Streetwise 2012 by Magnus Moholdt

YOUR GUIDE TO OSLO Food / Nightlife / Shopping / Sleep / Activities / Practical WHERE TO GO

WHAT TO SEE

TIME & MONEY

MADE BY USE-IT OSLO

MADE BY LOCALS / NO-NONSENSE / NOT COMMERCIAL

EDITOR René Brunsvik

ART DIRECTOR

Norway

Magnus Moholdt

POPULATION

WRITERS & RESEARCH René Brunsvik, Magnus Moholdt, Nina Aziza Plau, Kasper Munk, Sigrun Tara Øverland, Erlend boe, Odrun Misje

PHOTOGRAPHY Magnus Moholdt, sxc.hu, Erik Moholdt

PRINT 07 gruppen

THANKS TO openstreetmap.org for the free maps!

5,000,000

AREA

385,252 km2

CAPITAL Oslo

GOVERNMENT

Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy

CURRENCY

Norwegian Krone (NOK)

BIGGEST CITIES

Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger, Kristiansand

DISCLAIMER: By the time Streetwise was printed, in May 2012, content was accurate and up to date. Streetwise will not be held responsible for any changes being made later or printing errors. Constructive feedback is always welcome.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction

WELCOME TO OSLO WELCOME TO USE-IT KNOW THE PEOPLE SOUVENIRS FIND YOUR WAY FROM KARL JOHANSGATE THINGS TO DO IN OSLO KNOW THE AREAS TIPS FROM OUR FRIENDS ON UNDERSKOG

Shopping

4 5 6 7 9 10 12 13

Food

CHEAP FOOD NORWEGIAN FOOD GOURMET ON A BUDGET SUSHI VEGETARIAN CAFÉS & DINERS

16 18 19 20 21 22

26 30 34 36 38 39

44 45 46 47

Activities

FESTIVALS ISLANDS FORREST & HIKING BATHING MUSEUMS PARK LIFE WINTER ACTIVITIES CINEMA & THEATRE

52 53 54 55 56 61 62 63

Sleep

HOTELS & HOSTELS CAMPING

Nightlife

YOUNGSTORGET GRÜNERLØKKA DOWNTOWN GRØNLAND CONCERT VENUES UNDER 20

BUYING NORWEGIAN BOOK STORES ALTERNATIVE SHOPPING RECORD STORES

66 68

Practical information

LEAVING OSLO

WELCOME TO OSLO Help is on the way

OK, so you decided to visit the land of the Vikings and the fjords. You probably imagined yourself dancing and ice-skating with polar bears in an endless sum of non-expensive joy and happiness. Now you are standing outside the central station, spending a huge amount of your salary on a bagel and a soda. Norway is expensive. We are famous for it. Our norwegian salarys are raised to match the expenses, but even we prefer to sit at home in the weekends until midnight so we won’t spend most of our money on beer. A pack of cigarettes? A 100 NOK. That’s 12 euros a pack. A cheap beer in Norway is around 50 NOK and a cheap lunch about 80 NOK. Jeez. A norwegian poet once said that it is not possible to turn around in Oslo without using a “hundrings” (100 NOK). If you are not aware, your stay can get expensive. As always, when in trouble - heroes emerge. For 20 years Streetwise has guided the young travellers trough the city highlighting the cheapest alternatives to make their stay in Oslo as budget friendly as visiting another country, without loosing out on any experiences. So - welcome to Oslo. And enjoy your stay.

WELCOME TO USE-IT The information center for young travelers

Welcome to Use-It Oslo. The information center for young travelers between the ages of 13 to 26. Every year we get visitors from all over the world asking for information about Oslo and we do not charge money for our many services. It is highly recommended that you drop by our offices before you start exploring Oslo. We don't want your money, we don't want to sell you anything and we don't bite. We just want you to make the most out of your stay in the city we love.

USE-IT OSLO MĂ¸llergata 3 +47 24 14 98 20 oslo.use-it.travel Use-It Oslo is run by Oslo Youth Information center (UngInfo) and is located in MĂ¸llergata 3.

Use-It produces info for young people traveling on a budget. Use-It guidebooks, maps and websites are made by locals, free, no nonsense and up to date.

Free lugguage storage Free internet Free Information

Do you like our guidebook? Wouldn't it be great if such a publication were to be published where you live? You can help us expand Use-It Europe network - contact us at post@ung.info!

KNOW THE PEOPLE Here is what you need to understand us better

Norwegians are “harsh”, the ancient old myth goes. “It’s the climate. It makes them bitter”. Nonsense. Yes, we define our personal space as more “sacred” than say the Italians. And no. We will not strike a conversation with you just to kill time on the bus. But smile, be friendly and seem interested, and you will be surprised by the warmth and generosity you will receive in return. Remember that the timid norwegians you bump in to on the streets, are the same ones that wrap their tie aorund the head during the weekends and dance on tables with loud and energetic noises. There are a lot of great persons and personalities in this city. When bumping into these norwegians, these great personalities, have this checklist in mind. It is like a mirror into our soul.

Your average norwegian

• We are cross-country skiers in the winter, and park-animals in the summer. • Norwegians are mostly rich (due to the oil industry), and you’ll see iPhones and Androids everywhere. • There is nothing your average norwegian cares more about than beating the Swedes in whatever sport or event. We usually beat them too, you know. • We love the outdoors and spend our holidays in the mountain, the weekend in the forest and once a year a trip to Spain. • One of our favourite past-times is a stroll – you can see Norwegians wandering around, sometimes for hours, with no other purpose than to “ponder”. • 7 out of 10 Norwegians work out at least once a week (young people in Oslo even more), and there are over a 100 crowded gyms in the city. • As a people we are fashion-oriented, technologically equipped, and with plenty of time to indulge in cultural activities.

SOUVENIRS Bring something back home

These are your typical Norwegian Souvenirs. They all hold some cultural value to us, they are all easy to get hold of, and none of them are too expensive. We’re not saying that these will revolutionize your life – we’re just saying they might.

BRUNOST & OSTEHØVEL { Brown cheese & slicer } Brunost is made by boiling a mixture of milk, cream and whey for several hours. The milk sugar then turns into caramel. And voila. A traditional lunch in Norway consists of sliced bread with brown cheese on top. The cheese slicer - maybe our most cherished creation - was invented by the norwegian Thor Bjørklund in 1925.

FREIA MELKESJOKOLADE { Norwegian milk chocolate } You can get this product everywhere you turn. Swiss chocolate is not bad, but this one is for connoiseurs. Children all over Oslo have their obligatory school trip to the Freia Factory as we speak, to see how it all goes down. “Et lite stykke Norge”, Freia’s slogan, means A little piece of Norway.

AQUAVIT { Norwegian liquor } Aquavit is a scandinavian liquor made by potatoes. It’s strong taste and character comes from a variation of spices. The name Aquavit, (Akevitt in norwegian), comes from the latin words Aqua Vitae, which means water of life. This product is only available in our liquor stores; Vinmonopolet. With these things you are on your way to becoming norwegian. Go to a grocery store and buy some Jarlsberg cheese and some Norwegian smoked ham, and you got our lifestyle perfectly pinned.

‘T’ is for T-bane, which in turn means subway. If you see a sign like this there’s an underground subway stop nearby. There are three subway stops in downtown Oslo; Jernbanetorget, Stortinget and Nationaltheateret. All lines go from these stops.

THE ISLANDS 10 minute walk. From Vippetangen you can take the ferries over to the islands. Three great destinations to relax, swim, barbeque and enjoy the sun.

THE OPERA HOUSE 5 minute walk. The famous opera house. Go over there and take a walk on the roof. Beautiful view.

YOU ARE HERE

JERNBANETORGET

GRÜNERLØKKA

20 minute walk. The popular urban area. Cafés, independent shops, designer boutiques and nice parks.

GRØNLAND

10 minute walk. The multicultural area of Oslo, flavours, tastes, full of life.

CENTRAL TRAIN STATION

This is where you arrive.

FIND YOUR WAY

AKER BRYGGE / AKERSHUS FORTRESS

Karl Johansgate is the busiest street of Oslo and the first street you meet when you arrive. Walk all the way up to the Royal Castle.

10 minutes walk. Busy boardwalk pier with restaurants, shops and ice cream stands. View the fjord from Akershus fortress.

FROM KARL JOHANSGATE

NATIONALTHEATERET

STORTINGET

THE ROYAL CASTLE

2 minute walk. Majesticly rested at the top of Karl Johansgate. If the flag is up, the King is in.

THEATRE SQUARE

3 minute walk. Theatres, coffee shops, book stores and museums – including The National Gallery.

USE-IT / YOUNGSTORGET

3 minute walk. Here you’ll find our office. Drop off your luggage, use the computer and get information.

THINGS TO DO IN OSLO

Here are the 8 things you should do in Oslo - and tell your friends about later.

THE FRAM-SHIP

Seriously. How often do you get the chance to do this? This is the original ship which explorer Fridtjof Nansen used to conquer the North Pole. And it is perfectly rested on land in Oslo, in the beautiful Bygdøy Peninsula, and you can walk all around on it. You can walk inside or stand by the steering wheel like a boss. This is cool – cooler than you think. Do it.

THE OPERA

We know, we know. There are plenty of Operas around. But this one is quite new, it is definitely trying to be up there with the Opera in Sydney and other landmark buildings. And it pretty much succeeds. 5-minute-walk from downtown, beautiful scenery, the “tourist” thing to do at the Opera is to walk on the roof. So when your friends ask you what you did in Oslo, you can say: Oh, nothing. Just wandering about on world class rooftops.

THE FOREST

It may sound stupid to spend your day in a Capitol city on going to the forest, but it really is not. If you find a city this size with a more beautiful forest surrounding it - merely a 15 min metro-ride away – tell us about it. The forest is the pride of Oslo and perfectly renders the Norwegian spirit. You’ll meet plenty of a friendly Norwegian among the trees, this forest is truly beloved. Take the metro to either Frognersetern or Sognsvann and walk around. There is peace to be found.

THE FAMOUS PAINTING SCREAM

Yes. You have seen it, even though you may not be aware of it. The painting “Scream” from Edvard Munch is the most iconic painting in the world besides Mona Lisa. It is the inspiration for Macauley Culkins “Home Alone”-pose, as well as the horror mask in the scream-movies. A version of “the Scream” recently sold for 120 million dollars at an auction in New York. In Oslo, there are three original

versions of this painting – one in the National Gallery and two in the Munch Museum. Go see at least one of them.

TUSENFRYD AMUSEMENT PARK

A bit expensive, and be prepared to use the full afternoon – this is nevertheless hilariously fun. It is just a 15 min bus ride out of town, and filled with kids, teenagers and people looking to have a good time. Some really good rollercoasters (one entirely made of wood) and some top notch water y-type rollercoaster slides. Some of the attractions are not for the faint hearted. With pictures of you in a slide, your friends will question your social status no more.

THE ROYAL CASTLE

This is not up there with the likes of Buckingham Palace, but it is a castle nonetheless, and we should pay our respects. This one rests majestically on the top of the main street Karl Johan and is a popular tourist venue. If the flag is up, that means the King is in. And he is not a stiff upper class King, he is a downto-earth, nice chap. Once at the castle, watch the Royal guards. The have a routine when they swap places on and off duty,

and tourists crowd around them and point and take pictures. You too. Go do that.

THE VIGELAND PARK

Probably our most known tourist attraction. This park is huge, it is definitely pretty, and it is packed with impressive statues from artist Gustav Vigeland. On the highest top in the middle you will see “the Monolitt” a 17 meter high, firm, cylinder shaped statue. Almost like a giant fallos symbol, watching over where you go. The Vigeland Park is free, it is crowded also with Norwegians, and you should go there. Not only for the statues, go there for relaxation and general park life. Throw some Frisbee. Grill some meat. Just be yourself. Stop being such a tourist.

AKERSHUS FORTRESS

Fortress situated next to the Oslo Fiord, built in the 1300s. Some great guided tours inside, the best view over the Oslo Fiord from up on the hill, and popular park surrounding it. This Fortress is next to the Town Hall and Aker Brygge, the popular port where you shop, meet up with some friends, buy ice cream and dangle your feet over the pier.

So. There you are. Nail down at least a couple of these things, and your life, both here and when you return, will be more fun. You’re welcome.

KNOW THE AREAS Here are some areas you should know of

DOWNTOWN

MAJORSTUA AND FROGNER

This is where most of you will spend your days. Downtown you’ll find shops, restaurants, museums, as well as the Opera House and the beautiful Akershus Fortress. Most Norwegians actually don’t live downtown, but in the areas surrounding it – and then hit downtown for stuff to do.

