So you are visiting Oslo for the first time?
A guide for Airbnb guests
Practical local info and useful Oslo tips for first-timers!
It´s always useful with some local insider knowledge to all those questions you can have when visiting Oslo for the first time. This is an attempt at providing useful practical information for the area as well as some general tips about making the best out of your stay.
And it includes a bunch of restaurant recommendations from all over central Oslo
Practicalities, like getting to the flat from the airport as well as useful local info, is further down. First —
Some general tips for Oslo visitors
To get a feel for Oslo life it is a good idea to just go for walks or bike through the different boroughs. You can walk everywhere and you quickly see some differences in street life, type of shops and bars/restaurants and general vibe of the different areas. I have no favorites, I like them all.
The residential area with the busiest street life and the highest concentration of bars/cafes/restaurants is Grunerløkka borough. Frogner is the posh part of central Oslo with wide streets, lots of trees and some high end shops. Grønland/Tøyen is more ethnically diverse than the other boroughs, busy street life, lots of small restaurant or take away places — and the best specialty asian and middle eastern supermarkets in town. If you walk down the whole of Akerselva river it ends at Grønland.
Bislett (where the flat is) and StHanshaugen borough is located between Frogner and Grunerløkka. It is a classic Oslo residential area with some nice parks, cafés and restaurants.
The main tourist route by Karl Johans gate, the very central part of town and parts of Aker Brygge can feel more business-oriented, touristy and less residential than the surrounding areas.@
This is a good comprehensive guide if you want to do hit “all the spots” — Oslo’s visitors Guide: A complete Four Day Itinerary Walking Guide to Oslo, Norway
These are the ten most popular attractions in Oslo (link to Visit Oslo)
Some museums have free admission on Sundays ; The National Gallery (which has a room with the most famous Munch paintings), The museum of contemporary art etc. See link for the rest.
For history buffs a good option is to take a stroll through the Norwegian Folk Museum and visit the Viking ships on display at Bygdøy. They are walking distance from eachother so it is good to do both at once. Many also find the medieval Akershus Fortress, right next to Oslo Harbour, to be an interesting visit
For art lovers I recommend to check out the fairly new Astrup Fearnley museum of modern art as well as the National Gallery and to check listings for exhibtions at the independent Oslo galleries.
Avoid a visit to Holmenkollen ski jump if it is foggy. You go there partially for the views.
Visit Oslos food hall: Mathallen which has specialty shops, cafés and small restaurants
Drink what some claim are the worlds best coffees at Java coffee bar (Next to StHanshaugen) or at Tim Wendelboes
Oslos most exotic museum experience is possibly this mausoleum only open on Sundays.
Stay clear of Karl Johans gate for food and drink. Mostly overpriced and bland.
If you plan to do many museums like Munch, Vikingships, National Gallery, Museum of modern Art etc, The Oslo Pass is a good deal. It also includes public transportation for the same period.
For Munch fans: you can visit his house and studio, Ekely — just outside Oslo
If you plan to use a bike in Oslo, which is a very good idea, the main ticket office Trafikanten is where you can get the bike cards for the stands with free “Oslo bikes” that you will see all over town.
This blog post from 2016 about visiting Oslo gives a good personal account and opinions of some of the attractions
It is also a good idea to check the Visit Oslo event calendar for the days you are visiting.
Summer only:
Warm and sunny? Take a boat-trip out to the islands for a day out
Just follow the crowds off the boats and explore. Hovedøya and Gressholmen are most popular and are most accessible to the public. Swim where you like. It is a good idea to bring you own food and drink. There is normally a kiosk open by the beach at Langøyene and in 2017 there is a also new summer restaurant at Gressholmen. I hear good things about it!
You can use a regular public transport tickets for all the boats.
Go swimming or just hang out at Sørenga, excellent new swimming area in the center of oslo, close to the opera house.
Tjuvholmen, by Aker Brygge also has good city centre swimming
Go for a long or short walk in the forests surrounding Oslo, you can take the tram, bus or local trains and walk straight from there. The signposts for the paths are useful (red signs for skiing in the winter, blue signs for summer paths/roads) but if you venture far, bring a map.
The tour of the interior of The Royal Palace is not always full in advance, they sell any extra tickets for that day at the door to whoever turns up at the entrance.
Winter only
Go sledging in korketrekkeren, an old bobsleigh run from the 50s now open to the public. You can rent sledges at the top and you take the tram from the bottom to the top — so no walking required, only sledging.
Oslo has excellent cross country skiing options all around the city, but it is a good idea t0 check the snow conditions before you set out.
