Oslo

An iconic city landmark, the white oblique building of the Opera House is located right next to the harbour and was constructed to emulate a floating glacier. Offering a rich program of opera and ballet, this emblematic building has oak interiors, street-level windows and a shimmering marble rooftop: to climb it and enjoy the great view over Oslo and its fjord is a must for every visitor.

Aker Brygge is a lively and very popular area situated right by the fjord. It has seen an enormous development since the days when it used to be a ship yard, up until the 80s. Now visitors and locals come here for shopping, al fresco dining at one of the countless restaurants and bistros or just to take a stroll along the waterfront. Tjuvholmen is one of the most recent areas in Oslo: characterised by innovative architecture, it hosts many art galleries, a sculptures park and a city beach. Here you'll also find the Astrup Fearnley Museum, housed in the spectacular wooden building designed by Renzo Piano.

Located in Frogner Park, this park-inside-a-park hosts more than 200 granite and bronze sculptures by artist Gustav Vigeland and is one of Norway's most popular tourist attractions. There is no entrance fee and the park is open 24h all year round.

Edvard Munch has a unique position in the history of art, as one of Expressionism’s early pioneers. The Munch Museum hosts a unique collection of more than 1,100 of Munch’s paintings. This makes the Munch Museum a unique starting point to explore the majority of Munch’s world-renowned works. Major works will always be on display in the museum.

At the Museum of Cultural History visitors will find a large collection of items tracing back Norwegian History from the Ice Age to Christianity, with a focus on the Viking period and the Middle Ages. On the top floors there is an ethnographic museum with rotating exhibitions.

The Botanical Garden in Oslo is a nice retreat from the hustle of the city, with vast green and lush gardens. The garden was established in 1814 and is the oldest one in Norway; it boasts: an Arboretum with about 1,800 different plants including many exotic species, a scent garden and wooden sculptures by British artist Tom Hare.

A must see when visiting Oslo: the views of the city and the fjord from the ski jump are amazing. The ski museum traces the history of skiing through 4,000 years.

The neo-classical Royal Palace lies right at the end of Karl Johann Street, and makes for a very impressive sight. The park, which surrounds the palace, is a popular picnic and sun-bathing spot thanks to its grassy areas and majestic trees. Every day at 1.30 pm the guard changing ceremony takes place.

A populare recreational area, Lake Sognsvann is easily accesible directly from the city centre. During the winter there are skiers everywhere, and in the summer many people walk or run the approximately 3 kilometres path around the lake.

Thor Heyerdahl earned international fame for his expeditions across the Pacific Ocean on board of the Kon-Tiki and Ra in 1947. At The Kon-Tiki Museum you can follow the intriguing events during his expeditions and their significance for world history. See the actual balsa and papyrus rafts, and learn more about Heyerdahl’s travels.

The combination of classical and modernist architecture makes the building signed by two of the most important Scandinavian architects, Fehn and Grosch, an attraction in itself. Here you can find changing exhibitions related to different historical periods, with photos, models and drawings, as well as a gift shop and cafe.

The Norwegian Maritime Museum is located on the Bygdøy peninsula. Visitors can enjoy fascinating environmental exhibitions about fishing, ship building, sailing, marine archaeology and an impressive collection of boat models and marine paintings.