So, well, 3 nights in Oslo in July. What was the game plan?
One thing to remember for a June/July visit is Oslo lies at 59.9⁰N. For Scottish readers, it’s on the same latitude as the Shetlands. Accordingly, you have almost endless daylight hours to play with. When I was there darkness was starting to show up at 10pm. Daylight was back about 4am.
My sightseeing started at the Vikingskipshuset in Bygdøy. In summer you can get there across the harbour on a small ferry. It takes about 20 minutes. The bus (no 30) is the alternative. You won’t need long there – say an hour. It is very impressive. It was fairly busy already when I arrived (about 10am) but not unpleasant.
Magnificent
The Norskfolkemuseum is about 200m away. I thoroughly enjoyed it too, but it does require more time. Many of the exhibits are impressive, but the wooden church (Gol Stave) and the Gamlebyen (old town) stood out for me. Most of it involves being outside, so save it for a dry day.
Impressive
After a sandwich lunch at the Norsk Folkesmuseum’s Torgkaféen I walked over to the Frammuseet – still in Bygdøy, but a 20 minute walk away. It was very busy, to the point where it was hard to enjoy. The Fram is an Arctic exploration ship used by Amundsen, among others. I saw the ship quickly and made my escape.
Fram
I jumped on the next ferry back to the city centre and headed for Akershus Festning – the castle overlooks the Aker brygge part of the harbour. Going around the castle itself doesn’t take long, but you have the outside fortifications (Kvadraturen) to tour as well.
Grand
That was it for Day 1.
Everything I’ve mentioned was “prepaid” in the price of my Oslo Pass (including the ferries). It’s available from various places – check out the Visit Oslo website for the current list and prices. I got mine at the Ruter service point at the airport because I wanted to use it on the ferry over to Nesodden where I was staying. (Ruter is the Oslo public transport organisation).
ⓒ iain taylor, 2017