Oslo Off The Beaten Path

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The Holmenkollen ski jump arena is a great sight near Oslo and a wonderful way to get out of the city, and be among nature. it's the longest ski jump in the world and it's impressive: 110,5 metres. When there are no scheduled jumps, you can get to the top of the ski tower (60 metres high) for unforgettable views, and if you want to experience the thrill of a ski jump, well - this is possible, too... in the ski-simulator.

In the arena you can also visit the Ski Museum in Holmenkollen, founded in 1923, to learn about 4000 years of skiing history. 4000? Yes, rock-carvings were found depicting people with skis. The Holmenkollen arena is located at Kongeveien 5. Take metro 1 direction Frognerseteren and get off at Holmenkollen, about 30 minutes from downtown. Then walk uphill along the road.

Entrance to the ski museum and ski jump tower is NOK 70. If you simply want to admire the ski tower from "outside" or "down below", then it's free.

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Oslo fjord is a pectacular fjord and a good excuse to spend some time overwater. As there are no true sightseeing cruises in winter, we just hopped on the first ferry that came into town. Our destination: Nesodden - about 25 minutes from the city centre.

Ok, it was not a long trip, but it was very pleasant... not only we could admire Akershus fortress from thr sea - but we also managed to take in some little rocky islands along the way, and a very bizarre white church in the middle of the sea... overwater.

As far as I know, the ferry runs forth and back all day long - once every hour. If you have a day card, the trip will only cost you 25 NOK extra.

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Grünerløkka is a district in Oslo, and the place to be if you want to stroll around, go to cafés and restaurants, enjoy parks or even shopping.

Most foreign tourists still miss this district, but I think that's a shame. It is just outside the city center. Only 20 minutes walk from the heart of Grünerløkka to the central station. Or take a bus, tram or taxi.

It's the kind of gentrificated district most big cities have, that used to be for the working class, before the students, artists and immigrants made it lively and popular.

You won't find any other district in Norway packed with that many cafés, restaurants and pubs per km2. At day, especially in the week-ends, it's full of people taking a coffee or having a snack at all the cafés. In the evening, it's full of people in the restaurants, or at the bars.

It also has 3 very nice city parks. And you can walk along the nice river Akerselva.

You can do some shopping, too. Especially if you are bored of the typical shopping centers with nothing but chain stores.

If you are in Oslo, you should try to spend at least a few hours in Grünerløkka. I have spent almost 10 years, and I'm still not tired of the place!

If you want do something the locals do, and no tourists (at least not in Oslo), watch a footballgame. Football is the most popular sport in Norway.

There are two teams in the top division, Tippeligaen, in Oslo. Vålerenga and Lyn. Both are playing at Ullevaal Stadion.

VÅLERENGA is the most popular team in Norway. In 2005 they finally won the league after 25 years of disappoinments. Their fans, Klanen, is the best in the country, well known for their singing absolutely the whole game - no matter if the players do their job or not. This atmosphere is the best reason why you should go to a game. And don't worry, Norway don't have the same problems with hooligans that Sweden has. It is safe.

The most famous player in Vålerenga right now is probably Tore André Flo. He had success at Chelsea a few years ago, and also played for Glasgow Rangers, Sunderland and Siena. Ronny Johnsen won the Champions League with Manchester United in 1999.

LYN is Vålerengas rival. Lyns image, whether they like it or not, is upper class, while Vålerengas is working class. Lyn don't have as many fans as Vålerenga, and the atmosphere is not that good, but it has become better the last years.

To check out the fixtures go to uefa.com. The games with the best atmosphere is Vålerenga against Lyn, Rosenborg (from Trondheim), Lillestrøm and Brann (from Bergen).

You could also go to a game at the same stadium with the national team. But the game has to be pretty important, if you want a good atmosphere.

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Locals love to go mushroom hunting. There are hundreds of varieties of mushrooms. You can find them by just following a woodland path. You can purchase a book that catalogs them in just about any book shop.
Take extreme caution before you attempt to eat any unidentified mushrooms. There are many poisonous varieties that are very similar to edible varieties.
I was told by a local that they have stations set up in the city where you can bring mushrooms you have collected and have them identified. Though I did not look into it further.

Take the blue tram (number 18; direction Holtet, or 19; direction Ljabru) from town and you will enjoy a sightseeing and a great view as the tram climbs up the steep hills overlooking the city. Get off at Sjomannskolen, which looks like an old fortress (used to be a school for sailors). Cross the road (to the right) and keep walking straight ahead until you reach a small parking lot and a path that leads down to a grassy plateau. Here you will find a small cafe (the red little house) where they offer home-made cakes and treats which you can enjoy at the tables outside while admiring the stunning view over the Oslo fjord and the islands.

For some reason, I ended up in the front row of the audience for the Norwegian music programme beat to beat, a show where contestants try to guess the songs and also sing them aloud. It was quite strange and I didn't really understand stand the humour, mainly because it was in Norwegian))) They did sing ferry across the Mersey though (in Norwegian).

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When you get away from the centre you will find yourself in a total different environment of mountain area and forest. Just take the Metro to the end of the line somewhere in the mountain and take a walk around.