Oslo -- also see Bergen
Norway has often been ranked by the United Nations as the best country in the world to live, because it has the world's highest standard of living and superior levels of education, income and life expectancy. This also makes it a great place to visit. All in all, you will be delighted with Oslo, the capital of Norway.
Three Days in Oslo
You cannot get lost in Oslo. The fascinating downtown is a compact area just one mile long and a half-mile wide, filled with the typical European variety of shops, parks, restaurants, museums, scenic waterfront and historic sights to keep you highly entertained for several days.
All in all, you will be delighted with your visit to Oslo and Norway, which the United Nations has ranked as the best country in the world to live, because it has the world's highest standard of living and superior levels of education, income and life expectancy.
Oslo's population is only 550,000, making it the smallest Scandinavian capital, yet the city's official boundaries sprawl far into the rural countryside for 175 square miles, half of which is forest. Another half million people reside in the surrounding region of the Oslo Fjord area.
Day One
The Shopping Mile
Start your explorations of Oslo on the main street, Karl Johans Gate, which begins at the train station and continues for one mile to the Royal Palace. This boulevard is definitely the center of town, buzzing with people all day long.
Karl Johans has fine shops and restaurants along both sides in the neighborhood of the train station where it is a lively pedestrian mall extending for six blocks, with several enticing side streets also reserved for pedestrians.
The Central Park
After passing the Parliament, Karl Johans runs alongside the very pretty Studenterlunden Park in the heart of Oslo. This small park is Oslo's major gathering place in fair weather, serving as an outdoor living room.
The busy garden café in the middle is an excellent place to stop for drinks and a light meal, or just sit on a bench and watch the entertainers who often show up in front of the Parliament.
University
At the next block along Karl Johans you find the oldest university buildings in Oslo, which were opened in 1854, a few decades after the University of Oslo was founded in 1811.
These buildings are now used for administration rather than classes because the main part of campus which accommodates about 30,000 students is outside the city center.
Royal Palace
Karl Johans Gate ends just beyond the university at the lush garden surrounding the Royal Palace, which was built by King Karl Johan, a French general placed on the Swedish and Norwegian thrones by Napoleon.
National Theater
Just in front of the palace you will notice the National Theater, the most important stage in Norway. The building dates from 1899 and is quite beautiful inside and out with a mix of baroque and rococo elements.
City Hall
From the theater it is an easy two-block walk towards the waterfront to see the impressive home of the city government. City Hall was built between 1931 and 1950 in what was then the very modern style of Functionalism.
The Harbor
City Hall faces the harbor, where there is a major focus of activities in Oslo: a large restaurant mall, historic sights and excursion boat services.
Akershus Castle
On the other side of the harbor you will see the imposing Akershus Castle and Fortress, which is Oslo's oldest and most historic attraction, built between 1299 and 1319.
Old Town
The oldest buildings of Oslo can be found in several blocks between the fortress and the Parliament. This part of town offers a pleasant place for a city stroll with shops, restaurants and historic buildings.
Cathedral Square
When finished with this old section, walk a couple of blocks inland to the Oslo Cathedral (Domkirche), built in 1697. Today it sits on one of the main squares of town along Karl Johan Gate.
Day Two
City Tour and Museums
A two-hour bus tour with a local guide perfectly complements the walking itinerary, taking you to a couple of important sights beyond walking distance — the Holmenkollen Ski Jump and Frogner Park.
Ski Jump
The first competition at Holmenkollen in 1892 used only the natural slope. Later a wooden jump was built, followed by a concrete tower used for the 1952 Winter Olympics.
Vigeland Sculpture Park
The Vigeland Sculpture Park is often cited as Oslo's top attraction. It features an amazing collection of 200 statues by Gustav Vigeland arranged in one of the world's most interesting sculpture gardens.
National Gallery and Historical Museum
These fascinating museums are free and certainly worth at least one hour each. The National Gallery is the most important art museum in the country with an excellent collection of European paintings.
Munch
One stunning room is filled with the work of Edvard Munch, Norway's most famous artist, including his iconic painting "The Scream."
Day Three
Bygdoy Peninsula Museums
Start your day with a ten-minute ferry ride from the docks in front of City Hall across the harbor to the Bygdoy Peninsula, where several outstanding museums are located.
Norwegian Folk Museum
Imagine traveling back to the 19th century and seeing all of Norway in one small park with original farm houses, country manors and village centers. That is exactly what you will find at the Norwegian Folk Museum.
There is sometimes musical entertainment going on, especially at the scheduled folk dance performances at 2:00 pm in the outdoor amphitheater on selected Sundays in the summer.
Another nice time to catch traditional folk music and dancing is at the special Norwegian Evening event, beginning at 5:30 pm every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Viking Ship Museum
After the folk park, walk about ten minutes to the Viking Ship Museum. This small museum contains two large Viking ships and many fascinating artifacts from the Viking era.
Munch Museum
Art lovers should visit the Munch Museum, which houses about 1,000 paintings by Edvard Munch displayed in rotation inside a large modern building.
Beyond Oslo
Oslo is a great city, but Norway is even more famous for its rugged natural beauty, with steep mountains, deep fjords and incredible offshore islands.
One of the most popular excursions is the journey called "Norway in a Nutshell," which includes a train ride through Alpine landscapes, a rack-rail journey to Flam, and a boat ride through the spectacular Sognefjord.
Watch the Oslo overview video →
Watch the Oslo downtown video →
Watch the Oslo Old Town and Opera House video →
Watch the Oslo waterfront and City Hall video →