Oslo

Oslo [1] is the capital of Norway. The history of the city can be traced back over 1000 years, although according to the chronicles of Snorre Sturlason, Oslo was founded in 1048, by the king Harald Hardråde. The city became capital of Norway around 1300, but lost its privileges during the Danish-Norwegian union from 1348 to 1814. In 1624, a fire devastated old Oslo, and the city was moved some kilometres west, to gain protection from the fortress at Akershus. The city was then renamed Christiania, a name that remained until it was officially renamed on January 1st, 1925.

Culture and History

Chances are, if you are going to Norway, Oslo may not be your primary target, as Norway's nature is more exciting in other parts of the country. Nevertheless, Oslo has plenty of sights, good nightlife and is worth seeing.

Geography

Oslo, with its approximately 453 square kilometers, is one of the largest capitals in the world by area. Granted, most of this is forest, making Oslo a city in close contact with the nature surrounding it.

Oslo is situated in an amphitheater like setting, with the city centre in the bottom close to the Oslo fjord, and residential areas stretching uphill from there in all directions. Behind the residential areas, the forested area of Marka (Nordmarka, Østmarka, Lillomarka) extends, with flora and fauna that is quite extraordinary for a city of this size. Moose are commonplace (easily spotted in winter), and the area is also part of Norway's wolf reserve (even if they rarely come here).

The Oslo fjord is an inlet of the Skagerrak bay, stretching inland from the North Sea towards Øresund and the Baltic Sea. Oslo has an impressive archipelago of islands, which in summer becomes the city's favoured playground.

The city centre is bounded by Oslo Central Station (Oslo S) to the east, the Royal Castle (Slottet) to the west and the sea to the south. It's a fairly compact area and easily walkable. However, several of the neighbourhoods close to the centre hold interesting sights and entertainment offerings, so to explore these you should make use of the city's comprehensive public transport system.

Oslo proper has about 540 000 inhabitants, but the whole conurbation is home to about one million persons. This makes it the smallest capital of the Nordic countries (except Reykjavik), but it's not without big city charms and flaws.

Travel to Oslo, visa requirements

Flights to Oslo, airtickets

Oslo's Oslo Airport (IATA: OSL) (ICAO: ENGM), is Norway's largest airport, located in Gardermoen, 45 kilometres north-east of Oslo. It's 19-22 minutes and 160 NOK by the Flytoget high speed train from Oslo central station. Alternatively, try one of the cheaper Flybussen buses which take roughly 45 minutes to the city centre (120 NOK), or the slower local trains (two lines, schedules here and here) (82 NOK). There are also a comprehensive bus service to other parts of Oslo and the region, through Flybussekspressen.

Taxis can, and should, be ordered in the booth inside the terminal for different fixed prices from NOK 395 to Oslo downtown. Going outside to flag one from the queue always work out more expensive.

Some airlines, most notably Ryanair, serve Torp airport near Sandefjord, 115 kilometres south of Oslo. The bus service Torpekspressen link the airport to Oslo and costs 150 NOK for a single way and 270 NOK for a return ticket ( discounts are in plenty for students, ISIC Card Holders and Old People), while local buses go to the nearby cities of Sandefjord and Tønsberg, connecting with trains to Oslo.

The airports are served with direct flights from most European capitals and holiday destinations, as well as from New York. There are also a comprehensive domestic flight network, run by several airlines. SAS Braathens, Norwegian and Widerøe are the biggest.

By train

Oslo Central Station (Oslo Sentralstasjon, T-bane Jernbanetorget) is at the eastern fringe of the city centre, by the end of the main pedestrian street Karl Johans gate. Internationally, there are three daily services to Gothenburg (Sweden) (4 hours). Four daily trains travel in the direction of Stockholm (Sweden) (6 hours), two of which will require a change in Karlstad (schedules here). In addition, night trains run Thursday and Sunday nights. For Copenhagen (Denmark) and beyond, you have to change trains in Gothenburg.

Tickets for the Gothenburg line should be bought at the NSB website, where the Minipris fares run as low as NOK 199. Tickets for the Stockholm line is better bought at the [www.sj.se SJ] website, where the "Just Nu"-tickets can end up as cheap as SEK 150.

Norwegian state rail operator NSB run fairly frequent and efficient, though not very fast, domestic services to Stavanger, Kristiansand, Bergen and Trondheim, as well as a comprehensive local and regional service around Oslo. Their schedules are here.

Most of the long distance trains also stop at Nationaltheatret station, bang in the centre by the Royal castle, or at Lysaker station on the western city limit. All these stations are connected to the local train system, as well as bus, tram or metro lines.

By car

International highways E6 (from Malmö and Gothenburg) and E18 (from Saint Petersburg, Helsinki and Stockholm) meet in Oslo. There is a road tax of NOK 20 to enter Oslo with a car. The money is used for road construction and public transport.

The E6 is the main north-south road of Norway, and continues north to Trondheim, Alta and Kirkenes, with branches to most Norwegian cities. The E16 runs west to Bergen, the E134 to Haugesund and the E18 run south-west to Drammen, Grenland (Skien/Porsgrunn) and Kristiansand. Other notable roads into Oslo include Rv4 from Gjøvik, Rv2 from Charlottenberg (Sweden) and Kongsvinger and Rv7, an alternative road to Bergen passing Gol and Geilo.

Buses to Oslo

Oslo is well served by bus from most of Europe. The biggest operators of international buses are Swedish companies Swebus Express and Säfflebussen. Both run inexpensive services to and from Stockholm, Gothenburg and Copenhagen several times a day, Säfflebussen even goes to Berlin. Lavprisekspressen also has buses twice a day to Gothenburg and Copenhagen. Norwegian company Nor-Way Bussekspress runs services to Gothenburg, while Eurolines have connections to a number of countries, most notably Poland, Germany and the Netherlands. Moravia Express run direct buses to Prague and Brno.

For domestic services, Nor-Way Bussekspress is the biggest operator, with several buses to Bergen, Trondheim and tons of other Norwegian destinations. Lavprisekspressen has buses to Bergen, Trondheim and Kristiansand twice a day, with cheap fares (Internet booking only). Timekspressen run a network of bus lines in the area surrounding Oslo, most notably their line 1 to Drammen, Kongsberg and Notodden, that runs every hour, day and night, year-round.

By boat

Oslo is connected to Denmark and Germany by car ferry. Color Line runs services to Frederikshavn(Denmark) and Kiel (Germany) daily. DFDS runs daily services to Helsingborg (Sweden) and Copenhagen (Denmark), while Stena Line runs to Frederikshavn (Denmark).

