A Long Weekend in Oslo

discovering Norway's beautiful capital

Aug 18, 2024

Hello friends! Happy Sunday! I hope this post finds you well rested, curled up in your most favourite comfy afternoon reading spot, and in the mood for some armchair travelling. I am here today to share my latest travel guide: A Long Weekend in Oslo, Norway! Please forgive my general tardiness in bringing you said guide - it has, after all, been 3-months since our visit - but I’m hopeful it’ll have been worth the wait. Shall we?

Firstly, I must confess, I was totally blown away by Oslo! I had a mild pre-trip panic when I realised that everyone online kind of dumps on the city in favour of the beautiful countryside and fjords etc. I had to dig deep to find any worthwhile guides saying nice things about the city, and I started to imagine we were off to some cold and miserable concrete jungle. However! I was genuinely overwhelmed by how beautiful the city was; it’s gorgeous! Beautiful buildings, streets, parks, greenery, the waterfront - all of it!

Coincidentally, our trip to Oslo happened to coincide with Norway’s National Day - May 17th, Constitution Day - and this made our visit all the more joyful! We got to enjoy the parades, see everyone dressed up in their traditional garb, and generally soak up the happiness that overwhelmed the city - it was so lovely!

before you visit

Just some useful pieces of information to know if you’re heading to Oslo!

Norway do not use the euro! The currency is the Norwegian kroner, written as NOK. At the time of our visit, €5 was about NOK55, give or take.
the country is extremely safe and every single person we encountered was ridiculously friendly! Everyone was so intrigued as to what brought two Irish people to the Norway Day celebrations, but they all made us feel so welcome and included 😊
alcohol is expensive in Norway! The average bottle of house wine in a restaurant was coming in around €53 - which is just insane. Pro tip: do like the locals and buy your alcohol in the supermarket! On our way to our hotel, we stopped at a Vinmonopolet - the equivalent of our off-licenses! - and bought some wine to have in our hotel room. There was a huge selection and prices were comparable to what we’d be used to here in Ireland. #smartsavings!
also, food in restaurants/take out shops is super expensive! For example, a soft-serve ice cream - the Norwegian equivalent of an Irish 99, which costs €3 - was €8 in Oslo. Was it worth it and totally awesomesauce? Yes, but… if we were heading back, we’d probably opt to stay in an apartment and cook our own meals.

fun facts

I know you love a fun fact just as much as I do!

Norway is one of the happiest countries in the world! Coming in at number 7 this year, the country has been in the top 10 since the creation of the World Happiness Report more than 12-years ago! And honestly, it’s not surprising; everyone there was so friendly, welcoming, and, you guessed it, happy!
in northern Norway, the sun literally does not set during the summer! Isn’t that just mind boggling? I experienced something similar when I visited Iceland in June a couple years back and it’s such a fun experience!
Norwegians are the second biggest consumers of coffee in the world! Surpassed only by Finland, the average Norwegian drinks about three cups of the good stuff a day. Sounds like Husband and I would be welcomed with open arms!
not technically a fun fact, but Norway have their own version of KitKat - Kvikk Lunsj - and they are so! good! Literally translating to ‘quick lunch’, we actually think they might be ever-so-slightly better than the humble KitKat: thicker chocolate layer, moreish wafer, and generally cuter packaging! If you’re looking to investigate the matter further, I rather enjoyed this KitKat v Kvikk Lunsj piece on The Guardian.
related: Freia, the brand that makes Kvikk Lunsj, was the inspiration behind Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! Although Dahl was born in the UK, his parents were both Norwegian! Mad.
Norway has a royal family and the current reigning monarch, King Harald V, has been in power since 1991! However, although King Harald V is officially the head of state, his duties are mainly representative and ceremonial, much like the royals in the UK.

