Whether or not you’re taking advantage of the midnight solar or deep at nighttime depths of the northern winter, you’ll discover lots to do in Oslo, Norway’s capital metropolis.
New openings in recent times – the Deichman Library, Munch and the Nationwide Museum – replicate town’s dedication to preserving cultural heritage for hundreds of years to come back. And there’s loads of inventive and literary creativity to have fun right here: Not solely did native landscapes encourage artworks by painter Edvard Munch, Oslo was additionally house to Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen for the final 15 years of his life. Should you’re planning to benefit from town’s many museums, it’s value shopping for the Oslo Pass that provides free admission to 30 completely different sights in addition to use of the general public transportation system.
The Viking Ship Museum (Vikingskipshuset) stays closed till 2026 whereas development of a brand new state-of-the-art constructing is ongoing, however there are lots of different wonderful issues you are able to do in Oslo proper now. Listed here are the perfect.
Go to town’s latest attraction, the world-class Nationwide Museum
With the biggest assortment of artwork and design in Norway, the brand-new Nationwide Museum is now the most important museum within the Nordics. Don’t rush your go to – there are 6500 objects on show throughout 86 rooms. Comply with the chronological path to discover the most effective artwork, design, structure, crafts, and fashions from antiquity to the current day, seeing how they’ve formed or mirrored society.
There’s a small assortment of Munch’s work, together with The Scream, and also you’ll additionally spot acquainted names corresponding to Vincent van Gogh and Georgia O’Keeffe. Study Norway’s folks tales and legends within the Fairy Story Room and you should definitely go to the third-floor Gentle Corridor, an uncommon gallery house with partitions product of a glass-and-marble composite, presently exhibiting works by up to date Norwegian artists.
Expertise a fjord-side sauna
Finnish sauna tradition has been adopted by Oslo over the past 10 years or so and has grow to be a preferred factor to do on the harborside. Costume in swimwear and sit on a bench in a paneled room that’s heated to 80–95°C (176-200°F) by a wood-burning range. A towel is really useful to cease an uncomfortable burn in your butt.
From non-public saunas to very large group occasions with comedy, DJs and theater leisure, cultural hub SALT has a sauna that holds as much as 80 folks. With a most capability of 10, KOK’s floating saunas are discovered at Aker Brygge and Bjørvika. If a slow-cook close to the harbor isn’t non-public sufficient for you, ebook your self on a KOK cruise. The entire unit is a ship that may dock at a extra secluded a part of the fjord. Be sure you soar in, both from the roof or straight from the deck – it’s chilly however exhilarating.
Have fun Norway’s favourite sculptor, Gustav Vigeland
Vigelandsparken is a free-to-visit sculpture park dominating Frognerparken to the western suburbs of Oslo. Greater than 200 unbelievable granite, iron and bronze works right here type the life’s work of prolific Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland. He was impressed by the advanced nature of humankind, which is mirrored within the twisted positions and facial expressions of lots of his figures.
Right here you’ll see the whole lot from a traditional Greek-style fountain made up of muscular males weighed down by a dish, to family-like teams together with mid-tantrum youngsters with sulky expressions, and the distinctive bronze Little Scorching-head, a baby in a rage. The outstanding centerpiece is the 17m-tall (56ft) Monolith, a single piece of granite carved to type a huddle of 121 separate human figures. Close by, the Vigeland Museum, housed in a Neoclassical constructing, provides a extra in-depth have a look at the artist’s work.
Study and create at Deichman Library
While you go to Deichman, throw away any ideas of a conventional library. This six-floor ethereal art-filled house – voted Public Library of the Yr in 2021 – goals to be not solely a lender of books, however a heat and welcoming atmosphere for individuals who need to study, create, discover, work, and socialize.
Need to discover ways to make garments? There’s a complete part of stitching machines so that you can reserve. Desirous about how 3D-printing works? You may give it a go. There are music rooms the place you may borrow and observe devices, video games to play, a stage overlooking the fjord, and even cinemas, all free for public use. For these preferring a extra typical library expertise, don’t fear: The cabinets maintain 450,000 books with loads of quiet seating areas dotted across the constructing.
Get out on the fjord by catamaran, boat, kayak or SUP
You may fortunately stare upon Oslo Fjord from the harborside, however it’s so significantly better to get out on the glowing water for a better look. Make a day of it on the spectacular all-electric catamaran Legacy of the Fjords, which glides virtually silently throughout the water on its two journeys per day (1h 45mins) to the island of Oscarsborg (additionally served by commuter ferries B21 and B22), the place you may discover the historic Oscarsborg Fortress.
For a shorter and cheaper fjord journey, head out on the commuter routes which can be included within the Oslo Move. Route B2 departs from Aker Brygge to close by Hovedøya, Gressholmen and Langøyene, and B10 heads for Nesoddtangen, which takes round 20 minutes. Should you’re on the lookout for one thing somewhat extra lively, Mad Goats rents out kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and provides guided kayak excursions of the fjord.
Delve deep into the works for Edvard Munch
Munch opened on the waterfront in Bjørvika in October 2021 as a brand new house for the gathering that the artist Edvard Munch bequeathed to town 4 years earlier than his loss of life in 1944. Throughout 11 galleries, you may see The Scream (sure, there’s a model right here too), in addition to work, prints and sketches exploring themes of illness, melancholy, and nature. Altering reveals with new interpretations of Munch’s artwork hold the shows contemporary and interesting.
Get pleasure from fantastic fjord views from the upper ranges of this glass-and-steel constructing, with positive eating in Twelfth-floor Bistro Tolvte and a chic Thirteenth-floor cocktail bar. Don’t miss The Mom by Tracey Emin. The curves of the brand new bronze sculpture distinction with all these harborside angles, sitting fjord-facing on the pier outdoors the museum.
Stroll up the angled roof of the opera home
One among Oslo’s waterfront architectural masterpieces is the opera home, house to the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet. The glass-and-marble construction was designed by award-winning architects Snøhetta to resemble a glacier, with the intention of not solely creating state-of-the-art rehearsal rooms and efficiency halls (excursions can be found), but in addition to offer a brand new house for public use. The angled roof is accessed straight from floor stage – via strolling a collection of steps or steep sloped sections you attain the rooftop the place there are panoramic views over the harbor and town.
Hear the excellent news outdoors the Nobel Peace Museum
The Nobel Peace Museum adjustments its show each November to honor the newest winner or winners of the Peace Prize. In 2021-22 the prize went to Russian editor Dmitiri Muratov and Philippine journalist Marisa Ressa who’ve relentlessly labored for freedom of the press, questioning, difficult and pushing their governments for solutions, typically in harmful circumstances.
A hands-on exhibit explores the legacy of the Peace Prize, giving guests the possibility to see what sort of peacemaker they could be. Should you’re close by at noon on a Friday (April to October) pay attention out for the “excellent news” announcement, the place one thing optimistic that has occurred on the earth is acknowledged. A dove is symbolically launched from a window of the museum to ship the excellent news out into the world.
Claire traveled to Oslo by invitation from Visit Oslo.