You can also go downhill skiing, there are several slopes either a tram or bus ride away, the largest being Oslo Vinter Park
Recommeded walks
Akerselva separates the east side of oslo from the west side — and it can be walked in its entirety. You will pass the Oslo boroughs Nydalen, Sagene-Torshov as well as trendy and busy Grunerløkka. It ends at Grønland, the lively and diverse east side of central Oslo. You will also pass Mathallen, an excellent place for lunch.
You can also walk a long distance along the waterfront/harbour. A good place to start is Aker bygge/City hall. Info is provided on huge orange markers along the way. You will pass The Opera House, the food hall Vippa and Oslo´s brand new boroughs Bjørvika and Sørenga. Just note that there is a lot of construction going in Bjørvika at the moment, but you can still walk everywhere.
For a accessible walk in the forest, take the easy hike around the lake Sognsvann. A favourite recreational spot for locals, so it can get busy on sunny days. You can go swimming in the lake. If you want to ventue further into the forest there are lots of paths to choose
Food!
Eating out everyday can be pricy, but there are cheaper options. For airbnb guests at Oscarsgate the information about local supermarkets is towards the end.
Recommended restaurants in the area Homansbyen, Bislett, StHanshaugen
Kolonialen Well-received neighborhood restaurant from a sommelier that was part of the team that started the Michelin-starred restaurant Maaemo (Good luck getting a table there…) You need to book a a table as it has become very popular
StLars Good quality barbecue in a rustic bistro. Expensive
Plah One of Oslos really good Thai restaurants. Plah is a bit pricier than many other Thai Restaurants in Oslo, so a cheaper but still good option for a Thai meal is
Tasty Thai, which also does takeaway. None of these have outdoor seating so if you want to eat outside, the best option is Lille Asia at the end of the street, as it has evening sun on their large outdoor patio.
Brasserie Blanche Classic french dining, consistently good.
Smalhans Well-liked neighbourhood restaurant with a dish of the day between 1600 and 1800, tasting menus in the evening, focus on shared plates. The food is excellent. They are also open for lunch
Olivia Olivia har less evening sun but still good for outdoor seating. Italian kitchen, and they are open for lunch. They have takeaway pizza too, but a cheaper and tastier option is
Arte Pazza in Parkveien for takeaway pizza. (If you like cheese you have to get the Polo Nord!). They also have a nice neighborhood restaurant close to St.Hanshaugen park (Ullevålsvn 61). The pizzas from Villa Paradiso (around the corner and towards the roundabout) also have good pizzas.
Loving hut Small vegan restaurant, good value for money
TunCo, close to St.Hanshaugen has good asian takeaway. They also have a stand at Vippa; the popular new waterside venue close to Akershus Fortress.
Fyr is a newish bistro/restaurant with a nice outdoor seating area. I have not tried it but the reviews are very good.
Sushi from Namnams on the corner of Oscarsgate/Pilestredet is good local option for cheap sushi takeaway. They also have tasty fresh spring rolls. For warm dishes I would prefer Tasty Thai.
Recommended restaurants not necessarily in the area.
Oslo is small enough to make it easy to visit other areas for a meal, especially of you hop on a tram, bus or use a bike. Many of these are also walking distance, even if they are not in the Bislett/StHanshaugen neighbourhood.
Note that some might be closed for summer. For most of these you should book a table in advance. The prices vary quite a bit so check in advance if you´re not in the mood for splashing out. There are also new places opening all the time
Arakataka Close to Torggata. Seasonal, modern and consistently good.
Astral I hear good things about this one. Seasonal and modern. A bit further out, take the nr 20 bus or the nr 17 tram. Located close to Akerselva river between boroughs Torshov and Sagene, north of Grunerløkka.
Solsiden. A consistently good summer option for seafood
Trattoria Popolare Popular italian restaurant with good food. Grunerløkka
Izikaya Small japanese-themed bar with tasty japanese bar dishes. No reservations.
Kamai Good asian restaurant. Grunerløkka
Galt Nordic with a twist. Recommended!
Bass Modern nordic, Grunerløkka
Palace Grill A tiny, but excellent Oslo gourmet institution close to Solli Plass. No bookings so it might be a bit of a wait. Not cheap.
Alex Sushi Best sushi in Oslo. The original one is close to Solli plass and there is also one at Tjuvholmen.
Aymara One of Oslos few restaurants with latin food. Close to Solli Plass
Teatro Excellent pizza & close to Karl Johans gate/City Hall.
