- You shall build it exactly here! That’s what the Danish king Christian IV supposingly said back in 1624 when he decided where the new... »
Outdoors
shhh…the islands are very nice!
Now about the islands: A bit of a secret we keep from you tourists, actually. If you manage to find Vippetangen – a hidden quay about a kilometer east of the town hall, you will find the ferries leaving for the islands in the inner fjord. Hovedøya is the closest, just five minutes away. Here... »
Your own fjord cruise!
There must be dozens of companies offering different cruise trips on the Oslo fjord, and by all means – it can be very pleasant. You will get some shrimps and a glass of cheap white wine (cheap only for the company, it will be quite expensive for you…) But if you want to see the... »
Summer in Oslo
Summer is coming to town. Today, May 1st, is a grey day outside – but soon Oslo will be at its most charming. Already the trees are greening, and this week I spotted the first wood anemones . The ferry to Bygdøy has started the season, and people are already queing up for the... »
We’ve got a bike for you!
Oslo is a rather small capital, but you would need a few hours to get around. So getting a bike could be a good idea. You will need a smart card that you can rent at the tourist information office. The city bikes are available from a large number of bike stations around the city. You are... »
The ferry to nowhere
Among dozens of chic, posh and fancy places to have a drink in the city of Oslo and at the waterfront, you will find a floating pub where you don’t have to bother too much about the dress code. Ferja (the ferry) is a great little boat which used to be the ferry at... »
Farmers’ market in Oslo
Now it is season for Farmers’ market in Oslo. Last weekend a big fair was taking place at the Karl Johan. In October you will find new fairs in Vibes gate and in Birkelunden. More info here. »
Relaxing championship in Oslo
If you didn’t make it to the top in school sports, you can have your revenge on Saturday when top relaxers meet for the Norwegian Championship in Slappa (Norwegian slang for relaxing). The point is to produce the lowest relaxing pulse during five minutes in a hammock, and the whole event is a tribute... »
The hidden garden in Oslo
There are plenty of parks in Oslo. The undoubtedly nicest one is The Queen’s Park (Dronningparken) right behind the Royal Castle. The park is open during summer, from May 18th until mid-October at daytime. It is actually the present queen Sonja who is in charge of the garden, but the name was established when... »
Walking on a roof
So walking on the roof of a white building by the sea shore is the hottest thing you can do in Oslo these days? Yep. When the much discussed new opera was opened in 2008, very few could have guessed that the building would be a lot more crowded on the outside than on the... »