Tune into Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio this weekend to hear Peter talking travel from the Thon Hotel Opera next to the stunning Oslo Opera House.
Have a burning travel question or want to know more about Norway’s capital city? Call Peter live at 888-88-PETER Saturday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET, or email him anytime at peter @ petergreenberg.com.
Nearby forests and hiking trails aren’t typically characteristic of a sprawling urban city, but Oslo, Norway’s capital and largest city, holds a surprising abundance of diversity from its landscape to cultural activities.
With only 530,000 residents, Oslo maintains a balance of a big city (relative to the rest of Norway) with wooden houses that line historic streets, giving the city a small-town sensibility that ties in with its deep historical roots.
Because Oslo is situated on the Oslo Fjord bay, which runs for nearly 60 miles on the coast of Norway, there’s no shortage of outdoor activities that are water-related; ice skating, kayaking and hiking along the coast are easily accessible from Oslo. Viking fans will enjoy the city’s deep-rooted history, as Oslo was founded by a Viking king in 1,000 A.D.
The Viking Ship Museum holds two of the most pristinely preserved Viking ships in the world, which were built in the 9th century, as well as a Viking tomb and other artifacts. The Historical Museum also features well-preserved Viking art, coins and artifacts.
Aside from paying homage to its Viking history, there’s no shortage of museums in Oslo. Case in point: Munch is to Oslo as Gaudi is to Barcelona. Edvard Munch is Oslo’s most renowned artist and makes the city an aesthetically interesting place to explore. The Munch Museum (www.munch.museum.no) and National Gallery (www.nationalmuseum.no) both display his expressionist art, but other artists’ works can be seen as decor around the city.
The 212 sculptures in Vigeland Park (www.vigeland.museum.no), which is completely open to the public, are a perfect example of that. More than one million visitors per year visit the park, designed by Gustav Vigeland, who sculpted the pieces in bronze, granite and cast iron.
The recently-opened Oslo Opera House (www.operaen.no) is the first of its kind in the country. As home to the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, it serves as the biggest cultural institution in the country with three stages that can house nearly 2,000 people. Tours are available in English Friday through Sunday at 2 p.m. for about $14. Opera lovers should plan their trip around the Oslo Opera Festival, which takes place in early September.
The Flam Railway (www.flaamsbana.no/eng) is a great way to see more of Norway from afar. The 12-mile journey begins on the Bergen Railway in Myrdal, which is about 200 miles from Oslo, and heads down to Aurlandfjord. As scenic as the route is, reconsider the trip if heights aren’t your thing: the railway boasts the title of being one of the steepest in the world with a 2,838 foot descent.
The Arctic Circle Express is another option if you have more time to spend, which follows a path from Stockholm, Sweden, up to the Arctic Circle, then back down though Norway, ending in Oslo. Passengers can choose bits and pieces of the journey if their time is limited.
For more information on specific attractions, restaurants, events and more, visit www.visitoslo.com, the official travel and visitor’s guide to the city. Also, check out the Oslo Pass, which at $32 per day, gives you access to all public transportation, most major sights and museums and major discounts on special services like car hire.
By Dara Bramson for PeterGreenberg.com.
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