getting there

I’m pleased to report that getting into Oslo city centre was actually very easy! Here’s how we made our way into town:

we flew direct from Dublin Airport to Oslo Gardermoen Airport with Scandinavian Airlines. It was our first time flying with SAS, and we were pretty impressed - they offer free tea and coffee to all passengers! Not as nice as Lufthansa’s water and chocolate, perhaps, but just as appreciated! The flight took just under 2-hours.
from Oslo Airport, we took a local R12 train headed in the direction of Kongsberg to Nationaltheatret station. The train station is located in the airport terminal, and making our way there was super easy due to excellent sign-posting. We purchased two one-way tickets with a friendly employee at the station, costing NOK280 in total. The journey took ~30-minutes.
from Nationaltheatret station, we walked an easy 13-minutes to our hotel, below.
on our return to the airport four days later, we took the R12 train back from Nationaltheatret station, this time heading in the direction Eidsvoll. The tickets, which we purchased at a machine, cost the same price as before: NOK280 in total.
pro tip: avoid the touristy Flytoget train! It takes the same length of time as the regular train, but the prices are much higher! For instance, on the Flytoget, two one-way tickets would’ve cost us NOK480 in total. So not worth it!

where we stayed

Oslo Guldsmeden Hotel // the cutest little boutique hotel! We actually read about the hotel on Jana’s blog, and I’m so glad we took her advice; we really enjoyed our stay here! Wonderfully located in the beautiful Aker Brygge district, this was within walking distance to everywhere we wanted to visit in the city. Our room was kitted out with a gorgeous four poster bed and some lovely homey touches - vintage radio/speaker etc. - the soundproofing was good, and the staff were helpful. We skipped breakfast and opted for room only, but a kindly staff member allowed us to take a free cup of coffee each morning! Would warmly recommend. Address: Parkveien 78, 0254 Oslo

where we had coffee & pastries

Åpent Bakeri // the cutest, most magical cafe visit ever! We arrived here early en route to Viegland Sculpture Park, below, and boy were we lucky to get seats - there was a queue out the door when we were leaving! After devouring our kanelboller and coffees in record breaking time - snorting is probably a more appropriate word - we ventured back in to order a round of pain au chocolat each. Every single morsel was as delicious, tender, and flavourful as the last. To top it all off, we enjoyed this breakfast outside in the speckled sunlight, sitting under gorgeous cherry blossom trees that lightly rained delicate pink petals down over us. It was so magical and joyous! See also: where we ate lunch, below. A must visit. Address: Inkognito Terrasse 1, 0256 Oslo

Baker Hansen // another solid kanelboller option! We opted for one standard kanelboller and one jubileumsboller, a vanilla-custard variation, to share between us and both were delightful! Husband preferred the OG kanelboller version best, while I loved the added sweetness of the jubileumsboller’s custard and vanilla icing. I will say that they were a little more robust than the ones at Åpent, above, but still mouth-wateringly delicious and cinnamony. Would recommend. Address: Stortingsgata 20, 0161 Oslo

where we ate

lunch

Åpent Bakeri // so.. we went back to Åpent for takeaway sandwiches just hours after having breakfast there, and I regret nothing! Husband spied the team assembling these sandwiches during our earlier visit and, after the tasty-ness of the morning pastries, he hardly needed to convince me we should try their savoury items. Spoiler alert: the sandwiches were amazing! Just as good if not better than the pastries!! We got two to share: a brie, fennel salami, pickled red onion + salad sandwich, and an epic club sandwich with chicken, bacon, tomato salad and pesto mayo. Both were honestly so delicious; the bread was amazing, the fillings were generous, and the flavours were fantastic! A must visit! Address: Inkognito Terrasse 1, 0256 Oslo