This is where you find the Famous Vigeland Park, as well as Oslos second biggest shoppingstreet, Bogstadveien. Majorstua, and it’s neighboring part of town Frogner, is among the most posh city-areas (rivaled by some areas more up north and west, near the forest), so expect high quality smoothies, caffe lattes and fashion stores.

GRÜNERLØKKA Former working class areas gone hip and trendy, this is a mere 10-15 min walk from downtown and is packed with cafés, diners, small designer boutiques and hairdressers – as well as some immensely popular park areas. Grünerløkka is the closest Oslo gets to Berlins Kreuzberg or NYs Greenwich village, and is a place you definitely should check out.

GRØNLAND / TØYEN If you’re tired of pale norwegians, visit Grønland. This immigrant area is packed with small restaurants, jewellers, fabric shops and vegetable markets. A handful of beautiful mosques have been erected in Grønland during the last decade. Just as Grünerløkka, Grønland is undergoing changes, but seems more resistant to gentrification than Grünerløkka.

GAMLEBYEN Situated in the eastern part of the city centre, this is where you find the medieval Oslo. In the Medieval Park there are ruins of The Church of Mary and the King’s Royal Palace. The park has a nice pond and is perfect for picnics. Those residing in Gamlebyen are not allowed to dig deep in their backyards, due to the chance of discovering items of archeologically importance. Visit to get a historical feel of old Oslo.

BYGDØY Here you can visit six museums in one day without too much travelling. When you are tired of the museums, you can take a swim in Paradisbukta or Huk, or just take a stroll around the area and observe the life of the bold and the beautiful. Rich, quiet and nice.

TIPS FROM OUR FRIENDS ON UNDERSKOG

UNDERSKOG.NO

Underskog is Oslos popular web forum for events, activities and cultural happenings. Here is what they want you to know.

THE ULTIMATE SAVING TIP “If you’re really broke and you’re hungry, you can take the free buses to IKEA. A giant warehouse with cheap swedesh furniture. However, they also have a cafeteria where you can buy brekfast (eggs and bacon) for only 19 NOK.”

THE TOWNS BEST HOT CHOCOLATE “Check out Oslos best hot chocolate, go to Hotel Bristol right off Karl Johan. Delicious!”

A QUICK AND CHEAP SNACK CHEAP OPERA TICKETS “For only 100 NOK you can get tickets to all the main performances at the Opera. Not the best seats, but still well worth the price.”

“Go to United Bakeries in Karl Johan and order a bread roll with butter and jam for only 25 NOK.”

ISLANDHOPPING SUNDAY TRADITION “Each and every Sunday for eleven years, and still going strong. Frank Znort Quartet plays at Blå. The shows are free and highly recommended for the friendly atmosphere.”

“There are three beautiful islands out in the Oslo fjord. For a day pass you can travel from island to island. Bring your own food and drinks, swim in the ocean, see the old ruins at Hovedøya, have a few beers on Gressholmen. You can even camp at Langøyene.”

14 FOOD

Eat and dine in Oslo – budget style

The main character in the famous Norwegian novel “Hunger” by Knut Hamsun wanders around Oslo trading in his clothes and belongings for the next meal. He did not have Streetwise in his hand. Oslo has plenty of class A restaurants, plenty of cheap, hidden places as well. Here is what you need to know:

EATING OUT LATE Norway is not Spain and Oslo is not Barcelona. We eat early, at least compared to rest of Europe. Expect restaurant kitchens to close between 9pm and 11pm. However, you’ll find lots of Fast food until 3-4 am. Check out the kebabs and pizzas in the street Torggata if you are hungry.

GROCERY SHOPPING You’ll find regular food store chains like Rema 1000, Rimi, Kiwi and Ica everywhere. Most of these are open from 0900-2200 on weekdays and from 0900-2000 on Saturdays. Smaller chains such as Joker and Bunnpris are open on Sundays as well.

WATCH OUT FOR KIOSK PRICES All over the place you’ll find Kiosks like 7-11 and Deli de Luca. Great for a quick snack or some basic groceries when everything else is closed, but be aware that prices here are nearly double. Open all night some places, this convenience has a cost. Also, tap water in Norway is drinkable, and of excellent quality. Don’t waste your money on bottled water, fill up your empty bottle and walk happily around with a smile of success and content.

CHEAP FOOD You won’t find these places in the Michelin Guide, but they are decent meals nonetheless. A price range of NOK 50 to NOK 150 is considered a cheap meal in Oslo. VIETNAM HOUSE { Downtown } Bernt Ankersgate 6B Adds new meaning to the term multicultural; in a former Greek restaurant you get delicious Vietnamese food. Redecorating was never a top priority, but who cares when the meals are this tasty and cheap.

MA´RAJA { Downtown } Torggata 8 Indian food, not that there’s anything special about that, but their lunch special is exceptionally cheap. Ma´Raja has an all lunch buffet until 15:00 each day, starting at budget friendly 60 NOK.

GIL GAMESJ { Grünerløkka } Trondheimsveien 10 Main dishes priced at around 100 NOK. Nice atmosphere as well. Visit this place before a night out at Grüneløkka’s clubs.

CURRY & KETCHUP { Majorstuen } Kirkeveien 51 Charming Indian restaurant with a casual atmosphere, nearby the Vigelandspark. Tasty

meals for about 120 NOK. The interior is remniscant of an Indian shop with ricebags, spice and tin cans. The quality of both food and prices together is a great combo. The place is crowded, mostly by students.

RICE BOWL { Downtown } Youngsgate 4 www.ricebowl.no Really good thai-food in the city center, nearby Youngstorget. Only 54 seats so make sure to be there early! Very budget friendly with main dishes from about 90 NOK.

ILLEGAL BURGER { Youngstorget } Møllergata 23 The best burgers in town and right next to the Use-It office. Try the Cheese Royale, with potatoes on the side, mmmm! You can get a burger everywhere, but not like this. Usually crowded during the weekends.

PIZZA PANCETTA { Majorstuen } Kirkeveien 69 www.pancetta.no These guys started up with one store in the posh area Frogner, quickly won everyone over,

and are now expanding with branches all over town. Try one!

VANN OG BRØD { Tøyen } Tøyenbekken 5 www.vannogbrod.no Vann og brød (water and bread) is placed in an old prison building now restored to a place for cultural events. Great tapas menu. The place is semi expensive, but if you’re low on your budget you can order potatoes with aioli and fried chicken clubs with salad for about 70 NOK.

RESTAURANT DEHLI TANDOORI { Downtown } Maridalsveien 4 rdtandoori.com If there’s one indian restaurant you should check out, it is this one. They are located a 10 minute walk from downtown Oslo.

beware, after you’ve had your delicious meal, the staff is eager to give your table away to some other hungry group. We strongly suggest you book a table if you’re thinking of going there in the weekend. Hell’s Kitchen is a great place to start your night out.

CAFÉ SARA { Downtown } Hausmanns gate 29 www.cafesara.no A fusion between a pub and a diner, Café Sara serves a variety of meals for a reasonable price. The kitchen is open until 02:45 every day and is a very popular place to get some food after a night out. Café Sara also serves as an all-inone option, whereas you spend the night drinking topped off with a great meal before you go home. Or maybe it was the other way around, we don’t remember.

YAYA’S { Downtown, Majorstuen } Øvre vollgate 13 Industrigata 36 Munkedamsv 53b www.yayas.no A piece of Thailand in the middle of Oslo. Surrounded by a jungle, you’ll be walking on bambus floor and sit in small “stalls” – these guys imported tons of interior, and everything you see is authentic. The food is great as well. Nice staff, great prices – and a surprise thunder storm during your meal.

HELL’S KITCHEN { Youngstorget } Møllergata 23 On the top of Youngstorget you’ll find the place that serve spicy Italian pizza from hell. The prices are ok, but the pizza’s legendary. But

PEOPLE’S { Youngstorget } Arbeidersamfunnetsplass 1 www.cafepeoples.no Serving burgers, salads, mexican, grill and more, People’s is a very popular choice during the summer season. Not only because they serve a cheap 0,6l beer, but mainly because of their huge outdoor area. The place is central and is located right between Oslo’s two popular concert venues; Rockefeller and Sentrum Scene.

NORWEGIAN FOOD Trendy food in Scandinavia is often imported - like bruschettas with mozzarella from the Mediterranean. Here are restaurants that specialize in the Norwegian culinary traditions

FYRET

SCHRØDER

{ Youngstorget } Youngstorget 6 www.fyretmatogdrikke.no We love Fyret. The atmosphere is informal and relaxed and the Norwegian/Scandinavian menu is brilliant and affordable. In the summer you can sit outside in the arcades, looking over to Youngstorget. 1 minute walk from Use-It.

{ St. Hanshaugen } Waldemar Thranes gate 8 www.restaurant-schroder.no Informal atmosphere in a restaurant with a long history. Schrøder serves traditional Norwegian food on white stained tablecloths. It is definitely worth a visit, as the food is cheap and tasty plus they are generous with the portions.

KAFFISTOVA { Downtown } Rosenkrantz gate 8 www.kaffistova.com Kaffistova is the restaurant at Bondeheimen Hotel, specialising in traditional Norwegian food at affordable prices. All bread and cakes are homemade, and some say they have the best breakfast in town.

LOFOTEN FISKERESTAURANT { Downtown } Stranden 75 www.lofoten-fiskerestaurant.no Lofoten is said to be the best fish restaurant in Norway. The food is, as you may guess, based on Norwegian fresh seafood. But be aware, this is an expensive restaurant, so if you can’t afford a three course meal, check out the fish soup for lunch.

Buying norwegian food

FENAKNOKEN Tordenskioldsgate 12 www.fenaknoken.no Meat prepared the Norwegian style: smoked, dried and salty! And flatbread, of course! When you have eaten cured meat from Fenaknoken, you know how cured meat should taste.

THE FARMERS MARKET www.bondensmarked.no The farmers market is a market place where you can buy food directly from the producer. Check out their website to see when and where the next market is.

GOURMET ON A BUDGET Streetwise is a guide for low-cost experiences, but be too tight on your budget and you can miss out on some great experiences. Here are some affordable gourmet restaurants

ARAKATAKA { Downtown } Mariboes gate 7 www.arakataka.no At Arakataka they serve international cuisine with a slight breeze from the Middle East. Arakataka combines creative dishes with top quality service at reasonable prices.

people can have their anniversary or celebrations without getting ripped off. A three course meal is about 460 NOK. But the dinner is cheaper before 6 pm, if you want to save money. We know that Oslo is not friendly on your wallet, but these places are good. Go feel like a bigshot!

EKEBERGRESTAURANTEN { Ekeberg } Kongsveien 15 www.ekebergrestauranten.com The Ekeberg Restaurant is functionalistic high watermark in Norway. Today it offers great food, and if the weather is nice we highly recommend their terrace. When there, ask for a glimpse of the 1st floor as well. The design and decoration is beautiful. Make sure you check out the sculptures surrounding the building as well. Fancy a walk before dinner? Walk through Grønland to the restauraunt.

OSLO SPISEFORRETNING { Grønland } Oslo gate 15 www.oslo-spiseforretning.no This is the gourmet restaurant we recommend which is nearest to the Opera. Here normal

NAM FAH { Downtown } Prinsens gate 18 www.nam-fah.com Nam Fah has one of the best thai dishes in Oslo. Strong curry & coconut noodle soup made with fresh ingredients. This is a very popular place and it’s sometimes wise to book a table in advance. They have two restaurants in Oslo, one downtown and the other at Grünerløkka, which is take-out only. Go buy yourself a decent meal for about 100 NOK and bring it to a local park.

SUSHI It’s raw, healthy and trendy

Once the norwegians were sceptics, but now sushi is everywhere in Oslo. It’s convenient, delicious, and not too expensive. For a fast and healthy meal in Oslo, you could do a lot worse. Most places you’ll stumble across will have excellent quality. And check out these if you want to be sure.

MITSU

Fish mongers

{ Downtown } Møllergata 42 This is the place for huge chunks of sushi wthout going broke. Mitsu is ranked high among sushi-lovers in Oslo, and if you are in a different mood, try their chicken baguette.

FISKERIET

SUMO SUSHI { Youngstorget } Youngstorget 3 www.sumosushi.no This is nearby the Use-It Oslo office, so if you spot someone extraordinarily handsome and well-behaved at Sumo Suhi during lunch hours, it might be one of us. Great place.

DVDON HAI MINH HOANG { Grünerløkka } Grüners gate 9 Sushi and asian dishes! 99,- for “todays special”. Includes appetizer and a main course.

{ Youngstorget } Youngstorget 2 fiskeriet.com A fishmonger and take-away restaurant all in one. Trendy and young employees, definitely trying to be the rockstars of the industry.

FJELBERG FISK & VILT { Frogner } Bygdøy allé 56 Fjelberg fisk&vilt have been selling food since 1917.

