Seize the Globe contributor, Tyler Johnson, details how he took advantage of an incredible flight deal to enjoy an exciting weekend in Oslo, Norway.
Oslo, Norway isn’t exactly the first place that comes to mind when thinking about a grand European holiday. In fact, when sharing with friends and family that I would be spending a long weekend in Oslo, a majority asked, “What is there to do in Oslo? Why not go to London, Paris, or Rome?” I soon discovered that Oslo is a charming, well manicured, and excitingly historic city that is probably one of the most underrated European capitals.
I’m a budget traveler and tend to find an inexpensive flight to a destination, book it, and then figure out the details later. This was very much the case with my journey to Oslo.
Getting to Oslo
If you are interested in flying to Europe from the United States on a budget, be sure to check out Norwegian Air. Norwegian operates long haul flights from 15 U.S. cities to various European destinations. I flew on Norwegian’s red-eye flight aboard a Boeing 787 Dreamliner from JFK International Airport in New York non-stop to Oslo Gardermoen Airport for $339 round trip by booking directly on their website. Norwegian often offers specials on flights to Europe. So keep your eyes peeled!
Photo courtesy of Norwegian Air Media Centre
Day 1
Just like me, my two travel companions had never visited Norway’s capital. After arriving at Oslo Gardermoen Airport on a Friday morning, we were greeted with a very fast and efficient immigration and customs process that took mere minutes. We quickly gathered our bags and weighed our options to travel to the city center. The fastest way to central Oslo is a 20-minute train ride, which costs 190 NOK (roughly $22). Other less expensive options are available but cost precious time. Riding the bus to central Oslo takes about an hour. So if you have the time to spare, then this may be a great budget alternative.
After arriving at Oslo Central Station in the heart of the city, we walked a few blocks to our hotel to check-in. Oslo Central Station is the hub for all public transit throughout the city so finding lodging near this area is a definite plus.
Next, we checked into CityBox Oslo, an innovative and convenient concept that honestly blew our minds. Kiosk machines located at the entrance of the hotel read our credit cards and then promptly provided our room keys. The room was simple with only beds, linens, towels, and a small restroom. In an effort to keep costs low for travelers, housekeeping only offers services every few days for those staying extended periods of time. My two friends and I split the cost of a three-person room at 1,687 NOK (roughly $200) each or $50 per night per person.
View of Akershus Castle within the tall stone walls of Akershus Fortress
We dropped our bags and set out to explore for the rest of the afternoon. We found ourselves walking a few short blocks to Akershus Fortress, a majestic and stately castle on the waterfront of Oslo fjord. Immediately, the fortress was easily recognizable as the inspiration behind the magical city of Arendelle from Disney’s Frozen. The fortress, more importantly, served as a military base, protected the city of Oslo from numerous sieges, and as a royal residence. Thankfully, the fortress is free to enter and explore the grounds.
On the grounds of Akershus Fortress, we stumbled upon Norway’s Resistance Museum, which shares the history of Norwegian resistance from Nazi occupation during the 1940’s. We watched the sunset over Oslo fjord from the centuries old fortress walls as we left the museum.
As the three of us debated where to grab dinner, we noticed that it seemed as if there were burger restaurants on every corner. Apparently, Norwegians love a good burger, which I can’t complain because I do too! We popped into Døgnville Burger right next to Oslo’s Opera building. Many restaurants offer happy hour deals around 4 pm. The meant we could enjoy a few beers and a burger on special!
Day 2
A combination of jet lag and exhaustion contributed to a late start to the day. Fortunately, guests staying at CityBox receive a discount at the café right next to the entrance of the hotel. Every morning of our trip we enjoyed a typical Norwegian breakfast consisting of a coffee and delicious pastry. Be sure to try skolebrød, a divine custard-filled pastry with a coconut shavings sprinkled on top.
Skolebrød, one of the many delicious pastries that you can find in any Oslo café
We started our day with a free walking tour of the city by Free Tour Oslo. I’ve found through my travels that this is one of the best ways to get great local advice and recommendations in any major city around the world. Our guide, a university student, walked the group throughout the city pointing out facts about Oslo and shared her favorite places to eat, drink, and explore. The tour lasted about an hour and a half.
For lunch we walked to Kaffistova, an excellent lunchtime spot serving Nordic style plate lunches. We enjoyed a plate of Norwegian meatballs doused in gravy with potatoes and roasted vegetables. On the way to the bus stop to continue our days’ adventure we stopped by the Oslo Visitor Center to purchase an Oslo City Pass. This pass grants you access to free admission to over 30 museums and free access to public transportation. If you are a museum enthusiast like me, I highly recommend purchasing the Oslo City Pass as the costs of admission to most museums cost anywhere from 120-190 NOK (roughly $14 to $22). We purchased a 24-hour pass for 395 NOK (roughly $46). Be sure to research all of the museums in Oslo to see which ones you’d prefer to visit and determine if this deal is for you!
