If there is one country that is in tune with the times, it’s Norway. Here, on both sides of the Arctic Circle, nature really puts on a show. Grassy steppes and deep forests, high snow-capped mountains and jagged fjords are a delight to behold, making the country an ecotourism paradise. Oslo is in unison, a gentle capital city nestled in the Oslofjord, quiet but not sleepy, airy and always warm-hearted. Nature is everywhere, from untamed coastline ideal for beautiful hikes (and even swimming on sunny days!) to carefully tended green spaces, and a vibrant culture that is never boring. 

Long overshadowed by its Scandinavian rivalsCopenhagen and Stockholm, the Norwegian capital has taken its rightful place as an essential stopover for lovers of wellbeing and the good life. Its airy city centre is easy to explore on foot or by bike, even more so since cars were banned in 2019, when the city was named 'European Green Capital'. Vigeland Park, in the centre of the city, is a favourite meeting place for families and friends on sunny days and is a symbol of the successful alchemy between nature and culture. Its 3.2 hectares are home to an astonishing open-air museum with more than 200 sculptures by the artist Gustav Vigeland, the national star who gave his name to the park. 

From there, you just have to follow Karl Johansgate Avenue, the main artery that cuts through Oslo from east to west, to see that while the city is cosmopolitan and lively, it is never stressed out. The futuristic glass buildings that have sprung up in recent years (such as the Opera House), particularly along the quays of the former docklands of Aker Brygge, now a trendy area, blend harmoniously with the brick facades of the old workers' buildings. In this peaceful constitutional monarchy, King Harald V has reigned discreetly since 1991 and has opened the doors of his royal palace to visitors. In the surrounding Frogner district, the embassy buildings display their splendour. You can also visit the Oslo City Hall, to admire the colourful frescoes telling the story of Norway.

Oslo’s vitality is on display wherever you look, with art galleries, shops selling Scandinavian design items and local food restaurants, including the former working-class districts of Grünnerlokka and Gronland, in the midst of rehabilitation and which attract Norwegian bobos and creatives. The art of living is refelected by the many museums, which are never boring. The museums on the Bygdoy peninsula, which can be reached in a few minutes by ferry, feature the maritime traditions of the Norwegians, especially the fascinating history of the Vikings. They will have their work cut out with the advent of the huge new National Museum - the largest in Northern Europe! - which brings together works from three former museums and opens on 11 June 2022 in the Aker Brygge district. It echoes the Munch Museum, entirely dedicated to Norway's most famous painter, opened in 2021. So many reasons to head north!  
 

Site ans monuments

• Royal Palace (Slottet)- Built in the 19th century in a neo-classical style, the king is regularly in residence and the palace can be visited during the summer. The changing of the guard takes place every day at 1.30 pm. 
• City Hall (Radhuset) - Overlooking the harbour, its massive functionalist style from the 1930s can be daunting. It features multi-coloured frescoes telling the story of Norway and a hall where the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony is held.
• Oslo Cathedral (Domkirke) - Built in the 17th century, the Lutheran church is primarily impressive for its interior: modern frescoes on the ceiling, an organ case with carved acanthus leaves, etc.  
• Nobel Peace Prize Centre - Unlike the other Nobel Prizes awarded in Stockholm, the Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo. The modern museography gives an insight into geopolitics and Nobel himself, the inventor of... dynamite!
• The Sneak Peak - Lovely views of Oslo and its surroundings from this 54 metre-high glass tower.      
• Norwegian Opera House - This is the new symbol of Oslo. Facing the sea, the 2008 building is impressive with its geometric lines, gentle sloping surfaces and Carrara marble facades.  
• Karl Johansgate - Oslo's “Champs-Elysées”, a long, lively avenue lined with shops, terraces and restaurants. 

Museums

• National Museum - Inaugurated in 2022, this is the new temple of culture built in stone, steel, wood and slate in an eco-responsible spirit. Over 5,000 works of art from all eras are on display.
   
• History Museum - Archaeological exhibits, medieval art, ethnographic sections and an area devoted to the customs of the Sami (Lapps), to learn all about the history of Norway. 
• Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art - in an airy setting designed by Renzo Piano (architect of Beaubourg in Paris), modern works are on display, including Jeff Koons' famous "Michael Jackson and his monkey".   
• Munch Museum - Inaugurated in 2021, this museum is entirely dedicated to the Norwegian painter, precursor of the expressionist movement, to whom we owe "The Scream". 
• Bygdoy Peninsula Museums - A collection of five museums devoted to the country's maritime history, including the Fram Museum (Amundsen's ship) dedicated to polar exploration and the Viking Ship Museum, which houses three authentic drakkars.   

