Tours

Holmenkollen is Oslo's big skiing center. This is not an alpine skiing center, so do not bother bringing your snowboard when you visit it. When people talk about Holmenkollen, they usually think about the ski jump. This is perhaps the best-known landmark in Oslo, and it can be seen from almost everywhere in the city. At night the tower is lit, and this is a sight that can put the citizens of Oslo in a rather patriotic mood. In winter large international competitions are held here, both in ski-jumping and on the cross-country ski tracks surrounding it. Every summer an outdoor concert is held by the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra together with the televised amateur competition Ta Sjansen ("Go For It"). There is a ski museum in Holmenkollen, as well; as you may know, Norwegians like to point out that the cradle of modern skiing is in Norway, at Morgedal in Telemark.

Holmenkollen is a magnet for tourists; this is not a place for people who dislike hundreds of people with cameras. It is a good idea to take the underground line 1 up here in the evening or at night and walk around on your own (we can all do without talkative guides, right?) and look at the view over the city, which is quite magnificent. Just remember that it does not get very dark in summer, so if you want to see the lights of the city, you will have to wait until autumn.

Frognerparken is another big tourist attraction; endless metres of film have been used up here. This is where the Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland got given carte blanche. I would advise you to take your time and look at the sculptures, because they are more than just naked people; they show the different stages in life and the different situations you may find yourself in during your life. What the big statue at the highest point of the park, the Monolith, symbolizes, you can find out for yourself. The best thing about this park is probably that it is very user-friendly as well as very beautiful. None of the statues are fragile or unapproachable: children climb on them, people sunbathe on the lawns and young people (both those who are young for the first time and those in their second youth) practice roller-skating.

In summer there are usually quite a lot of people here, but do not let that deter you; there is plenty of room. For the best experience of both culture and nature, come here in the autumn, on an early sunny morning just when the leaves start falling from the trees. At that time Frognerparken is probably the most beautiful place in the city.

Aker Brygge down by the fjord is full of life in summer. This is where many citizens of Oslo like to have their first utepils (outdoor pint of lager) of the year. Architecturally speaking, the authorities in Oslo really have started or approved of a lot of weird things. The building called Postgirobygget (you cannot miss it: very ugly and very high) and the Hotel Plaza are examples of that. Someone say about the former that it was something that not even Stalin with a bad hangover would have done. Aker Brygge, on the other hand, is a place where a bit of architectural courage has yielded a good result. This area is probably the closest Oslo will ever get to La Defense in Paris (which might be a good thing). The area consists of shops, offices, restaurants, a cinema and some terribly expensive apartments. The restaurants here, both the floating ones and the ones on land, can be recommended, but be aware that your wallet may feel much lighter afterwards. From Aker Brygge and the surrounding areas you can board guide boats that will take you around the Oslo fjord.

Across the road from Aker Brygge you will find the Akershus Fortress It was founded in 1300, but has changed since then; today it is a museum and the place where the Norwegian state hold their representation dinners. A lot of things are smaller in Oslo than in other capitals; this fortress is no exception. But it is still worth a visit (take a guided tour or just a walk in the area); if nothing else, do it for the view over the fjord.

It is nice to walk from the castle to the main railway station, Sentralstasjonen if you want to see the centre of the city. The castle (you will find it!) is by far not as impressive as castles elsewhere in Europe, but has its charm. You should try to come here on 17 May, the national day. That is an experience that many a foreigner actually finds worth writing home about.

If you walk southeast from here you will get to the National Theatre an old and honourable building. The statues of Henrik Ibsen, the most important writer in Norway and allegedly one of the best playwrights in the world, and Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, Norway's most famous National Romantic writer, can be seen outside of here.

From here you can walk up Karl Johans Gate the main street, where the already mentioned outdoor pint of lager is also consumed in summer. Grand Cafe on the ground floor in the Grand Hotel is the place where Ibsen used to go every single day at the exact same time. He apparently had a few habits which he was very unwilling to give up, this being one of them. Grand Hotel is a fashionable hotel, where for instance the Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys stay when they visit Oslo (to give concerts, of course, they probably would not come here for any other reason). Grand Cafe is a popular place to come for the weird Norwegian dish lutefisk (a kind of fish) from the end of November until Christmas. You may want to try it if you are of the adventurous type!

From here you can go along Karl Johan a shopping street like many others, but again with its own Oslo charm.

Select one of the many fascinating audio tours offered by AudioTor to download to your mp3 player, PDA, or mobile phone for a more personable day of sightseeing.