travels along the same route, and that will cost you only Nkr110 on a one-way trip. If you prefer a more comfortable ride, you can hire a taxi, although this may cost upwards of Nkr420.
The city of Oslo is very navigable, with its excellent transportation systems. To learn more about the city, you should pay a visit to its main tourist office (5 Fridtjof Nansens Plass), where you can get a street map. It is open daily between 8 am and 11 pm. You can also purchase an Oslo Pass from there, which will allow you free travel on the city’s boat, bus, underground, and tram services, as well as free entrance to museums and other attractions. It will only cost you Nkr285 for a full 48 hours.
CHECK IN: Get your bearings back at Oslo’s hotels
Continental (Photo from Google images)
After an eventful first day, you can rest your tired mind and body at Oslo’s excellent hotels. One of the finest is the Continental (24-26 Stortingsgate, website), which offers nice facilities and a convenient location. You can try the Hotel Karl Johan (33 Karl Johans Gate, website), located right in the middle of the Oslo shopping hub.
If you’ve got plenty of money with you, you can sojourn at at the Radisson Blue Plaza Hotel (Sonja Henies Plass 3, website), which is reputed as the tallest hotel in northern Europe. You will get only top-class service, but great views of the Oslo fjords too. If you’re on a budget, you can try the Frogner Hotel (33 Frederik Stangsgate).
NOBEL PEACE CENTER: Kick off your visit with peace
Start off your 48 hour visit to Oslo by heading to the Oslo City Hall (Fridtjof Nansens Plass). It is a modern-era twin-towered structure that was built to coincide with the city’s 900th founding anniversary. Besides being the administrative center, it is known for its murals and frescoes as well, and renowned as the awarding site of the Nobel Peace Prize. You would have to pay a Nkr40 entrance fee, though.
Nobel Peace Center (Photo by Natalie Maynor)
For a complete peace experience, you can next visit the Nobel Peace Center (1 Brynjulf Bulls Plass 0250, website). Entrance is free if you have an Oslo Pass, and inside you can see various exhibitions on Nobel Peace Prize awardees and resolutions of past wars and conflicts.
AKERSHUS FORTRESS: Let’s take a hike
From the City Hall, hike along the waterfront for a few minutes until you reach the steps of the Akershus Fortress (Akershuskaien). It is a former castle and fortress built in the 1290s upon scenic cliffs by the harbor. Entrance is free, and you can explore the two museums located inside it, the Norwegian Armed Forces and Norwegian Resistance museums. You can also see a Royal Mausoleum, where the sarcophagi of various Norwegian royalty may be seen. Don’t forget to enjoy the sweeping views of the city from atop the towers.
Akershus Fortress (Photo by Jim G)
Continue down Karl Johans Gate, and arrive at the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design (Universitetsgata 13, website). Entrance is free, and inside you can see a collection of some of the finest art works in the world, such as those by Picasso and Cezanne, as well as “The Scream” by Edvard Munch. From there you may head back down the street to the Royal Palace, an impressive neo-Classical style palace popular for its guided tours and landscaped gardens.
HOLMENKOLLEN SKI JUMP: Watch ski jumpers in action
Go for a hair-raising experience at the Holmenkollen Ski Jump (Holmenkollen), which plays host to the world’s second-oldest ski jumping competition. You can reach it by taking an underground train at the Majorstuen station to Holmenkollen. From there, you take a short walk to the site, where you’ll have to shell out Nkr60 to enter. Its tower reaches 60 meters into the air, and apart from watching the brave souls take off from the summit, you can also enjoy the views of the cityscape and fjords up there.
Holmenkollen Ski Jump (Photo by Renny Bakke Amundsen)
DINNER TIME: Top off the first day with a hearty dinner at Oslo’s restaurants
Conclude your first 24 hours in Oslo by dining and relaxing at the superb restaurants available all over the city. One of the best is Statholdergaarden (Radhusgata 11, website), which serves traditional local food in a fine setting. Another is the Plah Bar & Restaurant (Hegdehaugsvein 22, website), offering excellent dishes and a very attentive and courteous service.