Get around

There is a comprehensive public transport system in Oslo, consisting of buses, trams, metro (T-bane) and boats. All run on the same tax scheme, and the same tickets are valid for all modes of transport. A single ticket costs NOK 22 when bought in advance from a kiosk or a machine, and NOK 30 when bought from a bus or tram driver. The ticket is valid for one hour of free travel. Cards with 8 coupons, each valid for one hour of travel, costs NOK 160 and can be bought on board. There are also daily passes (NOK 60), weekly passes (NOK 210) and monthly passes (NOK 720), which must be bought at Trafikanten near Oslo S, or any Narvesen, 7-Eleven or Deli de Luca kiosk. No passes are valid on night traffic (Fridays and Saturdays only; NOK 50).

Make sure that you have a ticket and, if necessary, that it is validated before entering the subway platform or boarding the rear door of the bus or tram. The day- week- and monthly passes as well as single tickets purchased in a kiosk are not validated before they are stamped. On a bus or tram, the tickets are stamped when you board, either by the driver or in a stamping machine. On the subway and the large railway stations, you stamp the ticket before entering the platform. Random spot checks are fairly common and being caught without a valid ticket leads to an automatic fine of at least NOK 750.

Trafikanten is the information centre for public transport in Oslo. It is situated just outside Oslo Central Station, by the foot of the clock tower. They hand out free maps, give information and sell all kinds of tickets. Their website has timetables, maps and search engines for all city transport in Oslo, as well as all transport in the nearby county of Akershus. Tickets can also be bought at all Narvesen, 7-Eleven and Deli de Luca-kiosks, which are numerous.

Here is a map of all local trains, trams and metro lines in Oslo. Be aware that the tram lines are not entirely accurate in the area around Jernbanetorget (Oslo S), due to construction work.

By metro

Oslo's metro system is known as the Tunnelbane or just T-bane.

To find a T-bane station, just look for the "T in a circle" logo. There are six lines, but the network is easy enough to figure out: all lines merge together to a single tunnel through the city center, from Majorstuen through Jernbanetorget (Oslo Sentralstasjon) to Tøyen, and then spread out into the suburbs. A loop line is running in a circle from northern Oslo to the center and back.

When entering a T-bane station, be sure to pick the right side: all stations except three on the loop line (Sinsen, Storo and Nydalen) have separate entrances and separate platforms for trains going west and trains going east.

A metro network map is here.

On the west side of the system line number 2 (towards Østerås), and (the currently closed) line number 6 (towards Kolsås) cross the city limits into Bærum, and a ticket for Oslo only will not be valid for journeys in or to Bærum. Make sure that you have purchased a ticket which is valid for the Bærum zones if you travel past the stations of Ekraveien (on line 2) or Lysakerelven (on line 6).

By bus or tram

Trams and buses complement the subway network, and use the same tickets. They cover most of the city, and run from approx. 5 AM to midnight, on some lines up to 1AM.

All tram lines run at least every 10 minutes during the day, and every 20 minutes at night and early morning (30 min at weekend mornings). The main lines cover parts of the city with no subway, and are an efficient way of getting around. The main, central tram terminals are at Stortorget, Brugata and Jernbanetorget. Here is a map of the tram network.

Bus lines cover the rest of the city, as well as several ring lines. Nearly all central bus lines converge at Jernbanetorget. A map of the bus services are to be found here. The most useful bus lines for visitors are bus 31, 34, 37 and 54, passing by Jernbanetorget and covering parts of the city with no trams or metros. Bus 20 and 21 provide a central ring-line service, while bus 23 and 24 cover the highway ring road further out.

Reconstructions at Jernbanetorget will lead to severe re-schedulings in the central area of Oslo until the summer of 2008. A map of tram reschedulings is here, while the bus reschedulings are here. Beware when arriving Oslo at the central station or bus terminal, as your tram or bus is likely to have moved!

By train

Local trains cover parts of the city, and runs out to the neighbouring municipalities and towns. The same tickets are valid for travel inside Oslo municipality (until the stations Lørenskog, Rosenholm, Lysaker and Movatn).

The local train network inside Oslo is depicted in grey on this map.

The local train network span across the city limits to neighbouring cities and towns. The whole network is depicted on this map.

Note that some of the cars on local trains are labeled with big yellow stickers on the doors, with the notice "Kun Månedskort" and "Season tickets only". These cars are usually not visited by the conductor, and you are use these cars only if you have a ticket which does not need to be stamped by the conductor. Bad things happen (i.e. you become NOK 750 poorer) if you use one of these carriages with, say a single ticket, and a conductor does come to check your tickets. If you are unsure about the rules, play it safe and take one of the unmarked carriages.

In downtown, the main station is Oslo Sentralstasjon, which connects to the subway station Jernbanetorget although you will need to walk through the station. The second downtown station, served by most local trains, and several regional ones, is the underground station Nationaltheateret, and is located immediately below the subway station of the same name.

By boat

Boats run from Vippetangen near Akershus fortress to the islands in the Oslofjord, as well as from Aker Brygge to Bygdøy, with many major museums. The same tickets are valid for all local boats.

The departures, especially in evenings and winter, are infrequent, so make sure you don't miss the last one! Schedules can be found here.

By bike

In summer, Oslo has a public bike service. Just get a keycard at the tourist office and you can get a bike at numerous places in the city. The bike can be used for up to three hours before you return it to any city bike stall.

By taxi

This is for the well-off. Short central hops may cost upwards of NOK 100, so if public transport still runs, use it. Several companies compete about having the most incomprehensible price structure, with several add-ons for time, passengers and luggage. It's not possible to recommend one company over the other, as prices differ wildly. Flag taxis from the street or taxi stalls, this is cheaper than calling one.

Oslo attractions and sightseeing

Buildings and structures

• The Royal Palace (T-Nationaltheateret, tram 13-19 to Slottsparken) is at the end of Karl Johans gate, the city's main avenue.

• Oslo Cathedral (tram 11-17-18 or bus 37-70 to Stortorget, between T-Jernbanetorget and Stortinget) is none too impressive, but dominates parts of the down town scene. Kirkeristen, the old bazaar surrounding the church, is now used by artisans and craftsmen, and hold a couple of cafes and restaurants.

