Oslo Travel guide - Norway Moments of Charm
Oslo Travel guide - Norway Moments of Charm
Oslo is the capital and largest city of Norway, and the third largest city of Scandinavia. Oslo is also the demographic, economic and political center of Norway. The history of the city can be traced back over 1,000 years. Oslo was founded in 1048, by the king Harald Hardråde. Oslo, with its approximately 453 square kilometers, is one of the largest capitals in the world by area. Most of this is forest, making Oslo a city in close contact with the nature surrounding it.
Oslo is a modern and diverse city, and each of its boroughs bring something special to the table. All of them can be reached on foot, by public transportation or with a bicycle. Oslo is a great city for cycling, with modest distances between major hubs and attractions.
As far as shopping goes, the capital of Norway offers plenty to keep the keen shopper happy, with everything from the latest international trends to modern Norwegian designs and local handicrafts. The main shopping areas in Oslo are the city center around Karl Johans gate, Bogstadveien and Hegdehaugsveien in Majorstuen, Frogner with Bygdøy Allé, and Grünerløkka.
Get better aquainted in Oslo with a city sightseeing or a guided tour, like bus sightseeing, boat trips, guided walks, tours of the museums and much more. With the Oslo Pass you get free entry to more than 30 museums and attractions, free public transport, free parking in municipal car parks, and other great offers.
Following the latest reform of January 1, 2004, the city is divided into fifteen boroughs (bydeler) that are to a considerable extent self governed. Each borough is responsible for local services not overseen by the City Council, such as social services, basic healthcare, and kindergartens. For convenience, the city can be divided into six larger districts.
Sentrum (Sentrum) Central downtown area.
West (Bygdøy) The Museum Peninsula and the poshest area in Norway
Inner West (St. Hanshaugen, Frogner, Majorstua)
Inner East (Sagene, Grünerløkka, Gamle Oslo)
Outer West (Ullern, Holmenkollen, Vestre Aker, Nordre Aker)
Outer East (Alna, Bjerke, Grorud, Stovner, Nordstrand, Søndre Nordstrand, Østensjø)
Architecture in Oslo may at first seem dull. Unlike for instance its Swedish counterpart, Stockholm, downtown Oslo has only scattered monumental buildings where in particular the Parliament-Palace axis (upper part of Karl Johan Street) has a certain Parisian grandeur. The charm of Oslo can also be found in the affluent inner-city suburbs of for instance Frogner and Fagerborg as well as above St.Hanshaugen park. Northern Europe has a distinct wooden house tradition. Wooden houses are not allowed downtown, but these charming houses can be found in large numbers in villa suburbs such as Bygdøy and Holmenkollen, or former workers' areas such as Rodeløkka, Kampen, Vålerenga, Damstredet, Hellerud or Telthusbakken. Oslo also has many exciting building projects and a huge part of the city's waterfront will in a few years have changed.
A lot to see in Oslo such as :
The Vigeland Park
Viking Ship Museum
The Royal Palace
Akershus Fortress
Frogner Park
Oslo Opera House
Rådhuset
The Norwegian Museum of Cultural History
Kon-Tiki Museum
Munch Museum
The Fram Museum
The Vigeland Museum
Nobel Peace Center
Holmenkollbakken
BygdøyAstrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art
Oslo Cathedral
Holmenkollen Ski Museum
Akerselva
Oslo Winter Park
Hovedøya
Nationaltheatret
Ekebergparken Sculpture Park
Oslo City Museum (Oslo Bymuseum)
Ekeberg
Ibsen Museum
Norwegian Maritime Museum
Sognsvann
The University's Botanical Garden
Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology
Norway's Resistance Museum
Natural History Museum
National Gallery
Palace Park
Storting building
Norwegian Parliament
Gressholmen
Historisk museum
Henie Onstad Art Center
Langøyene
Huk, Norway
SørengaOslo Reptile Park
Oslofjord
Gol Stave Church
Sognsvann lake
Maridalsvannet
Spikersuppa rink
Bjørvika
Lindøya
( Oslo - Norway ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Oslo . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Oslo - Norway
Join us for more :
Ferry trip from Høllen, Norway -- Kristiansand Port of Call// Fjords cruise (September)
Sunday morning (September 8th 2013), it was cold and windy and cloudy while arriving in our first Port of Call in NORWAY aboard RCI cruise ship, Vision of the Seas.
At 10:10AM, in Kristiansand, we decided to board the bus # 40 to Høllen (25 minutes trip). Bus ticket = 50 NOK/ person (local currency).
The *bus number 40* will take us to Høllen Brygge (Høllen Pier).
Høllen (located just under 20 kilometers west of Kristiansand) is a small fishing village in the municipality of Søgne in Vest-Agner.
In Høllen, we caught the ferry ride at 10:30AM (that ride takes approx. 75 minutes). Ferry ticket = 100 NOK/ person (local currency)
At 14:51 (or 15:51) you can board the bus # 40 back to Kristiansand (25 minutes trip). Bus ticket = 50 NOK/ person (local currency)
M/B Høllen is the only boat/ferry operating in September (from the Høllen pier in Søgne); it is a lovely trip and well worth a visit (especially in nice weather; there are seating indoor as well if the weather is not cooperating).
This ferry makes a number of stops at local islands.
Ferry - departure times: 10:30 and 16:35.
Ferry schedule:
POC ferry: julianne@hollenbatruter.no
(“To your information we always await for this bus from Kristiansand before departure, so you will make it. The bus stop are on the quay, and you will see the ferry boat from the bus.”)
Bus schedule:
While in Høllen - don't miss a walk down Høllegata (a quaint street with picturesque white timber houses a stroll from the pier).
There is also a gentleman selling fresh crabs from his boat at the dock; a stroll with an ice cream in hand is always good.
(It does seem strange I know, but Norwegians are actually one of the biggest consumers of ice cream in the world, only beaten by the Kiwis)
All the buildings are wooden in a choice of red or white. Figureheads (that have been retired from boat prows) now adorn some of the houses.
There are dogs on leash everywhere along with flowers tucked along fence lines.