Hello Friends How are you? Today I want to share an amazing experience of my Oslo Trip with You. I did the trip in 2015. That time I was living in Copenhagen Denmark. I had a job in Copenhagen.. But I needed a break! So, Me and my friends decided to go on a trip, because of our busy schedule it was hard to arrange a trip. But any how we wanted to visit a beautiful place. So we had been planning for a really long time for this ! And the good news is somehow we managed to get a few days off from our work and now we’re finally going !!
But where should we go ? We’ve planned for a trip but never decided where to go !! We were searching an mind blowing destination to explore, since whole europe is so so amazing. Then my friend said out of nowhere “how about Oslo ?” Then I asked ” but why Oslo ?”
Well if you think about it Oslo is a great place !! We started to do some research on this and found out that Oslo is a really cool, bustling city, with so much to offer. it’s actually one of the best places if you’re planning for a trip !Well, there are 2 easy way to visit Oslo (Norway) from Copenhagen (Denmark). One is air way and another is sea way. We go though sea way. The Cruise was very cheap. I will write the price of Cruise, Hotel and Food later at the end of this Blog. But let me tell you the plan and our visited places first.
We two friends booked a Cruise cabin. The Cruise name is DFDS. It start at 4 pm from Copenhagen and reaches at 10 am on second day at Oslo. And on the second day it starts at 5 pm from Oslo and reach 11 am at Copenhagen. Cruise is so awesome and all the facilities were there. That was 11 floor cruise with food stores, play areas, swimming area and many many cabins.
We reached at 10 am to Oslo on the second day and we start to explore the city. We also visit an indian restaurant where we took our lounge and diner. The food was so delicious so that we packed some food for second day too. Lets see the places what we explore…
Heading Towards Oslo
Oslo is the capital of Norway and Oslo is home to the leading Norwegian cultural institutions. It is also one of the most expensive in Europe. The best time to visit is from May to September when the weather is warm and daylight lasts until very late and this is a perfect time for us. It is Norway’s largest city and busiest seaport. But the most exciting part is, Most of the country’s major museums, theaters, and other cultural centers are in Oslo! And by hearing all this I just couldn’t hold my excitement. Then without any hesitation we booked the next day’s flight for Oslo. So I packed my luggage and slept early. I was so excited that I arrived 2 hours early at the airport. Then we all met there and headed towards oslo.
That was a 14 hrs flight so I spent most of the time reading about Oslo and I learned that Oslo lies on the Aker River where it flows into part of the North Sea called the Oslo Fjord. The city has wooded areas, more than 300 lakes, and 40 islands.The city center contains the National Theater and the Norwegian Opera and there are Many scientific institutions which are attached to the University of Oslo. Oslo Harbour is the largest, as well as the busiest, in the country. The leading industries are the production of consumer goods and the electrotechnical and graphic industries. Reading about These made me realize that Oslo really is an interesting city.
Our Hotel
While I was passing time by reading about Oslo we arrived at the Oslo airport. Then when we were getting out of the flight we noticed that the vibe was completely different there. Then we waited for a cab and headed towards our hotel. We’ve decided to stay 2 days in Oslo so we planned to stay in the central location, close to all of Oslo’s amazing museums and beautiful outdoor scenery. So we chose to stay at the beautiful and iconic Grand Hotel, which is situated
on Oslo’s main downtown street and features a lovely staff, gorgeous guest rooms, a spa, and offers the most amazing hotel breakfast spread… probably ever! It was a little expensive but worth the experience.
Oslo pass
In the morning we woke up early and From our hotel, we walked to all of Oslo’s interesting points. Plus, Oslo Central Station is right down the street, which makes traveling to/from the airport a breeze. But as I mentioned Oslo is expensive. It is one of the most expensive cities in the world. So for that reason we invested in the Oslo pass. Basically, with this pass, we have access to everything we want to do during your 2 days in Oslo, for a fraction of the price! The Oslo Pass is offered for 24, 48, or 72 hours, and prices vary depending on the length you choose.
Roaming around Oslo
Okay so we’ve talked a lot about logistics here, so let’s talk about what we were doing on our first day. So,On Day 1 we had decided to explore the city itself. We were checking out the scenery, historic sites, beautiful parks, restaurants, cafés, shops and generally just roaming around Oslo and getting a vibe for what life’s like there. Well the coffee culture in Oslo is pretty amazing! There are so many cool cafés making delicious cuppa. So we spent some time at a coffee shop named Tim Wendelboe which is one of Oslo’s best places for a coffee and a pastry.
