Are you planning a trip to Norway and want to visit Oslo?
Have you always been fascinated by Northern culture and tradition and visiting Scandinavia has always been in your dreams?
Have you been thinking about visiting Scandinavia and Oslo is on your bucket list?
Are you passionate about Viking culture and folklore and want to see for yourself what is left in Norwegian contemporary society?
If your answer to these questions is a huge YES, then, you don’t want to miss this article!
As it will go through some of the most frequently asked questions about Oslo, first, and then expose into details on how my husband and I spent 2 amazing days in Oslo and what we saw.
We visited Oslo a couple of years ago on a tour we set up throughout Scandinavia. It started in Helsinki, then Stockholm and finally Oslo (we skipped Copenhagen, but we are already planning to pay a visit to the Danish capital as soon as possible).
As you may know from one of my previous articles, Helsinki surprised us very positively, but Oslo was the one that astonished me the most, without taking anything away from the others.
Later in this article, I will share with you a list of what to see in Oslo in 2 days to help you get the most of it, as we did, but for now, let’s start with some questions you likely have about Oslo and some useful information.
What's Oslo famous for?
Oslo is famous for its Viking history and heritage, its nautical history and traditions, its harbour and seafood, its eclectic architecture, its green spaces and for being the home of the Nobel Peace Prize. Besides, it’s known for its fjord and for being the city of Edvard Munch’s “The Scream”.
Fun fact: Locals refer to Oslo as the “Tiger City” (Tigerstaden in Norwegian). There are many opinions on the internet about the reason for such an epithet and the circumstances surrounding the attribution.
Most believed the Norwegian poet Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson was the first to refer to Oslo that way in his poem “Sidste Sang” (1870). In this composition, he described a fight between a horse, representing the safe countryside, and a tiger, representing the cold and dangerous city. Nowadays, though, this nickname is rather used to describe a vibrant and trending city.
Another curious explanation, on the other hand, points out the fact that, back in the days when Denmark and Norway were part of the same kingdom, Danes used to refer to Oslo as “tiggerstaden” (city of beggars) due to its quite palpable poverty, especially if compared to Denmark that was the richest part of that kingdom.
Be it as it may, in 2000 the Norwegian artist Elena Engelsen gifted the city of Oslo a 4.5-metre long bronze tiger to celebrate its millennium. Thereafter, it has become one of the most photographed sights in Oslo, and it’s one of the first things you see when arriving at Oslo Central Station.
Are there fjords in Oslo?
As already said, Oslo is also famous for the Oslo fjord (Oslofjorden in Norwegian), even though it is not a fjord in the geological sense of the world, but rather a sound (in Geology, a large sea or ocean inlet).
This confusion occurs as a result of the different use of the word “fjord” in the Norwegian language rather than in English and the international scientific terminology. Including in the first case a wider range of waterways and in many cases referring to any long, narrow body of water, inlet or channel (as in the Oslo fjord case), while in the latter two cases it refers exclusively to long, narrow inlets with steep sides or cliffs, created by a glacier.
Oslo fjord is part of the Skagerrak strait, connecting the North Sea and the Kattegat sea area, which leads to the Baltic Sea. Stretching south from the city of Oslo to the Torbjørnskjær and Færder lighthouses for 60 miles (100 km) and with an area of 766 square miles (1,984 square km), the fjord occupies a glacier-formed depression, or graben, that has been partially filled and partially re-excavated.
Its northern part splits into several smaller fjords, including Sande Bay, Drams Fjord, and Bunne Fjord. It has many islands and most major rivers of southeastern Norway flow into it. Besides, the fjord is divided in two by the narrow Drøbak sound. The area to the north is known as the inner (indre) Oslofjord and to the south the outer (ytre) Oslofjord.
How many airports does Oslo have?
Oslo city has three airports: Oslo Airport Gardermoen (OSL), Sandefjord Airport in Torp (TRF) and Moss Airport in Rygge (RYG).
Which Oslo airport is closest to the city?
OSL is closest to the city centre and it is the main international airport in Oslo.
How far is the Oslo airport from the city centre?
OSL is 29 mi/47 km away from the city centre.
How do I get from Oslo airport to the city centre?
If you don’t want to rent a car or take a cab, you can choose between bus or train:
- Flytoget Airport Express Train brings you to Oslo S (Oslo Central Station) every 10 or 20 minutes in around 20 minutes for 204 NOK (Norwegian Krone), the equivalent of 19.62€ or 23.60$;
- Vy (Norwegian State Railways) trains take around 30 minutes as well to bring you to the city centre for 110 NOK (10.59€/12.72$);
- Flybussen for around 179 NOK (17.23€/20.73$);
- OSL-ekspressen connects the airport with Oslo’s east side, with departures every hour.