Have a taste of China in Oslo at Dinner Bar & Restaurant (Stortingsgate 22, website), which cooks up the best Chinese food in the city. Wine connoisseurs can opt to head to Le Canard (Presiden Harbitzgate 4, website), with good service, delicious dishes, and a fine wine selection.
Statholdergaarden (Photo from Google images)
Next 24 Hours
The second day can be treated as a chance to explore Oslo’s other attractions. Learn more about the city’s history and culture by visiting its museums. One of the most popular is the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History (Bygdøy), considered as one of the largest open-air museums in Europe. Inside, you will find an array of period buildings and other artifacts. Just a short walk from the site, you can reach the unique Viking Ship Museum, which is your chance to see a display of two 1,100-year-old Viking ships – some of the best preserved in the world, as well as ancient Viking relics.
Another nice museum to visit is the Munch Museum (Tøyengata 53, website). You can reach it by riding eastbound metro trains from the city to the Tøyen station. Admission will cost Nkr75, but it will be worth it, as you will be able to see the major works of the famous painter Edvard Munch.
FROGNER PARK: In a mood for another hike?
Go for a nature trip in Oslo after taking in the city’s rich cultural heritage. A popular choice among tourists is the Frogner Park, which is located in the west-end borough of Frogner close to the city center. It is known for its large grassy areas, where you can relax and take a picnic. Entrance is free, and the park is open every day all year long.
Frogner Park (Photo from Google images)
The highlight of the site is the Vigeland Sculpture Park, which covers nearly 80 acres of the park area. There, you can admire 212 bronze and granite sculptures scattered throughout. It is divided into six sections: the Bridge, Main Gate, Children’s Playground, Fountain, Monolith Plateau, and Wheel of Life.
TRYVANN VINTERPARK: Go for a ski
If you’re a skiing enthusiast, or a novice wanting to learn, you can head next to the Tryvann Vinterpark located near the Tryvann Lake. You can reach it by taking a shuttle service from the Voksenkollen metro station to the Tryvann Tower. Before you go skiing, though, you might want to first enjoy the sights up on the tower. It has an observation deck at 60 meters height, where you can see the cityscape, as well as the Swedish border, on a clear day. After that, have fun at the alpine resort’s 14 slopes and seven lifts. Try the Wyllerløypa, which is the longest run there, at 1,400 meters in length.
BOGSTADVEIEN: Shop till you drop
Bogstadveien (Photo from Google images)
Oslo is an expensive city, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy its vibrant shopping scene. If you’re on a budget, you can still go window shopping, which is a nice activity in itself. Frogner is one of the city’s main shopping districts, where you can find various shops selling antiques and art. Bogstadveien is lined with malls, markets, and various other chic shops. Oslo City is the biggest shopping mall you will find there. You can reach it by riding a train up to the Oslo S station. If you have sufficient money to spend, Paleet at Karl Johans Gate is the ideal destination for shopping.
NIGHTLIFE: End your visit to Oslo with a bang
Finish off your 48 hour visit to Oslo by relaxing and having fun at its bars and clubs. Bar 1 (Holmens gate 3, Aker Brygge, website) is one of the most popular, offering 300 of Oslo’s best cognacs as well as a premium cigars collection. A nice alternative is the Plaza SkyBar (Sonja Henies plass 3), a popular hotel bar with a panoramic view of the city where you can watch the sunset. There is also the Cafe Mono (Ploensgt.4, Youngstorget Oslo 0028, website), which is frequented by locals, and has live bands playing indie and alternative music. Karaoke lovers will have an ideal location at the London Pub (C.J. Hambros plass 5, website), a well-established gay pub with an ambience perfect for having a relaxing drink and good conversation.
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