by Celeste Lipford and Terry Lipford - last updated on 5/15/2025
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 — the main 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") — the fastest way (just 19 minutes) from Oslo Airport to Oslo Central Station. It was extremely convenient, as the train station is located directly beneath the airport terminal. Click here to read more about this train service.
Although our time in Oslo was brief — just two nights — we made the most of it by visiting a handful of diverse and memorable sites. Our explorations included the fascinating Viking Ship Museum, the strikingly modern Oslo Opera House, the iconic Holmenkollbakken Ski Jump with its panoramic views, and a peaceful park located across the harbor from the Opera House. It was a quick visit, but it gave us a compelling glimpse into Norway’s capital — blending rich history, bold architecture, and waterfront scenery.
Oslo is also famous for its cultural attractions, such as the Munch Museum, the Nobel Peace Center, and a thriving culinary scene featuring traditional Norwegian dishes alongside international cuisine.
Oslo 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.
As of 11/15/2024 Google says there are over 933 accommodations of all types in Oslo, which include 170 hotels of all types. Click here to view the Google Search Results list of all 170 hotels.
The top 5 accommodations in Oslo based upon the highest guest ratings (according to Google), include these options:
If you would prefer to do your own search, here is the link to the Google Search Results for "accommodations in Oslo Norway".
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.
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!
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.
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.
The Oslo Opera House is a striking architectural masterpiece and the home of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet. Opened in 2008, it was designed by the renowned architectural firm Snøhetta. The building is celebrated for its sloping, marble-clad roof, which allows visitors to walk up and enjoy panoramic views of the Oslofjord. Inside, the opera house features a blend of oak and glass, creating an elegant yet inviting atmosphere. It hosts world-class opera, ballet, and musical performances, making it a cultural landmark in Scandinavia. The building’s innovative design and emphasis on accessibility make it a must-visit for architecture enthusiasts and art lovers alike.
Viking Long Ship Interior
Viking Long Ship Display
Viking Long Ship DisplayThe 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!
The #30 Bus from the Oslo Comfort Hotel Grand Central was the method we selected for transport, required approximately 20 minutes.
NOTE: 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.
Holmenkollbakken Ski Jump
Holmenkollbakken Ski Jump
Holmenkollbakken Ski Jump
Holmenkollbakken Stairs top the TopThere 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.
Not sure if you can see it or not, but the troll's daughter is sitting on his lap. The 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.
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.
Oslo, Norway, offers a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and modern amenities. Here's why it's worth a visit:
Click here to view an article about average temperatures in Oslo, Norway.
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