FLYVEFISKEN { Grønland } Lilletorget 1 www.flyvefisken.no A fishmonger at Grønland with good and fresh fish.

VEGETARIAN Here are some vegetarian places in Oslo

BLITZ { Downtown } Pilestredet 30 www.blitz.no An independently run youth house with a punk and anarchist crowd – and some cheap vegetarian food. Hot dinner is served everyday.

SPISESTEDET { Majorstuen } Hjelmsgate 3 www.vegetar.com/spisestedet Spisestedet serves ecological vegetarian food. The major part of their menu is vegan; free of milk, eggs and other animal products.

by the Hare Krishna movement. Krishnas cuisine gives you value for your money in an otherwise expensive neighbourhood.

VEGA FAIRFOOD { Downtown } Akersgata 74 www.vegafairfood.no Vega is a buffet restaurant, with its own café and bakery. Their food is varied with vegan, lactose vegetarian and gluten-free. Menu’s start from NOK 60.

THE CAFÉ AT HAUSMANIA { Downtown } Hausmannsgate 34 www.hausmania.org A famous building previously occupied by punks and anarchists. It has evolved into a haven for creative and free spirits and now offers a vegan café, a bar and a place for cultural happenings.

KRISHNAS CUISINE { Majorstuen } Sørkedalsveien 10 B www.krishnas-cuisine.no Krishnas cuisine serves, go figure, food inspired

Vegetarian food

Even though there are not a crazy ammount of specialized vegetarian restaurants, you’ll find good vegetarian options in most up-to-date restaurants.

CAFÉS & DINERS Norwegians love to socialize in a cozy café or diner

LIEBLING { Grünerløkka } Øvrefoss 4 A little piece of Berlin right in the middle of Oslo. A café with cheap breakfast and lunch, combined with a delicate corner shop. Liebling has an informal continental atmosphere, with ever-friendly staff.

TIM WENDELBOE { Grünerløkka } Grünersgate 1 www.timwendelboe.no Oslo’s best coffee. Precise, passionate, charming. Quality is in the front seat at Tim Wendelboe and co. The price is above average but so is the coffee. PS! Not to many seats

FUGLEN CAFÉ { Downtown } Universitetsgaten 2 www.fuglen.no Fuglen (the bird) is inspired by the 60’s and 70’s and can remind you of your grandparents interior – in other words it’s retro. In the evening Fuglen turn into a cocktail bar.

OSLO MEKANISKE VERKSTED { Grønland } Tøyenbekken 34 www.oslomekaniskeverksted.no Chill atmosphere, nice people and best of all

– you can bring your own food. They have takeout menus instead of their own, so you can order whatever from the takeouts nearby.

Diners

RYES { Grünerløkka } Thorvald Meyers gate 59 Bacon & eggs, pancakes, various flavoured milkshakes, popcorn and more. Ryes is your stereotypical american inspired diner with elements from the fifties. The price is reasonable and the staff is nice.

THE NIGHTHAWK DINER (TND) { Grünerløkka } Seilduksgata 15 www.nighthawkdiner.com Truly dedicated to the american thirties theme, walking into TND can feel like a time travel. Price over the average, but they have a better menu than their competitors and most of the food is organic.

Q { Downtown } Pløensgate 4 www.cafemono.no/stedet-q If you are planning a night out, Q is a popular place to start. Grab a burger and a beer in this seventies inspired diner.

NINA

WHERE DO YOU LOVE EATING OUT? Nina works at the Use-It office and is one of the friendly faces you might meet if you stop by.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT OUT WITH FRIENDS? I must say Vann og brød. This is a small and delightfully cheap tapas place in Grønland, 5 minute walk from downtown. Great food. And they serve San Miguel in big frozen glasses. In the summer you should sit outside in their backyard and just enjoy life.

SOMEWHERE ELSE? Also, Yaya’s a classic - especially if it’s cold outside. If there is a birthday to celebrate or just some of us going out to eat, Yaya’s is often picked. They have a really good vibe and atmosphere, with chill music and a feeling of being in a restaurant in Thailand.

WHAT IS A PERFECT FOOD DAY TO YOU? I am a park animal and in the summertime I always chill in the park or on the islands. So the perfect food day for me would be buying a disposable barbeque and either prepare food at home or buy it - then buy some vegetables

in the shops at Grønland and just spend the evening in the park with friends in the sun. And, of course, with something good to drink!

WHAT ABOUT THE DAY AFTER A NIGHT OUT? Well, the day after an evening in the park (and perhaps a night out as well, like it always turn out), I would definitely recommend Illegal Burger. Tasty burgers, right of the grill! Illegal is kinda small though, so if it’s full, I go to Peoples right down the street. Peoples serve their “House Classic”-burger which is really good!

ANYWHERE YOU SHOULD AVOID? I would just stay away from the expensive places. You will easily find good food without spending too much anyway, so don’t bother with too fancy restaurants.

24 NIGHTLIFE

Pigalle at GrĂ¸nland Photo: Sara Rose

Oslos nightlife is more vibrant than you might expect. Norwegians most like to party, and people save up both stamina and money to let it all out in the weekends. Norwegians may be shy during regular hours, but not so when it comes to partying. As a result we can get more outgoing drunk than say our brothers and sisters in southern Europe – but don’t be put off by this. It is just a way of acting out all the conformity in the daily life. If you are friendly and open-minded, Norwegians most would love to get to know you.

WHERE TO GO There are basically three main areas to go out – Downtown, with the hip “Youngstorget Square”, Grünerløkka for some bar life and serious clubbing, and Bogstadveien/Solli plass, with more “posh” clubs and a decent amount of rich, white kids.

PRICES You’ll rarely face cover charge (unless there is a concert playing) – which is good. But the prices on drinks and beer will kill you. Which is bad. What you generally should do, as all the Norwegians do, is to arrange you own “vorspiel” beforehand. The parks scattered around Oslo is great for this. Norwegians most hit town around 11pm.

THINGS TO KNOW Everything closes 3 am (and even earlier, 1 am, in the areas outside of downtown). It is near impossible to find a place with alcohol after that. “Nachspiel”, the “after party” at home, is where people go if they want more. Hook up with some Norwegians and join them. Also, lines form quickly and get pretty heavy around the 12am - 1am mark. If you are smart, you’ll hit town around 11am. On weekdays, people tend to go out mostly to relax, and the nightlife in general is less crowded. You’ll still find a good party if you are up for it, but not anywhere you like. Look for special concerts or gatherings.

YOUNGSTORGET Youngstorget is located in the very heart of Oslo. The word “torg” means square, and Youngstorget is a classical example of a square; full of life, happenings and history.

CAFÉ SØR

STRATOS

Torggata 11 www.cafesor.no An extremely chill café that turns into a club in the evenings. They serve coctails with emphasis on fruits and berries, and in the daytime you can enjoy their tasty soup. This is one of our usual hangouts after work, as well as Saturday nights.

Youngstorget 2A www.stratos.as Open only in the summer, Stratos is on the rooftop of the big building at Youngstorget. Take the elevator to the top of the building and sit on their terrace with a cold drink. Terrific view over the city, popular pulsating club. Often around 100,- in cover, but well worth it.

MONO Pløens gate 4 www.cafemono.no Mono has been around for years and has grown very popular. It is a rock’n roll bar with more focus on Indie and Americana than Heavy Metal. If the bar looks empty during a nice hot day, the regulars are probably to be found smoking in the backyard. Mono has expanded and now includes a 60s diner & bar called Q.

JUSTISEN Møllergata 15 www.justisen.no A pub/restaurant in a 18th century building, with a popular backyard in the summer. In the wintertime inside is the place to be, and you can wander around the two floors of Justisen and stumble over cosy, little places to sit.

TILT Torggata 16 www.tiltoslo.no This place kicks ass. Tasty beer brands, arcade games, pinball machines and shuffleboards. Tilt is divided into four rooms, two bars and two gaming rooms. The place is sometimes crowded but if you’re there early, about seven-ish, you and your friends will find a table to sit down and there’s probably no queue for a game of shuffleboard. Absolutely a place to check out during your time in Oslo. Have fun, we always do!

Playing shuffleboard at Tilt, Youngstorget. Photo: Magnus Moholdt

Hanging out at Mono. Photo: Magnus Moholdt

FISK OG VILT Pløens gate 1 A cool bar with a cool crowd. If you want to hang with Oslo hipsters, check out Fisk og vilt. A combined dance floor/smoking section in the back yard is always a winner. If you get bored with Mono, Fisk og Vilt is just across the street, and it manages somehow to be cool and popular without being overcrowded or have big lines outside.

point for a relaxing beer. The place is tiny but they do have a few tables outside with heated lamps, which makes for a cozy evening observing the square of Youngstorget.

INTERNASJONALEN Youngstorget 2 www.internasjonalen.no This used to be a bar only but has expanded on the first floor with a dancefloor. There are a lot more hipsters upstairs than on the ground floor. Internasjonalen has a great selection of both brilliant booze and bartenders.

SOSIALEN Møllergata 13 www.sosialen.com Sosialen attracts people in their thirties who are looking to mate. Recommended if you are interested in a serious commitment. The trick with Sosialen is to arrive before 12 when the line outside has yet to form.

THE VILLA Møllergata 23 www.thevilla.no One of the most clean cut clubs in Oslo. Very popular, some great DJs, and lots of electronica. Go here to dance and go wild.

BONANZA Youngstorget 6 www.barbonanza.no Sit in the old bazaar while enjoying a scenic view of Youngstorget by night. This little pub in the very centre of Oslo is a popular starting

Beer Prices

No matter where you’re from you will probably find norwegian beer heavily over priced. Even norwegians, with our salaries, think the prices are too high. What you pay for a 0,5l varies, as you can imagine, from place to place. All depending on the location, the quality of the place and other factors. We’re not saying that you won’t find a cheap beer at a very nice place. There are lots of nice and cheap places, butthese factors often impact the prices.

>35: AS CHEAP AS IT GETS 35-49: A GOOD BARGAIN 50-65: THE AVERAGE PRICE IN OSLO 65-75: THIS PLACE SHOULD BE AWESOME 75<: GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE! These prices are mainly for 0,5l glasses but keep in mind some places charge the same prices for 0,4l glasses. Also depending on your brand of beer the price may vary. We norwegians are starting to get more interested in imported beer and variants, and these are really beginning to cost.

GRÜNERLØKKA Set your foot in Grünerløkka and your night will unfold naturally. You are probably going to dance rockabilly-style at Ryes and find some intense African rhythms at Fru Hagen.

KAOS

AKU AKU TIKI BAR

Thorvald Meyersgate 56 www.cafekaos.no A spacious mainstream place where the young and wild go crazy in the weekends, dance the night away and practice their pick up-lines in the fancy bar. Kaos has proper facilities for smokers, with a heated tent in the backyard.

Thorvald Meyersgate 32 www.akuaku.no Aloha! If you want a night with high quality drinks in a Hawaiian inspired bar, go to Aku Aku. They carry a huge selection of various exciting drinks and are definitely worth a visit. Cool surf music in a friendly environment.

BLÅ Brenneriveien 9c www.blaaoslo.no Blå is Oslos popular factory hall style club and a legendary jazz club – with a really wide definition of jazz. On Saturdays you go clubbing, on Sundays you go shopping at the market and on Mondays you rock out to metal. This is the way Blå is, and that is why we love the place.

BAR BOCA Thorvald Meyersgate 30 Bar Boca is the place for high quality drinks. This 50s-inspired shoebox sized cocktail bar is ideal for social non-claustrophobic people. With only 5 tables it is impossible not to speak to your fellow customers. Bar Boca is visited by people of all ages. Best drinks in Oslo.

FRU HAGEN Thorvald Meyersgate 40 www.fruhagen.no Fru Hagen was one of the first hip cafés that popped up when Grünerløkka transformed from being a working class area to a trendy magnet for hipsters. Though Fru Hagen might have dropped a bit on the hotspot barometer, the place still attracts people. At daytime you can sink into the red velour couches and enjoy sandwiches and pastry. At night, it turns into a popular party place with some real groove and rhythm. Some top notch DJ’s.

Enjoying a home made brew at Schous Mikrobryggeri. Photo: Magnus Moholdt

Bl책 by day. Photo: Magnus Moholdt

RYES Thorvald Meyersgate 29 Groovy bar and restaurant. Great interior design and a rockabilly style, this is an American diner in the middle of Grünerløkka. Enjoy tasty burgers, pancakes and milkshakes in the afternoon. Before 8pm you can have three pints for NOK 100. Then – before you know it – the place is packed, with a dancefloor that goes wild to music form the 50s and 60s.

PARKTEATERET Olaf Ryes plass 11 www.parkteatret.no A former movie theatre where the foyer has been transformed into a minimalist 50’s inspired bar. The place and its visitors are cool without being “too much”. There is a concert stage in the back, with clubs and live music. They also host some cool concept nights. Check out “Get Dancy” on Facebook, see when it is on next, and pop in for a night of moves and grooves.

