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Five things Oslo residents can sometimes take for granted 

Oslo is a great place to call home, and sometimes it can be easy to take the things that make it so appealing for granted. 

Published: 19 October 2022 16:22 CEST
Updated: 25 February 2023 09:30 CET
Pictured is Viegeland park in Norway.
Here are some great things about Oslo that can sometimes be overlooked. Pictured is Viegeland park in Norway. Photo by Nick Night on Unsplash

If you live in the Norwegian capital of Oslo, you may have heard people complain about how expensive the city is or how small and quiet it feels compared to other places.

However, you don’t need to look far or long to find things that make Oslo a fantastic place to live- the kind of things that residents (and visitors) should not overlook. 

Here are some things about Oslo that residents may (but should not) take for granted. 

Amazing nature 

One of the biggest draws to the city is one of the things that can be easiest to overlook- especially when the weather is far from optimal- the fantastic nature surrounding the city. 

A lot of the best spots are easily accessible via public transport. For example, you can take a ferry to islands in the Oslofjord from as little as 39 kroner. These ferries are taken from the bustling Aker Brygge district, transporting you to quiet forest trails and natural swimming spots in around 20 minutes. 

Other examples of nature spots easy to access without a car include trips along the Akerselva, taking the T-bane to Songsvann, or the bus to great swimming and camping at Trollvann. The same applies to the various forests dotted around the edge of the capital. 

Even for the hardcore that are out on hammock trips when there is still snow on the ground, there will be new places to discover. 

Public transport 

This one is more of a double-edged sword as complaining about ticket prices would be fair as public transport in Oslo is amongst the priciest in the world. 

Even still, Norway has a well-connected transport system that, for many, will eliminate the need for a car- which is handy because the city isn’t considered exceptionally car friendly. 

As mentioned earlier, the tram, ferry, bus, and T-bane links make getting to the great outdoors seamless, in addition to making getting around the city hassle-free. 

Oslo’s small size means commutes aren’t too arduous for the majority and that you can be in central and trendy districts in a relatively short time . 

Family-friendly

The many parks and green spaces around Oslo make the city a fantastic place to raise kids. But the green spaces aren’t just confined to parks. 

Many areas in the city, such as Torshov, are best known for the large communal gardens that most apartment blocks have, meaning that green space and other children to play with are easily accessible for those living in apartments, not just those in houses and the suburbs. 

This is in addition to the vast array of recreational areas, activities and parks dotted around the capital. 

In a survey of The Local’s readers respondents praised the city for being so family friendly.

READ MORE: Is Oslo a good city for international residents?

It’s an international city

Oslo may not have that same melting pot feel that bigger cities have, but it certainly is an international city. 

Around a third of the city’s residents are either immigrants or come from a foreign background (meaning their parents come from abroad). 

Roughly 177,000 of the city’s 634,000’s residents have immigrated to Norway from other countries. This can make it easier for foreigners to settle and “feel at home” compared to small rural communities where many locals are Norwegians. 

It also means that many aren’t far from their compatriots in the event they feel homesick. 

Add this to the large number of international firms with English as the primary working language, Oslo offers plenty for international residents to settle inside and outside work. 

Residents feel safe

No city is crime-free. However, one overlooked aspect of Oslo is the low crime rate compared to other European cities. 

Some 93 percent of residents in Norway said that they felt safe, and Oslo was one of the parts of the country to record the highest trust levels in the police, according to the latest annual survey carried out by the Police Directorate. 

In Oslo, over two-thirds said that they felt very safe in the city, 26 percent said they felt quite safe, and two percent said they didn’t feel safe.

Serious crime rates are quite low, with petty theft (such as bike thefts) representing some of the most common crimes committed in Oslo, according to an investigation carried out by the local paper Vårt Oslo. 

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DISCOVER NORWAY

Discover Norway: Five reasons to love Oslo in the autumn

Norway’s capital will take on orange autumnal hues in the coming weeks. Those fearing the shorter days shouldn’t fret too much, though, as there’s plenty to love about Oslo in the autumn.

