Oslo

Norway's fjord-ringed capital, with the Opera House roof, Munch's The Scream at the Munch Museum and Vigeland Sculpture Park, and the starting and ending point for Norway's fjord trips.

Oslo is in southeastern Norway at the innermost end of the Oslofjord, which is about 100 km long, and is surrounded by hills on three sides. It has about 720,000 residents and is the capital of Norway. The city was founded around 1040. After the great fire of 1624, the Danish-Norwegian king Christian IV had it rebuilt next to Akershus Fortress and renamed it Christiania; the old name was restored in 1925. Over the past two decades, Oslo's "Fjord City" plan has turned former harbor industrial areas into a waterfront cultural belt, and the Opera House, the Munch Museum and the new Deichman Library have opened one after another. Areas to explore: first, the new Bjørvika district south of Central Station, home to the Opera House and the Munch Museum. Second, Karl Johans gate, running from the station past the Parliament, the University of Oslo and on to the Royal Palace. Third, the waterfront around City Hall, Akershus Fortress, Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen. Fourth, Frogner Park (Vigeland Sculpture Park) to the west. Fifth, the Bygdøy peninsula museums to the southwest. Sixth, Holmenkollen in the hills to the north. Please note: the Viking Ship Museum at Bygdøy has been closed since 2021 for conversion into the "Museum of the Viking Age" and is expected to reopen around 2027, so check the Museum of Cultural History website before you go. Climate: June–August is about 16–22°C with around 18 hours of daylight. Winters are around -4°C, and you can ski on the edge of the city. Getting there: from Gardermoen Airport, the Flytoget airport express takes about 20 minutes and regional trains about 23 minutes to Central Station. The city's metro, trams, buses and some ferries all use Ruter tickets, and you can buy a 24-hour ticket in the Ruter app. The Oslo Pass includes public transport and admission to most museums. Oslo is also the starting point of the "Norway in a Nutshell" fjord trip (via Myrdal and Flåm to Bergen). We suggest staying 2–3 days: one day for the city center and waterfront, one day for Bygdøy and Vigeland Park, and half a day for Holmenkollen. Notes: prices are very high, and supermarket deli food and lunch specials are cheaper. Alcohol can only be bought at Vinmonopolet stores (supermarkets sell beer during limited hours). Almost everything is cashless, so have a credit card ready.

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