A Brit Abroad: Notes from Oslo. Let's get this out of the way upfront…
By: Nik Mortimer
Tags: Travel, Travel Writing, Travel Tips, Norway, Oslo

Let's get this out of the way upfront, Oslo is an expensive city to visit. If you can get past the fact that Oslo isn’t going to be a cheap weekend away then you’ll discover a modern, vibrant city that’s great to explore on foot and easy to fall in love with.

I stayed in Citybox a modern, reasonable priced property in the city centre that’s part hotel, part local meeting space. It’s a clean, modern and very minimalist hotel that’s perfect for somewhere to get a good nights sleep after a busy day’s sightseeing and isn’t going to break the bank.

SALT Village Sauna

Saunas are a popular pastime in Oslo, there’s plenty to choose from in the city and they’re well worth a visit if you want to relax after a days sightseeing. I choose the sauna in SALT village. I grabbed a ticket to one of their ‘sauna sessions’ which combines the relaxation of a sauna, the ambient sounds of a local DJ and some great local beer. Once you’ve got a sweat on the only way to cool down is to do as the locals do and throw yourself into Oslo Harbour, don’t overthink the fact you’re jumping into the pitch black, ice cold water of the North Sea and just jump in, you’ll come out feeling refreshed and alive! A couple of hours relaxing in the sauna did me the world of good and this ended up being one of the highlights of my trip.

Henry & Sally’s

When there’s a Mikkeller in a city I’m visiting I’m going to pay it a visit. Named after their mascots, Henry & Sally’s is the local Mikkeller bar in Oslo, it’s quiet and low lit affair with a line up of beers that changes daily, making it a great place to unwind with friends or a good book following a day exploring the city. If you’re after somewhere a bit livelier then Crow Brewing Company is a great alternative to Mikkeller. This big, open plan bar is great for socialising and has a great selection of beer that changes frequently.

I’m always intrigued when I see a queue for a restaurant and I’m glad I joined it so I could experience Mamma Pizza, one the of tastiest pizzas I think I’ve ever had. Everything on the seasonal menu is freshly made in house so you can be sure there’ll be something new on the menu every time you visit.

Holiday homes in the Oslofjord

You can’t visit Oslo and not take a sightseeing tour of the local fjords, it’s a great way to relax whilst taking in some of the stunning scenery that surrounds the city, not to mention view some of the beautiful houses that locals get to call home in the summer. It’s worth taking something to wrap yourself up in though, even if it’s a warm day in the city things can get pretty brisk when you’re out in the middle of the Oslofjord!

The Barcode Project is a huge redevelopment project taking place in Oslo Harbour featuring some of the best architecture in the city and is well worth a visit if you want some Instagram worthy shots of the city. A number of international businesses are based here so the bars and restaurants are on the high end of things with prices to match but it’s still a great place to explore on foot. This part of the harbour is also home to the stunning Sørenga Sjøbad, a brilliant example of modern urban design, it’s possible to walk out of your apartment a jump straight into ocean from here or if it’s a nice day, relax on the wooden decks and take in the scenery of the nearby Hovedøya island.

Oslo Opera House

Oslo Opera House is an architectural marvel that resides in the city centre on the outskirts of the Barcode Project, it’s impossible to miss as nearly every major road through the city take you past it. It’s a beautiful to building to walk in, around and even on top of as the building is designed in a way that encourages exploration. I’ve got dozens of pictures of the building, I couldn’t help pulling my camera out everytime I walked past. Whilst your there don’t forget to look into the Harbour to see She Lies, Monica Bonvicini’s stunning sculpture designed to evoke the ever present ice and water in that part of the world.

I’d never heard of Thor Heyerdahl or the Kon-Tiki Expedition until I stumbled into the Kon-Tiki museum as a way of escaping the rain for a couple hours during my trip but I’m glad I did as it turned out to be fascinating look at something I had no previous knowledge of but came away wanting to dig into the history on my own time. One thing the museum handles brilliantly is how it explains everything in a child friendly way, I can only hope that kids visiting the museum walk out feeling inspired to embark on their own adventures.

With it’s retro 70’s styling the oh so cool Fuglen is a coffee shop worth seeking out in a city full of coffee shops worth seeking out if you’re after somewhere to unwind with a good book. By day it’s a coffee shop serving their own blend coffee and freshly made cinnamon roles (an Oslo must have) before transitioning into a cocktail bar in the evening.

I don’t know what’s more attractive at the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, the art inside or the building itself. Alongside it’s own contemporary collection the gallery has a regularly features temporary exhibitions which change throughout the year. It’s a wonderfully calm space to explore for a few hours and it’s coffee shop has some stunning views of Oslo Harbour making it the perfect place to unwind with a good book or simply watch the world go by.