Oslo is the crown jewel of Scandinavia and one of the great cultural capitals of the world. There’s something beautiful or fascinating everywhere you look in this enchanting city. From the brilliant winter skies to the rushing waters of the fjords and all the cultural attractions in between, there’s no city in the world as intriguing as Oslo. Here are a few highlights of what Norwegian culture has to offer. (Opening image: Nobel Peace building)
Getting Around Oslo
One of the most challenging things about traveling abroad is transportation. There’s far too much to see in a beautiful, cosmopolitan city like Oslo to waste time being stuck or lost, so it’s best to secure safe and reliable transportation in advance.
The best option for flying into Norway is Norwegian Air, of course. The airline calls itself the world’s best long-haul, low-cost airline, and Forbes.com recently agreed with that sentiment. In addition to the average age of the airline’s planes being under 4 years old, its website, Nowegian.com/us/, provides a sliding budget scale that enables prospective travelers to determine how much trip they can afford.
For airport pick-ups and drop-offs, nobody does it better than Blacklane. They offer ease, comfort, and luxury in every ride. The drivers are consummate professionals; they’re all regulated, insured, and equipped with impeccable knowledge of the city. And you don’t have to be in a rush when you use Blacklane’s services. They offer 60-minutes of wait time at no additional cost—that’s right, a whole hour– as well as liberal cancellation policies.
For transportation between sites in Oslo, Nordic Car Service is the one to call. Their drivers are just as professional as Blacklane’s—punctual, professional, and always reliable. And no matter what sort of transportation you need—sightseeing, dinner, business meetings, or nights on the town—Nordic Car Service will get you where you need to go in the style you deserve.
The Wonderful Onway Tour
The Onway Tour is a must for anyone who wants a true taste of Oslo culture, with guided fun and explorations of four intriguing locations.
The Viking Ship Museum
The first excursion is to The Viking Ship Museum. Part of the Museum of Cultural History, The Viking Ship Museum is home to some of the most impressive nautical monuments in the world. Touring it is like traveling through time; many of its exhibits are well over a thousand years old.
The Vigeland Park
Your next stop is The Vigeland Park. A once-in-a-lifetime experience, The Vigeland Park is the largest sculpture park in the world featuring the work of a single artist. With over 200 iron, granite, and bronze sculptures, this astonishing collection represents the life’s work of sculptor Gustav Vigeland. If you’re ever in Oslo, do yourself a favor and pay a visit to this extraordinary place.
Holmenkollen Ski Jump
After the elegance of The Vigeland Park, The Omway Tour will take you to Holmenkollen Ski Jump facility, where you can have a wonderful time with or without skis, and see what’s on display at the on-site Ski Museum. The tour comes to a close with a leisurely sightseeing drive through the beautiful inner city of Oslo. As you can see, there’s a great deal of fun to be had on this tour and it’s best to set aside an entire day for it.
The Oslo Opera House
With three auditoriums and over a thousand different rooms spread out over 400,000 square feet, The Oslo Opera House is one of the most complex architectural gems in all of Norway. It’s also home to the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, and stages an average of 10 magnificent shows per month.
The performance of Vincenzo Bellini’s opera Norma is typical of the world-class productions you’ll discover at The Oslo Opera House. A wonderful example of the bel canto genre of opera, Norma features exquisite music throughout and a libretto that tells a traditional tale of anger, betrayal, and the redemptive power of friendship. There are many reasons that Norma has been enormously popular for almost 200 years and they were all on display at the Oslo Opera House.
The Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art
One of over 50 museums in the city of Oslo, the Astrup Fearnley specializes in contemporary Norwegian and international art. Since opening in 1993, The Astrup Fearnley has exhibited thousands of major works from the United States, Germany, Great Britain, and the rest of Scandinavia. During the first few years of its existence, The Astrup Fearnley gathered most of its collection from the art of the 1980s, but now focuses on more contemporary styles. In 2012 it relocated to Tjulvholmen and formed a major partnership with the Thief Hotel.
The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design
Last but definitely not least, the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design is another place no Oslo visitor should miss. It houses the largest collection of Norweigan art in the world, with works that date from antiquity to the present day. Its permanent collection contains some 400,000 items from the areas of art, architecture, and design, including works from both Norwegian and other European masters. The National Museum is a joy to behold. Make sure you set aside enough time to take it all in.
This is just a small sampling of the wonders you can witness in Oslo. A visit to this timeless city is a vacation well-spent.
