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As one of the oldest cities in Scandinavia, Oslo captivates foreign visitors with its classical beauty and culturally rich museums. Exploring Oslo tourism, travelers experience the medieval Nordic charm and embrace the chilly atmosphere near the Earth's Arctic Circle.
1. Introduction to Oslo
When it comes to renowned Oslo tourism cities in Scandinavia, Oslo - the capital of Norway - undoubtedly stands out. Founded in the 9th century, Oslo rose to become Norway's capital by the 13th century, thanks to its rapid and robust development.
Since then, Norway has been regarded as one of the most extravagant cities in the world. Alongside Oslo tourism, exploring Norway or visiting other Nordic countries is also favored by travelers.
With its long-standing existence, Oslo boasts numerous architectural marvels in the characteristic Nordic style, such as ancient castles, royal palaces, and many museums preserving cultural values across various fields.
Oslo: The most modern capital in Northern Europe.
Despite being a renowned clean, modern, and relatively expensive city, Oslo still retains the ancient charm of a long-standing Nordic city. Therefore, travelers who appreciate Nordic architecture, art, or Scandinavian regions must visit Oslo tourism at least once. As it's famously known as an expensive city, travelers need to prepare corresponding expenses for traveling to Norway.
2. Best Time to Visit Oslo
The weather on beautiful days here will make any traveler intending to visit Oslo excited. However, an important note for travelers visiting Oslo is to carefully research the weather during their trip. Because visiting Oslo during certain seasons of the year may experience slightly harsh weather conditions.
Travelers visiting Oslo will see Oslo at its finest in spring, around early April each year. As the weather transitions to spring, it becomes pleasantly cool and gradually warm.
The pleasant Oslo weather in spring with the fresh air of new vegetation.
Travelers can also explore Oslo, Norway in the summer to enjoy a sunny Oslo. Summer in Oslo is beautifully sunny, offering plenty of exciting outdoor activities. Summer in Oslo lasts from June to August each year.
Additionally, autumn in Oslo is also favored by tourists. The weather in Oslo during this season is cool and suitable for sightseeing activities. Travelers visiting Oslo in August - September will experience many new outdoor activities such as cycling and street exploration.
In winter, the weather in Oslo is quite harsh. There is intense sunlight at noon and temperatures drop significantly in the evening.
3. Moving Around Oslo and Visa
3.1 Visa Information
Similar to Denmark, Sweden, Norway is also a country that uses the Schengen visa. Therefore, travelers visiting Oslo only need to apply for a Schengen visa to travel to Norway and have the freedom to travel to other neighboring countries as well.
However, if travelers already have a Schengen visa, there is no need to apply for a visa when traveling to Oslo or traveling to Norway independently.
From Vietnam, travelers can choose flights from various airlines to travel to Oslo such as Qatar Airways, Emirates, Aeroflot. Due to the long distance of the flights, travelers visiting Oslo will have to transit once when arriving in Norway.
Travelers can experience the most modern and expensive public transportation in the world in Oslo.
Upon arrival in Oslo, travelers can commute using the high-speed Flytoget Airport Express train from the airport to the city center in just 19 minutes. Additionally, travelers can get around the city using the tram system.
From the central station, travelers visiting Oslo can take the eastbound train line to reach attractions such as the Munch Museum, Botanic Gardens. Conversely, the westbound train line passes by destinations like Majorstuen, Stortinget,..
4. Accommodation in Oslo
Oslo, being a city with a long history in Northern Europe, reflects its architectural style in its buildings, which are classical, simple yet artistic. The hotels here are no exception. Some hotels in the city center suitable for travelers visiting Oslo include:
4.1 Continental Hotel
Established since the early 1900s, the Continental Hotel is one of the oldest hotels in the capital. Situated in a prime location, it is ideal for travelers exploring Oslo who plan to visit the city's famous attractions.
From this hotel, travelers are just a few steps away from the National Theatre and the Royal Palace. Guests visiting Oslo who stay here will admire the architecture blending Northern European and British styles.
4.2 Saga Hotel Oslo
A popular accommodation choice among travelers
4.3 The Thief Hotel
This is one of the most famous hotels in the capital Oslo, known for its unique design and name as it used to be a prison in the past. The Thief's architecture makes this hotel stand out in the city with its 9-story curved building offering views of the canal leading to Tjuvholmen Island. Travelers on Oslo tours should consider staying here for an exciting experience.