Meraki at VIA Village Food Court // such a hidden gem! All of the Oslo travel guides I read recommended heading to VIA Village Food Court if you’re looking for a good value meal, and they weren’t wrong! We settled on Greek because it is something we never have in Dublin and omg this was so good! We opted to share their chicken gyros and it was delicious! A toasty fresh pita, stuffed to the brim with grilled chicken, tzatziki, spicy sriracha, tomatoes + onions, and salty fries; yes! please! Added bonus: the portion was super generous! Would recommend. Address: Munkedamsveien 29, 0251 Oslo

dinner

Mamma Pizza Vika Osteria di Mare // a wonderful Italian osteria! We were starving when we visited here and thank goodness, because the portions were generous! We shared their bruschetta antipasti to start, which came with two different types: fried aubergine with parmesan & basil, and a more traditional cherry tomato with basil pesto. Both were loaded high and delightfully oily and juicy! We obviously had to have a pizza each for mains: one classic margherita, and one white pizza with sausage, nduja, caramelized onions, and roasted cherry tomatoes. Both were super flavourful, with moreishly thin and chewy wood-fired bases! To go with the food, I had a glass of house white wine, and Husband had a Frydenlund beer. Added bonus: the interior is so cute! Checkered red & white tablecloths, mismatching crockery, low lighting and fairy lights strewn around, etc. Adorable! Would recommend. Address: Ruseløkkveien 26, 0251 Oslo

Rorbua Aker Brygge // the only traditional Norwegian restaurant we visited - and we both had a cheeseburger. But wait, hear me out! We genuinely intended to taste-test some Norwegian classics at this spot, but our attempts were foiled by a reduced menu for Norway Day! Cheeseburgers were the only non-fish options on said menu, and so we sucked it up and ordered two dang cheeseburgers and a local Hansa beer each. I mean, the burgers were pretty good - hefty, with bacon, tomato salad, pickled cucumbers, chili mayo, and salty fries - but it just wasn’t what we’d had in mind when we walked in. I’m not saying we would’ve opted for the reindeer or moose, but something a little different maybe… Address: Stranden 71, 0250 Oslo

ASIA Aker Brygge // home to the best meal of our trip! We ate here on our last night and it was such a lovely way to finish our trip - everything was fab! To start, we shared their pork kimchi gyoza between us, and for mains I opted for their chicken noodle curry, while Husband went for a classic chicken stir fry. Everything was delicious, flavourful, and so fresh tasting! My chicken noodle curry was delightfully light and almost soup-y, if you know what I mean? To drink, we decided to splurge and try out their yuzu whiskey sours, and wow, what a revelation! Pro tip: definitely book a table if you’re heading here! Ideally located along the waterfront, this spot was super busy! A must visit. Address: Stranden 1, 0250 Oslo

ice-cream

Narvesen Karl Johan // ice-cream so good, we had to sample it twice! The first one, which I devoured alone due to Husband’s dislike of sprinkles (😉), was unabashedly joyous. It was Norway Day, the sun was beaming down, we were wandering along Karl Johans Gate watching the parade, and I decided to treat my inner kid to a sprinkle dipped soft-serve treat. It was so! good! Almost like a TEDDY’S 99 - creamy, delicious, addictive - except somehow firmer to the tongue? Delightful! We also stopped at the Narvesen stall along the Aker Brygge promenade a few nights later for one to share, and it was just as good! Added bonus: the Karl Johans Gate location is so cute! Like an old time-y French newspaper kiosk! A must visit. Address: Karl Johans gt. 24, 0162 Oslo // Bryggegata 16, 0250 Oslo

Bella Bua // another great ice-cream spot, except this one was hard-serve. Also located along the Aker Brygge promenade, we opted to share their salted caramel flavour and it was delicious! There were salty nuggets of caramel laced throughout, and the cone was one of those lovely sugar waffle ones! Pro tip: Bella Bua is located literally right beside these cool reclining deck chairs overlooking the Oslofjord; we nabbed a two-person one and enjoyed our ice-cream while watching the sun set ❤️ Would recommend. Address: Stranden 7, 0250 Oslo

