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Oslo tours and excursions

Oslo tours

Bus and boat tours

Båtservice Sightseeing A/S offers a comprehensive choice of bus and boat tours of Oslo. These range from a 50-minute boat tour on the fjord to a seven-hour ‘Grand Tour’ which combines bus and boat. The company also offers a three-hour evening cruise in July and August. Departures are from Rådhusbrygge 3. Stromma offers a hop on hop off bus tour. There are 18 stops on the tour and you can get tickets valid for either 24 or 48 hours. You can also combine Stromma’s hop on hop off bus and boat tours in one 24-hour ticket.

Tel: +47 2335 6890; +47 223 32 000
Website: https://www.stromma.no/oslo/sightseeing/

Walking tours

Oslo offers a wealth of walking experiences, whether you’re looking for a quick spin around the city centre or something lengthier. Free Tour Oslo offers daily free and private tours in English and Spanish. There are two free tours in English each day, one which covers the city and the other focuses on Oslo’s East Side. The daily Spanish tour takes in the city. The meeting point for all tours is The Tiger, Jernbanetorget. Oslowalk offers four different themed walks each day, which include the city centre, riverside and Vigeland Park.

Website: http://www.citywalks.no

Oslo excursions

Nordmaka wilderness area

A 430-sq-km (166-sq-mile) stretch of verdant pine and larch forest dotted with cerulean lakes, Nordmaka has more than 450km (280 miles) of marked ski trails during winter and a network of colour-coded hiking and biking trails in the summer. Svarttjernshøgda, at 719m (2,358ft), is the park’s highest peak and offers a real challenge for climbers. DNT Oslo og Omegn (tel: 2282 2800; www.dntoslo.no), Skiforeningen (tel: 2292 3200; www.skiforeningen.no) and Friluftsetaten (tel: 02180 2180, in Norway only; or +47 21 80 21 80 from abroa; www.friluftsetaten.oslo.kommune.no) have a number of basic but comfortable huts available for anyone who fancies an overnight expedition. Nordmaka is 17km (11 miles) north of Oslo.

Website: http://www.visitoslo.com

Holmenkollen

One of the most recognisable sports arenas in the world, the Holmenkollen stadium in the hills to the northwest of Oslo is one of Norway’s most popular tourist spots. The stadium plays host to Nordic skiing events every winter; a brand-new ski jump opened in 2010 and featured at the 2011 FIS Nordic World Championships. The ski jump is also home to the world’s oldest ski museum, which documents the sport’s 4,000-year history. To get there, take the Metro (T-bane) line 1 (Frognerseteren) from central Oslo and get off at Holmenkollen station. From there, the stadium is a 10-minute walk away.

Tel: +47 2 292 3200.
Website: http://www.skiforeningen.no

A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

City Highlight: Oslo, Norway

Lush and green Oslo flaunts a plethora of fun outdoor activities, and a visit to this scenic Scandinavian city promises a taste of its rich Viking heritage too

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Featured Hotels

First Hotel Millennium

Despite the 1930s facade (and the name), the First Hotel Millennium opened in 1988 and is located a few minutes' walk from the city centre. Its 114 rooms are finished in minimal Scandinavian style with wooden floors. The on-site restaurant does a decent breakfast buffet too.

Thon Hotel Astoria

Centrally located and a short walk from Oslo’s main shopping street and central station the Thon Hotel Astoria is convenient for budget-minded travellers who want to explore Oslo’s tourist attractions. Rooms are comfortable – if small – and the excellent breakfast is highly recommended.

First Hotel Grims Grenka

One of the most charming of Oslo’s stays, the Grims Grenka might be a chain hotel but it has the feel of a boutique establishment. Each of the 65 rooms are spacious and come with a stash of organic tea. The Madu restaurant and the rooftop Q Lounge are both worth checking out too.

Saga Hotel

Built in the 1890s, the intimate Saga Hotel sits a stone's throw from the Royal Palace but is far less grand than its setting would suggest. Instead, its rooms are romantic and remarkably short on Scandinavian minimalism, while staff are friendly and ever-ready to field questions and source decent restaurants.

The Thief

Despite the name, The Thief is a well-priced hotel with direct access to the Oslofjord that certainly won't relieve you of all your money. Housed in a modern glass and steel building, the rooms have great views and simple modern décor. There's a gourmet restaurant on site too.

Hotel Continental

The Continental is an Oslo institution that has been run by the same family for four generations and is more than a century old. Situated in the heart of Oslo next to the National Theatre the hotel is known both for outstanding service and restaurants as well as its links with the Oslo arts scene.

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