The winter months in Europe can seem long and drawn out after awhile but don’t let them get you down, there are some really enchanting destinations to visit over the colder months too. If you dig interesting museums, art galleries & modern architecture, (or if you just want to dance through snowy scenes like something out of the movie Frozen) then a weekend in Oslo could be the perfect getaway to help you banish those winter blues!
Oslo is one of the breathtaking Nordic capital cities along with Copenhagen, Helsinki, Reykjavik & Stockholm that seem to just seamlessly blend old & new.
Getting to Oslo
If you’re London based you can find reasonably cheap fares with Norwegian Airlines from Gatwick, or with SAS from Heathrow. We got our return flights from London for £90 each. There also direct flights to Oslo from most other major cities in the UK, USA & Europe. On arrival at Oslo’s ultra-modern Gardermoen airport you can simply catch the train into central Oslo. Insider tip: the regular trains are cheaper than the express ones and only take a few minutes longer.
Accommodation in Oslo
Oslo’s main sights are more or less all within walking distance if you stay in the city centre, though the odd bus or tram trip does come in useful. We were able to find a private room in a cosy central apartment through Airbnb for around £50 a night for two people.
Things to do in Oslo
Below I’ve included a recommended three day itinerary which is great if you want to see all the highlights of Oslo without missing anything out. This itinerary works with either two or three nights in Oslo. But if you have less than three whole days available (for example if you are limited to a two day weekend) then just stick to the activities that you are most interested in.
Day 1
Enjoy a wee sleep in if you’ve chosen to stay in Oslo the night before or, if you decided to fly over in the morning like us, just start off once you’ve had a chance to drop your bags at your accommodation & freshen up.
Your first stop should be Oslo’s Operahuset, this modern architectural marvel is typical of Scandinavian cities. You can walk right up the side of the marble and white granite covered Opera House and onto it’s roof for some pretty cool views of Oslo Fjord.
By this point you’ll probably be keen for some brunch and a hot drink because Oslo’s weather is very crisp in winter! I’d recommend heading to the nearby Østbanehallen, ie. the food hall at Oslo Central Station (sentralstasjon. ) You’ll find a variety of good eateries here but food prices in Norway are fairly elevated so if you are looking for a reasonably priced lunch Flavours Food market is ideal.
From the central station you can head directly down (or rather up!) Oslo’s main street – Karl Johan’s Gate– and do a bit of window shopping on the way. At the end closest to the Station you can see the Cathedral (Domkirke) and the Flower Market. Further up the street you’ll pass the Parliament (Stortinget) and the National Theatre. In winter there is an ice skating rink in the park out the front. Finally at the far end of Karl Johan’s Gate you will reach the Royal Palace (Slottsplassen) that is set atop the hill.
To round off the afternoon if you’re into art the National Gallery is a stone’s throw away or if you’re a history buff there’s also the History Museum close by. Finally for dinner take your pick of central city restaurants, or if, like us, you want to save your coin for other things grab something more affordable from a local supermarket and head back to your accommodation to warm up.
Day 2
I’d suggest starting the day at Akershus Castle & Fortress, for a step back into Oslo’s past. Set on a headland, the fortress dates back to the 1300s. Entrance to the grounds is free and a guided tour is available on the weekends for around £5 per person. The fortress and gardens are really beautiful in the snow.
A short ten minute walk will take you to the City Hall and the Nobel Peace Centre (Nobels Fredssenter.) Entry to the Nobel Centre costs around £10. The Permanent exhibition is an interactive exhibit all about the Peace Prize Laureates- each laureate has their own screen on a stand in a dimly lit room with lots of tiny lights surrounding them. It is quite a moving experience. There is also generally two or three interesting temporary exhibits in the Centre as well.
Once you’ve finished visiting the Nobel peace Centre why not grab yourself some lunch from the café next door. Admittedly it’s hard to find a bad coffee in Norway but I can nevertheless vouch that this café do a very good brew.
Next, head along the waterfront to the district of Aker Brygge with its modern apartments and galleries and then on to the Island of Tjuvholmen (ie. Thief’s Island.) The Island is connected to Aker Brygge by a pedestrian bridge. This trendy new area is a fitting location for the newly built Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, a must for any art lovers out there.
In the late afternoon I’d suggest heading to Grünerløkka, an edgy area known for its street art, vintage & design stores as well as Tim Wendleboe’s famous coffee roastery. To get to Grünerløkka from Tjuvholmen catch bus 21 to Sannergate and you’ll only be a short walk away.
Once you’ve had a wander around Grünerløkka head to the nearby Mathallen Food Hall down Vulcan Lane. There are over 30 speciality shops, cafés and eateries so there’s something to suit everyone’s taste-buds. Be sure to try some delicious local craft beer at the Hopyard and then pick a main of your choice- personally I went for a scrummy dish of Moules Frites from Vulkanfisk.
Day 3
Catch bus number 30 from the Central City to the charming Bygdøy Peninsula where you’ll be able to admire some of the most beautiful homes in Oslo with their winter coat of snow icing.
Your first stop on the Peninsula should be the Viking Ship Museum (Vikingskiphuset), where you can see three impressive Viking ships that were used in burial rituals by the Vikings and then unearthed in more recent times. They’re amazingly well preserved.
From the Vikingskiphuset either walk or catch the bus to the Fram Museum (Frammuseet) to learn about the incredible polar explorations organised by famous Norwegian explorers like Amundsen- the first explorer to make it to the South Pole. The museum houses two polar ships that were built especially to withstand the pressure of the polar icepacks. These include the Museum’s namesake the Fram which you can actually walk through.
For your last afternoon in Olso there are a couple of options depending on your interests and energy levels:
If you’re wanting to do something fun and adrenaline filled catch the metro to Frognerseteren where you can do the free 2km Toboggan run Korketrekken (ie. the Corkscrew!) Simply hire sleds for 10 to 15 pounds for the day. If you want to go on the corkscrew again just catch the metro to the top once more.
If you’d like to do something a little more peaceful then catch tram line 12 out to Frogner Park, a sculpture park with more than 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland (1869–1943) in bronze, granite and cast iron.
Finally if you’re feeling the cold and want to truly melt your stresses away you might like to try out Scandanavia’s largest spa and bathhouse, The Well. With pools, saunas, jacuzzis, steam rooms, a Japanese bathhouse, a hammam and all sorts of spa treatments on offer you are sure to find your bliss before you say goodbye to this beautiful Winter Wonderland.
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