Bokbacka Modern nordic kitchen
Le Benjamin Consistently good French bistro food. Grunerløkka
Bass Modern Grunerløkka restaurant. Nordic cuisine. Newly opened, good reviews.
Sentralen Brasserie-type restaurant with modern dishes. Kvadraturen. not to far from Akershus fortress/Karl Johans gate.
Statholdergaarden An oldie, but a goodie. Classic gourmet dining. A bit pricy but excellent food. Kvadraturen.
Kontrast Modern nordic cuisine, has a Michelin star
Pila Coffeshop during the day, modern nordic cuisine in the evening. Situated at the lower part of Akerselva, between Grunerløkka and Grønland
Koie Ramen Took a wile before we got a good ramen place is Oslo. The reviews say it delivers.
Taste of China This is where to go in Oslo for dim sum. Moderately priced. Next to the City Hall
À L’aise Fairly new place. High end french cuisine. Excellent reviews. Formal.
Mathallen Visit Oslo´s food hall for a bit of everything, many small restaurants and fresh produce for sale
This is a good comprehensive list of recommended restaurants:
Oslo restaurants in the 2017–18 White Guide Nordic
Cheaper options
It took a long time but Oslo finally has some good food trucks. You will find some on the the seafront square in front of the City Hall. There are normally also a few at Youngstorget, by Torggata. A good budget choice.
Punjab Tandoori Indian food, excellent prices, good value for money/Centre east (Grønland) An Oslo institution. full of locals, cantine-like.
Mela cafe. Tasty and inexpensive middle eastern food. Close to Torggata. My personal favorite in the area.
Sham. Tasty Syrian food and classic middle eastern dishes. hear good things about this one. Between Grønland and Tøyen.
If you crave a burger, there are many more basic restaurants that are not too expensive, but still serve excellent burgers. Try one at Munchies, Bernt Ankers Gate (the best in Oslo in my opinion). Located off Torggata. Another good burger option in the same area is Illegal burger. Tommies burger joint, close to the central station is a hole-in-the-wall place with really good burgers and fries. They also have a new location in Torggata.
Torggata and its adjacent streets has recently become quite a good restaurant and bar area, and it is very close to the restaurant and bar mecca that is Grunerløkka.
Fiskeriet (Torggata, by the square) has tasty and good value fish&chips. Eat in or takeaway.
Hai café Cheap, but good Vietnamese restaurant.
Lille Saigon1 Same as above
Vippa is one of Oslos food hall, especially good for sunny summer days! It is situated in a former industrial part of the harbour. International food stalls, and outdoor seating in the sun. Recommended! The stalls change all the time, and there are always new options. Now I hear good things about the Taco stand Hot Hot Harmonica, and I know the shawarmas and falafels from Aleppo Bahlebek are tasty.
This is a good blog posts about cheap eats in Oslo. I especially like the tip about having a park picnic for lunch, or bringing your own takeaway food to eat at Oslo Mekaniske, one of Oslos nicer bars. It also has outdoor seating.
And here is also a good recent blog post about hidden gems in restaurant Oslo
Parks
There are three parks in the immediate area around the flat
StHanshaugen park Small park with excellent views. The restaurant near the top is not known for good food, only good views - one of Oslo´s best places for a drink in the sun.
Stensparken: Also hilly, small and has some nice views. There is a small, but nice café at the top of the park
Slottsparken (The Royal Palace Park): Oslos poshest park, it surrounds the Royal palace and is a nice route to take to Karl Johans Gate and other downtown areas. The part of the park which is behind the palace is the nicest part to hang out and relax.
A bit further:
Vigeland Park, one of Oslo´s main attractions (local name Frognerparken) is a 15–20 minute walk up the shopping street Bogstadveien, and then turn left at Kirkeveien to get to the park main entrance. Bogstadveien is the continuation of Hegdehaugsveien, the road at the end of this street (where the 11 tram stops)
A favorite park for many of Oslo´s inhabitants is the Oslo Botanical Gardens
It is open all year round. Close to busy boroughs of Grønland/Tøyen/Grunerløkka it is a beautiful, hilly park with a café, a varied plant and tree selection as well as some small, but fascinating green houses. Like this one:
Exercise
The local stadium (Bislett stadium) is open for running all year, entrance at the back.
Mon-Fri: 08:00–17:00 og 19:00–21:00
Saturday: 10:00–18:00
Sunday: 12:00–18:00
Basket and Soccer. Communal courts next to the stadium
Bislet Bad
Local swimming pool, indoor pool with saunas and hot tubs etc. A quiet and relaxing place, but expensive.