• Oslo's City Hall (Rådhuset) (T-Nationaltheateret, tram 12 to Rådhusplassen, bus 70 to Vika) is located by the waterfront, with Fritdjof Nansensplass on the inland side. It's open to the public, with a spectacular main hall featuring huge murals with typical Nordic socialist themes. There are also some displays of historical artifacts in the side rooms upstairs.

• Akershus festning (Tram 12 to Rådhusplassen, bus 60 to Bankplassen) is a medieval castle built in 1299, located close to the city center. There are several excellent viewpoints to the Oslofjord and surrounding areas. The stone walls create an exciting atmosphere, and you are free to roam around in tight passages and staircases. There are two museums here, both related to Norwegian military history.

• You should not miss Holmenkollen, the ski jumping hill located on the west side of Oslo (T-bane 1 towards Frognerseteren). It was first opened in 1892, but have been altered many times since then. It has more than 1 million visitors every year. You can get all the way up to the top of the ski jump tower, where you have a great view of the city. The ski jump will be replaced before the FIS Nordic World Ski Championship held in Oslo in 2011. There is also the oldest ski museum in the world, opened in 1923. Walking and mountain bike riding are popular activities here during the summer.

Museums

• The Henrik Ibsen Museum (Tram 13-19 or bus 30-31 to Slottsparken) in the crossing between Arbins gate and Henrik Ibsens gate have just re-opened, and is a treat.

• The Munch Museum (T-bane, bus 20-60-67 to Tøyen) is definitely worth a visit if you want to enjoy paintings of the famous Norwegian painter Edward Munch. (The museum had been closed, but is now reopened with security improvements.) There is of course also the National Gallery, featuring Norwegian art from the national-romantic period, as well as some art by international artists. National Gallery entrance is free.

• The Nobel Peace Centre (tram 12 to Aker Brygge, bus 70 to Vika or walk from T-Nationaltheateret) has some confronting exhibitions as well as an exhibit for every winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

• Somewhat outside the city center is a peninsula called Bygdøy. You can get there by bus (number 30) or, in summer months, by ferry departing from pier 3 at Aker Brygge outside the city hall. At Bygdøy, you will find two groups of museums within walking distance of each other:
  • In the first group, around 800m inland:
    • The Folk museum, a large open air museum featuring typical buildings from various periods in Norwegian history.
    • The Viking ship museum, which in addition to two 900 year old viking-ships (apparently the best preserved in the world) also contains various other viking artifacts and a viking burial chamber, complete with ancient skeletons.
  • In the second group, on the harbour:
    • The Norwegian Maritime Museum, which houses a huge collection of ships and boats and records the impact of Norway's seafarers on their own coutry and the world.
    • The Kon-Tiki museum displaying Tor Heyerdahl's balsa raft Kon-Tiki, and Ra II, as well as some other artifacts from Easter Island).
    • The Fram-museum. It features the vessel Fram, the worlds first ice breaker, and presents a history of polar exploration (with a strong Norwegian focus!)

• The Holocaust Center is also located at Bygdøy. Housed by former Norwegian collaborator and Nazi-leader, Vidkun Quisling. As well as a Holocaust knowledge center, the center also is specialized in religious minorities.

Some other museums are:

• The Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology (Tram 11 or 12 to Kjelsås, bus 22, 25 or 54 to Kjelsås stasjon) is a fun place for both children and adults.
• The Tramway Museum (T-bane to Majorstuen) shows the history of Oslo's trams, buses and subway.

For a small city, Oslo has an amazing number of museums. Many of them are located next to each other and don't take long to visit but, as with most things in Oslo, those with an entrance fee are not cheap. However, in recent years many museums have scrapped the entrance fee, see the tourist information brochure available at Trafikanten or the airport on arrival for details. If you are planning on seeing several of the expensive attractions above in a short period of time, then the most cost effective way to do this is to buy an Oslo Pass. It includes unlimited entry to most of the museums and the Holmenkollen ski jump, as well as free travel on Oslo's quite expensive public transport. You can buy 24, 48 or 72 hour tickets. They can be purchased at Tourist Information Offices in Oslo.

Parks

• The Frogner park (T-bane, tram 11-19, bus 22-25-45-46 to Majorstua, tram 12 or bus 20 to Vigelandsparken) with the Vigeland Sculpture Park is a large green area about 10 minutes by subway from the city center. In addition to being a nice green recreational area, it is also decorated with hundreds of sculptures by the Norwegian artist Gustav Vigeland. There is a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere here, and if your children wants to climb the statues, nobody will even bother to look twice at you. There is also a cafeteria, and two museums, the City Museum of Oslo and the Vigeland Museum.

• The Tøyen park (T-bane or bus 20, 60 or 67 to Tøyen) stretches out behind the Munch Museum, and is a vast, grassy expanse. An enjoyable place to while away a summer evening. There's also Tøyenbadet, an indoor swimming pool with outdoor activities in summer(closed for renovation, re-opens april 2008).

• The Botanical garden (tram 17 or bus 31 to Lakkegata skole or t-bane to Tøyen, walking distance 200 m) are just south of Tøyen park, and is a wonderful, relaxed area. Free entrance, opening hours 1. april - 30. september: Weekends 10.00 am - 20.00 pm, Mon-Fri 07.00 am - 8.00 pm, 1. october - 31. march: Weekends 10.00 am - 5.00 pm , Mon-Fri 07.00 am - 5.00 pm

Other sights

• Vår Frelsers Cemetery (Bus 33-37-46 to Nordahl Bruns gate) north of city center on Ullevålsveien holds the graves of Edvard Munch and Henrik Ibsen.

City tours

• Take walks in Oslo's many forests. Nice gateways to the beautiful nature are T-bane to Frognerseteren (line 1), Sognsvann (line 3), Romsås (line 5) or Skullerud (line 3) or the train to Movatn (local trains towards Hakadal or Jaren).
• Buy at least one 19kr Hotdog- They are referred to as "Kjempegrill" and they are great for keeping the low blood sugar troll at bay and to increase your weight!
• The area around Holmenkollen (T-bane 1) is well suited for cross-country skiing, but also a nice area for hiking during summertime. While you are there, you can also visit the ski-museum which is located close to the ski-jump. For additional fun, buy a cheap sledge or "akebrett", or rent a proper one from Frognerseteren, and sleigh down from Frognerseteren to Midtstuen station. This was actually the venue of the sleighing competitions in the 1952 Winter Olympics, and the hill is referred to as "Korketrekkeren" (the corkscrew). If you buy a day-card for the subway, you can race all day long, but make sure you are well dressed, as you are going to get wet.

