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Latest Oslo hotel reviews
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Favorite thing: Most of what I'd read about Karl Johansgate had been fairly unflattering and I was surprised to like it so much. Yes, it is a long pedestrianised street with many of the same shops and fast food outlets you see in cities all over the world but it also has the best of Oslo nearby in the way of public buildings and the sense of being in a capital city. A lot of Oslo is not very impressive architecturally and it's good to walk through Karl Johans gate regularly to appreciate some of its treasures.
Heading uphill from Oslo S, it is pretty unimpressive but pretty soon you pass the elegant Domkirke and the Parliament buildings and after that KJ gate widens out for the grand sweep up to the palace. The central park-like area here is delightful with large trees shading a walkway lined with stalls, an ornamental lake with fountains and statuary and lots of outdoor cafes. Next is Oslo University on one side and on the other, the imposing neoclassical Nationaltheatret with statues of Ibsen and Bjornson outside. From there it's a short hop to the Royal Palace, built without any walls or boundaries between it and the public.
From Karl Johans gate it's easy to find your way to the waterfront and Aker Brygge or to continue west to Frogner Park . I would recommend it as a good place to start your exploration of the city.
Updated Sep 28, 2009
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Favorite thing: I'd read so much about Grunerlokka being the 'happening' part of Oslo, that I almost expected to dislike it, as I frequently dislike areas that have been too hyped up by guide books.Happily, that didn't happen and it was here that I spent most time and that I loved most, along with the trips to the hills and the lake.
This is a formerly working class area to the east of the city centre that has been reborn as a sort of Left bank or Hampstead, with an influx of the young, enterprising and arty farty. Once you cross over the Akerselva river and start the long trek up Thorvald Meyers gate, the village atmosphere is immediately obvious. I'm sure there are office blocks and commercial premises here but what you notice are the cafes and bars, the funky shops with vintage clothes, the buildings with murals painted on the sides, small grocery and vegetable shops and the almost tangible feeling of relaxation you get from places that are pleasant to live in.
There are two parks along TM gate: first, the small and pretty Olav Ryes plass complete with fountain and further up, the large Sofienberg-parken with its elaborate pavillion. Parallel with TM gate is Markveien, another really great street for browsing and the best for second-hand shops and behind Markveien, is the riverbank walk dotted with tall redbrick chimneys and mills, remnants of the industrial past.
Because our hotel was just at the entrance to Grunerlokka we ate there most evenings and had long leisurely walks afterwards. There is an other side to life in Grunerlokka apparently, the seamier side I'd read about in the novels of Jo Nesbo, but this is certainly not obvious to the casual browser. We always felt comfortable walking there after dark and If I was working or living in Oslo, this is certainly where I'd go apartment hunting.
Updated Sep 28, 2009
Favorite thing: The Oslo Rådhus (City Hall) is a prominent building at the Oslo harbour front.
The building is designed by architects Arnstein Arneberg and Magnus Poulsson in 1918. In the 1920's a part of the old town center, the so-called Pipervika, was rebuild to free the space needed for the City Hall. The construction started in 1931, but was halted by World War II
The official opening was in 1950.
In this building the annual Nobel Peace Price presentation ceremony is held.
Updated Aug 22, 2009
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Favorite thing: Below few words in Norvegian that you can use while visiting Norway.
Where is ...?: Hvor er ...?
How much is the fare?: Hvor mye koster billetten?
One ticket to ..., please.: En billett til ..., takk.
Train: Tog
Bus: Buss
Subway, Underground: T-bane
Airport: Flyplass
Train station = Jernbanestasjon
Bus station: Busstasjon
Are there any vacancies for tonight?: Er det noe ledig for i natt?
No vacancies: Alt opptatt.
How much does this cost?: Hvor mye koster dette?
What is this?: Hva er dette?
I'll buy it.: Jeg kjøper det.
I would like to buy ...: Jeg vil gjerne ha ...
Do you have ...: Har du ...
Do you accept credit cards?: Tar dere kredittkort?
Tourist Information: Turistinformasjon
Museum: Museum
Bank: Bank
Police station: Politistasjon
Hospital: Sykehus
Store, Shop: Butikk
Restaurant: Restaurant
Church: Kirke
Restrooms: Toalett
one: en
two: to
three: tre
four: fire
five: fem
six: seks
seven: sju
eight: åtte
nine: ni
ten: ti
Day: Dag
Week: Uke
Month: Måned
Year: År
Monday: mandag
Tuesday: tirsdag
Wednesday: onsdag
Thursday: torsdag
Friday: fredag
Saturday: lørdag
Sunday: søndag
Today: I dag
Yesterday: I går
Tomorrow: I morgen
Written Mar 12, 2009
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Favorite thing: You know, but Paris has history, climate and all things what makes city interesting. What you can show me in Oslo ? Holmenkolen ? Opera and...???
I had accomodation at Radisson Scandinavia...believe me in Japan they have bigger rooms. And definitetly rate was hifger than in 5 stars hotel in centrum of tokyo
Prices,..hmmmmm In Paris I have always chioce. In Oslo not at all.