where we drank

Summit Bar // a nice cocktail bar, located on the 21st floor of the Radisson Blu. Pre-trip, considering how expensive alcohol is in Norway, we’d actually resigned ourselves to having a cocktail free weekend. However! When Husband received word from his LA film guru, Adam Novak, that Norway-native André Øvredal recommended Summit Bar, we figured we might as well check it out. You know, YOLO and all that. Their cocktail menu was pretty standard, so we both went for an old fashioned. Although it was nothing spectacular, the space is nice and there’s a lovely view over the city. Pro tip: get there early if you’re going! We arrived ~40-minutes after opening time and managed to nab the last table facing the view. There is other seating available, but the couches with the views are by far the best! Address: Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel, Holbergs gate 30, 0166 Oslo

where we tourist-ed

The Royal Palace // home to the Norwegian royal family! Located at the top of Karl Johans Gate, the palace and its surrounding gardens make for a particularly lovely stroll in the sun! You can get surprisingly close to the palace entrance, and the park seemed to be very popular amongst locals for walks and picnics etc. The palace was closed on the day of our visit for Norway Day celebrations, but it was the perfect spot for watching the parade! Pro tip: the changing of the guard takes place at 1:30pm daily! We had intended to see it ourselves, but things were hectic due to the day at hand. Address: Slottsplassen 1, 0010 Oslo, Norway

Oslo Opera House // famous not just for housing the national ballet & opera, but for its angled roof! The sleek design of the building, which is intended to resemble a glacier, encourages people to walk up onto the building and take in the view from a unique perspective! We both thought this was such a FUN and interactive attraction in the city, and the views all around were lovely! A must visit. Address: Kirsten Flagstads Plass 1, 0150 Oslo

MUNCH Museum // a fantastic museum! Our only paid attraction of the trip, but 100%, absolutely, without-a-doubt worth the NOK180/€15 each! Naturally, the highlight of our visit was getting to see The Scream in real life with our own two eyes - and not just the painting, but the print and the lithograph, too!! We were extremely fortunate with the timing of our visit; to protect from over-exposure, they only ever have one version on show for 30-minutes at a time, and we were miraculously in the building long enough to catch all three! It was amazing! That said, the museum is so much more than Munch’s most famous painting - there’s heaps of other wonderful art here! We spent about 2-hours exploring all 10(!) floors of the museum, and it was superb! Pro tip: the museum offers free entry every Wednesday evening from 6-9pm! An absolute must visit. Address: Edvard Munchs Plass 1, 0194 Oslo

Vigeland Sculpture Park // located inside Frognerparken, this is the world's largest sculpture collection made by a single artist, Gustav Vigeland. The park has over 200 sculptures and is bizarre to walk around! The sculptures range from angry crying babies to men juggling children to the pièce de résistance monolith made up of 121 bodies ascending 14-metres high into the sky. Like I said, a little wacky, but fun to see! A must visit. Address: Frognerparken, Nobels gate 32, 0268 Oslo

Akershus Fortress // Oslo’s medieval castle! Perched overlooking the Oslofjord, the walls of the fortress offer amazing views over the surrounding landscape! Husband and I didn’t actually go into the castle itself - aside from a quick coffee & perusal in the gift shop - but the grounds are massive and ideal for an afternoon stroll! Fun fact: the fortress was opened in 1300! A must visit. Address: 0150 Oslo, Norway

Wander! // honestly, wandering around and discovering different nooks of the city was probably one of our favourite things to do in Oslo! As you know, we stayed in the gorgeous Aker Brygge district and every single evening we strolled down around the dock to watch the sun set - it was so magical! Wander, explore, take it all in ❤️

And there we have it, friends: A Long Weekend in Oslo, Norway! Have you visited the Norwegian capital before? I was totally blown away by the beauty of the city - I wasn’t expecting it at all! Hit me up with any thoughts, comments or recommendations you think I’m missing below. I’ll leave you with this quote I came across the other day:

If you’re not planning on going to heaven, go to Norway - D. Coffyn.

Vicki xo

*Date of trip: 16th - 19th May, 2024*

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