Oslo Fjord
Well after that we straight up went to board a boat because one of the best things to do in Oslo is to board a boat and explore the fjord! That’s especially the case if Oslo is your only stop in Norway and you won’t get any other fjord action.While we were boarding From the Oslo Fjord to the entire Oslo Region, the nature surrounding the city was stunning. Surrounded by great nature, picturesque small towns and lush forest, the Oslo Fjord is one of Norway’s most captivating natural waters. It serves as the perfect backdrop for an Oslo fjord boat trip and we had an amazing time.
Cycling in the city
After boarding we decided to roam the city on bikes. Norway’s capital Oslo combines nature and city life in a great way – with short distances between the city center and the countryside. In only a day you will get familiar with the city.
Oslo is not particularly large compared to other big cities, so it was nice to cycle there. In addition, the climate was bike-friendly. The temperature rarely exceeds 25 degrees Celsius. Every nook and cranny in Oslo was gorgeous. From the old, wooden, colorful houses in Rodeløkka that line the streets, to the new, innovative buildings sprinkled in here and there, the
city itself was stunning. Oslo is situated along a fjord, with views of the sea, rolling hills, and forests, which makes it much better.
Oslo’s city hall
It was about time for us to head towards our next location so we went to see Oslo’s city hall. While some of you may think that it’s not a really great idea to visit a city’s government building because from the outside the brown building is not very impressive. But inside? Inside, along the corridors, you’ll find a magnificent collection of murals created by some of Norway’s most notable artists. The building has been decorated by great Norwegian art from 1900-1950, with motifs from Norwegian history, culture and working life. The city hall is open to the public and entry is free. Which is a good option for tourists.
Akershus Castle
After the City hall we were planning to visit Karl Johans Gate but during our chat with locals we got to know that there is a beautiful medieval castle, located right on the water. But We were short on time, on the other hand we also wanted to see the castle, so we decided a quick visit would be enough, then we headed towards the castle. The castle name was The Akershus fortress but the locals called it Akershus Festning. When we arrived there we saw that it was surrounded by high walls. Locals said that the castle was built during the reign of King Håkon V (1299-1319) and was remodeled into a fortress, used for protection against attacks from the sea.
Today, the castle contains banquet halls, the Royal Mausoleum and the government’s reception rooms. The castle’s small, historic church is the home of the royal sarcophagi. Locals also said that the fortress area is a popular venue for major events, including concerts, public holiday celebrations and ceremonies. We were observing the castle then I saw the time on my watch and it was 3pm already! We were short on time so I called everyone and headed towards our next location according to our plan.
Karl Johans Gate
According to our plan the next location was Karl Johans Gate which is the main Street in oslo, where all the action happens! The street was named in honor of King Charles III John, who was also King of Sweden as Charles XIV John. That bustling main street was filled with shops and cafes. Starting from the train station, the cobbled pedestrian section of the street offers numerous shops, restaurants and cafés as well as street musicians and young artists promoting their craft. All the people were very cheerful and welcoming and we had a great time. At the end of this colorful stretch there was the parliament building, Stortinget.The building is built in yellow brick with details and basement in light gray granite. It is a combination of several styles. However, our primary reason to stroll along that street was to see the sights that can’t be found in any other city.
Oslo’s Opera House
Our first day was coming to an end so we headed towards the final site The Opera House. Oslo’s Opera House is one of the city’s most photographed spots, and home to the National Opera and Ballet. So there we took beautiful pictures of us . The roof of the building angles to ground level, creating a large plaza that invites pedestrians to walk up and enjoy the panoramic views of Oslo. Usually, you are likely to be arrested if you walk on rooftops. This new building in the very epicenter of the capital of Norway feels like the complete opposite of the usual “Please don’t touch” culture tourists are often met with worldwide. The subtle variations in the structure of the marble-embellished roof is signed by Norwegian artists Kristian Blystad, Kalle Grude and Jorunn Sannes, and is truly a beautiful surface meant to be stepped on. And from up there you can see an amazing site of Oslo which was so beautiful. At the end of the day we saw a beautiful sunset from the opera House.
Dinner in Grand Hotel
After visiting the opera house we headed towards our hotel. We were really exhausted after visiting so many places in a single day but we made really good memories together, so it was all worth it. After that we went to our rooms and I took a really good shower which restored my energy then we all met at the dinner table. There was a Lot of noise from the streets but the windows are very soundproofed Only thing I didn’t find out was how to adjust the temperature in the room during the night. We had a lot of chit-chat during our dinner. After that I went straight to sleep because I was already exhausted.