Parks and natural sites

• Royal Palace Gardens – A pleasant spot to relax in the heart of the city, after a visit or during lunch break.  
   
• Akershus Festning - Overlooking the harbour, the vast spaces and lawns surrounding this fortress are perfect for sunbathing while watching the ferries going back and forth. Concerts and entertainment in the summer months.
• Vigeland Park - This 32-hectare green lung captivates with its 200 sculptures, an astonishing forest of nude figures by Gustav Vigeland.

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• February/March - Holmenkollen Ski Festival – Several days of festivities in the neighbouring town of Holmenkollen, featuring activities and entertainment around winter sports: cross-country skiing, sledging, biathlon...
• April - Inferno metal festival - Norway's top metal music festival   
• 17 May - Constitution Day - Parades, fireworks...
• June - Oslo Pride - LGBTQ+ demonstrations and parades 
• 24 June - St John's Day - Very popular in Norway, with performances, bonfires...
• August - Oyafestivalen - Four days of concerts on three stages in a park 
• August - Jazz Festival - A regular event for 30 years
• August/September - Mela - A free festival with street performances (dance, theatre, music) and food in the town hall square. 
• September - Ultima - Norway's largest festival of contemporary music
• 10 December - Nobel Peace Prize ceremony 
• 13 December - Luciagagen - Celebrations in honour of Saint Lucy (torchlight procession, concert in the cathedral).
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• Take a bike (day hire with Viking Biking, or self-service bike hire), to explore Oslo's neighbourhoods and stop off at unexpected places. The terrain is easy, traffic is limited and there are plenty of cycle paths.  
• Explore the Oslo Fjord islands on the many ferry routes from Oslo. Our favourite? Bleikoya Island, popular with locals in summer for its pine-fringed beaches and 19th-century colonial houses. 
• Head to Holmenkollen (north of Oslo), a temple of Nordic skiing famous for its ski jump - a work of art in itself. At its foot is a museum dedicated to skiing. From there, a lift takes you to the top of the jump for a breathtaking 360° view.  

Starters

• Dried meat – Reindeer, elk or deer... Norwegians love dried meat, whether for breakfast or as an aperitif with a beer
• Flatbrod - this unleavened bread accompanies many starters and main dishe

Main dishes

• Farikal - the traditional Norwegian dish, a mixture of mutton and cabbage baked in a casserole
• Sausages - the best known are fenalar (lamb) and morr (smoked sausage)
• Finnbiff - a stew made from thinly sliced reindeer meat with mashed potatoes and red berries
• Kjottkaker - this typical dish is made of veal meatballs with mashed peas and potatoes
• Salmon - a Norwegian staple, eaten fresh, steamed or smoked (especially for breakfast)
• Rakfisk - trout fermented in salt and eaten raw, with red onion, sour cream and potatoes
• Lutefisk - cod marinated and eaten with bacon, mustard and goat cheese 
• Herring – very popular with buttered bread and potatoes, whether grilled, boiled, fried..

Cheeses and desserts 

• Jarlsberg - a typical goat cheese
• Brunost – reduced caramelised whey of goat's or cow's milk
• Pultost - a cheese made from curdled milk and flavoured with caraway seeds 
• Fyrstekake - a Norwegian pie with almonds and cardamom 
• Julekake - the ultimate Christmas cake, with dried fruit and spices  
• Tilsloret bondepiker - a dessert with layers of mashed apples and whipped cream on toas

Drinks

• Fruit juices – made from blueberries, bilberries or redcurrants, a chance to sample new flavours 
• Aquavit* - this brandy is made from potatoes and flavoured with cumin, aniseed and coriander. It is best served iced
•  Cider* - dates back to Viking times and owes its reputation to the microclimate of the fjords, ideal for growing tasty apples 

* l'abus d'alcool est dangereux pour la santé, à consommer avec modération

• Oslo Tourist Office
• Norway Tourist Office
• Oslo Airport
• French Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Norway Ambassy in France
• French Ambassy in Norway