With our Oslo City Pass in hand we caught a 20-minute bus ride to a neighborhood of Oslo called Bygdøy, a beautiful peninsula on the western side of the city. 5 museums call the peninsula home. We first stopped at the Norwegian Folk Museum to take a look at a Nordic Stave Church and village as we stood in awe of the outstanding craftsmanship and detail on each of the structures. Then we walked a few hundred meters to the Viking Ship Museum, which shared the history of excavated Viking ships and remains from these famous Scandinavians. After that we hopped back on the bus and rode 10 minutes to the Norwegian Maritime Museum to learn more about Norway’s famed shipping, fishing, and seafaring culture. The final museum on our “tour d’ museums” was the Framm Museum highlighting Norway’s supremacy in polar exploration. Each of the museums offered a unique and interactive perspective into Nordic culture that shaped our views of Norway’s appetite for pioneering, adventure, and exploration.
Built entirely from wood with load bearing pine posts, stave churches were an important part of northern European medieval culture.
We took the bus back to central Oslo and made our way to Mathallen, one of Europe’s best food halls. Food stalls lined the hanger-like room featuring menus from all over the world. We gravitated to Vulkanfisk, a seafood bar that serves fresh caught seafood. Naturally, we ordered Lutefisk which is a traditional Norwegian dish consisting of dried and salted fish that is soaked for nearly a week. If you’re a foodie, then I highly recommend giving it a shot!
Day 3
After walking nearly 10 miles throughout the city the day before, we started our day off wanting to take advantage of the final hours of our 24-hour Oslo City Pass. We made our way to the Nobel Peace Center, which shares vignettes of peace initiatives around the globe and some of the history behind the Nobel Peace Prize. Each year the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo. We explored the seaside shopping area of Aker Brygge and home to the Museum of Modern Art.
The Royal Palace, home of King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway, as seen from the Palace Square
Next, we made our way to the Norwegian Armed Forces Museum and explored the history of Viking warfare all the way to current missions that Norwegian forces are involved in around the world. Everyday at 1:30 PM the changing of the guard occurs at the Royal Palace, which we were determined to see. So we trekked across the city to witness this once a day ceremony.
We stopped for a snack at the famous Harolds Waffle, which was one of the most delicious waffle’s I’ve ever tasted. Their signature waffle includes a thin soft waffle topped with sour cream, raspberry jam, and brown cheese (caramelized milk that has solidified and sliced like cheese).
With our bellies full we took a short 15-minute tram ride to one of Oslo’s famous sculpture parks, Ekebergparken. It is located in the southeast corner of Oslo and features a number of trails with sculptures adorning each of the trails. If you’d like a great panoramic photo of the city, this is a great place to snag a picture!
We ate dinner at Taverna’n and enjoyed delicious local fare in a cozy atmosphere. After dinner we ventured to HIMKOK, rated one of the best bars in the world in 2017. HIMKOK distills a number of different spirits. If you enjoy trying local drinks, then try a Norwegian spirit called Akvavit. It’s made from grain and potatoes with a distinctive mixture of spices.
Evening view of downtown Oslo from Ekebergparken, the site where Edvard Munch gathered inspiration for his famous painting known as The Scream
Day 4
On our final day in Oslo we decided to do as the Norwegians often do and venture outside the city into nature. First, we rode the metro to one of the furthest stops outside the city to Hollmenkollen to check out the National Ski Arena. Then we explored the former Olympic complex and took a tour through the Ski Museum. Luckily, the museum allowed us to take an elevator to the top of the 463-foot ski jump.
The National Ski Arena and Holmenkollen Ski Jump were key sites during the 1952 Winter Olympic Games
Next, we walked through the village of Hollmenkollen and made our way to Frognersetern, which is known as the start of a number of trails and ski trails. Situated just a few feet from the metro station is Frognersetern Restaurant where we enjoyed a lovely lunch overlooking a majestic Norwegian forest. For lunch we tried reindeer for the first time, which to my surprise was quite tasty!
After exploring a few trails and enjoying the fresh air and outdoors we ventured back into the city center to do some shopping. We stopped by the Freia shop to purchase some Norwegian chocolate to share with friends and family back home. Finally, we leisurely walked throughout the city enjoying the last hours of daylight and made our way to dinner at Cathedral Café. A creamy fish soup was perfect for a cold evening in Oslo and our final meal in a great city.
The next morning we flew back to JFK International Airport after an amazing long weekend in Oslo.