Frogner Park
Then the next day I had a beautiful morning and it was our final day in Oslo so for a fresh start we planned to visit Frogner Park. Frogner Park is a public park located in the West End borough of Frogner in Oslo, Norway. The park is historically part of Frogner Manor, and the manor house is located in the south of the park, and houses Oslo Museum. Frogner Park is the biggest park in the central Oslo area, and it’s a popular outdoor area among locals and tourists alike. The park was filled with people enjoying nature, the sunshine, and the park’s public swimming pool. I’ve read that the park also houses Norway’s largest collection of roses and 14,000 different plants, amazing right?
Fram Museum
We didn’t have the whole day because we had to take flight for our home so After visiting the Frogner Park we’ve planned to visit some of museums we could visit on our final day, So in our list the first museum we have to visit was Fram Museum which is located on the peninsula of Bygdøy in Oslo. It is in an area with several other museums including the Kon-Tiki Museum, the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, the Viking Ship Museum and the Norwegian Maritime Museum. And it was quite convenient for us because we were going to visit museums on our last day. The Fram Museum is centered principally on the original exploration vessel Fram. At the Fram Museum, we can climb aboard the strongest wooden ship ever made and see how it,
and its crew, survived sailing through the Arctic and Antarctic regions. We get to see some of the equipment and tools used by early explorers. Plus, we experience a simulation of the frigid weather and dangers that crews faced during polar expeditions over 100 years ago! Fram (“Forward”) is a ship that was used in expeditions of the Arctic and Antarctic regions by the Norwegian explorers Fridtjof Nansen, Otto Sverdrup, Oscar Wisting, and Roald Amundsen between 1893 and 1912.
I wasn’t expecting much from the museum, but the Fram Museum was amazing.The museum is laid out well and tells an amazing tale. Unlike many other museums, this one allows you to walk on and through the ship! Truly memorable. It focuses on the history of polar exploration but has lots of other interesting information as well. This museum is quite modern, with numerous interactive displays and easy to use videos.
Kon-Tiki Museum
After the Fram Museum it was time for our next location and the next location was Kon-Tiki museum. The Kon-Tiki Museum is dedicated to famous explorer, Thor Heyerdahl, and his epic 1947 voyage across the Pacific Ocean on a balsa wood raft. The Kon-Tiki Museum exhibits objects from Heyerdahl’s world famous expeditions, the original Kon-Tiki raft, and the papyrus boat Ra II. Thor Heyerdahl is one of history’s most famous explorers. In 1947 he crossed the Pacific Ocean on the balsa wood raft Kon-Tiki. This was his first expedition to be captured on film, and was later awarded the Academy Award for best documentary in 1951. There we experienced models of sharks and fish in an underwater exhibition under the Kon-Tiki raft, wandered a 30-meter-long replica of an Easter Island cave and saw Heyerdahl’s vast personal library and learned more about the curious, resolute person he was.
Viking ship museum
After the Kon-Tiki museum we were planning to go to the famous Viking ship museum but unfortunately the Vikings ship museum is closed until 2026. The museum is currently undergoing renovations and expanding beyond just Viking ships, into Viking history. If the museum was opened there you’ll see two of the best-preserved Viking ships from the 9th century on display, as well as other centuries-old boats, tools, sledges, household utensils, textiles, and artifacts excavated from Viking tombs around the Oslo Fjord, and more.
Holmenkollen Museum and Ski jump
After that We planned to go to our hotel to pack our bags for our flight but we had a lot of time left in our hands so we planned to go to the Holmenkollen Museum and Ski jump. We were going to our destination by train and the view from the train was beautiful.The Ski Museum was founded in 1923 and is the world’s oldest ski museum. After reaching our destination I was just shocked to see how big the ski jump was. First we went to see the Holmenkollen Museum. The museum presents over 4,000 years of skiing history and polar exploration artifacts. The
observation deck on top of the jump tower offers panoramic views of Oslo. The museum is mainly interesting for ski-fans, but going to the top of the tower was amazing.
It was about time for us to head towards the hotel. So, after viewing the museum we again went to the top of the ski jump and saw the final scene of our trip which was really beautiful and emotional as the sun was setting right in front of our eyes. We took some beautiful final pictures of us and headed towards our hotel. We packed our bags and had our final meal in Oslo. It was about time for our flight, so we went to the airport. This trip was really amazing and beautiful for our family and friends. This trip really tightened our bond as friends or as one big family.