The Thief Hotel boasts modern architecture and a prime location.
4.4 Christiania Teater Hotel
For travelers who enjoy staying in a place with classical style when visiting Oslo, Christiania Teater Hotel is an ideal choice.
This hotel has a rather unique history, being built in 1918 to serve guests with the function of a theater. Even after its transformation into a hotel, Christiania Teater still retains its original architecture with vaulted ceilings and characteristic glass panels.
5. Places to Visit When Traveling to Oslo
5.1 Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress, also known as Akershus Castle, has stood since medieval times and is located in the heart of the capital Oslo. This castle is one of the must-visit attractions when exploring Oslo.
Akershus Fortress is regarded as Norway's impregnable fortress.
Akershus Fortress was built during the medieval period around the 15th century to protect the city. It has also endured sieges from Sweden in the past.
Subsequently, the fortress was converted by the king into a castle - a royal residence. Tourists visiting Oslo to explore the castle will be guided by English-speaking tour guides. The castle welcomes Oslo tourists for visits until 9 PM every day.
5.2 Viking Ship Museum
This museum displays three ancient Viking ships. These ships were excavated in Gokstad, Tune, and Oseberg, respectively, and are remarkably well-preserved. They contain numerous artifacts used by the seafaring Vikings.
Tourists visiting Oslo should visit the Viking Ship Museum to gain further insight into the influence of this era on Europe.
Although just old boats, they represent the cultural values of an important period in European history - the Viking Age.
The museum was established to exhibit these ships - symbolizing the maritime shipbuilding techniques and, more broadly, the influence of the Viking Age on Europe. A trip to Oslo becomes more meaningful as tourists delve into the Viking era.
5.3 The Fram Museum
Visiting the Fram Museum during your Oslo trip, tourists will marvel at the Fram ship, the vessel used by three explorers to conquer both polar regions.
The Fram Museum in winter.
Tourists traveling to Oslo will find the interior of this ship preserved exactly as it was during the expeditions. The standout feature of this vessel is its unique depth and width compared to other ships, which enabled it to rise above ice floes. Through this ship, homage is paid to Norway's polar conquests.
5.4 Oslo Opera House
While Sydney is famous for its opera house shaped like a shell, the Oslo Opera House is also an iconic landmark of the Norwegian capital. Situated by the river and boasting modern architecture, the Oslo Opera House not only attracts tourists visiting Oslo to enjoy opera performances but also to relax and admire the panoramic view of Oslo through the glass facade covering the entire building.
The Oslo Opera House with its unique architecture.
Moreover, the architecture of this opera house is striking with its spiral stone walkway. When traveling to Oslo, tourists can experience walking activities on the rooftop. Especially in winter days, tourists can enjoy a different feeling when walking on the snow-covered rooftop.
5.5 Vigeland Sculpture Park
Vigeland Sculpture Park is a must-visit destination for tourists exploring Oslo. When visiting the park, tourists can admire countless lifelike sculptures meticulously crafted.
Tourists visiting Oslo can see sculptures depicting various human emotions, such as the angry boy sculpture, 20 sculptures of different sizes representing the circle of life around the fountain, or sculptures of intertwined figures stacked on top of each other to form a pinnacle. All these sculptures showcase the diversity of life.
Astonished by the world's largest sculpture park depicting human life.
It is considered the largest sculpture park, displaying over 200 sculptures of various sizes made of bronze, granite, and iron. One particular feature that will surely impress tourists exploring Oslo is that all the sculptures here were sculpted by a single artist, Gustav Vigeland.
5.6 Oslo City Hall
When visiting Oslo, tourists should visit the city hall to admire the building with its vibrant red bricks dominating a corner of the capital skyline. Observing the city hall, tourists will see a blend of modernity with medieval architectural elements.
Inside the city hall, there are statues and information about historical figures of Norway. At Oslo City Hall, tourists can also admire the sculpture of Harald Hardrada on horseback and the statue of the city's patron saint - St. Hallvard - at the front.