MIR Toftesgate 69 www.lufthavna.no By far Grünerløkka’s best kept secret. Hang out with rockers and the alternative nation. On the ground floor you drink your beer in old aeroplane seats, or whatever they decide to decorate with. In the basement you’ll feel you’re visiting someone’s living room. Play dart or fußball game, or check out the small library, where you can take a book with you – as long as you leave another book.

SOUND OF MU Markveien 58 www.soundofmu.no Sound of Mu is an art galleri, bar and concert venue. Sound of Mu is always crowded but considering the place is as big as a bed room, filling

up the place is never a challenge. The live gigs are intimate and cozy. If you have trouble getting in and the band is very interesting, you can always stand outside and watch through their huge window.

SCHOUS MIKROBRYGGERI Trondheimsveien 2 Situated in the basement of the old Schous brewery you will find the micro brewery of Schouskjelleren. This charming damp basement serves you high quality, self-brewed beer. It’s not as budget friendly as many other places but the beer alone is definately a reason to visit. When in doubt of what beer to go for, ask for a taste and you will get a small glass with a mouth full of beer for 15 NOK.

THE CROSSROAD CLUB Maridalsveien 3 www.thecrossroadclub.no Between Grünerløkka and downtown in a big red brick house you’ll find The Crossroad Club. If you’re into rock, blues, beer and delicious food, this is definately your place. The food is not that budget friendly, but if you’re looking for a place to listen to some great music, drink a few and meet new people it’s great. They are known to have alot of concerts with cover charge so check their website to see what’s up.

Oslo Nights

Originally a fashion blog from Oslo but the site offers alot of pictures from a variety of Oslo’s clubs, bars and pubs: oslonights.blogspot.com. A good first place to start to get a feel of Oslos nightlife.

DOWNTOWN Downtown is not only the popular Youngstorget square, there’s a cool collection of clubs, bars and pubs. Stumble over them yourself, or find one of these places.

NOMADEN

FUGAZI

Bernt Ankers gate 17 One of our favourite clubs in Oslo. A basement with colorful interior and everything between funk, reggae and afro-pop. Still a great underground feel in this club. They do have a cover charge, but nothing over the top. Recommended!

Tordenskioldgate 3 www.fugazi.no Fugazi has two floors and an outside backyard, where everybody can dance the night away. A couple of times a month they have concerts in the backyard with some of Oslos best DJ’s. Some great clubbing to be had here.

BARE JAZZ Grensen 8 www.barejazz.no Bare Jazz (“Just Jazz”) is something as rare as a jazz café in Oslo. Run by internationally acclaimed saxophonist Bodil Niska - the credibility is definitely maintained at this place. In the summer the place opens its charming back ally. This is also a records store that has a large selection of – surprise, surprise – jazz!

LIVING ROOM Olav V’s gate 1 A club for urban hip hop and RnB music. After a hip hop concert, Living Room used to be the place for the afterparty. Not so much anymore, but occasionally. The club is expensive and has a cover, but it is still one of the places with real RnB and hip hop.

REVOLVER Møllergata 32 www.revolveroslo.no Just a small 3 minute walk from Youngstorget you’ll find the little red painted house. Revolver is a place for everyone. Tasty food, loads of concerts in the basement, tasty beers, drinks and music from different genres. Revolver has become a popular weekend destination for the young and trendy.

BOHEMEN Arbeidergata 2 www.bohemen.no Bohemen is the place for meeting local football supporters. It is the official Vålerenga pub (local team) , but is also considered a traditional sports bar. Every night they screen matches, both local derbys and international football. Where do men hug? On a football field, or at Bohemen.

BAR ROBINET Mariboes gate 7 A tiny retro-esque bar, populated by musicians, media-people and all sorts of liberal hedonists. Robinet gets easily crowded so expect to hang around a while before you get a seat. Robinet has a southern feel that is rarely found in other bars in Oslo, all in all, highly recommended! Remember to bring cash, they don’t take card. Great drinks!

LAST TRAIN Karl Johansgate 45 www.lasttrain.no Last Train is Oslo’s oldest rock bar serving concerts, beer and no bull shit for 20 years. Just a stone throw away from Hard Rock Café you can experience true rock and roll in a friendly environment amongst the many regulars. Whatever you do, do not request a song.

ROCK IN Øvre Slottsgate 10 www.rockinoslo.com Tattoos, long black hair and makeup. This kinda describes both the female and male guests of Rock In, a 7 year old metal bar in the heart of Oslo. If you want heavy and black metal topped off with power ballads and sentimental drunken talks at the end of the day, this is the place to go.

Picking up a Norwegian

Norwegians are often referred to as more straight forward than Swedes and Danes. But that doesn’t mean we are easy to get to know, or that your Don Juan-skills don’t need an adjustment. Here are some quick pointers: • Norwegian girls aren’t particulary easy to sweep off their feet. For instance; they may turn sceptical if you try to buy them a drink. Ask before buying. • Norwegian boys are always happy when girls take initiative. • Norway is a very egalitarian society and we like to split the bill. Very few girls expect to be paid for, and guys can get surprised if girls expect them to pay. • If you’re interested in getting to know Norwegians, be prepeared that the talkative and outgoing person you met in the bar, can turn out to be quite introvert and shy the day after.

GRØNLAND Grønland has a rich culture, lots of immigrants and lots of life. Close to downtown, this is a growing place for Oslos nightlife.

OLYMPEN Grønlandsleiret 15 www.olympen.no Café, pub and restaurant. The interior looks like an old courtroom with brown tall walls and big chandeliers in the middle of the room. Beer from several Norwegian producers you won’t find other places. They are also known for serving Norwegian food. We usually go here after working hours, just to relax, eat, drink.

PIGALLE Grønlandsleiret 15 www.olympen.no So now you are at Pigalle, and you suddenly notice that the bartenders are the same as Olympen. Relax you’re not drunk, the two places belong together. Here you can relax in the stalls and every stall has its own phone so you can call other stall-people. They have a good dancing floor and good music.

QUEENS PUB Brugata 14 queenspub.no A little place hidden in Grønland. The crowd is a mix of adults out looking for fun and regular drunks. But what makes this worth mentioning is their live piano performances and karaoke nights, which are really fun. You can choose to

participate or just hang out on their “balcony” and watch the show from above.

OSLO MEKANISKE VERKSTED Joachim Nielsens gang www.oslomekaniskeverksted.no Chill atmosphere, nice people and best of all – you can bring your own food. They have takeout menus instead of their own, so you can order whatever from the takeouts nearby. People in the neighborhood usually hang here, especially in the summer when you can sit outside.

DATTERA TIL HAGEN Grønland 10 www.dattera.no One of the most popular hangouts in Grønland. Dattera is always crowded, from morning until late in the evening. Have a drink, some food, and go clubbing later on. Great backyard. Recommended.

TARA

WHERE DO YOU LOVE GOING OUT? Tara runs the online calendar Kult and definately knows what is going on in this city.

WHERE DO YOU USUALLY HANG OUT, TARA? I pretty much go to either Grünerløkka or Youngstorget. Both areas are packed with great clubs, pubs and concert halls, so if you don’t like where you are you can just go to the next!

tled beers. Another beer faovurite is Grünerløkka brygghus. Say hi to the bartender from me! Oh, and try Mono in Youngstorget. This place is legendary in the Oslo nightlife, and they have a free concert every Saturday at 18.00 with up-and -coming bands.

DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVORITES?

ANY OTHER TIPS?

Sure! I’m a big fan of cocktails, so usually my nights out start or end at Bar Boca in Grünerløkka. They have the best cocktails in Oslo! The place is tiny, so you probably have to share a table with someone. But that’s just a great way to get to know people! Robinet and Fuglen (downtown) also have great drinks!

Most people tend to eat kebabs in the street Torggata (near Youngstorget) when the night is over, but I usually go an extra block to Trondheimsveien (near Anker Hostel) for my falafel. The kebabs and falafels here are better, and the shops are more like small restaurants than fast food joints - but still cheap! Also, I have this ritual: the day after a night out I always go to Liebling in Grünerløkka. They have the towns best breakfast, and even a special menu for hangovers.

NICE. ANYWHERE ELSE? Sure! “Tilt” at Youngstorget is a really cool place with shuffle board and lots of arcade games. To quote a male friend of mine: “Tilt is where all the cool girls hang”. And all the cool guys know it, so it’s usually packed... They also have a great selection of drafts and bot-

ANY LAST TIPS? Check out havresekken.no, a genre free, popup concert series I run!

CONCERT VENUES Thanks to some hardworking spirits, Oslo is the best concert city in Scandinavia. You’ll find the big headliners as well as some great underground stuff

OSLO SPEKTRUM

PARKTEATERET

Sonja Henies pl. 2 www.oslospektrum.no If Snoop Dog or Rihanna or some other biggie is in town, this is where they’ll be. Spectrum is located downtown with a capacity of around 10.000 guests.

Olaf Ryes plass 11 www.parkteatret.no One of the oldest cinemas in Europe (dating back to 1907), Parkteatret is now a popular 400-capacity music venue. Intimate scene, easy accessible bar, cool and alternative line ups.

ROCKEFELLER

JOHN DEE

Torggata 16 www.rockefeller.no Maybe the most popular live scene, though not the largest. The main stage area plus the two extra balconies houses about 1.300 guests.

Torggata 16 www.rockefeller.no Located in the same building as Rockefeller. John Dee houses about 400 guests.

SENTRUM SCENE Arbeidersamfunnets plass 1 www.rockefeller.no Just a stone throw away from Rockefeller and John Dee you will find Sentrum Scene. It’s slightly larger than the Rockefeller area, housing 1.750 guests.

BLÅ Brenneriveien 9 C www.blaaoslo.no Great place for club nights, but also a concert venue housing 300 guests and with some pretty interesting line-ups.

Who’s playing?

To find out who is playing where, check out kultoslo.no and underskog. no. They are both in Norwegian, so use Google Translate.

Buy tickets

The fastest and most efficient way to obtain tickets is to buy online at billettservice.no and pick up your ticket at a local kiosk such as Narvesen and 7-Eleven

UNDER 20 To find a suitable place when you are under 20 is not to easy. The places are scarce, they often have a line outside, and expect some cover charge

MØLLERS CAFÉ

STUDENTEN

{ Downtown } Mariboes gate 9 Møllers is known as the place every 18-year old goes to, even though they mostly play hard rock/metal. This is one of the first places we try out when we turn 18.

{ Bislett } Parkveien 1 Cheap food, cheap beer, and tv-screens. This is very budget-friendly and very student friendly.

TROMPETEN { Downtown } Skippergata 29 One of the more popular places for people under 20, Trompeten (the Trumpet) is a karaoke bar. No cover charge except on Saturdays.

STUDENTERSAMFUNNET { Bislett } Pilestredet 52 samfunnetbislet.no This student-run pick up joint is not visible from street level since all the action takes place in the basement. Cool place, lots of people.

NEXUS { Downtown } C.J. Hambros plass 2A A Brazilian style night club. The music is mostly Latino.

EVERGREEN { Bislett } Pilestredet 39 A small pub with really good beer prices. The result is a tight pick-up marked for thirsty and horny students who are out to have fun.

Could you sneak in?

We at streetwise never condone irresponsible behavior of course - but if we were to be asked hypothetically if it is possible to sneak in at regular 20+ clubs when your under 20 – we might have to answer: “not too easy”. You might be able to get in if you look sharp, grown and well behaved. And if the place is not too full. But generally, you either need fake ID or some luck.

40 SHOPPING

Moods of Norway Photo: Magnus Moholdt

Oslo is filled with fashion, design, and artifacts

If you have money in your pocket and wondering where to go, look no further. We try to be budgetfriendly in this guide, but if you haven’t spent all your salary on overpriced bagels and a smoothie just yet, there are some places that will give you greater value for your money than others. Here’s where to go.

AREAS Downtown is where most of the malls and regular stores are. You’ll see them whether you like to or not. At Grünerløkka you’ll find Sunday markets, small designer boutiques, and generally a more alternative outlook. If you want to go all “posh”, visit Bogstadveien or Aker Brygge.

PRICES Norway as a country and Norwegians most are doing financially very well. As a result you’ll find expensive designer clothing and other high class stuff all over the place. Expect some high prices - and some decent ones.

THINGS TO KNOW The most popular, and probably the cheapest, mainstream clothes shops are H&M, Indiska and Gina Tricot. If your head phones break or you need some batteries, the cheapest place to get these is the very budget friendly Clas Ohlson.

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BUYING NORWEGIAN When you visit the land of the fjords and forests, be sure to bring back a piece of our culture. Why not bring back some unique design or clothing?