Published: 4 September 2024 12:24 CEST
Updated: 7 September 2024 08:08 CEST
Discover Norway: Five reasons to love Oslo in the autumn

Amazing events

While it can sometimes feel like the social calendar winds down towards the end of summer and people hunker down for the colder months, there is plenty of reason to be optimistic about the autumn in Oslo.

The city will still host numerous great events, both indoors and outdoors. One way to stay up to date on what’s happening in Oslo over the next few months is to look for our monthly updates on the best events.

Among the autumn highlights is the moonlit culture night along the Akerselva. Some 4,000 torches are lit along the river, and more than 100 cultural performances, from live music to art installations, are completely free to enjoy.

This event is held on the Thursday closest to autumn equinox, and wouldn’t be possible without the shorter days.

By: Larm and Ultima are two music festivals that take place during the autumn, while the Film fra Sør film festival is typically held in November, too.

A chance to experience world-class museums

Given that Oslo’s weather can’t always be relied upon, it’s no surprise that most people try to spend as much time as possible outdoors during the summer.

The cooler temperatures should provide plenty of encouragement to take refuge in one of the cities many wonderful museums.

Two of Norway’s most beloved museums, the Fram and Kon-Tiki museums, are located opposite one another on the Bygdøy peninsula. Both focus on famous expeditions.

Not all the museums in Norway are nautical-themed. There are also two fantastic, newly built galleries, the Munch Museum and the National Museum. Both galleries have versions of Edvard Munch’s world-famous Scream, but the more coveted version is in the national gallery.

There are more than 50 museums in and around Oslo, so we can’t mention them all, but the Vigeland Museum, Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology, Noble Peace Centre, Norway’s Resistance Museum, and Museum of Oslo are all worthy of a visit.

Some museums off the beaten path include the Vigeland Mausoleum and the interactive Popsenteret music museum.

Good time to enjoy the nature

If you’re more inclined to fresh air, the city remains a great place to be in the autumn. Vigeland Park, the Botanical Garden, and Eckersberg Park are both worth a visit when the leaves begin to turn orange.

Songsvann is great for an autumnal walk or run, and trips down the Akerselva give things a more urban feel.

The hiking season should extend until the first snow starts to fall.

While you’ll need a bit of planning to make sure you don’t get left in the dark, there are plenty of spots like Vettakollen, Frognerseteren, and Grefsenkollen that can be easily accessed with public transport and connect to plenty of great hiking trails suitable for all levels of fitness.

READ MORE: Six great nature spots in Oslo you can reach with public transport

Cosy cafes and bars

While it may take you a while to find them, Oslo is home to plenty of fantastic restaurants, cafés and bars.

Given the weather, a cosy setting will be the priority. Håndbakt Oslo, Neongrut, Kiosk Kaffebar, Oslo Raw, Tim Wendelboe, and Fuglen are all great places to enjoy a great coffee, warm atmosphere, and fantastic baked goods.

If you’re looking for something warm and comforting to eat, try San Francisco Breadbowl, Koie Ramen, or some traditional Norwegian food. While Norway’s cuisine doesn’t attract much praise worldwide, it’s certainly hearty and perfect for when the weather turns.

If you are after something stiffer than a coffee, Bruun Larsen, Schouskjelleren, Nektar Vinbar, Grünerløkka Brygghus, and Izykaya are ideal locations for a drink.

There are still plenty of reasons to stay social

If some of the excursions we suggested aren’t enough to invite a friend out for the day, then there are plenty of great reasons to socialise during the autumn.

Should you need inspiration or want to try something new, then fret not there is still plenty of other reasons to ask someone to hang out.

There are plenty of game bars in the cities which let you get in from the cold and where the activity takes some of the pressure of socialising.

Norway’s chess superstar Magnus Carlsen has helped make the sport more popular. Oslo is home to the “chess bar” The Good Knight, which also offers other board games.

Oche has smart dart boards that do all the boring maths for you and allows several different darts games to be played. Tilt has you covered for arcade games, while Røør has 14 shuffle board tables. There’s also minigolf at Oslo Camping – which can be good for both families and adults.

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