Oslo, Norway
Foods
Palace Grill-breakfast-Definitly my favorite. The staff is amazing and I even got an inside look of the kitchen! The food is great but super pricy. I had a cup of extremly strong, but supurb tea. I also had mulesi, a type of norwiegan cereal, and one 'open sandwich' , another norweigen speciallty, with the restaurants homemade fresh plum jam. $$$$
Baltzar-lunch- Beautiful atmosphere, in a very unique location, with great Italian food! There spaghetti and meatballs are to die for, because of Norway's
many Italian immigrants! $$
Alex Sushi- dinner-Personally, I am not a sushi person. Raw fish does not sound very appitizing to me, but when I visited Oslo many locals told me that this was their favorite place! I tried it out and it was really good. If you don't want to wait, you can go next door to their "Take Out Store". Very fast, and good. The waiter recommended the tempura and soft crab which was tasty and very fresh, because of Oslo's location close the north of the North Sea. $$$
Vognmand Nilsen- dinner- This is a french restraunt because the city Dunkerque, France is a short boat ride across the North Sea away from Oslo. The menu includes manu excellent desserts(creme brûlée).They have very good choices, like the onion soup, but the reindeer(at the table next to me) kinda freaked me out. After dinner you can go to this very entertaining bar/theatre just around the corner! $$$$
One tasty food that you're sure to come by while staying in Norway is grot. Grot is porridge mad from oats, grains or rice and served many different ways. Hot or
cold, dinner, breakfast, or dessert, leftover, you name it, they've done it. The Norwegians have been eating it for centuries, as it is very easy and very
filling and nutritious.
Baltzar-lunch- Beautiful atmosphere, in a very unique location, with great Italian food! There spaghetti and meatballs are to die for, because of Norway's
many Italian immigrants! $$
Alex Sushi- dinner-Personally, I am not a sushi person. Raw fish does not sound very appitizing to me, but when I visited Oslo many locals told me that this was their favorite place! I tried it out and it was really good. If you don't want to wait, you can go next door to their "Take Out Store". Very fast, and good. The waiter recommended the tempura and soft crab which was tasty and very fresh, because of Oslo's location close the north of the North Sea. $$$
Vognmand Nilsen- dinner- This is a french restraunt because the city Dunkerque, France is a short boat ride across the North Sea away from Oslo. The menu includes manu excellent desserts(creme brûlée).They have very good choices, like the onion soup, but the reindeer(at the table next to me) kinda freaked me out. After dinner you can go to this very entertaining bar/theatre just around the corner! $$$$
One tasty food that you're sure to come by while staying in Norway is grot. Grot is porridge mad from oats, grains or rice and served many different ways. Hot or
cold, dinner, breakfast, or dessert, leftover, you name it, they've done it. The Norwegians have been eating it for centuries, as it is very easy and very
filling and nutritious.
Airports
Oslo Airport, Fornebu: This airport has nicer service, cheaper flights, is less crowded, and has a beautiful lake off to the side of the airport. When I landed I just got a cab because most of the hotels are in walking distance of the main places to visit.
Oslo Airport, Gardermoen: This is the more crowded, bigger, central airport, with nicer planes. Once you land get a cab to go to your hotel.
Taxis, busses, trams and bikes are good for getting around Oslo.
Oslo Airport, Gardermoen: This is the more crowded, bigger, central airport, with nicer planes. Once you land get a cab to go to your hotel.
Taxis, busses, trams and bikes are good for getting around Oslo.
Hotels
Bristol Hotel: This is where I stayed. It has the perfect location in the middle of town! The hotel has a fabulous library and is very quiet too. The breakfast buffet is prepared well, and is not extremely expensive. I loved the piano bar and the tea room. It reminded me of a mixture of a royal palace and the Titanic! I would definitely stay here again. $$$$
Grand Hotel: A local asked if I was staying here; when I said no, they asked, "Why not? Best hotel in Oslo!" This hotel is also in the heart of Oslo. It is quite expensive(but worth it). While classical and grand during the day I heard it was quite loud at night! The dining is good, but I heard the bar is much better. Very crowded in December do to tourists coming in for the Nobel Peace Ceremonies. $$$
Clarion Collection Gabelshus: I overheard a couple at lunch one day talking about the tremendous views from their balcony, so I asked them to tell me more about the hotel. They said that it is very romantic and not too far from downtown. They described it as charming; but said to be prepared for a lot of self-service due to bad staff. Their room wasn't great; just moderate and slightly dirty. They expected more from the price and the outside of the building. If you are staying in this town I would recommend to rent a car because there are no close subways or trains still running. $$
Thon Hotel Opera: When I walked in to this hotel through the slightly crowded revolving doors the first three words I thought of were modern, clean, and new. This hotel felt less family-friendly than other places. It was fun and business like with an office building look with lots of modern statues. During the night it felt like a place to party! When I came it was under quite a bit of construction(during December 2012 through January 2013). Tourists who stayed here told me the service was great, rooms were clean and nice, and breakfast was perfect! $$$
Grand Hotel: A local asked if I was staying here; when I said no, they asked, "Why not? Best hotel in Oslo!" This hotel is also in the heart of Oslo. It is quite expensive(but worth it). While classical and grand during the day I heard it was quite loud at night! The dining is good, but I heard the bar is much better. Very crowded in December do to tourists coming in for the Nobel Peace Ceremonies. $$$
Clarion Collection Gabelshus: I overheard a couple at lunch one day talking about the tremendous views from their balcony, so I asked them to tell me more about the hotel. They said that it is very romantic and not too far from downtown. They described it as charming; but said to be prepared for a lot of self-service due to bad staff. Their room wasn't great; just moderate and slightly dirty. They expected more from the price and the outside of the building. If you are staying in this town I would recommend to rent a car because there are no close subways or trains still running. $$
Thon Hotel Opera: When I walked in to this hotel through the slightly crowded revolving doors the first three words I thought of were modern, clean, and new. This hotel felt less family-friendly than other places. It was fun and business like with an office building look with lots of modern statues. During the night it felt like a place to party! When I came it was under quite a bit of construction(during December 2012 through January 2013). Tourists who stayed here told me the service was great, rooms were clean and nice, and breakfast was perfect! $$$
Museums
Munch Museum: During the time I was at this muesum I became extremly bored. I went with my friend Chandler, an art nut. I thought the muesum was very small and might not be eligiable to be open because they had so few of Munch's paintings on display. She loved the art, but I only think it's worth going if you aboslutly love art.
