Oslo is one of the world’s largest capitals, but only 20 percent of its area is urbanized – the rest is parks, forests, hills and hundreds of lakes. Parks and open spaces are an integral part of Oslo’s cityscape and are easily accessible from almost anywhere in the city.
Oslo’s city center is a pleasure to explore on foot, with numerous paths and trails connecting its public spaces, as well as many pedestrian-friendly areas, including the city’s main street, Karl Johans gate. Stretching from Oslo Central Station near the waterfront to the Royal Palace, this wide avenue passes many of Oslo’s tourist attractions, including the palace itself, the National Theatre, old university buildings and Oslo Cathedral.
The capital of Norway boasts a rich cultural life and numerous events, and is also famous for its theatres, museums and galleries.
VIGELAND SCULPTURE PARK
The famous Vigeland Sculpture Park, which is located in the famous Frogner Park in Oslo, is one of Norway’s most striking tourist attractions. Open throughout the year, this unique sculpture park is the work of Gustav Vigeland and contains 650 dynamic sculptures in bronze, granite and wrought iron. Most of the sculptures are in five thematic groups along an 853 meter long axis. The oldest of them is a group of fountains depicting the cycle of human life, behind which is visible a 16-meter monolith containing 121 intertwined human bodies.
The rest of Frogner Park, where there are ample green areas for picnics, recreation areas, a huge rose garden and the largest children’s playground in the country, will be no less interesting for tourists. Here you can also find the Oslo City Museum and the Vigeland Museum, which is located next to the park.
AKERSHUS CASTLE
On the banks of the Oslofjord stands the majestic Akershus Fortress, built by Hakon V at the end of the 13th century. This is the main citadel, which for many centuries protected Oslo from sudden invasions from the sea. Wander the surrounding ramparts, enjoy stunning views of the harbour, visit the extraordinary chapel containing the tomb of Hakon VII (1872-1957) and explore the remains of the original medieval castle.
Also on site is the Museum of the Norwegian Resistance and the Museum of the Norwegian Armed Forces, with exhibits illustrating the history of Norwegian forces and the defense of Norway over the centuries.
VIKING SHIP MUSEUM
No trip to Norway would be complete without visiting at least one of the many museums and exhibitions dedicated to the country’s glorious past – the Viking Age. One of the best such museums is the Viking Ship Museum, which houses three historic ships from the 9th century.
The best preserved is the 21-meter Oseberg ship , the largest surviving pre-Christian artifact in Scandinavia. This luxuriously decorated vessel, the so-called “last voyage boat”, was built around 800 AD. and was used as a sarcophagus for a Viking queen and two other women, her slaves. They were buried with a large number of items, including furniture, clothing and personal effects, which provide great insight into Viking life.
Other vessels on display are the 23-metre Gokstad offshore vessel, designed for use under sail or oars, and the small Tune Ship . The museum’s film, Vikings Live, tells the fascinating story of these artifacts and demonstrates the long process of shipbuilding.
The museum’s collection includes many additional exhibits and films that provide insight into Viking life on the seas.
NATIONAL MUSEUM
The Oslo National Museum includes the National Gallery and the National Museum of Architecture, as well as additional collections of contemporary art and design. The Oslo National Gallery houses the country’s largest art collection, featuring works by Norwegian artists from the 19th century to the present day, including works by J.C. Dahl and several works by Edvard Munch, including his most famous work, ” Scream.”
The new National Museum, due to be completed in 2020, will house the collections of the now closed Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, as well as the collections of the National Gallery.
MUNCH MUSEUM (MUNCHMUSEET)
Dedicated to the life and work of Norway’s greatest artist, Edvard Munch (1863-1944) , the Munch Museum contains an extensive collection of paintings, drawings, drawings, watercolors and sculptures from the life of the great artist. The museum houses almost 28,000 works of art. Also presented here are personal belongings, tools and the private library of E. Munch.
The museum constantly organizes special exhibitions dedicated to certain aspects of the work of the great Norwegian, as well as film screenings, concerts, excursions and lectures.
ROYAL PALACE
The Norwegian Royal Palace, built in 1825, rises at the north-western end of Karl Johannsgate and dominates the city skyline. The impressive 173-room building is open to the public only in the summer and only as part of organized tour groups. English-language tours are offered 4 times daily and include the Reception Room, White Salon, Hall of Mirrors, Great Hall, Banquet Hall and other important rooms in the palace.
All year round, visitors can freely stroll through the grounds and royal gardens or watch the regular changing of the guard. South of the palace is the Norwegian Nobel Institute, where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded.
MUSEUM OF CULTURAL HISTORY, OSLO
The Museum of Cultural History includes the Viking Ship Museum and oversees the City History Museum, which explores various aspects of human history. It houses the largest collection of Egyptian artefacts in Norway, including mummies and funerary objects.
The museum’s extensive Medieval Gallery displays an impressive collection of everyday objects, as well as several examples of ecclesiastical art and religious artifacts. There is also a large exhibition on the history of gold coins, including examples of coins from the last 2,600 years. The museum also houses many temporary exhibits and continues to add to its Viking Age exhibition, which contains rare items such as a preserved Viking helmet.
FRAM MUSEUM
The Fram Museum is dedicated to the history of polar expeditions and is a must-see for those interested in Arctic exploration. The museum got its name from the first Norwegian ship Fram, built specifically for polar research. He is also the main star attraction of the museum, thanks to many successful polar journeys. Also here you can see the ship Gjoa – the first ship to navigate the Northwest Passage.
The adjacent building houses the Kon-Tiki Museum, whose exhibition is dedicated to Thor Heyerdahl, famous for sailing from Peru to Eastern Polynesia in 1947 on his famous raft. The museum also houses the 14-meter papyrus boat Ra II, on which Heyerdahl crossed the Atlantic in 1970. While visiting, be sure to visit the nearby Norwegian Maritime Museum, with fascinating exhibitions on fishing, shipbuilding and maritime archaeology, as well as an impressive collection of ship models and paintings.
OSLO CATHEDRAL
Oslo Cathedral was consecrated in 1697. Since then it has been rebuilt and updated many times. The cathedral’s tower was rebuilt in 1850 and its interior was renovated shortly after the end of World War II. Notable features include the main doorway with decorated bronze doors, a painted ceiling by H. L. More, a Baroque pulpit with altar (1699) and stunning stained glass by Emanuel Vigeland, brother of the famous sculptor.
After visiting the cathedral, be sure to visit Oslo’s market rows, located right along the old church walls. The market was built in 1841 and now houses art galleries, cafes and antique shops.
OSLO CITY HALL
The huge Oslo City Hall (Rådhuset) is undoubtedly one of the city’s main attractions. This imposing square building, built of concrete faced with brick, was designed by Arnstein Arneberg and Magnus Poulson and has two towers, one of which is decorated with a huge clock face. The tower also houses 38 bells that can be heard in the harbor.
The charming facade with sculptures and bas-reliefs is in no way inferior to the interior of the Town Hall, the pearl of which is, of course, the luxurious fresco created by Henrik Sørensen, Per Krogh, Edvard Munch and other famous Norwegian artists.