• You have to visit the wooden areas of Oslo like Kampen (bus 60), Vålerenga (bus 37), Rodeløkka (tram 17, bus 31) and Telthusbakken (bus 34/54). They are a "must" for lovers of old wooden town houses. These areas was likely to be erased from Oslo in the seventies by eager town planners who wanted highways for cars rather than living areas for the citizens, but luckily they were stopped by idealists who really loved their city. Their effort has really made these parts of Oslo into something special, even though other Norwegian cities have bigger wooden areas. Still this areas is a plus for Oslo and their inhabitants as well as for the tourists. They are not a common sight for tourists, but some of the areas have cafes/restaurants worth a visit.

• In summertime, you can also take one of the ferries out to various islands in the Oslo-fjord (boat 91-92-93-94 from Vippetangen, bus 60 runs to the quay). There are also a bathing bus (number 87) running from mid-June to mid-August from Jernbanetorvet to the brilliant beaches Hvervenbukta, Bestemorstranda and Ingierstrand. Additionally, for Hvervenbukta you may take the train to Hauketo, then bus 76. Outdoor swimming pools can be find at Frognerparken and Tøyenbadet. (Tøyenbadet is currently under refurbishment and opens again in April 2008).
• For fresh water swimming, Akerselva is clean upstream of Nydalen. The best spot may be at Frysja (bus 22-25-54 to Stillatorget). Don't forget that most of the waters in "Oslomarka" is for swimming and recreation. Buy a map and bring your swimming gear!
• If you want to experience nightlife, Oslo has a surprisingly large selection of restaurants, nightclubs and bars considering the population size. Many say that Oslo is the party capital of Scandinavia! See details below.
• Visit Ekebergsletta (bus 34 or 74) during Norway Cup, billed as the world's biggest football tournament (about 25 000 participants). Lots of fun and football. Arranged in the beginning of August every year.
• In wintertime, discover Oslo with new eyes.

Learn

The University of Oslo is the biggest university in Norway.

BI is a private business school.

Oslo College University have many different courses taught in English.

Work

If you're looking for work check out the website of the governmental agency NAV. Or as well as the other sites like Topjobs and Manpower and Stepstone and Jobzone

Shopping, Oslo souvenirs

In 2006 Oslo was ranked the 6th most expensive city to live in in the world; in a regularly published research paper by UBS (Prices and Earnings - A comparison of purchasing power around the Globe / 2003 edition), Oslo was rated most expensive city of the survey.Template:Clarifyme Still there are possibilities to do bargains in Oslo during the big sales. The prices on famous brands are not higher in Oslo than in London or Paris, often lower even if they are not on sale. The big sales are in January and August.

If you are out to shop there's plenty to choose from. The pedestrian street Karl Johans Gate has plenty of inexpensive shops of dubious quality, or you can check out:

• Glasmagasinet (tram 10-11-17-18 or bus 37-46 to Stortorvet) dates back to the 18th century, where you can find souvenirs, crystal, china, fashion, kitchenware, interior design and much more. The department store is famous for their large area of cosmetique sales.
• Oslo City (T-bane to Jernbanetorget) is a big shopping center just across the street from the Central station. The shopping center is focusing on the young people.
• Byporten (T-bane to Jernbanetorget) is the latest addition to the shopping center scene. It's connected to the Central station. This shopping mall is focusing on everything. The travellers choice! A lot of designers stuff, branded clothing, travellers stuff and more.
• Steen & Strøm is situated on a side street of Karl Johans gate. This is one of Oslo's oldest department stores and is newly renovated and very stylish with a number of clothing shops with famous brands as well as a cosmetique and an interior design floor.
• Paleet (T-bane to Nationaltheateret) is an upmarket, central shopping centre with a food court.
• Aker Brygge (Tram 12, bus 21, 33 or 54 to Aker Brygge/Bryggetorget/Vika Atrium) is a seaside shopping and nightlife centre with high prices, but lots of glam and fun.
• Bogstadveien up to Majorstuen metro station (tram 11 runs the length of the street).
• The House of Oslo (Bus 32, 33 or 54 to Dokkveien) is a recently opened shopping center focusing on interior designs with around 20 different shops with their own theme. This may be the most excuisit interior design center in norhtern Europe. Especially Illum Bolighus is worth a visit (this is a subsidiary of a famous Danish departement store).
• Karenslyst allé (train to Skøyen station with local train (NSB), bus 20, 24 or 31 to Skøyen station or tram 13 to Thune) contains a few, but exclusive clothing shops that may be of interest to some.
• The street Bygdøy allé (which is locally famous for its chest nut trees) (bus 20, 31) has regained its reputation of being a shopping street latest years by establishments that focusing on kitchens, kitchenware, interior designs, exclusive norwegian furnitures, lightning designs and others.
• The street Møllergata (downtown, public transport from stops Stortorget and Møllerveien at either end of the street) was earlier known as the furniture street, but you will still find a few good, but rather expensive shops for Norwegian furnitures in this street. You can easily find this street close to the Christiania Glasmagasin and the street Torggata which contains a few home interior shops like KID, Hemtex, love your kitchen and Åhlens.
• Akersgata (just above Stortinget T-bane) have a few exclusive shops like Louis Vuitton, gold smith David-Andersen, Follestad, Corso Como, Ting and will open new fashionable shops in the future. Their prime target is to be the most exclusive shopping street in Oslo. It is situated in the rear of the Norwegian parliament.

Good restaurants and cheap meals

There is a lot of both expensive and cheap places to eat in Oslo. The cheapest restaurants are the oriental restaurants which in many cases serve good food at a low price. Check the menus on the door.

Aker Brygge (tram 12, bus 21, 32, 33 or 54; stops Aker Brygge, Vika Atrium or Bryggetorget) is a coastal area located south of the city hall, which during summer time is pulsing with life. There are outdoor restaurants and bars almost everywhere. Be sure to get some tasty sea-food (or whatever else you like to eat) while you are there, or just enjoy your cold beer in the summer sea-breeze. Be advised that this is also the most expensive area in Oslo to dine or drink, so unless the weather is good, you can just as well stay indoors somewhere else.