English...hmmm..that makes oslo more comfortable definitely to ask. BUT ask for WHAT? One cathedral closed because of renovation in the middle of toursit season. Aboud food..hmm I ate the worst sushi in my life. WHY in Norway on duty free all stuffs are more expensive than in a shops in the city?
To sum up I prefer no almost speking people in Japan, France than advance conversation in Oslo.
warm regards
Mergy
Written Jul 30, 2008
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Favorite thing: I backed from Oslo. And truly speaking I am a bit disspointed. this is a really small city nomore than 400 000 inhibitants..No climate. Except the new building of opera. There is nothing I will remember, in next 5 years.
Anything I liked was De Luca caffe or bar. Pretty nice coffee and chocolates nothing more. BUT the prices are really disguisting! Paris is much chipper.
We ate a dinner in a restaurant ikker brikke ... or omething believe me or not 250 $$ for dinner for two with 2 mohijtos. Oh my goodness. I have no idea what I should eat in Paris to pay such a bill ? 4 seasons maybe....
regards
Mergy
Written Jul 29, 2008
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Favorite thing: Norway is one of the largest petrol producing nations on earth, one would assume that petrol is relativley cheap. Think again - a litre of petrol set you back over US$ 3 or EUR 2.60 - take this in to consideration when planning a road trip, since fuel is almost double to other countries on earth!
Written Jul 15, 2008
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Favorite thing: A lot of VTers are confused about the 3 airports around Oslo, and how you can get to and from them, or between them.
And for the record, so nobody gets angry with me, Torp and Rygge is not in Oslo, Torp is actually in Sandefjord and Rygge is in Moss, but they are not that far from Oslo.
The 3 airports are:
Oslo International Airport Gardermoen (OSL) located about 20 minuttes north of Oslo. This one is the major one, so if you are looking connecting to domestic flight this is the airport you want to go to, unless you have several hours before your connecting flight.
Airport website: http://www.osl.no/index.asp?languagecode=9
You can get to and from Oslo using bus or train, there are 2 bus companies that operates this route, Flybussekpressen and Flybussen. Busses are generally a bit cheaper than train, but from Gardermoen I would reccomend the Airport express train, it is a lot faster, and a lot more comfortable, specially if you are going into Oslo City Centre. Airport express train website
Flybussen website
Flybussekspressen website
Gardermoen also have huge selections of trains and busses to other places in Norway, post a question on the Norway forum if you have any problems figuring it out :)
Sandefjord Airport Torp (TRF) located in Sandefjord about 2 hours southwest of Oslo. This airport also have international flights, specially RyanAir and Wizz Air have a lot of flights here.
Airport website: http://www.torp.no/Default.aspx?Language=EN&pkMenu=131
You can get to and from Oslo using bus or train, there are 1 bus company that operates this route, the Torp Ekspressen. There are also a number of companies that stops close to Torp (Fokserod), but that means you have to find a connecting buss to Fokserod (which is doable, but unneccesary if you are going to Oslo. If you are going down the south coast of Norway, i.e Kristiansand, however this is a good option)
Website of Torp Ekspressen
There is not a trainstation within walkingdistance from Torp, but there is a free shuttle bus between Torp Airport and Torp Trainstation. If you are going from Trop to Oslo Airport Gardermoen (OSL) the train is a good idea, because it goes past Oslo to Lillehammer, Gardermoen is one of its stops after Oslo. Website: http://www.nsb.no/?lang=en_US
Moss Airport Rygge (RYG) located in Moss about 1 hour southeast of Oslo. This new airport is mainly operated by Norwegian at the moment.
Airport website: http://www.en.ryg.no/
You can get to and from Oslo using bus or train, there are 2 bus companies that operates this route, Rygge Ekspressen and TIMEkspressen, the last one also takes you to Sarpsborg, Halden and even Stromstad in Sweden, so be carefull about which direction you embark on the airport.
Website of Rygge Ekspressen
TIMEksressen timetable (PDF)
There is not a trainstation within walkingdistance from Rygge, but there is a free shuttle bus between Rygge Airport and Rygge Trainstation. Website: http://www.nsb.no/?lang=en_US
For more information about Oslo, please visit my Oslo page
Written Jun 10, 2008
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Favorite thing: If you want to get your hands on some cash then you probably want to find an ATM (minibank). In Oslo an many other of the "big" cities in Norway you will find that most McDonalds restaurants and 7 Eleven have ATM on their premisses. These are usually well recognized by most people from all around the world - so go and get it!
Written Jun 3, 2008
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Favorite thing: There is a general shortage of hotel rooms on Oslo, so if you call a travelers agent and they tell you that everything is full, then they are probably right. So the only thing you can do about it is: BOOK EARLY! Even other cities around Oslo tends to get booked out due to this problem, I have heard of people who had to go all the way to Lillehammer (just so you know Lillehammer is 2 and a half hour away by car or train) to get a room, and that was when they tried to book one week ahead.
Written Jun 1, 2008
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