Situated at the head of Oslo fjord, the city is the capital of Norway, with no fewer than 40 islands and 343 lakes. The highest point in Oslo is Kirkeberget (629 m), which is also the northernmost point of the city. Oslo was founded around 1048 AD by King Harald Hardråde and in the past its name was Christiania. The city is considered to be one of the most expensive cities in the world. Tourists come here, because of the beauty of the natural environment and the many tourist attractions. The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony is held every year on the 10th of December in the City Hall of Oslo. Therefore, this building is one of the most important in the city.

Historic and natural attractions in Oslo

Visit Akershus Fortress, one of Oslo’s most beloved tourist attractions. Built at the end of the thirteenth century, this fortress has several sections to visit. Start your tour outside the fortress to see the thick walls that have not been knocked down by the conquerors. After that, you can visit the rooms where the royal families lived. Here you can make an impression of the life during the medieval period. In the Royal Mausoleum you can learn the story of the Norse royal family.

The Royal Palace is the permanent residence of the royal family of Norway. But is also the place where numerous official events take place. The location of this elegant building suggests the closeness of the royal family to its people. The construction of the palace began in 1824. The architectural style is marked by neoclassicism, while the beautiful interiors having wooden floors. See inside the art collections, sculptures and silver artefacts. It is open to the public only during summer from June to August. During the rest of the year, guests can take a walk around the Palace Park or attend the guerrilla change ceremony taking place daily at 13:30.

Oslo Fjord is one of the most popular tourist attractions. Located near the shore, it consists of hundreds of small islands on over 100 kilometres. This place is a favourite destination especially during summer when locals and tourists love to take a boat ride through the islets. In Oslo Fjord you can practice a range of water sports, including fishing or kayaking. You can also relax on one of the dozens of beautiful beaches. But also, explore the every island with its own treasures, such as monasteries, centuries old ruins or well-preserved Viking ships.

Museums in Oslo

Viking Ship Museum exhibits three Viking ships that were recovered from southern Norway from tombs dating back to the 9th century. The ships were in an excellent condition because of the oil they were embalmed with in the ritual of funeral. You can see these ships used as tombs for Vikings who were buried together with all the things they might need in the afterlife. The largest and best-kept ship is Gokstad and the best work is Oseberg, a ship rich in ornaments that served as a funeral site for a Viking queen. Find here also objects and treasures found on these ships.

Visit then the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History with reproductions of 155 traditional houses from different areas of Norway.  Walk around the museum and see how these houses come to life through hosts dressed in original folk costumes. Specially during the summer the image of a return in time can be complete. This original open air “village museum” is among the largest in Europe. You can see children dressed in traditional Norwegian costumes, going to school or women who gather the hay or clean the pig’s cottage. See how they make cakes, which they offer to tourists.

Fram Polar Ship Museum is telling the story of Norwegian polar exploration. It is located on the peninsula of Bygdøy in Oslo, Norway. The Fram Museum is centered on the original exploration vessel Fram. The original interior is intact and you can go inside the ship to view it. The Fram Museum was inaugurated on 20 May 1936. It honours Norwegian polar exploration in general and three great Norwegian polar explorers in particular — Fridtjof Nansen, Otto Sverdrup and Roald Amundsen. The museum also exhibits images of the fauna of the polar regions, such as polar bears and penguins.

Regardless of the month you go to Oslo, do not forget your thick clothes and umbrella, a bright day of summer can turn into fall in minutes! Obviously in the summer you have more chances of beautiful weather. In addition, being situated quite north, during winter the days are extremely short (around the winter solstice, the day lasts 6 hours if you have sun … the sun rises at 9 am and sets at 3 pm), so you better enjoy 19 hours a day at the end of June.

Oslo, is an exciting and beautiful city with views over the Oslo Fjord and mountains surrounding it. Despite its fairly compact size, Oslo has lots to offer and provides the perfect setting for both exploring and relaxing.

The central area of ​​Oslo can be visited on foot, the city is not very large. If you still need to take public transport, please be aware that the rate is fixed by zone. A ticket bought in advance from a kiosk or automatic ticket costs 30 crowns (3.80 euros) for one hour. If you buy it from the driver, you will be charged 50 crowns (6.33 euros) per ticket. You can buy one-day subscriptions for 80 crowns (10.10 euros) or several days. There are public bikes, but you have to pay 80 crowns a day.