If while at Aker brygge you feel that it's a little bit too expensive, don't hesitate to retreat to the blocks behind, for example to En cafe (http://www.nattguiden.no/utested/1088). You'll also find a nice pub at Otto's (http://www.carlton.no/default4.aspx)

You are also close to most of the restaurants, bars, or nightclubs located within the city center. A key reference point will be Stortingsgaten, running parallel to Karl Johans gate, both running eastwards from the royal castle (this is also the main shopping area). While both of these streets have a few restaurants and nightclubs, most will be found in one of the side-streets running out from them, or parallel to them. It doesn't matter much where you start, you will find restaurants, bars, and nightclubs almost anywhere from the subway station Nationaltheatret at the west, to far beyond Oslo central railroad station on the east. There are several other areas, such as Grünerløkka (tram 11-12-13 to Nybrua, Schous plass, Olaf Ryes plass or Birkelunden), Majorstuen(T-bane, tram 11-12-19 or bus 20-22-25-45-46 to Majorstua), and Grønland (T-bane to Grønland, bus 37 to Tøyengata or bus 60 to Norbygata) that are worth checking out. Be advised that nearly all bars and nightclubs close at the same time, so if you want to get a taxi back to your hotel, try to leave a few minutes before the rush starts.

Budget

A brilliant area for budget dining is Torggata (the area between Youngstorget and Hausmanns Gate) and the surrounding streets. You will find cheap Vietnamese restaurants and even cheaper kebab-joints and pizzerias, as well as other offerings. It's close to the centre, but you can get bus 34 or 54 to Jacobs kirke, or tram 11-12-13-17/bus 30-31-32-34-54 to Brugata or Hausmanns gate. The closest T-bane station is Grønland, then walk north along Brugata, or Jernbanetorget, walking north-east. Some great offers in this area are:

• A Taste of China, Torggata (great dim sum)
• Cafe Sara, Torggata/Hausmanns gate (turkish,mexican,pizzas,salads,barbeque,vegetarian)Fantastic food at cheap prices, with brilliant outdoor seating.
• Hai cafe, Calmeyers gate (vietnamese, cheap and brilliant!)
• Layali, Badstugata (brilliant lebanese). The proprietor of the place is very friendly and can recommend good stuff himself.
• New Lille Amir, Torggata/Badstugata (lebanese)
• Tay Do cafe, Torggata bad (vietnamese). Try out the day's special, or the 'Dagens' (daily special) for only about 80NOK. Guaranteed good food.
• Saigon Lille Kafe, Bernt Ankers gate (vietnamese)

Grønland is often nicknamed "Little India", and is full of cheap eating joints, shops selling fabrics and jewellery, Indian sweet shops, cheep beer and more. Some of the best eats are:

• Bangkok Thai, Grønlandsleiret (bus 37 to Politihuset). Some call it the best thai restaurant in Oslo.
• Punjab Tandoori, Grønlandsleiret, just by Grønland T-bane. The friendliest sikh in the world dishes out ultra-cheap, tasty indian food.
• Tandoori Curry Corner, Grønlandsleiret. The neighbouring restaurant of the Punjab Tandoori is even cheaper, but the helpings are smaller.
• Ali Baba Restaurant, Grønland Bazar. Inside the new shopping mall, Ali Baba is a Turkish cafeteria with no-frills, decent food.
• Vann & Brød, Tøyenbekken by Grønland Bazar. In an old prison, this Spanish joint has cheap tapas dishes and wine by the glass.

For true Norwegian budget dining, the choice is smaller. Most cafes and restaurants serving traditional food are upmarket, but there are a couple of good spots to get stuffed on meat cakes and brown gravy, lutefisk and other delicacies:

• Dovrehallen, Storgata near Jernbanetorvet. Old-style beer hall serving delicious meat-and potato-dishes for less than NOK 100. Fantastic! Recomendation followed on 01-07
• Schrøder, Waldemar Thranes gate (bus 21-33-37-46 to St. Hanshaugen). Dark drinking den with delicious, traditional, cheap and fattening Norwegian food.
• Carl Berner-kjelleren, Trondheimsv 113 (20 m from the Carl Berner intersection. Bus 20, 21, 31 or 33, tram 17 or T-bane 5 and 6 to Carl Berners plass). Beer hall with cheap and varied food, including classic Norwegian everyday dishes.

Mid-range

• Arakataka, Mariboes gate (Tram 11,12,13,17 or bus 30,31,32,34,54 to Brugata). The most upmarket offering in Oslo's Bermuda Triangle of cheap eating, Arakataka manages to pull off decent French and Mediterranean cuisine at not too bad prices.
• Centraal, Stortingsgata. (Tram 13-19 to Nationaltheatret, bus 30-31-32 to Eidsvolls plass or T-bane to Nationaltheatret). Modern, stylish restaurant downtown with flawless cuisine. Not cheap anymore, though...
• Delhi Tandoori Restaurant, Maridalsveien 4 (bus 34-54 to Møllerveien). Looks scruffy from the outside, but don't let that fool you. A fantastic Indian restaurant with all the trimmings.
• Falcon Crest, Ullern allé (T-bane to Smestad, then bus 43 to Åsjordet). New, stylish offering with brilliant food and reasonable prices for western Oslo. And yes, it is named after the 80's soap opera.
• Kampen Bistro, Bøgata (T-bane 1,2,3,4 to Ensjø or bus 60 to Kampen Park). Lovely neighbourhood joint with brilliant food and occasional free concerts. See Drinking.
• Lanternen, First Ferry stop on Bygdøy. Salads, sandwiches. The herring is good. Three kinds of herring with bread is NOK 80.
• Mucho Mas, Thorvald Meyers gate (tram 11,12,13 to Olaf Ryes plass). Cal-mex joint offering huge meals, but reports claim that prices have gone up, while quality has faded. A new branch near the crossing of Hegdehaugsveien/Sporveisgata in Homansbyen does little to redeem this.
• Nodee, Middelthuns gt. 25 (T-Majorstuen, tram 12 to Frogner stadion). All-asian offering just close to Frognerparken.
• Oriental, Prof. Aschehougs plass (tram 11-17-18 to Tinghuset/Prof. Aschehougs plass or T-bane Stortinget). Brilliant all-Asian restaurant with inventive dishes.
• Oslo Ladegård, Gamlebyen (bus 32 to Ladegården, tram 18-19 or bus 34-70-74 to St. Hallvards plass). Fighting it out with Villa Paradiso and Pizza da Mimmo to provide the city's best Italian pizza.
• Odonata, take the 31 bus to Snarøya and enjoy this unique design experience. This used to be the old Oslo airport in the 50's and is now a cafè with a great lunch menu and various cakes and treats.
• Palace Grill, just by Solli plass (tram 12,13 or bus 21,30,31,32 to Solli/Lapsetorvet). Fantastic food at fair prices, with brilliant outdoor seating.
• Paris-Texas, Rådhusgata 28. tel: 22428833. Email:post@paristexas.no. Excellent mussels, lamb and steak. Beautiful simple room and good service. (Tram 12 to Christiania torv)
• Pizza da Mimmo, Behrens gt 2 (tram 12 to Niels Juhls gt or bus 21 to Lapsetorvet). Fighting with Oslo Ladegård and Villa Paradiso to have the best pizza in Oslo.
• Plaka Athena, Trøndergata (tram 11-12-13 or bus 20 to Torshov). A Greek haven in suburbia.
• Rehman's, Thorvald Meyers gate (tram 11,12,13 to Birkelunden, bus 21 to Sannergata). Inventive indian serving up, among other things, deer curry.
• Restaurant Eik, Kr. Augusts gate (tram 11-17-18 to Tullinløkka). The least upmarket of the central gourmet offerings, Eik consintently get rave reviews and doles out a fine five-course gourmet menu for around NOK 400. Fantastic.
• Restaurant Victor, Hans Nielsen Hauges gate (Tram 11,12,13 to Grefsenveien or bus 30 to Sandaker). Oslo's best suburban offering, with innovative and fabulous food. Prices to match.
• Siam Oriental, Waldemar Thranes gate (bus 21,33,37,46 to St. Hanshaugen). Friendly Thai ladies doles out fabulous shrimp dishes.
• Smia, just by Vålerenga kirke (bus 20,37 to Galgeberg). Atmospheric restaurant in old wooden house area with tons of charm.
• Sult, Thorvald Meyers gate (tram 11,12,13 or bus 30 to Birkelunden, bus 21 to Sannergata). Good neighbourhood-gourmet style food, with an ever-changing menu, and a vegetarian option
• Villa Paradiso, Olaf Ryes plass (tram 11-12-13). Excellent pizza at Grünerløkka.
• Xich-Lo, Øvre Slottsgate 27 (T-Stortinget). A central, more classy Vietnamese eatery with great food.

