Karoline
Karoline Dowson works as Head of Marketing at the Historical Museum in the city centre of Oslo. These are her Oslo favourites.
Karoline works at the Historical Museum where you can see numerous artefacts from Norway's past. Among them, the world's best-preserved Viking helmet, beautiful art from medieval stave churches, as well as exhibitions that weave together ancient objects with ethnographic treasures from around the globe.
What makes Oslo special?
Oslo feels wonderfully safe. Even though it’s a capital, it has the charm of a small city, with what we Norwegians call a “trust culture.” I have left my phone on the tram twice! – and both times a kind stranger made sure it found its way back to me. That’s Oslo in a nutshell. And of course, the mix of city life and nature is unbeatable.
Where to go for excitement in Oslo?
In winter, I can’t resist Korketrekkeren: a 2 km sledge run that sounds like it’s for kids – but trust me, when you’re racing downhill at full speed, your adrenaline will say otherwise!
Where do you get the best food?
Give me a peach matcha latte at Hakone Café and birria tacos at Corrals, and I’m in heaven. For fresh seafood with a beautiful fjord view, I head to Solsiden Restaurant.
Best place for a walk?
One of my favourite places for a walk in Oslo is Bygdøy. Technically it’s a peninsula, but with the sea all around it, it feels almost like a little island getaway within the city. I love it because it has everything in one place: peaceful forests, sandy beaches, and some of Oslo’s best museums. You can spend hours wandering the trails, stopping for a swim in the summer, or just enjoying the sea views along the way.
And in 2027, Bygdøy will get even more special – it’s where the brand new Museum of the Viking Age will open.
What is your favourite activity?
Second-hand treasure hunting. Oslo has some fantastic vintage shops: Fretex Arkivet, Cirkulær and UFF for good finds, and Eftir at Aker Brygge if I’m after something more high-end.
Some more of Karoline's Oslo-favourites
Favourite museum?
The Historical Museum (yes, where I work!) truly has my heart. It has incredible artefacts from Norway’s past and ethnographic treasures that spark fascinating connections across time and culture.
The best view?
Stretching out on the grass at Tjuvholmen, gazing at the fjord makes me the happiest!
Favourite building?
I’m a sucker for Art Nouveau. The National Theatre, designed by the same architect as the Historical Museum, always takes my breath away.
Best live music spot?
Definitely SALT – a quirky cultural hub by the waterfront.