Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit Oslo, Norway! Norway’s capital city is a super fun place to visit. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate when you visit Oslo.
Hate #1: Customer Service in Oslo
The Viking spirit is alive and well when it comes to customer service. You have to ask for help; nobody will go out of their way to help you. They will help if you ask, but it’s not the overly attentive service we are used to in the United States. Part of it stems from just being a more reserved culture, but it can catch you off guard at first.
Hate #2: Poverty in Oslo
You hear a lot about how Norway is one of the richest and happiest countries, and that everyone is equal, but you will see a lot of beggars in Oslo. A lot of the beggars will congregate around the popular tourist sights. You can just say “no” and move on, they generally don’t harass anyone, but it’s definitely something to be aware of.
Hate #3: Oslo Weather
It can be cold and rainy in Oslo, especially in the winter. It’s also very dark in the winter, so you won’t have a lot of daylight to explore the city. Even the summers can be chilly and rainy, so you always need to pack a lot of layers and have a waterproof jacket to wear in case of rain.
Hate #4: Oslo’s Size
Many travelers expect a huge capital city, but Oslo is quite small, with just over 600,000 people living there. After a few days, you may feel like you’ve run out of things to do. There are plenty of things to do in Oslo, but the cost is prohibitive to seeing all of the Oslo attractions.
Hate #5: Oslo Prices
Scandinavia and Norway are expensive, but Oslo is even more expensive. A single beer can cost anywhere from $10 to $20. Oslo hotels, Oslo restaurants, public transportation, and Oslo museums are all very expensive. Oslo is by far the most expensive place I’ve ever visited. Even way back in 1995 on my first trip to Oslo, I realized how expensive it was. It’s only gotten worse since then. Take advantage of the hotel breakfast and eat your main meal at lunch when you can get a lunch special. Hot dogs are a local specialty so you can eat on the cheap.
Read: How to Save Real Money When You Travel
Love #1: Nordic History
Oslo has some great museums and Nordic history is fascinating. The Viking Ship Museum is so awesome and the Norwegian Folk Museum is also super interesting. Norwegians have a lot of pride in their history and it shows in the museums. There are castles, fortresses and many museums to see during your visit to Oslo.
Love #2: The Oslo Pass
Yes, it’s expensive, but so is everything in Oslo. Purchasing the Oslo Pass combines your public transportation and museum entry, so if you plan to do a lot of sightseeing in Oslo, you can get your money’s worth very easily.
Love #3: Ease of Travel
Oslo is an “easy” place to visit. There’s a reason I often recommend Scandinavia as a good first-time overseas trip. It’s very safe, everyone speaks excellent English and it’s easy to get around. Since Oslo is relatively small, you can walk to a lot of places and anything that is not walkable, you can take a bus or a ferry. Additionally, it’s well built to accommodate wheelchairs or strollers, unlike a lot of European cities.
Read: What to Know Before Your First Trip to Europe
Love #4: Oslo Day Trips
While Oslo is a great city, there’s also a lot of fun things to explore outside of Oslo. You can be out of the city and in nature in just 20 minutes. Norwegians are very much outdoorsy people, so there are tons of outdoor activities in and around Oslo.
Love #5: Oslo Sightseeing
One of the best things about Oslo is just walking around downtown. Whether you are shopping along Karl Johans gate or seeing the work of Edvard Munch, including The Scream, at the National Gallery or the Munch Museum, there are some really interesting attractions in Oslo.
Oslo is a great city, especially for first-time international travelers! Most of the “hates” are really just a few things to keep a head’s up on rather than a reason not to take a trip to Oslo. Want to know more about traveling to Norway? Check out some of our other blog posts: