Travel Guide to Oslo, Norway

The capital of Norway Oslo takes place in a picturesque fiord, and though it's a big and modern city, nature still has a great influence. Oslo is the oldest capital among the Scandinavian countries. It has the population of about 500 000 people, who have the reputation of being very friendly and hospitable. The center of Oslo is big and cozy, and almost all the places of interest are located in a foot walk distance.

The city has all the grounds to be called the cultural capital. There one can find plenty of interesting museums, unique monuments of architecture and marvelous pieces of art. Take, for example, the City Hall with its unusual towers, the Akershus Fortress oк the attractive Aker Brygge Quay with its numerous terraces. In the main street of the city (Karl Johansgata) your attention first of all will be caught by the Royal Palace. There also take place a lot of shops, where you can find everything you need. Fashionable boutiques, posh restaurants, old-style breweries – all this is Karl Johansgata.

The Ethnographic Museum of Norway. The Ethnographic Museum of Norway is one of the biggest open-aired museums of Europe, devoted to the culture and traditions of Norway. It's situated in a scenic place and gives an opportunity to have a look on the way of life of the ancient Norwegian. On the territory of the museum you'll find the reconstructions of more than 150 traditional buildings, you can also visit the exhibitions and learn more about the regional traditional costumes, folk-art and culture of natives. More than that, in summer a lot of musical and dancing festivals are organized there. Not to make you bored, they offer trips by carriages, exhibitions of artistic handicraft, for children there is a special playground and an old-style confectionary store. You should also spend some your time in the wooden church, built in 1200.

The Akershus Fortress. The Akershus is one of the greatest sights of Oslo. Built in 1300, the erection served as the royal tower house. In 1592 it was expanded and turned into a fortress, which in the 17th century became the palace in the Renaissance style. It can boast of numerous fabulous halls for banquets and official receptions. I the royal mausoleum among other things the relics of the two latest kings of Norway are kept. The palace, surrounded by a marvelous park, sometimes is used for special occasions. A part of the fortress serves as a garrison. The Changing of the Guard ceremony every day attracts plenty of tourists. Besides that, in summer on there territory of the fortress various concerts and performances are organized.

The Kon-Tiki Museum. In two years' time after the Second World War the Norwegian scientist Thor Heyerdahl decided to do a very strange for those times thing – he set out on his expedition. Later it was called one of the most challenging adventures of the 20th century: together with the 5 helpmates he swam over Peru, crossed the Pacific Ocean and got to Polynesia. Everybody considered it to be impossible, but he managed to do it and on the 7th of August 1947, after 101 days he saw the atoll of Raroia in the centre of the South Sea. And we shouldn't forget that all this time he swam by a wooden raft, called 'Kon Tiki'. In the Kon-Tiki Museum you can look not only at the original of the raft, but the instruments and water crafts of the other expeditions of Thor Heyerdahl. But the greatest things there are the statues from Easter Island and the world biggest fish – the 10-meter whale shark.

The Vigeland Sculpture Park. The Vigeland Sculpture Park is one of the most popular sights of Oslo that attracts more than a million of visitors a year. In the unique garden you'll see more than 200 of human-sized sculptures (some of them are even larger). They were created by Gustav Vigeland (1869–1943), who used to live in Oslo for a while. The figures describe the world of human feelings: sorrow, joy, love… The greatest impression you'll get from the 17-meter stone Monolith, which was made from 121 bodies. It's the biggest granitic sculpture in the world. But Vigeland is not only the author of the sculptures, he also projected the park itself. The park is an idyllic place with duck ponds and shady alleys.

The Munch Museum. When still alive the Norwegian Edward Munch (1863–1944), along with Picasso had the reputation of the greatest artist of those times. Munch bequeathed lot of his works to Oslo. The collection of the Munch Museum has more than 5000 drawings, graphic works and paintings. Unfortunately his well-known 'The Scream' is not there. After the occasion, when in 2004 it was stolen and was found only two years later, it's kept in the National Museum of Norway.

Read more about Oslo:
Restaurants and cuisine in Oslo
'Must visit' places in Oslo
Nightlife and attractions in Oslo
Preparing for Oslo: Advices
Oslo photogallery