As we emerge from the pandemic like a spring blossom, anyone craving a bit of travel might do well to consider Oslo, where more than three quarters of the Norwegian population stepped up to get vaccinated without a government mandate. Norway tossed out travel restrictions once and for all and, for me, it was the safest destination for a quick long weekend visit.
In the three years since my last visit to the city, Oslo has filled up its store fronts with more French pastry shops than you’ll find in Paris’ 6th arrondisement, added more spiffy casual dining cafes and boutiques and, as you’ll find out in this article, dazzled the art world with its museum openings and its dramatic skyline panorama against the fjords.
Frogner Apartment, Oslo
I stayed in a furnished apartment close to the city center called Frogner Apartments, which specializes in short- and long-term apartment rentals in very chic neighborhoods in their own renovated apartment buildings. Genius idea! Sophisticated convenience stores are located all over the city filled with fresh produce, bakery sections, liquor, beverages, dairy items, etc.
With Oslo’s abundant transportation system, you can get easily get into and around the city. For travelers used to paying cash for transactions, Norway does not accept cash. Everything is done digitally and has been for several years.
With world affairs in the news, start your visit at the Nobel Peace Center, formerly an 1870 train station near the impressive city hall plaza (make sure you listen for the carillon of bells chiming on the hour) and city harbor. The peace bench outside the entrance is inspired by Nelson Mandela’s famous quote “The best weapon is to sit down and talk.” The first Nobel Peace medal ever awarded is dramatically displayed inside and is the same one awarded to each new Peace Prize laureate every year. The foundation is an excellent source of information on peace-keeping themes with relevant exhibitions.
The Munch Museum, one of the art world’s most anticipated openings during the pandemic, has three versions of Munch’s world famous “Scream” on view as well as dozens of his paintings, sketches, sculptures spread throughout 13 floors. The Sky Bar and rooftop restaurant both require reservations, or just ride the glass elevator which overlooks the harbor for a stunning aerial view.
The Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art is a privately owned contemporary art gallery in Oslo and is located in the strikingly modern section of the city called Aker Brygge. Opening in June, the National Museum of Art will be the largest museum of any kind in the Nordic region. If you’re wondering where the Vikings are, that museum is closed until 2025 for renovation.
The Bjørvika peninsula is part of the new harbor city. Its Opera House complex has a unique concept where people can walk on its roof to enjoy the views of the fjord archipelago with its small, traditional wooden summer houses painted in bright, happy colors and the city scenery.
The Deichman Bjørvika Library
Another outstanding attraction includes the massive Deichman Bjørvika Library along Oslo’s waterfront which opened in 2020 and is dubbed “Norway’s biggest bookshelf” at six floors and 140,000 sq ft. and was designed (thankfully) by a local architecture company.
Stop by Frogner Park to see more than 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland installed in the mid 1940s during WWII. The Vigeland clan remains a celebrity art family for Oslo and Gustav’s brother, Emanuel, designed his magnum opus mausoleum as a small, windowless chapel reachable by tram and only open for a few hours one Sunday a month. The inside walls and roof are covered in a giant fresco, Vita, depicting human life, love and death which illuminates once your eyes get used to the darkness.
A section of Emanuel Vigeland's "Vita" fresco
Another easy excursion, the Henie Onstad Art Center, approximately 6 miles south of Oslo and reachable by city transportation, was founded in 1968 by Olympic figure skater Sonja Henie and her husband. The building, sculpture park and art collection are all exceptional with an on-site restaurant with views of the fjords.
If you have time for any shopping, make sure you visit JF Curated, a boutique with chic luxurious sustainable clothes, jewelry and home décor items, all made by hand and by Norwegian designers. There are plenty of other notable boutiques and department stores scattered in the main shopping district which is a pedestrian zone. Don’t miss one of the city’s chicest bars inside the privately owned Hotel Continental, across from the national theatre.
The Henie Onstad Art Center
Norwegians handle all weather conditions without any stress whatsoever and get into the outdoors. They also revere their Sundays when shops are closed but museums, restaurants, cafés and bakeries are open, giving everyone time to enjoy family and friends.
In addition to a career in communications and marketing focused on the luxury lifestyle sector, including co-authoring and lecturing a case study on French heritage jeweler Mauboussin with Harvard Business School, Isabelle continues to share her experiences about fine art, wine, travel, jewelry and culture as a freelance writer for internationally based digital publications.