Viking Ships Muesum: This was a very cool, interactive muesum. I learned a lot about the viking era. I only stayed for an hour but I got to see everything, the muesum was slightly small. I would definitly encourage going.
Nobel Peace Centre: This muesum was the reason I went to Norway. The moment I walked in I was in awe. I read many biographys about world heros, known and unknown. I was moved by the many intelligent quotes that made me feel much more peaceful.
Norwiegen Folk Muesum: This muesum is definitly an important historic site to Oslo. The arcitecture is beautiful. It is an outdoor muesum with livestock and actors dressing up as 'traditional garb'. It was very fun and a place that younger kids would love to visit with a new fun ways to learn.
Viking Ships Muesum: This was a very cool, interactive muesum. I learned a lot about the viking era. I only stayed for an hour but I got to see everything, the muesum was slightly small. I would definitly encourage going.
Nobel Peace Centre: This muesum was the reason I went to Norway. The moment I walked in I was in awe. I read many biographys about world heros, known and unknown. I was moved by the many intelligent quotes that made me feel much more peaceful.
Norwiegen Folk Muesum: This muesum is definitly an important historic site to Oslo. The arcitecture is beautiful. It is an outdoor muesum with livestock and actors dressing up as 'traditional garb'. It was very fun and a place that younger kids would love to visit with a new fun ways to learn.
Other Activities
Nordmarka (cross-country skiing): Since I have had the experience of skiing in the Rocky Mountians, this is not comparable. The mountians are much flatter and it seems that 75% of the time you are trying to pole your way uphill. If you have never skiied I would go, but if you have it's not that beautiful and slightly boring.
Oslo Opera House: I am not a opera person so I had nothing to compare this experence to. The singers spoke in English, and they were very talented. Tickerts were expensive but the show was enjoyable.
Oslo Pass: Parking took forever, and it was not worth the money. You have to take the railway which takes forever! I did not enjoy myself and do not reccomend it to others.
Oslo Opera House: I am not a opera person so I had nothing to compare this experence to. The singers spoke in English, and they were very talented. Tickerts were expensive but the show was enjoyable.
Oslo Pass: Parking took forever, and it was not worth the money. You have to take the railway which takes forever! I did not enjoy myself and do not reccomend it to others.
What to Pack For Winter
The weather on average is in the mid 20s . While I was there it got as hot as 20 degrees and colder than 8 degrees, which is colder than average. Pack for some heavy snow do to Norway's location close to the Artic Circle. It snowed a lot during our stay and I wasn't prepared. The tempture drops 10-15 degrees throughout the day do dress warm. Good luck!
Customs
Hei! Hi
God morgon! Good Morning
God Kveld! Good Night
Takk Thank you
Kan du hjelpe meg? Can you help me?
Unnskyld, ...! Excuse me!
Eg heiter ... My name is...
Vennligst Please
Hand shaking is a apporpriate gesture in Norway. The more personal the hand shake becomes,it tends to get longer and warmer.
You wave your index finger in the air as a sign of anger, or warning others. Hand gestures are kept to a minimum during conversations.
It is inapproriate to put your hands in your pockets or chew gum in front of others.
God morgon! Good Morning
God Kveld! Good Night
Takk Thank you
Kan du hjelpe meg? Can you help me?
Unnskyld, ...! Excuse me!
Eg heiter ... My name is...
Vennligst Please
Hand shaking is a apporpriate gesture in Norway. The more personal the hand shake becomes,it tends to get longer and warmer.
You wave your index finger in the air as a sign of anger, or warning others. Hand gestures are kept to a minimum during conversations.
It is inapproriate to put your hands in your pockets or chew gum in front of others.
Languages spoken in Norway
Bokmål- 85% of the population speaks this language
Nynorsk- 20% of the population speaks this language
Høgnorsk- type of Nynorsk, very few native people speak this language
Nynorsk- 20% of the population speaks this language
Høgnorsk- type of Nynorsk, very few native people speak this language