City Rating: Oslo
Population: 635’000
Date of visit: August 2016
Attractions & sights: 3/5
Nightlife: 3/5
Safety: 5/5
Infrastructure: 5/5
Low budget factor: $/5
Total: 👍👍👍/5
The city in a nutshell:
Oslo is the most expensive city in Europe. Does that make the city a bad one to visit? Absolutely not. Just bring a lot of money.
Where to stay:
We stayed near Karl Johans Gate, which is the main tourist area. Almost all sights are within walking distance. In addition, this area is close to the central station and a good option therefore if you arrive by train from the airport (most tourists do that as taxis are to expensive). Just don’t have dinner in this area, as restaurants seem to be more expensive there than in other areas.
The Good:
Oslo is a nice city that offers a good mixture of sightseeing, parks, museums, dining and nightlife. The city is very clean, safe and has one of the best infrastructures in the world. It’s also a city for art fans, as there are various art museums in Oslo.
One of the main attractions is Aker Brygge, a former industrial district that has become a high end neighbourhood. Aker Brygge offers great views on the ferry terminal and is home of many posh restaurants and bars. Perhaps not the best district at night (not because it’s dangerous but maybe too upscale unless that is your thing).
Another attraction is Vigelandsanlegget, a park full of stone sculptures built by Gustav Vigeland. The park is pretty big and it takes some time to see all of it. If you prefer sports then head to Holmenkollbakken, the famous ski jumping hill. The views over the city are nice up there. If nature is your thing then book a Oslo Fjord tour, which lasts two hours and doesn’t cost a fortune. Fans of architecture can visit the new Opera building.
When it comes to nightlife, the best options in Oslo are Grünerløkka, which is the hipster district, or the Upper Karl Johans Gate area. I liked the latter more. If you befriend with locals, you might get invited to the vorspiel and nachspiel, which means pre-drinking and after party. And the Norwegians know how to drink. The usually start very early and you will see a lot of merry people in the early evening.
The Bad & The Ugly:
I would give Oslo a total rating of 👍👍👍👍/5, but the city is ridiculously expensive. It’s so expensive that I would even go as far as to say that Oslo is the most expensive city I’ve ever been to. We paid 24 Dollars for a bagel and two orange juices and 85 Dollars for two burgers, one beer and a water in a pub on another occasion. Interestingly, hotel rates aren’t that expensive. You can find a double room in a decent 3 star hotel for 150 Dollars per night.
Moreover, the city is cold, even in summer. We were there in August and it was really chilly in the afternoon, as the temperature dropped to 12-13 degrees. It’s probably a terrible idea to visit Oslo between October and May.
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