Introduction: Oslo In Winter

Did u go skiing

I too love visiting Norway. My grandparents are from northern Norway and I visit the "home land" 2-3 times a year. One of the best ways to see the country is to take the Hurtigruten coastal cruise from Bergen to Kirkenes. Billed as the "Most beautiful voyage in the world" the voyage takes 7 days northbound and 5 days return and stops at 34 ports along the way. The Norwegian coastline is stunningly beautiful any time of the year. You won't be disappointed!

My first international trip last October was to Norway - what an incredible country. I'd go back to Bergen or Oslo in a heartbeat.

For your next trip, or whoever is reading, my girlfriend and I found the Folkmuseum in Oslo to be wonderful, and it is right next to the Viking Ship Museum as well, which was very interesting.

Norway is one of my favorite countries too! It was a sweet place to visit

Sounds fantastic. Perhaps you will do this in the individual installments, but can you review if you used miles/points/cash for the flights/hotels etc...

Thanks!

Looking forward to this!

Scandinavia as a whole is magical at winter. Coming to think of it, in summer also as a matter of fact 🙂 Being a Scandinavian I'm biased of course, but I'm honest in my enthusiasm! The mountains, called fjäll, in the northern parts are amazingly beautiful in winter as well as in summer.

Oh, I'd love to fly to North America in the Polaris business class seat, bit I guess I'll have to wait a few years, as it seems. Or just settle for the soft product!

Is that red brick church in Grorud??

I love Oslo, have been there mostly in winter. Eager to read about your experience!

Couple of important things that nobody has mentioned. 1. In the winter you're barely getting any sunlight. Maybe 5 hours / day if that much. 2. Stuff in Norway is friggin expensive. When you see how much even a bottle of water will cost you'll be surprised and this is at a supermarket rather than a touristy place. If you eat at a restaurant every afternoon and night it's going to rival your hotel bill. Though lodging is pretty reasonable even during the summer months. Strong dollar right now will make it a little less painful.
That said, I loved Norway. People are friendly. Cities are clean. Just a beautiful and comfortable country.

Visited in Feb a few years ago. One thing you can do is toboggan down a mountain about 30 minutes outside Oslo. It's accessible via the subway system, and at the bottom, you take the subway back up to the top!

Lots of fun, I'd recommend!

I visited Oslo on the cheap last October. A few things to note:

1. Food in Oslo can be expensive. However, Oslo's City Hall has a cafeteria in the basement (access through doors facing the fjord and train, not main entrance) where you can get a full, delicious meal for 40-60 kr. It is meant for government emplooyees but opens to the public Mon - Fri after 12:30 PM. The hot meals change each day, but there is a permanent salad bar. Great hidden jem.

2. Also, if you are looking for free bathrooms in that general vicinity, the Oslo City Hall has them (both near cafeteria and through the main entrance side) as do the Akershus Fortress (housed in its own building on the grounds).

3. Many national museums have a free day each Thursday. You can visit the National Museum of Art and see the famous painting "The Scream" among others!

4. Oslo City Hall and Akershus Fortress are worth seeing. The City Hall has beautifully decorated rooms and paintings and is free to the public (main entry is the north entrance opposite the side facing the train). Also, the grounds of Akershus Fortress are free to wander (museums and tours are extra).

5. Walk the roof of the Opera House. Yes, the roof. It is an architectural masterpiece and has several slanted walkways which offer majestic views of the city and Oslofjord.

Enjoy Oslo! 🙂

Thanks Travis, looking forward to this trip report. Starting to plan our own Scandinavian adventure.

Norway is far better than Sweden or Denmark!