What is the best month to go to Oslo?
The best time to visit Oslo is from May to August when the temperatures rise on average between 10℃/50℉ and 19℃/66℉ and, as in Stockholm and Reykjavik, you can experience nearly 24 hours of daylight, with the famous midnight sun usually in June or July.
Can you see the northern lights in Oslo?
Seeing the northern light from Oslo is going to be quite difficult for the same reasons I explained in the case of Helsinki. Nevertheless, if you feel like taking your chances, the northern lights are most likely visible in Oslo in March, September and October when the skies are dark and clear, but you need to find a place as far as possible from sources of artificial illumination.
To sum up, it is possible to see the northern lights from Oslo, but I wouldn’t go there especially for this, since the chances of being disappointed are pretty high.
Is Oslo expensive?
Unless you’re coming from other Scandinavian countries, Oslo is expensive.
Just to give you an idea, a cappuccino at a coffee bar costs around 45 NOK (4.34€/5.22$) and a beer in a bar around 79 NOK (7.61€/9.16$).
If you want to save some money I recommend buying an Oslo pass for 445 NOK (42.94€/51.65$), 655 NOK (63.19€/76.02$), 820 NOK (79.11€/95.17$) for 24h, 48h and 72h respectively. This includes free entrance to museums and attractions, free public transport (in zone 1 and 2), and discounts on sightseeing, restaurants and services.
I did some math and for experiencing all the activities mentioned in this article (including the Viking Planet) you will spend 167€/200$ if you hold a 48h Oslo pass, in opposition of the 221€/265$ + transportation you would spend without the 48h Oslo pass.
How many days do you need to see Oslo?
Two days are enough to have a complete tour of the main landmarks of the city.
Let’s now have an in-depth look of what to see in Oslo in 2 days.
What to see in Oslo in 2 days
Day 1
I recommend arriving the evening of the day before the one you planned as your first day of visiting, hit the sack and start visiting the city the day after.
As you may already know from my London article, we usually start our tours with a sightseeing hop-on-hop-off bus ride to get an idea of the city layout, the distance between places we already planned to visit and get to know the city a bit more from a historical point of view.
After the hop-on-hop-off tour, we usually decide to go straight to what we want to visit and use the hop-on-hop-off bus to get from one place to another if they are not at walking distance.
In this case, the bus tour was not included in our Oslo Pass, but I believe to remember we had some kind of discount that is no more available now. I still recommend it, but do your math and, if you have a tight budget and have to choose between this tour and the Oslo Pass, I’d go for this latter leaving aside the bus tour.
The cost of the hop-on-hop-off bus tour is 38€/45.50$ per person per 24 hours.
In this case, after the bus tour, we decide to start our walking tour from the very city centre, starting with the Royal Palace and its beautiful park (in the city centre west side) and conclude the day visiting Vulkan. But let’s dive into details without further ado!
1. Royal Palace
The Royal Palace (det kongelige slott in Norwegian) was built in the first half of the 19th century as the Norwegian residence of the French-born King Charles III John of Norway, who reigned as king of Norway and Sweden, but was completed only a few years after his death.
It has been built in neo-classical style with a facade of stuccoed brick at the end of Karl Johans gate and surrounded by the Palace Park (Slottsparken in Norwegian), one of the first and largest parks of the capital, and with the Palace Square in the front.
The impressive 173-room building is open to the public for guided tours from late June until the middle of August, with English-language tours available four times a day (noon, 2 pm, 2.20 pm & 4 pm).
The palace, like all royal residences in Norway, is guarded by the Royal Guards, whose daily changing at 1.30 pm has also become a popular tourist attraction in recent years.
Today it is the official residence of the current Norwegian monarchs, King Harald V and Queen Sonja.
If you are visiting Oslo in summer I recommend booking your guided tour well in advance.
The price is 135 NOK (13€/15$ p.p.) and is not included in the Oslo Pass.
Unfortunately, we were there in September so we could not visit the Palace but still, we had a pleasant stroll through its lovely park.
Exiting the Royal Palace compound from the Palace Square, you can see an equestrian statue of King Karl Johans. Crossing the road and taking the street just in front of you, Karl Johans Gate, Oslo’s main shopping street, you will find another park on your right, called Studenterlunden Park. Following Karl Johans Gate, you will find the stunning neo-classical law school building on your left and, at the end of the park, you will find the Storting Palace on your right.
