Oslo, Norway

A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.

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This was our second stop on our European Adventure click here to view our trip overview page.

We chose Oslo as the start of our “Norway in a Nutshell” tour which allowed us to see some fjords and the Norwegian countryside which was the motivation for this part of the trip. You can find more info about our Norway in a Nutshell tour here.

We flew into Oslo from Copenhagen and took the Flytoget (AKA "The Airport Express Train") train which is the fastest way (19 minutes) from Oslo airport to the Oslo Central Station (city center) and extremely convenient as the train station was directly below the airport. Click here to read more about this train service.

Oslo is also famous for its cultural attractions, such as the Viking Ship Museum, the Munch Museum, and the Oslo Opera House. The city has a thriving culinary scene, with many trendy cafes, bars, and restaurants serving traditional Norwegian cuisine as well as international dishes.

Interesting Facts about Oslo Norway
Travel Tile
  • Oslo residents are Norway’s healthiest.
  • Most of Oslo consists of forest.
  • The city used to be called Christiania.
  • Oslo is the European Green Capital for 2019.
  • The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo.
  • Trafalgar Square's (London) Christmas tree is a gift from Oslo.
  • Oslo hosted the Winter Olympics in 1952.
  • Oslo is Norway's most ethnically diverse city.
Oslo Norway City SealImage is the property of Heraldry of the World
Frequently Asked Questions about Oslo Norway
Where is Oslo Norway       Map

It lies at the head of Oslo Fjord in the southeastern part of Norway. It is north and slightly west of Denmark and it is about 378 miles from Copenhagen to Oslo by car. It is approximately 330 miles west and slightly north of Stockholm Sweden if traveling by car.

Oslo is the capital of Norway and has a population of about 697k as of 2020. The original site of Oslo was actually east of the Aker River. The city was founded by King Harald Hardraade about 1050, and in approximately 1300 the Akershus fortress was built by Haakon V.

Click the map icon above, or the map image, to view an Oslo Norway Map.

Oslo Norway Hotels

There are currently over 1,050 places to stay in Oslo (see our Hotel list link at the bottom of this page). We chose to stay at the Comfort Hotel Grand Central, which was immediately adjacent to the train station. For our purposes this was perhaps the best play to stay in Oslo, Norway. It was so convenient to the trains and transportation for touring the area and right in the downtown area. There was a lot of activity and food options close by, however the rooms were quiet and comfortable. The room was not huge, which is typical in Europe but it was adequate to accommodate our luggage and clean and comfortable. We recommend it for short stays.

We utilized Expedia to perform our Oslo Hotel research, and to make our reservations at the Comfort Hotel Grand Central. We recommend Expedia because they are very reliable and easy to utilize.

IMAGE CREDITS: Both images are the property of the Comfort Hotel Grand Central Oslo, Norway.

A description and images from our Trip to Oslo. A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.

We had the hotel name and we knew that it was close to the train station. When we got off the train and walked outside of the station, and used Celeste's cell phone map app to try and find the hotel, imagine our surprise when we realized it was right there in front of us!

 
 
Exploring Oslo - Jernbanetorget Transportation Center
A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.

Our hotel is just around the corner to the left of the bus. The light rail station is underneath the area where the buses are lined up, and the Oslo Central Train Station is just left of this area as well.
NOTE: This image is the property of Ralf Roletschek via Wikidata

 Quick Facts 

Jernbanetorget is both a rapid transit station on the Oslo Metro and a light rail station of the Oslo Tramway. The metro station is in the Common Tunnel used by all lines under the city centre. It is located between Stortinget to the west and Grønland to the east. Until the construction of the station at Stortinget, Jernbanetorget was the end station for the eastern lines in downtown. Along with the Oslo Central Station, Oslo Bus Terminal and the tram and bus station above ground, Jernbanetorget is the largest transport hub in Norway.

Wikipedia Logo The above information was extracted from Wikipedia
Exploring Oslo - Oslo Opera House
A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.

Oslo Opera House: The home of The Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, and the National Opera Theatre in Norway. The building sits on the eastern side of the Oslo Harbor near the Havnepromenade.

The harbor and Opera House were practically in the front yard of our hotel's location, a walk of perhaps 100 yards and we were standing on the harbor seawall.

 Quick History Lesson 

In 1999, after a long national debate, the Norwegian legislature decided to construct a new opera house in the city. A design competition was held and, of the 350 entries received, the judges chose that of Snøhetta. Construction started in 2003 and was completed in 2007, ahead of schedule and 300 million NOK (~US$52 million) under its budget of 4.4 billion NOK (~US$760 million). The gala opening on 12 April 2008 was attended by His Majesty King Harald, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and President Tarja Halonen of Finland and other leaders. During the first year of operation, 1.3 million people passed through the building's doors.

Wikipedia Logo The above information was extracted from Wikipedia
 
Exploring Oslo - Viking Ship Museum
A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.
A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.
A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.

