Culture

Art

The city is richly decorated with sculptures, but the greatest impression is still provided by the Vigeland Park where the sculptural results of Gustav Vigeland’s extensive work are presented. The park encompasses a total of 212 sculptures made by the sculptor, including the renowned sculptures "The Little Hot-Head" and "The Monolith". The park is a popular destination for Oslo’s citizens and thousands of travellers alike, and in summer it is filled with sunbathers, picnickers and joggers, as well as lively games of soccer and volleyball.

In addition, Oslo presents the works of several other artists of international acclaim: Edvard Munch’s paintings are exhibited at the Munch Museum and at the National Gallery. The world-famous painting "The Scream" is exhibited in the latter. In the National Gallery you also find all other major Norwegian painters up to 1945. If you’re interested in art after 1945, the National Museum of Contemporary Art is worth visiting. In addition, small, interesting galleries abound in the centre and outskirts of Oslo.

Oslo’s art and culture are not only represented in museums and parks. Several centuries-old wooden houses are preserved, and still inhabited, in the old quarter known as Gamlebyen. You can also wander along the idyllic Akersevla River and enjoy the architectural monuments from a bygone era, or stroll around Akershus Fortress – a well preserved medieval castle and fortifications. From here there is a panorama of large parts of the city and inner Oslo Fjord.

A stone’s throw away is Kvadraturen (the Quadrangle) consisting of listed and well-preserved institutional buildings, many of which date from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Architecture

Oslo’s architecture is currently undergoing many interesting transitions, and it is quite a long time since architecture and urban planning have been the object of such great public debate! The new Opera in Bjørvika is in the planning stages, Fjordbyen is taking shape, and discussions about the Vestbanetomt building site and planned high-rises are taking their course. New architectural firms and architects such as Sverre Fehn (Colosseum) and Snøhetta, the latter is also renowned for the new library in Alexandria, are leaving their marks on the city.

Otherwise, the architectural styles in Oslo range from medieval to postmodern, and we have many monumental, magnificent buildings of national significance.

Akershus Castle and Fortress, fortifications that have existed for more than seven hundred years, are the most prominent of these buildings. Akershus Castle also plays an integral role in the history of Oslo and Norway and at the same time offers a magnificent view of Oslo Fjord from the outer fortifications.

Karl Johan Street is the main street in Oslo and serves as the parade street for Norway. The Castle and Oslo Central Station are at opposite ends of the street. From the Castle down to the station, the street leads past institutions such as the University, the National Theatre and the Norwegian Parliament. Great architects such as H.D.F. Linstow and Christian Henrik Grosch have left their marks on the Castle and the old University buildings in the centre of Oslo.

Aker Brygge is a fine example of how restrictions on architectural styles have been relaxed in recent years. Aker was previously a shipyard but was restored during the 1980s and rebuilt into a unique waterfront centre for housing, shopping and restaurants. In summer, Aker Brygge and the Karl Johan Street district are the most popular outdoor areas in Oslo.

Music

The music environment in Oslo and Norway has greatly diversified in recent years and the number of talented musicians of national and international acclaim is flourishing. Hip foreign music magazines refer to the "The Oslo Sound", meaning in particular the younger generation of musicians performing house, jazz, electronica and more.

The increase in good clubs, bars and concert halls where musicians can express themselves enables the city’s musical milieu to offer music for every ear! Choose from opera, blues, jazz, pop, rock or folk music!

Every year, music festivals such as the Oslo Jazzfestival, Norwegian Wood, Øyafestivalen, Oslo Kammermusikkfestival and Ultima - Oslo Contemporary Music Festival attract thousands of people to the city.

Litterature

"The life of the town is a novel in itself"

Many of our famous writers wrote books and stories about Oslo, and authors such as Sigrid Undset, Henrik Ibsen, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson and Knut Hamsun occasionally made Oslo their home. They found inspiration in the city and wrote many of their books here. Henrik Ibsen was inspired to write his social dramas, poverty stricken Knut Hamsun made his breakthrough with the novel "Hunger" and Sigrid Undset found material for several of her novels in Oslo. The last two authors were awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature (1920 and 1928).

Yet Oslo is also a city of contemporary authors. Jostein Gaarder’s novel "Sofie’s World" has been one of the most best-selling books in the world in recent years. Ingvar Ambjørnsen achieved international fame after Elling, one of his characters from a novel, was given life in a film and nominated for an Oscar.

Food

A total of four Oslo restaurants are entitled to advertise their prestigious Michelin Guide rating. If you are looking for a gourmet meal, choose from Bagatelle (**), Le Canard (*), Stadtholdergaarden (*) or Feinschmecker (*). In addition, Restaurant Eik is listed as Bib Gourmand; restaurants with outstanding food but moderate prices. Norway’s chefs are among the best in the world, and Oslo’s restaurants boast several of them.

In general, you can choose from good, old-fashioned rustic food, delicious dishes of fish, game, moose and reindeer or stimulating culinary dishes from every corner of the world. The produce come from Nature’s own pantry – fresh and clean wildlife areas. These restaurants serve excellent, savoury dishes in every price category!