Splurge

If price is no object, there is some very fine dining to be found.

• Bagatelle, Skovveien (bus 30/31/32 to Skovveien, bus 21 to Lapsetorvet), [2]. Has two stars in the Michelin guide.
• Ekebergrestauranten, Ekeberg (tram 18,19 to Sjømannsskolen). An architechtural monument, this place offers gourmet dining and Oslo's best views. Hugely popular.
• Feinschmecker, Balchens gate 5 (tram 12 to Elisenberg or bus 30,31 to Frogner kirke). A feast for everyone involved, except perhaps your wallet. Exquisite dining at corporate prices.
• Le Canard, President Harbitz gt. 4, [3]. One Michelin star.
• Oro, Tordenskiolds gt. 6'. One Michelin star.
• Restaurant Oscarsgate, Pilestredet (tram 17,18 to Dalsbergstien). They only serve an eight-course meny for NOK 895,-, but it is ALWAYS world-class. Food and wine around NOK 1600,- Booking absolutely essential.
• Statholdergaarden, Rådhusgt. 11 (on the corner of Kirkegaten), 0151 Oslo, ☎ 22 41 88 00 (post@statholdergaarden.no, fax: 22 41 22 24), [4]. Mon - Sat 1800 - 2400. Arguably one of Oslo's finest seatings. Set in a beautiful 1800-century mansion, the combination of very friendly staff and extraordinary dishes makes it well worth it's one star in the Michelin Guide. Not one to miss.

Oslo nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.

Pubs

As of 2004, all bars, pubs and restaurants in Oslo are smoke-free. Which means you have to go outside to smoke. But since you can't drink on the street, you have to leave your drink inside. Oslo is generally very expensive - you can expect to pay around NOK 60 for a pint (500ml to be precise) of beer or a glass of the house wine. However, there are neighbourhoods and pubs with more reasonable prices.

• Andys Stortingsgata. (T-bane Stortinget, tram 13-19 to Wessels plass/Nathionaltheateret, bus 31-32-33-54-70 stop nearby). Official pub for Liverpool FC supporters. Shows most football matches on lcd-tv's.

• Bar Babylon, see Tekehtopa.

• Bohemen (“the Bohemian”), Arbeidergata 2, tel: +47-22416266. (T-bane Stortinget, tram 11-17-18 or bus 33-70 to Prof. Aschehougs plass/Tinghuset) The best place to watch football (soccer) and sports in general, and to have a cheap beer. Official Vålerenga supporter pub.

• Byråkrat, Grensen 10, tel: +47-22340241, [5]. Tram 11-17-18 or bus 37-46-70 to Stortorvet, T-bane Stortinget. Beer, drinks, seafood. Free open Wireless Internet. Also almost covered outside area for smokers.

• Cafe Sara, corner of Torggata and Hausmanns gate. Bus 34-54 to Jacobs kirke. Conveniently close to Anker Hostel, Cafe Sara pours beer and dishes up tasty turkish and mexican dishes for not too much money. Great outdoor seating. Very cozy pub with a great atmosphere and well known for its cheap but great food.

• Cafe Tiger, Torggata 5. Tram 11-17-18 or bus 37-46-70 to Stortorvet. No food but good drinks and coffee menu. Has free and open wireless internet.

• Champagneria, Frognerveien. Tram 12-13 or bus 21-30-31 to Solli/Lapsetorvet. Spanish cava and tapas bar, fairly cheap and enjoyable.

• Choice pub, Grønlandsleiret. (T-Grønland) A rowdy dive bar with beer for NOK 29,-

• Dubliner, Rådhusgata. Tram 12 to Christiania torv. A nice Irish pub a little off Karl Johans gate, do a nice fish and chips (and a few rounds of guiness with which to wash it down)

• Garage, Grensen 9. Tram 11-17-18 or bus 37-46-70 to Stortorvet, T-bane Stortinget. A rock club with a large stage in the basement, great outdoor seating in a cosy back yard, good rock music and unlimited amounts of beer on tap. 0,5l NOK 42/52 (after 19.00).

• Hard Rock Cafe, Karl Johans Gate 45, tel: +47-22863000, [6]. T-bane, tram 13-19 or bus 30-31-54-70 to Nationaltheatret. Opened in December 2005. Dealing mainly with, as the name suggests, rock nostalgia from the 50's, this should be familiar.

