Fascinating destinations from all over the world
The life work of Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland (1869–1943) is on permanent outdoor display at the Vigeland Sculpture Park, which sits inside Oslo's famous Frogner Park. The installation numbers 650 dynamic pieces fashioned in bronze, granite, and wrought iron.
Dating back to 1290, Akershus Fortress was originally built to protect and provide a royal residence for the city. Make sure you see the chapel with its tomb of Håkon VII (1872–1957). After wandering the grounds and scrambling over the ramparts, visitors have the option of exploring an unusual cultural facility, the Museum of the Norwegian Resistance.
During the Second World War, German forces used the fortress as a garrison. Enemies of the Nazi regime were executed here, including members of the Norwegian resistance. Akershus was liberated on May 11, 1945. Established as a foundation in 1966, the museum displays a fascinating collection of original equipment, photographs, and documents from the war years.
Also set within the Akershus Fortress is the Norwegian Armed Forces Museum, housed in Oslo's old Arsenal. The comprehensive display of weapons and military paraphernalia chronicles the history of the Norwegian forces from the Viking era to the present.
One of Oslo's most famous tourist attractions is the excellent Viking Ship Museum. The star exhibit is the completely whole 9th-century Oseberg ship (pictured)—the largest surviving pre-Christian artifact in Scandinavia.
Two other ancient vessels, the Gokstad ship and the Tune ship, complement the Oseberg. Other items on show in the museum, including wood carvings, clothing, and personal items, provide an absorbing insight into Viking life.
Oslo's National Gallery is home to one of the most famous paintings in the world, 'The Scream,' painted in 1893 by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch (1863–1944). Visitors should note that from June 2022, the painting, together with the gallery's entire collection. will be rehoused in a new National Gallery, which is set to become the largest art museum in the Nordic countries.
Likewise, the Munch Museum is also relocating to a new facility. The new museum, simply called Munch, is scheduled to open in October 2021 near the city's opera house. All 28,000 pieces of art are being moved, including this painting, 'Self-Portrait in Front of the House Wall,' which the artist created in 1926.
Guided tours of the royal residence are run in the summer months only and take in several rooms of significance including the Mirror Hall, Grand Hall, and the Banquet Hall.
Oslo's landmark Royal Palace (Slottet) is certainly worth investigating. Built in the first half of the 19th century as the Norwegian residence of the French-born King Charles III John of Norway, the palace sits regally in its own well-kept grounds and gardens, which are also accessible to the public.
The Museum of Cultural History is one of Norway's largest cultural history museums and deserves a good few hours of your time. The museum explores various aspects of human history: it holds the country's largest prehistoric and medieval archaeological collections, a substantial collection of medieval religious artifacts, and a runestone archive.
Typical of the museum's rare and valuable religious artifacts is this 13th-century fresco on wood, 'The Adoration of the Magi.'
This is a detail from the 'Legendary Stories of the Norse Epic of Siegfried' (derived from Norwegian mythology), a 12th-century carving originally decorating the doorway of the Stavkirke (Urnes Stave Church) in Hylestad and now displayed in the museum.
Another must-see museum themed around exploration is the Kon-Tiki Museum. Also sited on the Bygdøy peninsula, this excellent facility displays the Kon-Tiki, a raft of balsa wood of pre-Columbian model that Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl used to sail from Peru to Polynesia in 1947.
Enjoying a fabulous location on the peninsula of Bygdøy in Oslo is the Fram Museum. This is where to immerse yourself in the story of Norwegian polar exploration.
The museum is named after the iconic Fram (pictured), a famous vessel used in expeditions of the Arctic and Antarctic regions by a litany of well-known explorers, including Roald Amundsen (1872–1928).
The Oslo neighborhood of Holmenkollen is synonymous with skiing, and is recognized by the Holmenkollen ski jump. At the base of this iconic structure is the Holmenkollen Ski Museum. Founded in 1923, it chronicles an incredible 4,000 years of skiing history.
Oslo's top ecclesiastical draw is its handsome cathedral. Consecrated in 1697, the building has undergone numerous makeovers since, with the interior completely refurbished after the Second World War.
The cathedral's interior is a real eye-opener. The wonderful ceiling decorations are by celebrated Norwegian painter Hugo Lous Mohr (1889–1970). Admire, too, the beautiful Baroque pulpit and altar—original pieces from 1699.