ANTISWEDEN { Majorstuen } Kristian Augusts gate 13 www.antisweden.no Sweden has dominated the Scandinavian jeans scene for years, with brands like Acne, Cheap Monday and Nudie. Some Norwegians got sick and tired of Swedish dominance and established an Norwegian alternative – AntiSweden Jeans.

you can get more or less everything else that has good, maybe even exquisite, norwegian design.

MOODS OF NORWAY { Majorstuen } Akersgata 18 www.moodsofnorway.com In 2003 two brave Norwegians entered the international fashion scene with hip clothing, influenced by Norwegian arts and crafts, history and mentality. Moods of Norway never set out to make souvenirs or to be ironic or funny. It is simply very stylish clothing.

PUR NORSK { St. Hanshaugen } Theresesgate 14 www.purnorsk.no A store specializing in Norwegian products. Pur Norsk seeks to heighten the general awareness regarding Norwegian quality design. You don’t find wool sweaters here, though. Instead

PROBAT { Günerløkka } Thorvald Meyers gate 54 www.probat.no A t-shirt company with an all-Norwegian approach. Probat makes t-shirts depicting brown cheese, moose and catch phrases from Norwegian pop culture. They’ve become quite popular and are expanding into the American market – promoting Norway to Norwegian Americans! They also sell childrens clothing with stylish motives.

BOOK STORES Chain stores like Norli and Ark all over the city, and they have huge selections, great line-up in English and decent prices. But check out these independent stores as well.

TRONSMO { Downtown } Kristian Augusts gate 19 www.tronsmo.no This is a truly beloved alternative bookstore. They have absolutely every possible cultural phenomenon represented here, and the whole basement is dedicated to comics and graphic novels. Right next to Tinghuset downtown, this place is worth a visit.

CAPPELENS FORSLAG { Downtown } Bernt Akersgate 4 Two guys started this bookstore and decorated it like a living room. Hand picked books, both new and second hand. Some great finds to be made her. And worth the visit just for the atmosphere. Check them out on Facebook.

TORPEDO BOOKSHOP { Downtown } Trelastgata 3 www.torpedobok.no Torpedo is an independent book store focusing on contemporary and visual arts. Occasionally a venue for exhibitions and concerts.

House of literature Wergelandsveien 29 www.litteraturhuset.no Situated close to the Royal Castle, The House of Literature was built in 2007 and is the main gathering place for literature events, debates and happenings. They have their own bookstore on the first floor, and a cafĂŠ/ restaurant. Norwegian poets, authors and cultural celebrities mingle here, and you are almost bound to stumble upon one.

ALTERNATIVE SHOPPING There is nothing wrong with either H&M or Zara, but you find those stores everywhere. Here’s a shopping guide to Oslo – with sort of an alternative outlook.

ANGELS SPEED EQUIPMENT { Grünerløkka } Rathkesgt 7 www.angels-speed-equipment.com A pretty cool store. Rockabilly and 50’s style, Nudie Jeans, Rocha, Route 66 and Vivian Hollywood.

HUNTING LODGE { Grünerløkka } Markveien 58 www.huntinglodge.no Contemporary street wear, shoes and decoration. Hunting Lodge makes men look good.

LOS LOBOS { Grünerløkka } Thorvald Meyers gate 30 www.loslobos.no A charming store in Grünerløkka. Los Lobos sells rockabilly and 50’s style clothes, gadgets and LPs with music to accompany the looks.

SCORPIUS IMPORT { Grünerløkka } Schleppegrellsgate 16 www.scorpius.no On the far top of Grünerløkka in a colorful building that will make you stare in awe for

quite some time, you’ll find Scorpius. Scorpius is nirvana for hippies – colourful scarves, clothes and accessories.

SHANGRI-LA { Downtown } Karl Johans gate 2 www.shangri-la.no Hippie style clothes and accessories – more or less the same as Scorpius.

SKAPERVERKET { Grünerløkka } Markveien 60 www.skaperverket.no Some young designers are running this store together. You`ll find clothing, postcards, ceramics, photos, earrings, notebooks and much more. Charming store with charming products.

FREUDIAN KICKS { Downtown } Prinsens gate 10 B www.freudiankicks.com 180 square meters with selections from Acne, American Apparel, A.P.C, Best Behavior, Casio Databank, Henrik Vibskov, J-Brand jeans, Kokon To Zai, Sneaky Steve, Wood Wood and some second hand.

RECORD STORES Not for everyone in these piratebay-times, but wandering around charming, independent record stores and browsing through weird collections can still be a great way to spend time.

BIG DIPPER RECORDS

SHADOWLAND

{ Downtown } Torggata 36 www.bigdipper.no Big Dipper is a stereotypical independent music store. They carry a huge selection of music, especially on vinyl. Everything from Pop/Rock, Indie, Soul, Metal/Hardrock, Jazz, Punk, Garagerock, Hip-hop, Blues, Country, Electronica and Reggae.

{ Downtown } Storgata 9 www.shadowland.no If you are equally fascinated by light as by darkness, you’ll probably find Shadowland’s selection of goth, synth, EBM and industrial attractive.

TIGER

BJØRN RINGSTRØM ANTIKVARIAT

{ Downtown } Hammersborggata 18 www.tigernet.no An independent record store in the center of Oslo. Their main focus is underground music, punk and diy-culture. They also import alot from various foreign labels.

{ St. Hanshaugen } Wessels gate 2B We like Ringstrøms. Here you find great records at reasonable prices. Ringstrøms has a good jazz selection, and also includes a book store.

BARE JAZZ

{ Grünerløkka } Rathkesgate 7 www.neseblodrecords.com Well-hidden in Grünerløkka you find Neseblod. This is the place to look for old-school Norwegian punk and black metal, or used punk and metal records in general.

{ Downtown } Grensen 8 www.barejazz.no Café, concert arena and record store all in one. Bare Jazz (“Just Jazz”) is run by internationally acclaimed saxophonist Bodil Niska – and have a large and good selection, says the connoisseurs, of jazz records.

Used record stores

NESEBLOD RECORDS

48 QUEER

Bar & cafés There are a few bars and nightclubs for the queer crowd in Oslo. New ones keep popping up - but unfortunately tends to close again as well. It might seem like the capital isn’t big enough for more than a couple of places. But there are some existing and established gay bars and nightclubs, and we’ve singled out the stayers.

ELSKER { Downtown } Kristian IVs gate 9 Elsker is both a bar and a café, with DJs at weekends and several dance floors. Popular place for heterosexuals as well. This one has been around for several years now, and is a safe shot.

INDIESEKSUELL A club concept happening about once a month, normally at Revolver. The DJs play indie music, and the people hanging out are part of the Oslo sub-culture – both gay and heterosexuals. Check out “indieseksuell” on Facebook.

Magazines

BLIKK www.blikk.no Norways biggest gay magazine.

GAYSIR www.gaysir.no Online magazine and social society

Other

OSLO PRIDE/SKEIVE DAGER

{ Downtown } Arbeidergata 2 www.so-oslo.no This little bar is for girls who like girls. SO is open Wednesday to Saturday from 1800-0300.

www.skeivedager.no Skeive dager (Queer Days) is a festival held each June. This is the biggest cultural event for LGBTs in Norway, and people from several countries attend the festival and its events.

ETT GLASS

CINEMATEKET/QUEER SUNDAYS

{ Downtown } Karl Johans gate 33 www.ettglass.no Ett Glass is a café close to Karl Johans gate with a considerable gay crowd.

www.cinemateket.no The first Sunday in every month you can watch queer films at Cinemateket (see activities section).

LONDON PUB & CLUB

www.oglff.org A festival of queer movies in the early fall. Check it up on see when it’s on.

{ Downtown } CJ Hambros plass 5 www.londonpub.no Oslo’s largest gay club, it’s been around forever. This, along with Elsker, might be the most established places around.

SKEIVE FILMER

ACTIVITIES

The Ă&#x2DC;ya festival Photo: Erik Moholdt

Buckle up your backpack and get out of your hotel room For a city this size, Oslo is reeking of things to do – museums, festivals, theatres, markets and other happenings. No reason to spend your days moping around the lobby of your hotel, asking the owner timidly where he is from, and what is “up”. Read this section instead.

HAPPENINGS AND EVENTS Internet is your friend in this city. But so are we. You should definitely stop by our office for some tips on things do to. But for a daily calendar of things and happenings – go to www.visitoslo.com. They have a great calendar in both English, French and Spanish, with plenty of info on what is happening. We at the USE-IT office also run a calendar “Kult Oslo” at kultoslo.no with lots of things to do like concerts, clubs and theatres. It is in Norwegian only, but use Google Translate, and you will be fine.

NATURE What separates Oslo from other European capitols really is the nature. Where else can you be in the forest or on an beautiful Island in the Fiord literally 15 min away from the main shopping street? The Islands is perfect for hot summer days, the forest is majestic and the pride of the city. And if you are here during winter, skiing or ice skating or snowboarding is almost obligatory. Pay nature a visit.

MUSEUMS Museums are one of Oslo’s strong points as well. We have some things that really shine in the crowd, like the Fram-ship (which you can walk around on) and the famous painting Scream. Some of the museums are for rainy days, others are for every day. www.visitoslo.com is a good place to read more about them, as well as in this section in Streetwise.

FESTIVALS For many norwegians, festivals are the mere definition of summer. Watch the shy, introvert Norwegians turn into smiling party animals. ØYA

SUMMER ISLAND ELECTRONICA FESTIVAL

7.-11. August www.oyafestivalen.com Expanded across the ruins of the old part of town, Øya is the biggest festival in Oslo. Five days packed with superstars and underground artists alike, and nightclubs all over town filled with DJ-concepts. The festival is expensive, but you can still join in the party in the city afterwards – or find a small piece of grass nearby and listen for free.

6.-8. July www.sommeroya.no This festival is on the islands Langøyene just outside Oslo. Late summer nights with electronica and house. Camp on the island and use the ocean as your shower.

NORWEGIAN WOOD 14.-17. June www.norwegianwood.no Norwegian Wood is a revered rock festival in Oslo. Our biggest outdoor public bath is transformed to a festival area, with some of the greatest rock artists of our time. If you can’t afford the festival ticket you can always relax in the Vigeland Park and enjoy the music from there.

MUSIKKFEST OSLO 2. June www.musikkfest.no This is the best day of the year! If you are in town this day you have to go out and enjoy local artists playing concerts free of charge. There are stages all around Oslo. Every park or area has its own music style.

INFERNO Every easter www.infernofestival.net Norway is known for its black metal so it’s only natural that we also have a festival in its genre. It’s held annually around the easter holiday, which is kinda funny in a symbolic way.

OCTOBER FEST October Hilarious atmosphere, various beer brands, German ompa and polka music, large beer tents and low prices. This great festival is arranged by students, for students and everybody over 20.

KOLLEN 29.-30. June kollenfest.no Brand new festival in 2012 – this one is at famous Holmenkollen ski resort (20 mins ride with the T-bane up in the forest). We are anticipating this one.

ISLANDS There is nothing better than cooling off in the friendly summer sea when Oslo is at its hottest. Be sure to visit the Islands during your stay. You can find a peaceful, harmonic spot for bathing and a picnic in no time – especially if you visit one of the beautiful Islands. They are among the most popular places for Oslo citizens looking to relax. Take a break from your regular city life.

HOVEDØYA The largest island in the Oslo Fjord, but also the most crowded one. It is green and lush with plenty of small paths. You’ll find ruins of a cistercian abbey from the 11th Century, built by English monks. The Island later formed an important part of the defense of Oslo, and you’ll find military buildings and installations, mostly from the 17th century, at strategic spots on the island. Perfect place for picnics. The ferry runs more frequently to Hovedøya than to any other island.

LANGØYENE It is possible to camp at Langøyene (see the accommodation section), and it is the only island where overnight stay is permitted. If the weather is nice, you don’t need a tent, just a sleeping bag. Summer evenings in Oslo are bright and snug, and swimming in the sea past midnight is a pleasant experience you certainly will remember. The south side of the island is reserved for nudists.

GRESSHOLMEN Until recently this island was populated by thousands of rabbits. Unfortunately the rabbits ate too much of the vegetation, so the authorities reduced the livestock considerably. Not far from the pier is Gressholmen Kro, a small restaurant serving sandwiches, dinners and cold beers. Gressholmen doesn’t have large sandy beaches, but is still a lovely place to take a dip. Dive from the rocks and count the numerous birds. 160 different species have been observed until now.

How to get there

Just take a quick ferry ride from Vippetangen, near the Opera building. They run less frequently off-season, but both Hovedøya and Gressholmen have good connections all year. The ferries is a part of the public transportation system in Oslo, so regular tickets from Ruter are valid here.