2. Storting Palace
The Storting building (Stortingsbygningen in Norwegian) is the seat of the Storting, the parliament of Norway.
It was built in the 19th century in yellow brick with details and a basement in light grey granite. It is a combination of several styles, including inspirations from France and Italy.
A characteristic feature of Stortingsbygningen is the way the plenary chamber is located in the semi-circular section in the front of the building looking out towards the Royal Palace. At the time this location was quite a political statement. The backside of the building mirrors the facade of the front, with the meeting chamber of the now-abolished Lagting legislative chamber.
Free one-hour guided tours are held in English every Saturday at 11.30 am on a first-come-first-served basis, with weekday tours added during the high-season of July.
Unfortunately, we were not able to get inside the Storting Palace either.
From Storting Palace take Karl Johans Gate again and walk along with it until coming across Kirkegata. Turn left onto Kirkegata and, after a couple of metres, you will find Oslo Cathedral on your right.
3. Oslo Cathedral
Oslo Cathedral (Oslo domkirke in Norwegian), situated in Stortovet, the old market square, where you can see the bronze Hen Fountain (Hønefontenen), dates from the end of the 17th century and both the Norwegian Royal Family and the Norwegian Government use it for public events (weddings, funerals and concerts).
It is an evangelical Lutheran church and the third cathedral built in the city, being both the first (from the first half of the 12th century) and the second (built in 1639) destroyed by fire.
It was built in red brick and bears elements of Neo-Gothic and Baroque design. Its tower hosts a carillon in regular use for an hour, quarter-strokes and ritornello.
Fun fact: the ceiling paintings, dating from the 20th century, cover practically every inch of the cathedral ceilings.
The entrance is free.
From the Cathedral, retrace the path till the Storting Palace and then take Rosenkrantz’ gate. Turn right onto Kjeld Stubs gate and continue onto Fridtjof Nansens plass. You will find the City Hall on your left.
4. City Hall
Oslo’s enormous City Hall (Rådhuset in Norwegian) is undoubtedly one of the city’s great landmarks.
It is an imposing angular, functionalist-style building, constructed of materials sourced exclusively in Norway.
From an exterior perspective, it is made of red bricks and has two towers, one of them adorned with a huge astronomical clock, while the other houses the 38 bells that can be heard daily chiming every hour from 7 am to midnight throughout the harbour area.
The exterior facade is also home to numerous sculptures and reliefs, including a series of wooden carvings near the entrance, depicting characters and scenes from Norse mythology.
The interior, on the other hand, boasts rich frescoes created by famous Norwegian artists with motifs from Norwegian history, culture and working life.
Inaugurated in 1950, Oslo City Hall is the city’s administrative body and the seat of the City Council. Besides, it is the site where the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony is held each year on 10th December to commemorate Alfred Nobel’s death.
The entrance is free.
Fun fact: Carillon concerts are held on the first Saturday every month at 11 am. In June, July and August every Sunday at 3 pm.
From the City Hall entrance, turn left and take the path between the City Hall and Crown Princess Märtha’s Square (Kronprinsesse Märthas plass). Then cross the street and you will find the Nobel Peace Center on your right.
5. Nobel Peace Centre
The Nobel Peace Center is one of Oslo’s most distinguished buildings.
It was opened in 2005 and it gives its visitors an explanation of the vision of the prize and an introduction to past winners.
With this purpose, it hosts a series of permanent exhibitions, such as Nobel Field and the Peace Prize Laureates, and other exhibitions that spring up for a limited time only, combining the latter and films with digital communication and interactive installations, for which it has already received acclaim.
It also serves as a meeting place where exhibitions, discussions and reflections related to war, peace and conflict resolution are in focus.
In summer months, on Fridays around noon John Lennon song “Give Peace a Chance” can be heard playing from the City Hall bell towers and a peace dove is released from the window above the entrance of the centre to celebrate the good news of the week.
Fun fact: The Nobel Peace Center has developed the app Peace Walk for Android and iPhone, which takes you on a fun and educational tour through the city.
The entrance fee is 120 NOK (11.61€/13.93$) but it’s included in your Oslo Pass.
From the Nobel Peace Center take Rådhusplassen facing the piers. Turn left onto Rolf Strangers plass and walk the way between the park called Kontraskjæret (on the right) and the train tracks (on the left). Then take the path leading inside the park. At the end of this path, turn right onto Myntgata, then right again and you will arrive at Akershus Fortress.
