Half a day in Oslo
You have just gotten off the train at Oslo S. What now? You only have a few hours before you have to travel to your next destination. Fortunately, you have some time to see some of Oslo's highlights.
Let us show you what half a day in Oslo might look like.
09:00-11:00
The day starts at Oslo S, the central train station in Oslo. The city is waking up, but many attractions have still not opened. This is the ideal moment to explore the city centre in peace and quiet. Start by taking a mandatory selfie with the Tiger at Jernbanetorget.
Did you know that Oslo is dubbed "The Tiger City"? Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, the poet who wrote Norway's national anthem, thought Oslo was a terribly scary city full of dangers. That's why he called it "The Tiger City" in his poem "Last Song".
From that point, walk towards the seafront, where you will be able to see a white building sticking up above the trees next to Østbanehallen. This is the Opera house, one of Oslo's most famous buildings. Why don't you walk up to its roof, and have a look at the wonderful fjord view!
From the Opera, you can now take a walk in the area called Kvadraturen. This is an area filled with a mixture of old and new architecture. The oldest buildings are from the 17th century!
11:00-11:15
From Aker Brygge, take the tram to Vigelandsparken, a must when visiting Oslo.
To make your trip as seamless as possible, we recommend that you download the Ruter app (available in Google Play and the App Store). This will let you see departure times and buy tickets.
11:15-12:00
When you get off the bus at "Vigelandsparken", you will find yourself right outside the main gates of the park. You can't miss these monumental wrought iron gates. Take a walk in the park and admire the over 200 sculptures, all made by Gustav Vigeland! Did you know that it is believed to be the largest sculpture park by one single sculptor?
The most famous character in the park is without a doubt Sinnataggen (Angry Boy), a furious little boy who is nevertheless the star of many selfies and photographs. Maybe you'll be able to recreate the positions of some of the sculptures?
12:15-12:30
Take the tram back to Aker Brygge.
Remember that the ticket you bought to get to the park is valid for an hour. Check if it is still valid before buying a new one. If the time runs out before you get off the tram, however, you will still need to purchase a new ticket, as it needs to be valid during the entire trip.
Would you prefer to walk? We recommend that you follow the beautiful street called Gyldenløves gate all the way through. You will get a relaxing walk while surrounded by magnificent villas and townhouses. When you reach the end of the street, continue through Colbjørnsens gate until you reach the Royal Palace park, and voilà! You are back in the city centre.
12:30-1315
Time to get your energy levels back up? Aker Brygge offers many places to eat a nice lunch by the waterfront. How about a taste of the sea at Lofoten Fiskerestaurant? Or check if the shrimp-fishing boat is moored. You can't get fresher shrimps than that!
If you prefer something other than seafood, there are usually plenty of food trucks lined up by the Nobel Peace Centre. A quick and tasty bite on the go!
If you walk a little further in towards the sea and the area called Tjuvholmen, you will find a large variety of restaurants. Choose from burgers, pizza, delicious sea food and much more.
13:15-14:00
The changing of the guard happens every day, at 13:00. Take a short walk up to the Royal Palace to see the Royal Guards performing a spectacular show in front of the palace.
14:00-15:00
Time to get back to the train station. Fortunately, there are several great buildings to look at on the way. Follow the main street, Karl Johans gate, and you will be able to see the National Theatre, The Parliament, The Grand Café and Oslo Cathedral. Why not check out a shop or two, see if you find something to remember your day by?
Thank you for visiting Oslo! We hope that your hours here left you wanting more, and that we will see you again soon.