FORREST & HIKING If you feel trapped or “psychedelic” in the city, there is peace to be found among the trees. The forest is never more than 20 minutes away.

Citizens of Oslo love the surrounding forest “Marka” and use it all the time. Skiing in the winter, recreational trips in the summer. Marka is huge and well signposted, and both easy and safe to explore, even for inexperienced hikers.

SKIFORENINGEN

When exploring Marka, Frognerseteren is a good point to start. From here it is about 5 kilometers to the café Ullevålseter, a former pasture full of visitors and hot chocolate. Bring a map if you want to be adventurous and explore on your own. You can get free maps from the Use-It office.

You can paddle in the Oslo Fjord, Akers river and most lakes surrounding Oslo. To rent a vessel, contact:

If you feel like spending the night, buy a cheap tent and set up camp.

Trips and cabins in Marka These places have information about where to go hiking and skiing in Marka. They also have a list of self-service huts, both in Marka, and all over Norway. Sleeping in these cabins is cheaper than paying for a hotel room downtown. Remember to book in advance.

DEN NORSKE TURISTFORENING (DNT) Storgaten 3 turistforeningen.no

Kongeveien 5 www.skiforeningen.no

Canoe and kayak

BULL SKI OG KAJAKK www.bull-ski-kajakk.no

KIKUTSTUA www.kikutstua.no

Allemannsretten

In Norway we have freedom to roam. This freedom is called Allemannsretten and gives us the right to camp in nature, use boats, canoes etc. pick berries, mushrooms and flowers, and things like fishing in the sea and make bonfires in certain areas and periods. Good for us. And you.

BATHING If people were swimming more than they do, there would be less wars. Cool down and refreshen in one of these nearby bathing spots.

None of the islands are far away, and all of them are terrific bathing areas. But if you hate ferries for some reason, go to these places instead.

bine with a trip in the woods. Beware of “midd” in the water, which may bite and give some people allergic reactions.

Outdoor

HUK & PARADISE BAY, BYGDØY Two excellent bathing spots located at the Bygdøy peninsula. Easily reached by bus or other transport. Paradisbukta is less crowded, and is popular among families with toddlers. We recommend both places, and if you are smart, you can combine the afternoon with a visit to the popular museums nearby. Take bus 30 Bygdøy from the National Theatre or Central Station.

STILLA North in town at Kjelsås, you’ll find beautiful Stilla (also called Frysja) a popular dam with still, clear water, excellent for a swim. This is the same area as Teknisk Museum (museum of technology), so there is a great combo to be made here. – go swimming, and then go to the museum. Or the other way around. Take either bus or tram to Kjelsås.

SOGNSVANN Popular bathing area, this is in the very beginning of the Forest Marka. Good place to com-

Swimming pools

FROGNERBADET Middelthunsgt 28 Next to the Vigelands Park, Frognerbadet includes 3 open-air pools for all ages, a pool for divers (up to 10m) and a water slide. It usually opens up in May and is a great place for a refreshener.

TØYENBADET Helgesensgate 90 Just a couple of metro-stops from downtown, Tøyenbadet houses one 50 m indoor swimming pool, a diving tower and a water slide, a swimming pool for children and some outdoor pools during summer.

MUSEUMS Here are some museums for rainy days - and some you should visit no matter what the weather is like. Go watch.

The Oslo Pass If you plan on some serious museumaction, the Oslo Pass might be the best choice for you.

General Opening Hours Opening hours vary not only between museums, but also between which season you are in. In general most museums are open at least at 10 ar 11 am, and almost all close before 18 pm (sometimes as early as 16 or 17 pm). Just think of museums as a midday activity, and you should be fine.

It’s a ticket you buy with a one-time fee that gives you entry to over 30 museums and attractions – as well as free travel with bus, metro and tram (which is expensive in itself). You’ll also get free parking in municipal parking lots, and discount and special offers in selected restaurants, shops, entertainment, leisure venues and more.

ADULT, 24 HOURS: 270 NOK ADULT, 48 HOURS: 395 NOK ADULT, 72 HOURS: 495 NOK General Prices Prices vary – and you should check out the next pages to see which museums are free and what the others cost – but generally the price range is 50 – 100 NOK for a one-time fee as an adult. There are several discount opportunities though, and many museums have free entry on Sundays for example. Check out visitoslo.com to read more.

Oslo Pass is a good deal if you are planning on doing some serious visiting – but if you are just looking to go to a museum or two, it might not pay off. Together with free transport, we usually recommend it though – but do the math just in case. Buy the Oslo Pass at Oslo’s information centres, hotels, hostels and camping sites.

Bygdøy To visit some of the most interesting museums we have – go to the Bygdøy peninsula. It is easy to get there - take boat 91 (May-Sep only) from the Rådhus pier no. 3 to Bygdøynes or bus nr. 30 from the Nationaltheatre.

NORSK FOLKEMUSEUM Museumsveien 10 www.norskfolkemuseum.no 75-100,Norway’s largest and oldest folk museum is an open-air collection with more than 150 houses transferred from different parts of the country. You can visit one of Norway’s few remaining medieval stave-churches, and talk to the nice guides dressed up like 18th century inhabitants. Especially worth a visit if you don’t have a chance to visit other parts of Norway. There are daily activities in the open air museum all summer.

VIKING SHIP MUSEUM Huk Aveny 35. www.khm.uio.no 60,The world’s best-preserved Viking ships and other authentic 900-year old artifacts. A popular museum – but be prepared to fight your way through hoards of other tourists!

KON-TIKI MUSEUM Bygdøynesveien 36 www.kon-tiki.no 70,The Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl built the papyrus raft Kon-Tiki to sail from America to Polynesia in 1947. Here are Easter Island statues, a full size 10 m. whale shark, and a film room with continuous showings of Thor Heyerdahls expeditions.

THE POLAR SHIP FRAM Bygdøynesveien 36 www.fram.museum.no 80,The polar ship Fram was used for expeditions by Fridtjof Nansen, Otto Sverdrup and Roald Amundsen, and went both to the North and the South Pole. Built in 1892, the ship is exhibited with original interior and inventory, and you can walk on both in and outside of the ship.

Kvadraturen Modern museums are found in the old quarter of Oslo. Close to the main entrance of Akershus Fortress there are several smaller art-galleries and two museums of modern art.

ASTRUP FEARNLEY MUSEUM OF MODERN ART Relocating to new address in September www.afmuseet.no Varies depending on exhibition Temporary exhibitions of Norwegian and foreign artists from 1945 until today. Among the permanent exhibitions you find artist as Damien Hirst and Jeff Coons.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART Bankplassen 4 www.nasjonalmuseet.no 50,Free on Sundays Norway’s national center for modern art. There are permanent and temporary exhibitions of international and Norwegian artists. Perhaps the only museum in the world where visitors can leave behind bags and coats in a vault – the museum is located in the monumental 95-yearold former headquarters of the Norwegian National Bank.

FOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Free entry to more than 30 museums, free public transport and many other special offers Buy your pass at the tourist information centres, www.visitoslo.com or other sales points

the People MeetMeet the People of Norway! of Norway!

www.norskfolkemuseum.no

Downtown & surroundings

THE NATIONAL GALLERY

MUNCH MUSEUM

Universitetsgaten 13 www.nasjonalmuseet.no 50,Free on Sundays The largest collection of Norwegian and international art up to 1945. Emphasis on the major works from the National Romantic period. The painting “Scream” by Edvard Munch is displayed here.

Tøyengata 53 www.munch.museum.no 95,Paintings and graphic works, including various versions of The Scream, from the Norwegian expressionist Edvard Munch. Interesting exhibit downstairs depicting Munch’s life. Transport: any metro going east to Tøyen.

MUSEUM OF DECORATIVE ART & DESIGN

Arbins Gate 1 www.norskfolkemuseum.no 45,Ibsen’s apartment. Henrik Ibsen lived in this apartment from 1895 until he died in 1906. The apartment in itself isn’t very interesting, but the guided tours are. The guides give you an insight into his life, work, personality and his quirky habits.

St. Olavsgate 1 www.nasjonalmuseet.no 50,Free on Sundays Historical collections of Norwegian and international applied art, fashion and design from the 7th century to the present. Collections of silver, glass, ceramics and furniture. Take bus 37 or walk from the city center.

MUSEUM OF CULTURAL HERITAGE

THE IBSEN MUSEUM

HENIE-ONSTAD KUNSTSENTER

Fredriksgate 2 www.khm.uio.no 50,Here you can walk through Norway’s ancient history, presented in a contemporary way. There is a large Viking-age department. If you get tired of Norwegian culture, go upstairs.

Sonja Henies vei 31 www.hok.no 80,Norway’s largest collection of international modern art. Varying exhibitions, sculpture park, extensive museum shop and an excellent restaurant. Guided tours in several languages. Take Bus 151 from the train station.

MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

EMANUEL VIGELAND MUSEUM

Sars’ gate 1 www.nhm.uio.no 50,Here you’ll find: Greenhouses, the Zoological Museum and the Geological Museum (with a full-sized T-rex) and the Botanical Gardens (see “Parklife” for info on the Gardens). Take the metro to Tøyen/Munch museet.

Grimelundsveien 8 www.emanuelvigeland.museum.no 40,Open only on Sundays The Emanuel Vigeland Museum is actually a mausoleum. The strangely shaped building is decorated inside with an 800 square meter fresco: “Vita”. Vigeland spent 20 years paint-

ing it. Some tourists claim this is the best sight in Norway. Emanuel Vigeland is the brother of Gustav Vigeland, who made the Vigeland Park. Take the metro no 1 to Slemdal.

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Kjelsåsveien 143 www.tekniskmuseum.no 100,Cars, planes, computers and trains. And a lot more. This is a gem of a museum, and one where you can try out nearly everything you see. Excellent for children. And right next to the popular bathing area Frysja, if you want to combine the afternoon. Take bus 54 from Jernbanetorget or Aker Brygge, or the tram to Kjelsås Railway Station.

OSLO CITY MUSEUM Frognerveien 67 www.oslomuseum.no The Oslo City Museum was established in 1905. It houses a historical collection about the history and development of Oslo.

NORWAYS RESISTANCE MUSEUM Akershus festning, building 21 www.forsvarsbygg.no Norway was occupied by Germany for five years during the second World War, from 1940 to 1945. The museum portray the Resistance movement’s battle against the Germans.

NOBEL PEACE CENTER

DOGA

Brynjulf Bulls plass 2 www.nobelpeacecenter.org 80,The Nobel Peace Center presents all the Nobelprice winners and their work.

Kongeveien 5 www.skiforeningen.no 110,The entrance fee includes access to the ski museum, café, shops and a trip to the top of the skijump. Take metro no 1 to Holmenkollen for a great view of the city, and visit the worlds oldest ski museum.

Hausmannsgate 16 www.doga.no Depends on exhibition The Norwegian Centre for Design and Architecture (DogA) offers design- and architecture exhibitions, conferances, a restaurant and a bar. If you ever are in town for the Pecha Kucha nights which is held at DogA you should definitely take the trip. Pecha Kucha is a presentation night which is held four times a year. Here designers, architects, musicians and artists share ideas and presents their work in a short time frame (6 minutes each presentation), mostly in English. Check out pechakucha.no for more info.

THE STENERSEN MUSEUM

OSLO REPTILPARK

Munkedamsveien 15 www.stenersen.museum.no 60,The Stenersen Museum is a three stories gallery for contemporary art. It also houses three private art collections, all of which was donated

St. Olavsgate 2 www.reptilpark.no 100,If reptiles and lizards are your thing, check out this museum.

THE HOLMENKOLLEN SKIMUSEUM

to the city; Rolf E. Stenersen, Amaldus Nielsen, and Ludvig O. Ravensberg’s collections.

PARK LIFE When you wake up to a hot sunny day in Oslo and you’re wondering where all the norwegians are, try visiting a park.

There are green “lungs” all over town, and the citizens of Oslo love to use them. We barbeque, have picnics, enjoy some frisbee and pick each other up. Don’t be surprised if the park turns into a party place at night.

How to do it BUY A DISPOSABLE BARBEQUE (around 20,- in every major grocery store).

BUY SOME MEAT. Chicken, pork, fish, beef, veal. You are an adult. Decide for yourself.

FIX THE ENTERTAINMENT. Maybe a football. Maybe badminton. Maybe you want to practice juggling. We don’t know you as a person, so we can’t say.

EAT, DRINK, LAUGH, ENJOY YOURSELF. Some great parks

VIGELANDSPARKEN { Frogner } Norways most visited tourist attraction, and completely free. Some great and famous sculptures by Gustav Vigeland, but also highly populated by happy Norwegians, drinking, laughing, rollerblading, playing frisbee.