Local supermarkets
Let´s face it, eating out severeal times pr day can get expensive in Oslo, so here are some supermarket options. Feel free to make dinners at home, or buy takeaway meals from the many places in the area if you want to save a bit on your food budget.
Best local supermarket for fresh produce: Coop, Dalsbergstien. They also have som fresh readymade meals, but don´t expect anything to exciting. Normally they have roasted whole/half chickens at a good value price.
Closest, good selection and fairly cheap. This is the one I prefer for everyday shopping: Kiwi, Hegdehaugsveien
Another local supermarket, cheap: Rema 1000, sporveisgata / Rema 1000 parkveien
These larger supermarkets are closed on Sundays, however smaller supermarkets stay open. Closest to the flat are Joker and Bunnpris in Theresesgate. 5 min walk from the flat
Kiosks like 7–11 and Deli deLuca are open 24 hours
Best local delicatessen: Gutta på Haugen. Local ingredients, hams, cheeses, breads, jams, and other quality products. Open on Sundays. Pricy. Cheese tip: they normally stock the best norwegian blue cheese ever made; Kraftkar.
Alcohol
In Norway you can only buy wine/spirits at the shops called Vinmonopolet. (Yes, it literally means The wine monopoly) Closest one is Theresegate branch
Opening hours:
Mon — Thur: 1000–1800
Fri: 0900–1800
Sat: 0900–1500
You can buy regular strength beer in supermarkets, but only until 8 pm. Beers with a higher alcohol content you have to get at the ”vinmonopolet”.
If you want wine during your stay and want to save on the ridiculously expensive prices it is in general a good idea to use your wine/spirit duty free quota when you land at Gardemoen airport, it is normally always open, or even bring from home.
How to get to the flat from the airport
Taxis from the airport are notoriously expensive, the bus is the cheapest, and the airport train is the most convenient. Take the Airport express train (Flytoget) to Oslo Central Station (Oslo S) You can also take the local train the same route, that is cheaper but more infrequent. Just ask at the station or look it up at NSB (Norwegian Rail)
From the central station; When you get off the train, exit the central station and find the tramstop for 17, 18 and 11, westbound. It is across the road and to the right from the main entrance at the station. Take 17 or 18 to tramstop Dalsbergstien. Or Tram 11 to stop Homansbyen. From both stops you have approx 2–300 meters to the flat.
NB. you need tickets so sort that our before you hop on the tram. Use the Ruter app You can also buy tickets in most kiosks, or go to the ticket office down the steps from the central station entrance; Trafikanten
If you want to save a bit of money and have a little more time, there is a new busroute to and from the airport that stops by Bislett Stadium, close to the flat. Look for route FB5. You get off at stop Dalsbergstien
Getting around/Transportation/taxi
Some advice about getting around from the flat:
You can basically walk everywhere in central Oslo, but if you want to save time or not feeling like a walk, the public transportation is quite good.
To go to Karl Johan or the seafront by the Town Hall and Aker Brygge I recommend you walk thorugh the palace park. To Grunerløkka you can take bus 21 from the bus stop next to the stadium, close to the roundabout. Get off at Sannergata bus stop and walk downwards. Tram 17 also takes you to Grunerløkka, passing by the centre of town before heading east.
To go to the restaurant area of Torggata, you also take tram 17, but get off at tramstop Brugata. (You´ll walk down in about 20 minutes)
If you take the 21 bus the other way, the last stop is Aker brygge/Tjuvholmen. That is agood starting point for a walk along the seafront all the way to beyond the opera house. Although the Aker Brygge area is very touristy I would recommend it on a nice day. There is a new modern art museum at Tjuvholmen, loads of restaurants, shops and a public swimming area. Sørenga is better for a whole day out at the “beach” on a hot day, but be warned, both can get really busy.
Trams/tube/buses normally run to around midnight, but there are some buses and trams running at all night. Check listings
The closest subway/tube station is Nationaltheatret or Majorstuen, both at least a 10 minute walk. You can also connect with the subway via tram 17 and 18 in the city centre.
You can use an app to buy tickets for trams etc. The app is called Ruter
Local train, subway, bus, trams and the boats serving the small islands use the same ticket system
You can also buy tickets at kiosks like 7–11 and Deli de Luca.
Quickest solution to book taxis is via the app Taxifix from Oslo Taxi
Via phone:
Oslo taxi: 02323
Norgestaxi: 08000
Enjoy your stay in Oslo!