5.7 Snow Sliding Area
Being a country located in Northern Europe, Norway is blanketed with white snow every winter. Therefore, near the capital Oslo, there is a quite famous snow sliding area. The 69m high snow slide built on the Holmenkollbakken hill will surely provide tourists exploring Oslo with a fantastic experience. This is one of the tourist attractions in Norway, Oslo tourism that tourists should not miss.
The Holmenkollbakken Snow Sliding Hill welcomes a large number of tourists every year.
5.8 Nobel Peace Center
Besides the castles with medieval architecture and the streets imbued with the Nordic architectural charm, tourists visiting Oslo, Norway, can also explore the Nobel Peace Center. Surely, everyone exploring Oslo knows about this world-famous award and wants to experience the workplace of the organizers of this prestigious event.
6. What to Eat When Traveling to Oslo?
6.1 Salmon
Due to its island location and cold climate, salmon in Norway has a longer development time than in other regions. Moreover, Norway catches a lot of salmon every year, so much so that salmon appears in daily meals of the locals here, prepared in various recipes to diversify the menu.
Dishes that tourists should try here include grilled salmon and smoked salmon. Visitors exploring Oslo should indulge in salmon dishes because Norwegian salmon is one of the best in the world.
6.2 Brown Cheese
Unlike the common types of cheese that everyone knows, Brunost brown cheese is made from surplus milk during cheese production. This type of milk is cooked until thickened and salty, which is the characteristic cheese of Norway. Tourists exploring Oslo should try this dish.
Brown cheese - a dish unique to Norway.
6.3 Lutefisk
This is not only a dish of Norwegians but also a specialty of the Nordic region. The main ingredient of this dish is stockfish soaked in lye. This fish dish has a sour taste, and it is often eaten on special occasions, especially before Christmas.
In fact, this dish is so famous that it is also used by Americans during Christmas. Tourists traveling to Oslo during the festive season should not forget to taste this dish.
Tourists can try Lutefisk when traveling to Norway.
6.4 Reindeer Meat
Reindeer meat, also known as Finbiff, is a specialty dish of Norway. The meat is usually cut into small pieces, then stewed with a mixture of mushrooms, smoked meat, and blended with a sauce made from goat cheese, sour cream, a mixture of herbs, parsley, milk, and added water. As one of the rare countries with reindeer, tourists visiting Oslo can try this unique dish.
7. Other Tourist Destinations in Northern Europe
Apart from Oslo tourism in Norway, tourists can easily travel to tourist destinations in Northern Europe thanks to the free movement policy of Schengen member countries. Below are some destinations for Europe tours, especially Northern Europe, that tourists should not miss:
7.1 Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark, where the ancient charm of Scandinavia meets the modern development of the leading city in Denmark. That's why Copenhagen is dubbed the most livable city in Europe with its greenery and modernity.
Especially, because they are both located on the Scandinavian Peninsula, tourists when traveling to Oslo can easily move to Copenhagen. In this city, visitors cannot miss exploring the two famous castles Rosenborg and Amalienborg.
7.2 Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, is one of the places with many castles, buildings, and architectural structures that bear the Nordic characteristics the most.
Similar to Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, Stockholm of Sweden is also one of the countries where visitors can freely travel within the European Union without a visa. Therefore, if tourists are traveling to Oslo, they can plan to explore Stockholm right after.
Visiting Stockholm means visiting buildings, old streets, tourists cannot miss the medieval Old Town - dating back to the 13th century when the capital Stockholm was not yet formed or Storkyrkan Square or the royal palace full of ancientness.
7.3 Iceland
The Nordic region is where tourists can easily encounter the cold snowy season. However, Iceland is the country leading with magnificent glaciers.
Not only for traveling to Oslo, tourists can also visit the famous black sand beaches. While beaches with smooth white sand always attract tourists with peace and romance, black sand beaches are mysterious and extremely interesting.
Moreover, during the journey of traveling to Oslo, tourists can go to Iceland to admire the fascinating phenomenon of the Northern Lights. Although you can see the Northern Lights in any Nordic country, it is only in Iceland that tourists can admire the Northern Lights most clearly and brilliantly.
If tourists wish to experience a Westward tour where they can admire ancient streets with Nordic medieval architectural style or modern cities, Oslo is the perfect choice. Don't forget to explore and try the characteristic dishes of this country for a complete Oslo travel experience. To receive information about the Oslo trip, please contact the Mytour hotline directly Mytour for detailed advice.