SOFIENBERGPARKEN { Grünerløkka } Situated in the middle of Grünerløkka, and as popular as a park can get. The young and trendy chill out all summer, you might feel this is some sort of a festival. If you’re asthmatic, beware of the continuous smog from the barbeques. You can also use the public barbeque for 1 NOK per minute.

AKERSHUS FORTRESS { Downtown } The park surrounding Akershus fortress is perfect for picnics. From here you have a great view of the Town Hall, the fjord and Aker Brygge, the former shipyard that was renovated in the 1980s. Akershus fortress was first erected in 1299 but was heavily rebuilt some hundred years later.

There really are parks everywhere – just keep your eyes open or ask around!

WINTER ACTIVITIES If you are staying during the months of winter, be sure to check out these activities.

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING This you HAVE to do. Cross country is what we Norwegians do, what we are famous for. And you will not find more beautiful forests to roam than ours. Take the metro line 3 to Sognsvann and you’ll se the slopes right away. Another popular strategy is to take the metro to Frognerseteren and ski downhill all the way to Sognsvann. Stop by our USE-IT office to plan your trip.

SLEDDING AT KORKETREKKEREN This is a giant downhill slope (2,6km) for sledding. Take your sleigh (rented or brought) and take the metro to Frognerseteren. Have the ride of your lifetime - then simply take the T-bane up again, and down you go once more. A sleigh for rental is about 100,-, and you’ll find them there. HIGHLY recommended.

TRYVANN SKI RESORT www.tryvann.no For all you snowboarders and alpinist out there, this is a ski resort up north in the forest, only 20 min ride with the T-bane to Frognerseteren. Great if you’re looking for some ski action but don’t want to go out of town. Check out their webpage.

ICE SKATING The greatest female figure skater of all time,

Sonja Henie, was Norwegian. Join the young Norwegians dancing and skating and flirting around on the ice on late Friday afternoons.

SPIKERSUPPA Next to the National theatre, this is as central as you get. Music and lots of people.

FROGNER STADION Combine your obligational trip to the Vigeland Park with some Ice skating at the stadium next door There are lots of other places to skate as well, both indoor and outdoor. Contact us for some suggestions!

CINEMA & THEATRE Here are some places to check out on a rainy day – or if you are just feeling sort of “cultural”.

Cinemas All screenings are in the original language with Norwegian subtitles, except movies for children. Prices vary from NOK 80-120. You can buy tickets for all cinemas at the cinema of your choice, or from the internet: www.oslokino. no. To find the cinemas – just ask your way around from the following spots:

NATIONALTHEATRET METRO STATION You will find several theatres close to the metro station Nationaltheatret: Saga, Vika and Klingenberg. There is also one at Aker Brygge, Felix, which is close to Nationaltheatret.

MAJORSTUA METRO STATION Colosseum, a widely popular cinema venue. If you are in the mood for an epic movie experience, this is usually the cinema of our choice.

YOUNGSTORGET Eldorado, often considered the youth Cinema. It’s centrally located and shows a lot of movies with Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, etc.

GRÜNERLØKKA Ringen Kino is the newest cinema in Oslo and was the first fully digital cinema in Scandinavia. This cinema has excellent and comfortable seats, and a beautiful screen.

FILM CLUB – CINEMATEKET Some call it artsy, others just art. Cinemateket is the film club for self-acclaimed geeks and artists, and they show some real classic and alternative contemporary movies. Centrally located. Check out their website www.nfi.no/ cinemateket to see what’s showing.

Theatres Here is a list of venues in Oslo with a cosmopolitan approach. It is not a complete overview, but merely an introduction. Check out www. visitoslo.com or visit the office for up-to-date information.

BLACK BOX Marstrandgata 8 www.blackbox.no One of Norways most important contemporary and innovative theatre stages. It houses different touring companies and often stage performances in English.

HOUSE OF DANCE Møllerveien 2 www.dansenshus.com The national scene for contemporary dance opened in 2008 and houses performances with different companies.

64 SLEEP

Sleepless in Seattle – safe and comfortable in Oslo

Student flats If you are staying for a month or two during the summer, you can try renting a student flat. Some of these rooms are posted on websites such as: www.hybel.no www.finn.no www.bofellesskap.no www.nordnorsken.no www.sio.no All of these webpages are in Norwegian. Try using Google Translate or drop by the USE-IT office in Møllergata and we will help you.

ANKER STUDENTBOLIGER Holtegata 25 22 60 03 59 www.ankerstudentbolig.no studentbolig@anker.oslo.no Anker is a student house and leases student flats for shorter periods of time, from April to August. Rent is from NOK 3.800 per month, with one month deposit. The flats have private bathrooms. Bring your own linen and kitchen utensils, or rent at Anker.

Couch surfing “A world where everyone can explore and create meaning ful connections with the people and places they encounter” We love it! We love the concept and we love meeting new, open-minded and interesting people. Couch surfing is a non-profit organization that has over a million registered users from all over the world, offering a place to sleep through the website. You register yourself on www.couchsurfing.org and start looking for a host. The site has a lot of nice guides, testimonials and FAQs and is generally a nice read.

HOTELS & HOSTELS There are plenty of hotels in Oslo, here are some of the cheap ones.

ANKER HOSTEL

GARDERMOEN AIRPORT VANDREHJEM

Storgata 55 ankerhostel.no Anker offers single/double rooms and 4 – 8 bedded rooms. The cheapest option is a single bed in a 8 bedded room. Breakfast for 60 NOK per day. Linen for 50 NOK. All rooms have private showers. Sleeping bags are not allowed.

Hasselveien 1 gardermoenbb.no Located near Gardermoen airport, a 45 minute bus ride to Oslo. Free internet and laundry. 50 NOK for breakfast.

COMFORT XPRESS Møllergata 26 comforthotelxpress.no Comfort Xpress is a trendy designer hotel. It’s located in central Oslo, just a short walk from our office. Free wireless internet, free coffee, breakfast in bed by ordering; 85 NOK and a gaming room(!).

COCHS PENSJONAT

GJESTEHUSET LOVISENBERG Lovisenberggt. 15 A lovisenberg.no Located 10 minutes away from downtown Oslo. A renovated building from 1868 with restored furniture from that period. Has a small peaceful garden. Offers single and double rooms with or without private bathrooms. Breakfast: 50 NOK. Reception closes at 20:30.

OSLO VANDREHJEM – HOLTEKILEN

Parkveien 25 cochspensjonat.no Cochs Pensjonat is a 5 minute walk from downtown Oslo. They offer 88 rooms in three different price ranges.

Micheletsv. 55 vandrehjem.no Holtekilen hostel is located in a quiet area 8km outside of Oslo. Offers 1-5 bed rooms with private bathrooms. Breakfast included. 15 minute train ride to Oslo.

ELLINGSENS PENSJONAT

OSLO VANDREHJEM – HARALDSHEIM

Holtegata 25 ellingsenspensjonat.no Offers single and double rooms with or without private bathrooms. About 10 minutes walking distance to downtown Oslo.

Haraldsheimv. 4 haraldsheim.no Haraldsheim hostel is a 10 minute tram ride from downtown Oslo. Offers single beds in 4 bed rooms and private rooms. With and with-

out private bathrooms. Breakfast included. Sleeping bags not allowed. Linen: 50 NOK.

OSLO HOSTEL RØNNINGEN YMCA Myrerskogv. 54 oslohostel.com Located 8km from downtown Oslo. Open in the summer season between May 23rd to August 19th. Sleeping bags not allowed. Alcohol prohibited. Linen: 50 NOK.

OSLO APARTMENTS osloapartments.no Offers private apartments for rent. Minimum 3 days. Prices are from 650 per apartment, not per person. Visit their website to browse the vacant apartments.

shared rooms for 290 and private rooms. Has a cafe on the 1st floor. Every room has a fridge and the closest grocery store is 50m away.

STA. KATARINA HJEMMET Gjørstadg. 9 katarinahjemmet.katolsk.no Sta. Katarina is both a guest house and a monastery located at Majorstuen in Oslo, a 5 minute subway ride from downtown Oslo. Does not offer rooms for less than two days. Breakfast: 50 NOK. Offers single and double rooms. Shared baths.

OVERNATTING OSLO overnattingoslo.no Offers private apartments for short and long term stay in Oslo. From 3 days to 12 months. Booking is only via their web site form.

P-HOTELS Grensen 9 p-hotels.no Located in central Oslo. Has a low-price calendar worth checking out. Breakfast included - a sandwich of your choice and a juice box.

PERMINALEN HOTEL Øvre Slottsg. 2 perminalen.no Located in central Oslo. Offers single bed in 4-bedded room and 2 – 6 bedded rooms. Breakfast and linen included.

SENTRUM PENSJONAT Tollbugaten 8 sentrumpensjonat.no Located in central Oslo. Offers single bed in

Private Accommodation

We have a list of people who rent out rooms from their private homes. Check out www.use-it.no for pictures, info and booking. Prices vary and start around 250 NOK a night for a bed in a shared room. We do not mean to be pessimistic but finding a bed in Oslo for less than 200 NOK is more or less impossible. We strongly recommend you book in advance.

CAMPING Camping is great! Fresh air and beautiful nature. When camping in Oslo you have the advantage of camping anywhere you want for free as long as it’s 150m from a private property.

BOGSTAD CAMPING

LANGØYENE (THE LONG ISLANDS)

Ankerveien 117 bogstadcamping.no 8 kilometers from the city you find Bogstad camping, a 30 minute bus ride from central Oslo. The huge camping area is close to nature, a popular bathing area, a golf course and the forest Nordmarka – and it’s open all year. Take bus 32 from Oslo Central Station, it stops right outside the reception. Tent: 180 NOK Caravan: 270 NOK Motor home: 255 NOK Cabins: Varies, check out their web page.

Langøyene www.langoyene.no Opposed to the other islands in the Oslo fjord, you’re welcome to set up your tent on Langøyene. Here you can bathe, fish and play volleyball. Remember to check the ferries time tables so you don’t miss the last departure. There are several rules to take notice regarding camping on the islands, these are some: • Keep the tent area clean • Do not throw garbage or damage the nature • Do not privatize your tent area by enclosing it • Tent or tent groups can cover max 18m2 • No excessive noise from 2300 to 0700 • Show respect to the other campers • Open fire not allowed • Keep at least a 3m distance from other tents

EKEBERG CAMPING Ekebergveien 65 ekebergcamping.no The view from Ekeberg is great! When you get bored of enjoying this spectacle you will find a miniature golf course, soccer fields, walking areas and horse riding nearby. This place is also used for Norway Cup, a big soccer tournament held in Norway. To get there you take bus 34 or 46 from Oslo Central Station. Tent: 180 NOK Caravan: 260 NOK Motor home: 245 NOK

Cabins & trekking

DEN NORSKE TURISTFORENING Storgata 3 www.turistforeningen.no Den Norske Turistforening is Norways biggest outdoor activity organization. For 135 years they have promoted trekking. They can recommend trekking routes and cabins for rent, both in the forest of Oslo and in Norway in general.

ARE YOU ENJOYING OUR GUIDE SO FAR? Want to help making it even better? We are looking for volunteers to help out with our 2013 edition. Contact us at post@ung.info

PRACTICAL

The airport express train Photo: Magnus Moholdt

Public transportation

Exchange / money

Ruter is the company that runs the public transportation, and with a ticket you can go by either bus, subway or tram. Pre bought tickets can be purchased at 7-Eleven, Deli De Luca and Narvesen. If you buy single tickets from the driver its NOK 50 for adults and NOK 25 for children/senior. If caught without a valid ticket you will be fined 900 NOK (or 750 NOK if paid on the spot).

You can exchange major currencies in almost every bank and post office. You can also exchange money at Forex. Both the banks and Forex gives you approximately the same rates, but banks charge a one-time fee of about NOK 50 for making the change, which makes Forex a better option, in particular if you’re changing small amounts. Forex have offices at Oslo Central station and around the city.

SINGLE TICKET ADULT: NOK 30* SINGLE TICKET CHILD: NOK 15* 7 DAY PASS ADULT: NOK 220 7 DAY PASS CHILD/YOUTH/SENIOR: NOK 110 24 HOUR PASS ADULT: NOK 75 24 HOUR PASS CHILD/SENIOR: NOK 38 *Pre bought ticket Free transfer within one hour.

Bank Axept cards are accepted in most shops. The vast majority of shops and restaurants accepts Visa and Mastercard as well. Diners Club and American Express are accepted in upscale establishments. There are ATMs everywhere, and at all 7-Elevens as well as most Narvesen and Deli De Luca.

Note that while for most tickets you have to be under 16 to pay a reduced fare, for a 7-day pass you pay the reduced fare as long as it’s stamped before your 20th birthday. This means that for travelers under 20, a 7-day pass is usually the most economic option as long as you’re staying more than one night.

Regular banking hours: Mon-Wed, Fri 0815 – 1530, Thu 0815 – 1700, Saturday closed.