• Hell's Kitchen, Youngstorget (corner of Møllergata). Tram 11-12-13-17 or bus 30-31-34-54 to Kirkeristen/Nygata/Brugata. Fab pizza and music, lots of beer and cocktails. Brilliant place that has turned more hip recently, expect queues at weekends.

• Kampen Bistro, Bøgata. Bus 60 to Kampens park or T-bane 1-2-3-4 to Ensjø. Great food and affordable beer in a local restaurant in Kampen, one of the most picturesque residential areas of Oslo. Worth the trip!

• Mono, Pløens gate. Tram 11-12-13-17 or bus 30-31-34-54 to Kirkeristen/Nygata/Brugata. Rock music club with local rock stars, frequent concerts with up-and-coming Oslo acts, not too expensive beer and a great back garden for smoking. 0,5l NOK 52.

• M/S Innvik, moored to the quay behind Oslo Havnelager. Any public transport to Jernbanetorget. Boat with hostel, theatre stage and a nice pub with good food and cheap beer. One of the most fabulous outdoor seatings in Oslo. 0,5l NOK 44.

• Spasibar, between St. Olavs gt and Kristian IVs gt close to the Royal Castle. Tram 11-17-18 to Holbergs plass. Weird and wonderful bar with decor resembling a 70's-inspired, underground Russian club. Lovely outdoor seating in summer too, and often concerts with up-and-coming Norwegian bands. 0,5l NOK 52.

• Südøst, Trondheimsveien 5. Bus 30-31, tram 17 to Heimdalsgata. A short walk from the Anker hostel, this place has become quite fashionable. Lovely outdoor seating, great (but a tad expensive) food and a marvellous dining room. 0,5l NOK 52.

• Teddy's Soft Bar, Brugata. Tram 11-12-13-17 or bus 30-31-34-54 to Brugata, T-bane to Grønland. The only bar in Oslo that's protected by cultural authorities. True 50's setting, this is where rockers and low-key film stars lurk in the corners. This is the cafe that brought soft ice to Norway! 0,5l NOK 52.

• Tekehtopa, St. Olavs plass. Tram 17-18 to Tullinløkka or bus 37 to Nordahl Bruns gate. Lovely cafe serving beer, wine, drinks and small dishes in a fabulous former pharmacy. (Tekehtopa spelled backwards, apotheket, actually means "the pharmacy" in Norwegian.) One of the prettiest cafes around! Adjoined by Bar Babylon, an industrial-style club with wonderful back yard seating. 0,5l NOK 49.

• Two Dogs, Brugata. Tram 11-12-13-17 or bus 30-31-34-54 to Brugata, T-bane to Grønland. English-style football pub with big screen, jolly atmosphere and darts. 0,5l NOK 48.

• Verkstedet, Hausmannsgt. 29. Bus 34-54 to Jacobs kirke. On the right hand side of Cafe Sara, Verkstedet is a very nice rock bar with a cozy and great backyard which it shares with Cafe Sara. The club also has a stage, where both local and foreign acts do appear. At the weekends the club transforms into a rock disco, where you can dance to great rock music. The bar dishes up with great coctails and unlimited amounts of beer, both on tap and bottles.

• Zen, Vogts gate, Torshov. Tram 11-12-13 to Biermanns gate, then continue for 300 metres. A mysteriously stylish interior for a dive bar, dishing out some of Oslo's cheapest beer (NOK 39 for 0,5l!). Laid-back, relaxing atmosphere, usually draws a somewhat older crowd. Small menu.

Areas with notable pub density are Grünerløkka (tram 11-12-13 to Nybrua, Schous plass, Olaf Ryes plass or Birkelunden), Aker Brygge (tram 12 to Aker Brygge or bus 21-32-33-54 to Vika Atrium or Bryggetorget), Solli/Frogner (tram 12-13 or bus 30-31 to Solli), Grønland (T-bane to Grønland or bus 37 to Tøyengata) and the city centre.

You could also shop for beer (10 NOK - 16 NOK for a 0.33l pint bottle) and drink it privately in the confines of your dwelling with friends, in case you are unable to shell out the money to drink up at a pub. Be advised to finish your shopping early and stock up soon, since supermarkets stop selling beer after 8PM each day, and 6pm on Saturdays (3pm on a holiday weekend). It is not possible to buy beer in a shop on a Sunday. It is illegal to drink in public areas and except for New Years Eve this law is strictly enforced in city streets. However, in public parks during summer, laws are not enforced as strictly. Good places to go for a park beer is Sofienbergparken and Kuba at Grünerløkka, Frognerparken in Majorstua, or St. Hanshaugen park, park on a hill with great view lying between Grünerløkka and Majorstuen.

Shops

Some of the central Vinmonopolet outlets in Oslo are:

• Oslo Central Station, beneath the staircase leading down to Trafikanten
• In the basement of Oslo City shopping centre
• In the Steen og Strøm shopping centre, close to Karl Johans gate
• Rosenkrantzgate 11, close to Grand Hotel, Karl Johans gate
• Vika, Vikatorvet shopping centre (tram 12 to Vikatorvet)
• Thereses gate, Bislett (near Bislett Stadium, trams 17 and 18)

Hotels, youth hostels, lodging

Getting a hotel in Oslo can potentially be difficult. It would be smart to reserve a room in advance. There are also relatively few youth hostels, etc., for backpackers and people travelling on a budget. Getting a reservation beforehand is essential during peak periods.

Budget

Camping

• Ekeberg Camping, Bus 34 or 74 to Ekeberg Camping, [7]. The closest campsite has a beautiful view of the city. No cabins.
• Bogstad Camping, T-bane 2 to Røa, then bus 32, 41 or 47 to Bogstad Camping or Peder Ankers plass, [8]. 9 kms out of town at the entrance of picturesque Sørkedalen, Bogstad has cabins as well as tent space.
• Oslo Fjord Camping, Train to Hauketo, then corresponding bus 76 to Hvervenbukta, or bus 87 (both options summer only), [9]. Near the beautiful swimming spot of Hvervenbukta, this campsite is a good deal.

Hostels

• Anker Hostel, Hausmanns gate (tram 11-12-13-17, bus 30-31), [10]. Very centrally located, right between the central station and Grünerløkka (both five minutes walking).