6. Akershus Fortress
Built around 1299 by King Håkon V as a residence for the royal family, Akershus Fortress (Akershus Festning in Norwegian) is Norway’s most important medieval monument.
It sits in a very strategic location on the eastern side of the harbour, above the Oslofjord, on the promontory of Akernes, and thanks to this position it was able to withstand several sieges throughout the ages, primarily by Swedish forces.
It includes the Royal Mausoleum with the tombs of many Norwegian royals, the remains of the original medieval castle (Akershus Slott in Norwegian), the Museum of the Norwegian Resistance, a model of Christiania (Oslo’s former name), and a prison museum.
Over the years it has been used as a military base, a prison and is currently the temporary office of the Prime minister of Norway. The Norwegian Ministry of Defence and Defence Staff Norway also share modern headquarters in the eastern part of Akershus Fortress.
Akershus Fortress is still a military area, but it is open daily to the public until 9 pm and it is a popular venue for major events, including concerts, public holiday celebrations and ceremonies.
Admission fee: 100 NOK (9.67€/11.61$). Free with your Oslo pass.
From Akershus Fortress go back to Myntgata, continue onto Grev Wedels Plass. Turn left onto Langkaia and then right onto Operagata. You will find the Opera house on your right.
7. Oslo Opera House
With its innovative and contemporary design inspired by the Norwegian sloping ski hills, the Oslo Opera House is a striking landmark overlooking the harbour, home to the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, as well as the National Opera Theatre.
It seems to almost want to slip into the city’s harbour, an effect exaggerated by its angled exterior surfaces. Clad in Italian Carrara marble and white granite, it is the world’s first (and only) opera house on which you can walk up onto the roof. From there, you can enjoy an amazing view of the Oslofjord and the surrounding islands.
It was built in 2008 and in the same year won the culture award at the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona. Besides, in 2009 it won the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture as well.
Admission fee: 100 NOK (9.67€/11.61$). You will get a 20% discount with your Oslo Pass.
From the Opera House take the subway or a bus (public transportation is included in your Oslo Pass) and you will get to the Munch Museum in 15 or 20 minutes respectively.
8. Munch Museum
The Munch Museum is dedicated to the life of Edvard Munch and displays almost 28,000 pieces, including his paintings, graphic art, drawings, watercolours, sculptures, photographs and even personal belongings. You can see his famous “The Scream” on display here.
Munch Museum opened in 1963 to commemorate what would have been Munch’s 100th birthday.
Being clear that the current Munch Museum was insufficient both for displaying and maintaining this collection, in 2008, Oslo’s city council decided to build a new museum for Munch’s art in Bjørvika (the same neighbourhood of the Opera House) scheduled to open in the summer of 2021.
Admission fee: 120 NOK (11.61€/13.93$). The price is included in your Oslo Pass.
From Munch Museum take the subway or a bus and you will get to Frogner Park in around 20 minutes.
9. Frogner Park and Gustav Vigeland Sculpture Park
Frogner Park is the largest park in the city covering 45 hectares of land, and one of Norway’s most famous tourist attractions, primarily due to the presence inside of it of the Vigeland Installation (Vigelandsanlegget), the largest sculpture park in the world by a single artist, the world-famous Norwegian sculptor, Gustav Vigeland.
The installation consists of 212 sculptures as well as larger structures such as bridges and fountains, made out of granite, bronze, and cast iron.
One of the best-known sculptures is the Angry Boy (Sinnataggen), depicting a naked toddler in a tantrum. Another renowned sculpture is a towering monolith (named The Monolith or Monolitten not by chance) consisting of 121 naked bodies stacked up one another. Another famous piece is the Fountain, a magnificent structure surrounded by 20 statues, each representing a different stage of human life, from childhood to death.
Here, you can also find the Oslo City Museum, as well as the Vigeland Museum, which is just outside the park.
Free entrance.
From there take a 30-minute tram or bus ride to Vulkan.
10. Vulkan
Vulkan is one of the coolest neighbourhood in Oslo.
It is a former industrial area on the western bank of Akerselva river, converted, since 2004, into one of Oslo’s most vibrant and exciting areas, due to the fusion of culture and creative businesses with schools, hotels, Oslo’s first food market hall, restaurants, bars, residential blocks, offices and shops, plus premises for concerts, dance and sport.
