Travel Tips: Guide to the Most Important Sights in Oslo, Norway

When traveling in Scandinavia, the Norwegian capital of Oslo is one of the highlights that you have to experience. If possible you should try to schedule at least a couple of days in 'the tiger city' as the locals fondly refer to it.

First of all, when scheduling a trip to Oslo, make sure you are going in the summer. With Oslo being so far north, this leaves a rather small window of opportunity, but to see Oslo from it's absolutely best side, try to schedule your trip between June and early August. While this is in no way a guarantee that you will see the sun at all, at least there is a chance.

Oslo is somewhat notorious among travelers for being very expensive, exchange rates and the general very high standard of living in Norway combines to make Oslo one of the least affordable cities in the world to visit. Although, if you know what to expect going in and do a little bit of planning, it's still possible to experience Oslo without going broke.

One of the most compelling attractions Oslo has to offer, is the waterfront along the Oslo fjord. During the short summer months, the fjord is a valued resource for the locals who take to the waves at the first glimpse of the sun.

A popular activity is to go island hopping around the many islands in the inner parts of the fjord. There are ferries servicing a number of small islands that are excellent for ocean bathing, relaxing, and barbecuing using the Norwegian cultural icon; the 'one time grill'. The ferries are all operated by the Oslo transit authority, which means that with a very reasonable priced day pass in hand, you can travel all over Oslo and the Oslo Fjord for 24 hours. In general, getting a day or week pass to the public transportation system is one of the first things you should get when arriving in Oslo, it is a great value, and you will be able to go anywhere you might want to go without having to worry about ticket prices.

Another popular destination is the museum complex at Bygdøy, home to the famous viking ship museum. Bygdøy also has very interesting museums dedicated to the polar ship Fram, Thor Heyerdahl's fascinating expedition on the Kon-TikiI, and finally the Norwegian Folk museum that has a collection of historic buildings from all over Norway. The stave church alone is worth the admission.

With so many museums in one small area, this is naturally a hot spot for guided tours. I recommend doing the museum tour on your own though. Armed with a day pass you can get to the museums by ferry. The ferry leaves every 15 minutes from in front of Oslo's impressive city hall, and takes you right to the Fram museum. From the Fram museum, bus 30 will take you to the viking ship museum and Folk museum that are situated side by side. By creating your own schedule, not only do you get to enjoy the ferry ride, but you are free to set your own schedule. If you are fascinated by the polar explorations by Amundsen and Nansen, the Fram museum will be captivating for hours. If you want to see ancient viking artifacts and are awed by the 1000 year old ships on display in the viking ship museum, you can chose to spend most of your day there.

Keep in mind that most museums in Norway don't have a restaurant, at best they might offer some simple sandwiches at very steep prices. There is however always plenty of parks and outdoor spots where you are free to enjoy your own lunch. Take advantage of the Norwegian tradition of packing your own sack lunch, and save yourself a lot of money. Enjoying a simple lunch in the beautiful settings at the folk museum for example is highly recommended.

When returning from the museum peninsula, you'll be right back at the Oslo harbor and right between two interesting destinations. For upscale shopping and dining, or just general strolling about and enjoying the seaside; Try the boardwalks at Aker Brygge. Formerly a ship yard, this prime spot has been converted into a high end shopping and dining area. If you won't mind spending a little extra cash on your lunch, this is a great place for a sit down meal after a long day at the museums, there's even a McDonald's if you want to keep things simple.

Across the fjord from Aker Brygge you will see the Akershus fortress that towers over the harbor and city. Build to protect the city from attack, it is still used by the Norwegian Army as an administrative center. The old fortress however is for the most part open to tourists. The views from the fortress are marvelous, but a tour of the dungeons can be equally interesting. The fortress also is home to memorials from World War II, and a museum detailing the efforts of the Norwegian resistance.

From the harbor, it's just a short walk up to Karl Johan's street, the main artery of Oslo. Mostly a pedestrian street, on warm summer days and nights this street is teeming with life. Connecting the royal castle with the central train station, Karl Johan's street passes the National Theatre and the Parlament building. Lined with shopping outlets and cafes, a stroll down Karl Johan is the best way to really get the feel for the pulse of Oslo. For a genuine Oslo experience, consider springing for a pint of beer at one of the many street facing restaurants and cafes. The tradition of 'outdoor beer' is a cherished by the people of Oslo.

At the head of Karl Johan is the royal castle. The castle is not impressive compared to many other European castles, but is still worth a visit. The surrounding park is a tranquil oasis in the middle of the city center. You are allowed to walk almost all the way up to the castle, and you might be interested in catching the changing of the guards at 12 o'clock. It is even possible to get a guided tour of the castle.

The most famous attraction in Oslo is probably Frogner Park, and the sculptures of Gustav Vigerland. The park can be reached easily by public transportation, and is a well loved spot for the locals. On a sunny day the park will be full of people sun bathing, playing soccer, and as always preparing hot dogs on their 'one time grills'. The true attraction however is the sculpture park. The main walkway and plaza in the park is lined with bronze statues, all leading up to the famous 'monoliten', a huge oblisk carved from a single rock. Some visitors find the statues overly graphic as they are all nude and quite detailed. However, in describing the human condition, the artist has managed to create timeless portraits of human emotions, unobstructed by the changing fashions of the times. The park is a grand testament to the vision of one single artist, and should not be missed. If you only have time for one thing to do in Oslo, Vigarlandsparken should be that one thing.

If you are interested in fine arts, the National Museum is located down town , just a couple of blocks up from Karl Johan's street, it is well worth the price of admission; it is free. The museum has an impressive collection of historical paintings, as well as some interesting displays of coins and items from medieval Norway. One notable exclusion from the National Museum, is the world famous works of Edward Munch. To see the iconic painting "Scream" and the other masterpieces by Norway's most famous artist, you will have to go to the Munch Museum. The Munch Museum is located at Tøyen which is a little ways removed from the immediate downtown area, but it is still easily accessible by subway. Yet another reason to make sure you get that day pass!

These are the most important sites to see in Oslo, but if you're hungry for more of this little metropolis, you can take in the new opera house that finally has been completed, or take the train up to Holmenkollen to see the legendary ski jumping hill that is currently undergoing total renovation. The views of Oslo from Holmenkollen are spectacular, but if you are strapped for time, the view and the ski museum might not be enough to warrant the trip up to Holmenkollen.

Oslo is at it's best a very charming and inviting city, if you take your time and ask the locals for help you will find that they speak excellent English and are always eager to help tourists find their way. If you happen to catch a day in the summer sun on Oslo's ocean front, you are sure to feel that the city is well worth it's hefty price tag.