The museum is most famous for the completely whole Oseberg ship, excavated from the largest known Viking ship burial in the world near Tønsberg in Vestfold County, Norway.

All the Viking ships at this museum were ocean going vessels before they were hauled onto land to be used in burial rituals for their wealthy owners. In the burial mounds, archeologists unearthed skeletons, beautiful wood carvings and a diverse range of artifacts from the fascinating world of the vikings.

Imagine sailing in the North Atlantic in a ship that is approximately 71 feet long with a beam of 16.7 feet? I've travelled through the North Atlantic in a Navy cargo ship that was 500 feet long and we would get bounced around in ways that would make us all cringe! I cannot begin to imagine how the Vikings could travel in their much smaller vessels!
Click Here to visit their website.

The #30 Bus from the Oslo Comfort Hotel Grand Central was the method we selected for transport, required approximately 20 minutes.

 
Viking Ship Museum Refurbishment
 
The Viking Museum is currently closed for refurbishment. The new Viking Ship Museum in Oslo is not expected to open again until after refurbishment is completed in 2026. The new museum will be three times the size of the existing museum and will have many more artifacts from the Viking era. Click here for more information about the new museum.
 
Exploring Oslo - Holmenkollbakken Ski Jump
A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.
A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.
A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.
A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.

There isn’t a ski jump in Oslo Norway but the Holmenkollbakken ski jump is only about 65 minutes north of Oslo by light rail train via the Jernbanetorget Station. From the train station it was about a 10-15 minute walk up a seriously steep hill.

You can see in image # 1 that the tower is tall; 42 meters in height, and the landing slope is 37 degrees at the steepest and 115 meters long.

Image # 2 gives you an idea of just how steep the ski jump is - the area where the skiers ride down reaches 37 degrees in pitch. This is the only "all steel" ski jump in the world.
NOTE: Click here to go to the Holmenkollbakken Ski Jump Wikipedia Page.

 Quick History Lesson 

Holmenkollbakken is a large ski jump hill located at Holmenkollen in Oslo, Norway. It has a hill size of HS134, a construction point of K-120, and a capacity for 70,000 spectators. Holmenkollen has hosted the Holmenkollen Ski Festival since 1892, which since 1980 have been part of the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup and 1983 the FIS Nordic Combined World Cup. It has also hosted the 1952 Winter Olympics and the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in 1930, 1966, 1982 and 2011.

Wikipedia Logo The above information was extracted from Wikipedia
A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.
Holmenkollbakken Troll

Not sure if you can see it or not, but the troll's daughter is sitting on his lap. Statue was created by the famous Norwegian sculptor Nils Aas. The statue is 6.7 metres (approximately 22 feet) in height made entirely of concrete.

A description and images from our Trip to Oslo. A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.
View of Oslo from Holmenkollbakken

You can see Oslo Harbor in the distance, approximately 12 kilometers away. This entire area, situated in the hills above Oslo, was so pretty that we really began to wonder why the Vikings would ever want to sail away from here?

Getting to the Ski Jump is straight forward, just catch the train from downtown - line 1 of the Metro (T-Bane) in the direction of Frognerseteren and get off at the Holmenkollen stop. Trains depart approximately every 15 minutes from Jernbanetorget station and require a 30 minute ride.

 
Is Oslo worth Visiting?

We were impressed with Oslo in the short time that we had there. It is architecturally interesting and a beautifully scenic and clean city. There are numerous museums and it is easy to get around - very walkable and the public transportation system is very good.

Click here to view an article about average temperatures in Oslo, Norway.

  • Just Traveling Thru European Travel Tips
  • Just Traveling Thru Travel Planning Tips
  • Top Sites in Oslo, Norway on the "Culture Trip" site
  • Oslo Norway things to do on the 'Crazy Tourist' Site
  • Viking Norwegian History on the 'Visit Norway' Site
  • Things to do on Oslo Norway Trips on the 'Visit Oslo' Site
  • Oslo Norway things to do on the 'Lonely Planet' Site
  • Google Search Results list for "Oslo Norway Hotels"
  • Google Search Results list for "Oslo Norway Restaurants"
  • Amazon Search Results list for "Oslo Norway"
  • Google Search Results list for "Shopping in Copenhagen"
  • Visit our Youtube Channel
  • Our Image Gallery for Oslo
  • Wikipedia Article for Oslo
  • Google Image Gallery for Oslo
  • Oslo Tour from the "Get Your Guide" site
A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.

Trip Overview

A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.

Copenhagen, Denmark

A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.

Oslo, Norway

A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.

Norway in a Nutshell Tour

A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.

Bergen, Norway

A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.

Bruges, Belgium

A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.

Lake Hallstatt, Austria

A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.

Grindelwald, Switzerland

A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.

Susten Pass, Switzerland

A description and images from our Trip to Oslo.

Lake Como, Italy

 
 

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