Besides, it is a full-scale example of sustainable urban development. Built upon the idea of sharing localities, equipment and resources, the area is virtually self-sufficient in energy for heating and cooling. It is also home to Norway’s first hotel to be graded energy class A, Scandic Vulkan, as well as the first-class A office building, Bellonahuset.
Additionally, Vulkan has it’s own energy plant, distributing heat and regulating temperatures amongst the buildings. Excess heat generated from refrigeration and other facilities is used to heat rooms or hot water. Constantly changing and developing, Vulkan is a “test lab” for trying out new and innovative urban and environmental solutions.
We enjoyed a nice stroll between graffiti, little bridges and vibrant bars and restaurant and took a look at the food market. We had dinner there and took some well-earned rest.
Day 2
We started our second day with a 2-hour Fjord cruise and then we devoted the rest of the day to museums.
11. Oslo Fjord
With your Oslo Pass, you get a 15% discount on the Fjord cruise offered by Båtservice and departing from City Hall Pier 3. It leaves Oslo harbour daily at 10:30 am, 1 pm and 3:30 pm and costs 355 NOK p.p. (34€/41$) or 301 NOK (29€/35$) with the 15% discount.
This is the best way to enjoy an amazing view over the beautiful sound, the lovely bays and the intricate maze of islands with small colourful summer houses. Besides, it offers unique photo opportunities to Oslo from different angles.
Once on the dry land, head to the Royal Palace and take the bus from the stop in Stortingsgata just after the National Theatre. It will take you to Bygdøy, the peninsula on the western side of Oslo, where most of the city’s museums are located.
12. Norwegian Museum of Cultural History
Established in 1894, the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History is one of the world’s oldest and biggest open-air museums. It has extensive collections of handicrafts, weapons, and children’s toys from all social groups and all regions of the country and incorporates a large open-air museum with more than 150 traditional houses preserved from various areas in Norway, some with live demos by staff in the traditional folk clothing in the summer months.
Among the museum’s more significant buildings are the 13th-century Gol Stave Church, incorporated into the museum in 1907.
Admission fee: 160 NOK (15.46€/18.55$). It’s free with your Oslo Pass.
From there, take the bus again or have a 5-minutes stroll to the next museum: the Viking Ship Museum.
13. Viking Ship Museum
The Viking Ship Museum is home to the world’s best-preserved Viking ships.
There are three of them on display in the Viking Ship Museum dating back to the 9th century. All these were seagoing ships before being towed ashore and used in funeral rituals for their wealthy owners around the Oslo Fjord.
The best-preserved is the 21-meter-long Oseberg Ship, built around 800s and used for the burial of a chieftain’s wife and two other women. A large selection of items, including furniture, clothing, and personal items was found next to the bodies, providing a great deal of insight into Viking life.
The other vessels on display include the 23-meter-long Gokstad Ship, a warship dating from around 890, discovered in 1880 in a burial mound along with two male skeletons and displayed with a reconstructed burial chamber, and the less intact Tune Ship (the first to be discovered in 1867).
Besides, the museum’s movie Vikings Alive, screened throughout the day on the ceilings and wall inside the museum, provides a fascinating look at these artefacts and demonstrates the long process of Viking shipbuilding by use of computer animation.
Admission fee: 120 NOK (11.61€/13.92$). It’s free with your Oslo Pass.
Fun fact: If you prefer a modern twist on Viking history, then you should check out The Viking Planet, the world’s first digital Viking museum. Thanks to the virtual reality technology you can immerse yourself in Viking environment, boarding a Viking ship, feeling the power of the elements in a storm or taking a picture of yourself in a Viking armour. You can find it just in front of the City Hall.
Unfortunately, we went to Oslo before its opening to the public in June 2019 so we didn’t have the chance to go and see for ourselves if it is worth its price (199 NOK/ 19.25€ /23.09$, 15% discount with the Oslo pass) but everyone seems to be thrilled about it.
From the Viking Ship Museum take the bus again or prepare yourself for a 15-minute stroll to the next museum.
14. Fram Museum
Opened in 1936 and named after the first Norwegian ship built specifically for polar research, the Fram Museum is a must for anyone interested in Arctic exploration.
The museum’s star attraction is the Fram, the world’s strongest polar vessel that still holds the records for sailing farthest north and farthest south.
You can also find the Gjøa, the first ship to navigate the Northwest Passage, on display in its dedicated building at the museum.
The Fram Museum, housed in an unusual triangular building, takes the visitors on a journey of polar expeditions through a series of photos, films, maps, personal notes of explorers and a variety of objects used in everyday life aboard this vessel, and letting them boarding the ship and exploring the inside. Besides, it offers a variety of images of the fauna of the polar regions, such as polar bears and penguins, and a polar simulator where the visitor can experience the cold and the dangers of polar expeditions more than 100 years ago.