Pharmacy There are many pharmacies in Oslo and they usually follow regular opening hours. There are two pharmacies that are open around the clock: Apotek1 next to the municipal casualty ward. Vitus at Jernbanetorget, opposite the Central Station is open 24 hours. They charge a small additional fee at night.

These places have extended opening hours:

OSLO’S MAIN POST OFFICE Dronningensgate 15

OSLO CENTRAL STATION Oslo S

AIRPORT EXPRESS TERMINAL With 24h automatic currency withdrawal.

Currency

The Norwegian currency is the Norwegian Krone (abbreviated kr, nkr or NOK. As of May 2012), 1 kr is the smallest monetary amount. One euro is about 7,5 kr

Internet At the Use-It Office we have eight computers with internet for use by budget travellers under 27. We also have free WiFi if you prefer to use your own laptop.

USE-IT OFFICE Møllergata 3 Offers free wireless internet as well as stationary PCs with the ability to print. Everything’s free.

DEICHMANSKE LIBRARY Arne Garborgs plass 4 Offers free wifi and free terminals.

ARCTIC INTERNET CAFÉ Oslo Central Station You have to pay, but it’s conveniently located in the centre of Oslo.

There are also a lot of internet cafes in Storgata. Some of these also have fax machines and you can make cheap phone calls from here. These cafes come and go, so instead of making an insufficient list we’d rather advise to check it out yourself. You can sign up for free internet either at libraries or at the Use-It office.

Telephones Public telephones accept major credit cards as well as 1, 5, 10 and 20 coins. You need a minimum of 5 NOK make a call. Norwegian telephone cards are called Telekort and can be purchased at kiosks. In Brugata and at Grønland you’ll find many small shops where you can buy international phone cards as well. If you intend to talk for a long time, these phone cards are worth buying. If staying in Norway for more than a few days, it’s usually a good idea purchasing a pre-paid SIM card for your cell phone. This makes it cheaper for you to call, and also cheaper and easier for your Norwegian contacts to call you back. Pre-paid cards can be purchased at most 7-eleven and Narvesen as well as stores selling mobile phones and equipment such as Clas Ohlson, Elkjøp and Expert. At the Use-It Office you can make domestic phone calls for free.

Free Wireless Networks

Lots of pubs and cafés offer free WiFi to their customers. Just ask around. Most of the hotels in town still ask you to buy a scratch card with a code to access their WiFi, but an increasing number of the hotels provide it for free.

CALLING TO NORWAY? The country code is 0047. COLLECT CALLS: 115 (abroad), 117 (Norway) You can make collect calls from all public telephones.

DIRECTORY ENQUIRIES: 1881 / 1882 (international numbers). NB! Inquiry service is very expensive from a public pay phone!

Tourist information Use-It is the number one choice for budget travellers in Oslo. The staff and contributors of the Streetwise guide offer free information, free internet, free phone calls and free luggage storage. Sounds to good to be true? As an organization funded by the municipality, we have no commercial interests and will not try to charge you commissions or push you in the direction of our uncle’s restaurant. We just want to make your stay in Oslo a pleasant one!

Situated inside the big clock tower right outside Oslo Central Station you’ll find the smaller Tourist Information. They give information primarely about Oslo, but they also carry some guides about the rest of Norway as well.

Lost and found

POLICE STATION Grønlandsleiret 44 22 66 98 65 Mon-fri: 08:15 - 14:30

USE-IT OFFICE

LOST AND FOUND TRAINS

Møllergata 3 It’s us! The youth information center that creates Streetwise and acts as a tourist information for young travelers. We offer eight computers on which you can write, read and print with. You can store your luggage here up to 12 days(!). We give information and tips about the city that you probably won’t get elsewhere. We have hiking maps, maps of the city and guides to other cities within the Use-It Europe network. The best thing about this is that it’s all for free! We do have an age limit though, so if you’re under 27 you’re welcome. If you are over 27 feel free to drop by and pick up our free Streetwise guide, but if it’s a busy day we cannot guarantee we have time to answer questions.

Oslo Central Station 23 15 40 47 Mon-fri 07:00 - 16:45

OSLO TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE Fridtjof Nansens Plass 5 Situated by the City Hall of Oslo you will find one of the two tourist information centers. They have lots of guides with information from all of Norway. A great way to get more information if you are considering leaving Oslo to explore more of the country.

TOURIST INFORMATION

LOST AND FOUND BUSES/SUBWAY/TRAMS Ruter As Hittegodskontoret Nationaltheatret (Metro station)

Laundry

BILLIG VASK & RENS Ullevålsveien 15

CAFE LAUNDROMAT Underhaugsveien 2 Arguably one of the few ways to pamper yourself while doing the laundry. Put the clothes in, order a lunch or a drink and sit back relax with your favourite magazine while the machine is doing your dirty work.

SNARVASK VU THI MINH NGUYET Thorvald Meyers gate 18

VASK-SERVICE Sannergata 25

Oslo Central Station

Medical assistance

CASUALTY CLINIC Legevakten (Municipal Casualty Ward) Storgata 40 22 93 22 93 Open 24 hours

EMERGENCY DENTAL TREATMENT Tannlegevakten Tøyen Senter Kolstadgata 18 22 67 30 00 Weekdays 11:00 - 14.00 and 19:00 - 10:00

Follow the instructions provided at the end of each stand. The bikes may be returned to any stand in the city. You can keep the bike for up to three hours, although you can rent a new one immediately after returning it, meaning you can effectively keep the bike all day as long as you check-in and check-out at a bike stand every three hours. The bikes are available between 0600 and 2400. If you get a bike before 2400 you can keep it until your three hours are up, even if it means you’ll return it after midnight.

In case of emergencies Free of charge from any public telephone. Keep in mind that these are emergency numbers only. Fire: 110 Police: 112 Ambulance: 113

Bike rental

SKISERVICE AS Tomm Murstadbakken 2 22 13 95 00 www.skiservice.no

OSLO BYSYKKEL (OSLO CITY BIKE) 815 00 250 Bysykkelservice@clearchannel.no Mon - fri 08:00 – 18:00 There are bike stands located at different places in Oslo where you can borrow a city bike. Residents of Oslo pay 90 NOK for an annual subscription permitting unlimited use of the bikes, but visitors have to rent a card from one of the tourist information offices located at Trafikanten, Oslo Central station or at Fritjof Nansens plass (next to the city hall).

Google translate

Many of the norwegian websites today are not translated. Fortunately, with google translate it’s never been easier. You can even translate whole websites using google translate. Just follow these steps: 1. Go to translate.google.com 2. Choose the language your translating from, in this case Norwegian. And choose your prefered translated language. 3. In the empty textbox, just write in the URL of the site you wish to translate, like www.kultoslo.no (remember to use “www.” in front so it knows it’s a website). A new link will now appear in the right textbox, click it and view the entire site translated.

LEAVING OSLO So it’s time to get back home, you’ve seen what needs to be seen and hopefully you’ve got tons of memories and experiences to dwell on while you’re getting there.

Leaving by air In terms of square meters, Norway is huge. Sometimes the most convenient way to travel in Norway is by plane. Check out these companies:

NORWEGIAN www.norwegian.no Norway’s low fare airline has a large network of both domestic and international departures. Service level is one notch above the dirt-cheap carriers like Ryanair, and Norwegian usually serves major airports instead of the ones 200 miles away from the city center. While usually the cheapest option it’s always worth checking alternatives.

SAS www.sas.no SAS is a very reliable airline, and although the average price is usually above Norwegian, it’s worth checking both airlines. Luggage and credit card fees are included in the ticket price, and they throw in a free breakfast on domestic flights departing before 9 AM. With SAS you can cancel a ticket bought online within 24 hours for a full refund.

WIDERØE www.wideroe.no Norway has a unique network of short runway airports (“Stolports”). These airports are usually served by Widerøe, but occasionally by other carriers. During the summer months Widerøe offers a 14-day fly-as-much-as-you-want ticket. If you fancy two weeks off the beaten track in the scarcely populated areas of rural Norway, this can be a real bargain, starting at 2775 NOK.

AGENTS For travel agents specializing in youth and student tickets, see www.kilroytravels.no or www.startravel.no

Before take off Oslo has three airports; Torp, Rygge and the main airport Gardermoen. Gardermoen is closest to the city; 18 minutes with the Airport Express Train. Torp is one hour east of Oslo (the bus takes about an hour and 45 minutes) and Rygge is about two hours west. Remember this when booking flights late in the evening. All major airline companies fly to Gardermoen. Low price companies like Wizz Air and Ryan Air fly to Torp.

Gardermoen Airport

AIRPORT EXPRESS TRAIN www.flytoget.no (19-22 mins, students 85 kr, adults 170 kr)

REGULAR TRAIN www.nsb.no (26-37 mins, all passengers 110 kr)

AIRPORT BUSES www.flybussen.no www.flybussekspressen.no (convenient from eastern outskirts of Oslo)

Torp Airport

AIRPORT BUS www.torpekspressen.no (1h 45 mins, one-way: adults 200 kr. Return: adults 340 kr, students 300 kr)

TRAIN www.nsb.no (1h 45 mins, students 176, adults 234. Discounted adult tickets at 199 kr are usually available if bought the day before departure or earlier) A shuttlebus between Torp Train Station and Torp Airport is included in the train ticket.

Rygge Airport

AIRPORT BUS www.ryggeekspressen.no (1 hour, one-way: adults 140 kr. Return: adults 250 kr, students 210 kr)

TRAIN www.nsb.no (50 mins, students 108 kr, adults 144 kr) A shuttlebus between Rygge Train Station and Rygge Airport is included in the train ticket.

Leaving by train Train tickets are cheaper if bought before boarding the train. You can buy train tickets at machines or ticket desks at the stations. For long-distance trains you can also purchase tickets over the internet, which is by far the easiest way. When you book online, and you’ve paid for your ticket, you are given a seat reference on the specific train you’re taking. All you have to do is board the train, sit in your designated seat and you will recieve your ticket by showing your ID. On overnight trains sleeping compartments are available for 850 kr per compartment. One compartment can accommodate two people, but you can’t pay for a single bed, so if you travel alone you have to buy a compartment for yourself. Alternatively, opt for a night in the seat and NSB will provide you with a complimentary blanket, eye-mask and earplugs. Or visit the onboard restaurant which is open all night long – often a good place to meet fellow travellers or pick up stories from strangers over a beer. Discounted tickets called “minipris” starts at 199 NOK and are available on all lines. The 199 NOK tickets are scarce, but more discounted tickets are available at 299, 399 or 499 NOK. There are no refunds for these tickets and the minipris tickets can be used on the specified departure only. Minipris is not available on the day of departure. A student discount is available on regular tickets, but Minipris is usually the cheapest option. If travelling on local trains to the suburbs of Oslo, you will get a discount if you hold a valid ticket for transportation within Oslo municipality. For trains to Sweden NSB operates the line to

Gothenburg, while the Swedish state railway SJ operates the trains to Karlstad and Stockholm. SJ has a ticket vending machine on Oslo Central Station and tickets can be purchased online at www.sj.se.

OSLO CENTRAL STATION Oslo S www.oslo-s.no All trains depart from Oslo Central Station, but you can also catch most trains from Nationaltheateret Station.

NSB www.nsb.no NSB is Norway’s national railway company.

Leaving by bus

BUSSTERMINALEN Oslo S 23 00 24 00 www.rutebok.no All buses depart from Bussterminalen, located in central Oslo. Here you can catch everything from local buses that serves Oslo and its surrounding areas, to buses headed for central Europe.

Bus companies The National railway company does not cover the whole of Norway. Therefore Nor-Way Bussekspress is a great supplement.

NOR-WAY BUSSEKSPRESS www.nor-way.no 815 44 444

These Swedish bus companies are affordable and they travel far and wide:

SWEBUS www.swebusexpress.se 800 58 444

GOBYBUS www.gobybus.se 815 66 010

BUS4YOU www.bus4you.se

EUROLINES www.eurolines.no Eurolines also has tri-weekly departures to Copenhagen.

Leaving by boat There have been ferries bound for Denmark and Germany for a long time. At some point they stopped being sheer instruments of transportation and turned into party-boats. These are safe and efficient means of transportation, but be prepared for more or less everything (although your cabin will be a quiet retreat). Return tickets are sometimes cheaper than one-way tickets.

DFDS www.dfds.no 21 62 13 40 Oslo – Copenhagen

STENA LINE www.stenaline.no 02 010 Oslo – Fredrikshavn

COLOR LINE www.colorline.no 810 00 811 Oslo – Hirtshals/Oslo – Kiel/Larvik – Fredrikshavn.

DOWNTOWN

GRÜNERLØKKA

GRØNLAND

OSLO

FIND US IN MØLLERGATA 3