Arguably the Norwegian capital's most famous landmark building, Oslo City Hall (Rådhuset) was constructed between 1931 and 1950 and features a facade embellished with sculptures and reliefs.
The interior is an equally dramatic canvas of paintings and frescoes created by Henrik Sørensen, Per Krohg, Edvard Munch, and other famous Norwegian artists. Indeed, it's a suitably impressive venue for the many events and functions that take place here, most notably the annual Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.
For shopping and dining out, head for Aker Brygge, Oslo's upscale commercial and residential hub that sits on a previously rundown industrial site.
Another good reason to saunter through Aker Brygge is to browse the trendy Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art. Showcasing an international contemporary art scene, expect to be dazzled by the works of artists such as Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol, Damien Hurst, and Frans Widerberg, among other influential head-turners. By the way, the bookcase in the photograph is made out of lead, a piece representative of the innovative leftfield art you can expect to come across at the museum.
The city has its own museum of natural history, which nestles in tidy botanical gardens and is maintained by the University of Oslo. The facility is divided into a zoological museum and a geological museum. Browse both before relaxing in the colorful and fragrant grounds.
The modernistic and angular Oslo Opera House is a waterfront cultural gem that's home to the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, as well as the National Opera Theatre. Clad in Italian marble and white granite, the building is as showy as the world-class productions it hosts year round.
Tread carefully through Grass Roots Square. Below your feet outside an unassuming office block are thousands of mini bronze figurines either taking the place of paving stones (which have been removed on purpose) or are gathered under them. The installation was created by Korean-American artist Do Ho Suh.
Actually, Oslo has a reputation for the original and offbeat. Pictured is Italian artist Monica Bonvicini's sculpture 'She Lies,' located in the water of Oslofjord in front of the opera house. The striking sculpture evokes the power of ice and water ever-present throughout Scandinavia.
Oslo's main street, the pedestrianized Karl Johans Gate thoroughfare, is lined with inviting bars, cafés, and restaurants and in fact connects Oslo railway station with the Royal Palace. Stop here for refreshments and good conversation.
Don't forget to explore beyond the city center. Oslofjord, an inlet peppered with islands studded with colorful residential properties, is a delight to discover and adds another dimension to your exploration of Oslo.
Sources: (National Geographic) (History Learning Site) (Cool Antarctica) (Nobel Prize)
See also: The most beautiful fjords on the planet
Oslo, the capital of Norway, is where the mountains and the sea meet. Founded as a city at the end of the Viking Age in 1040, Oslo enjoys a stunningly beautiful setting at the northernmost end of the Oslofjord. Surrounded by green hills that turn snow white in winter, the city is a pedestrian-friendly delight to discover. World-class museums and art galleries provide visitors with a cultural high, after which they can chill out in one of the many waterfront cafés and restaurants the destination is famous for. And then there are the islands and peninsulas of Oslofjord itself to explore. So, is Oslo on your mind?
Click through for ideas of where to go and what to see.
Aker Brygge serves as the city's entertainment hub and exudes a funky vibe day and night. A waterfront boardwalk surrounds a collection of modern buildings stunning in their design and architecture. But there are also several original shipyard warehouses that have been remodeled to lend the area a pleasant historical veneer.
Another one of Norway's most prominent venues for performance of dramatic arts is Oslo's National Theatre. Opened in 1899, among the inaugural performances was 'An Enemy of the People' by Henrik Ibsen. A statue of the Norwegian playwright stands outside the theater.
Is Oslo on your mind?
Exploring Norway's capital city
TRAVEL Norway
Oslo, the capital of Norway, is where the mountains and the sea meet. Founded as a city at the end of the Viking Age in 1040, Oslo enjoys a stunningly beautiful setting at the northernmost end of the Oslofjord. Surrounded by green hills that turn snow white in winter, the city is a pedestrian-friendly delight to discover. World-class museums and art galleries provide visitors with a cultural high, after which they can chill out in one of the many waterfront cafés and restaurants the destination is famous for. And then there are the islands and peninsulas of Oslofjord itself to explore. So, is Oslo on your mind?
Click through for ideas of where to go and what to see.