• Haraldsheim Youth Hostel, Sinsenkrysset (tram 17 or bus 23-24-31-33), [11]. The biggest HI hostel in Oslo is just outside the main ring road, in a nice, green area. Not too far from the action, walking distance to the lively neighbourhoods of Torshov and Grünerløkka.
• Holtekilen Hostel, Stabekk/Kveldsroveien (train to Stabekk, or bus 151, 153, 161, 162, 252 or 261 to Kveldsroveien), [12]. Outside the city border, extra fee needed if you have Oslo Transport card. Open May-August. In a picturesque neighbourhood close to the sea.
• Rønningen Youth Hostel, Rønningen (tram 11-12-13 or T-bane 4,5,6 to Storo, change to infrequent bus 56 to Rønningen), [13]. Open June-August, inconveniently located but nice.
• Perminalen, Kongens gate (T-bane to Stortinget, bus 30-31-32-54 to Wessels plass, tram 10-12-13-19 to Kongens gate, [14]. Bang in the centre, Perminalen offers slightly higher standards at slightly higher prices. OK cafe with good, old Norwegian homely grub at nice prices.

Mid-range

• Carlton Hotel, Parkveien 78 [15]. Conveniently located near Aker Brygge. 50 rooms, small but good value. Restaurant with japanese food.
• M/S Innvik, [16]. Theatre boat with cabin accommodation 10 min. walk from the train station. Nice cafe/pub and good views of the opera construction site.
• Radisson SAS Plaza Hotel, Sonja Henies Plass 3, [17]. With 37 floors and breathtaking views of Oslo and the Oslo Fjord, the Radisson SAS Plaza Hotel is Northern Europe’s highest and Norway’s largest hotel. Suited 3 min walk from the train station. Rooms from 1300 NOK.
• Radisson SAS Nydalen, Nydalesveien 33 (T Nydalen), tel. +47-2326-3000, [18]. New hotel in the new district of Nydalen, 15 minutes from the city center by subway. Choose from funky "Chilli" or more staid "Urban" rooms, Internet rates from 900 NOK with breakfast.

Splurge

• Hotel Continental Oslo, [19]. Located between the National Theatre and Aker Brygge, this family-run hotel has a large Vienna-style cafe (Theatercafeen) which is the place to be seen in Oslo. Outstanding service and prices to match, still considered fair value for money. Nice quiet bar with original Edvard Munch litographs.

• Grand Hotel Oslo, [20]. This is the hotel where Nobel Peace Prize winners stay when coming to Oslo for the award ceremony. Expensive and lots of services. Excellent view over main street "Karl Johans gate". Grand Cafe, at street level, was Henrik Ibsen's daily watering hole.

Contact

• Byråkrat [21], QBA (Grünerløkka) and Cafe Tiger all have free open wireless Internet. If you just want internet access, a cup of coffee for NOK 18 at Cafe Tiger is worth it.
• There are several open wifi connections on the upper level cafes at the train station Oslo Sentralstation, the subway station at Grønland. Inside the train station Oslo S On the third floor (one level up in the main hall) is the most complete Internet cafe - business center with full spectra of services and personnel onsite (www.arcticinternet.com). On the first and second floor, there are several automated stand alone computers setup for basic internet surfing, as well as an Internet cafe in the bus terminal next to the central station.
• Across from the Nationaltheatret next to a pub called Paddy's, there is an Internet café, and there are kiosks in the shopping center Oslo City in the downtown area and other wifi spots in the eastern fringes, such as the Deichmanske Bibliotek on Henrik Ibsens Gate.
• For a good overview of free WLAN sites look here: http://no.freewlan.org/index.php/Oslo (in norwegian).

Stay safe

The majority of the criminal incidents reported to the police continue to be theft-related. Although rare, violent crimes and crimes committed using a weapon are being perpetrated more frequently. However, it is much more likely for tourists to experience the crimes of pick-pocketing and petty theft, which occur in the major tourist areas, in hotel lobbies, in the train and transit stations, and in similar locations where groups of visitors gather. Police credit criminal youth gangs for the frequency of these criminal activities.

No areas are terminally unsafe, but be especially aware of your belongings in the central station and bus station. Although it is unlikely something will happen, keep your eyes open in crowded downtown areas, deserted suburbs, in and around T-bane and railway stations and at the main drag, Karl Johans gate (especially the part closest to the central station). The highest number of reported thefts occur around Grønland, especially along the Akerselva river, and close to Majorstuen T-bane station.

From Karl Johan's street and down to the harbour area, you'll find Oslo's red light district. Unfortunetaly criminal activity here is very visible. Prostitution is ongoing. Make sure that you decline, being kind but categorical, so as to not to get into trouble. In the same area, drug dealers and addicts are numerous. As long as you act friendly, problems are easy to avoid. Families should be aware of this area, so as to not expose children to these streets.

Also, in winter watch out for icy patches, and when wandering in the forest beware when crossing snowy clearings - they may well be frozen lakes with snow over them, which may look safe but could crack. Finally, beware of snow falling from the roofs in Oslo - there are usually yellow signs up (featuring the word "takras") and some areas are occasionally cordoned off.

If you have kids you should not let them walk around alone in the areas of Furuset, Romsås or Holmlia. These places are safe but youth groups are up to nothing good of kids visiting "their area".

Cope

Oslo is easy to get around in, and almost every Norwegian speaks English more or less fluently.

Get out

Day trips

• Kongsberg is a beautiful city well-known for its silver mining history. The city is located about an hour-and-a-half west of Oslo by train or bus. The Kongsberg International Jazz Festival is hosted here every year in early July.
• Fredrikstad is a very enjoyable city not far from Oslo, with an old, walled old town and lots of streetlife in summer. Trains run approx every hour, and express buses run about 10 times per day.
• Tønsberg is an attractive seaside town with an attractive city centre. It's the oldest town in Norway, and even if this isn't instantly visible, there's lots of history to digest. Train is the best way to get here.
• Drøbak is another of the picturesque, small seaside towns dotted all over southern Norway, and the closest to Oslo. Nice place to get away from the big city bustle, even if Drøbak also can become crowded in summer. Buses run at least hourly.

Further away

• Take the most beautiful train journey in the world: take the train to Bergen and pass the Hardangervidda.
• Go further north, go to Trondheim and eventually go to Bodø and Lofoten.
• In summer, try heading down the south coast, to places like Lillesand, Risør, Kragerø and Sandefjord, very picturesque and beautiful.
• In winter, go alpine skiing in Hemsedal, Lillehammer, Geilo or Beitostølen. (Or stay in the city for that — there is very good alpine and cross country skiing within Oslo city limits.)

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