Admission fee: 140 NOK (13.55€ /16.24$). It is free with your Oslo pass.
If you are planning to visit at least two of the three museums in the area (the Norwegian Maritime Museum, Kon-Tiki and the Fram Museum), you can buy a combination ticket: the access to two of them will cost you 250 NOK (24.18€ /28.99$), while the access to the all three of them is 380 NOK (36.75€ /44.07$).
15. Kon-Tiki Museum
The building next door is the Kon-Tiki Museum, dedicated to Thor Heyerdahl, well-known Norwegian adventurer and ethnographer who sailed from Peru to the Tuamotu Islands (Eastern Polynesia) in 1947 on the famous raft Kon-Tiki. This was his first expedition to be captured on film and was later conferred the Academy Award for best documentary in 1951.
The museum also houses the 14-meter-long papyrus Ra II, in which Heyerdahl crossed the Atlantic in 1970, and a variety of boats, other artefacts from his expeditions, a 30-metre-long (100-feet) Easter Island cave replica tour, and an underwater exhibition with a life-size model of a whale shark and other fish that he encountered on the voyage.
The Academy Award-winning documentary is screened daily at noon in the museum cinema.
See the previous point for the admission fee.
16. Norwegian Maritime Museum
In front of the Kon-Tiki Museum, you can find the Norwegian Maritime Museum.
Founded in 1914, it exhibits on coast culture and maritime history through the video “Maritime Norway” by Ivo Caprino, a library, the museum marine archaeological department and a collection of more than 40 maritime paintings by notable Norwegian artists.
See the Fram Museum point for information about the admission fee.
From there, take the bus and head back to the city centre. Close to the bus stop you take the bus from to go to the Bygdøy peninsula, there is a subway station. From there, you can take the subway to Holmenkollen and head to Ski Museum.
17. Holmenkollen Ski Museum and Tower
The Holmenkollen Ski Museum, located at the base of Holmenkollen Ski Jump, is entirely dedicated to the history of skiing and, open since 1923, it’s the oldest of its kind in the world. The museum takes you through four millennia of skiing history, starting with the carvings dating from the Stone Age depicting ski scenes in the Viking Age.
It’s not just a collection of old skis, though. On the contrary, the museum also investigates the polar expeditions of Nansen and Amundsen and various other artefacts. On top of that, there are exhibitions held throughout the year that focus on hot topics such as climate change.
The museum also has a “Hall of Fame” dedicated to great Norwegian skiers, interactive exhibits about modern skiing and snowboarding, and information about Nansen’s polar explorations on the ship Fram.
From the inside of the museum, you can go directly to the top of the Holmenkollen Ski Jump, a Norwegian landmark for over 100 years now, and enjoy a jaw-dropping panoramic view of the city of Oslo. If you want to experience what it’s like to ski jump, get into the Ski Jump Simulator for a 5-minute ride.
Fun fact: The first ski jumping competition took place here in 1892 on a jump made of branches and snow. From that moment, the jump has been rebuilt 18 times. The latest version is 60-meter long, it is made entirely out of steel and has an impressive light and sound system.
Admission fee: 160 NOK (15.46€/18.55$). Free with your Oslo pass.
18. Eternal Peace Flame
Don’t take off from Holmenkollen without seeing the Eternal Peace Flame, donated to the city of Oslo by World Harmony Run founder Sri Chinmoy in 2001.
In 2013 the Peace Flame, along with the companion sculpture of Sri Chinmoy, was installed at Holmenkollen from its original location at the Pier of Honor, which is the pier of the King of Norway (in the city centre neighbourhood of Aker Brygge).
It serves as a beacon of light, inspiration and hope for peace.
Conclusions
Honestly, I didn’t expect Oslo to be that beautiful. I expected it to be austere and grey, on the contrary, to my great pleasure I found it colourfully appealing.
Oslo won me over with both its royal charm and its amazingly advanced architecture. I will never forget the elegance of the little summer houses all over its fjord and the excitement of standing in front of three real Viking ships and all that everyday tools that once were in the hand of true Norsemen.
Besides, despite what it’s said about people and places in the North being cold and a bit unwelcoming, Oslo and its people seemed quite warm and approachable, full of treasures to discover.
So, if you are still wondering if you should visit Oslo, stop wondering, just go. You won’t regret it!
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