10 things to love about Oslo

So I've just been reading EuropeCrazy and seeing as it's a year today since I went to Oslo for the first time, I felt inspired to compile my own list...



1- Oslo Sentralstasjon
Yes, it may be one of the favourite hangouts of Oslo’s junkies (so I’ve been told),but I’ve never noticed any there. Anyway, as far as train stations go, I like this one. There’s 2 shopping centres attached to it, what’s not to like?!



2- Karl Johan’s Gate
Bit of a common touristy option, but Oslo’s main street is wonderful. Lots of fabulous shops like Bikbok, a nice big H&M and several Platekompaniets, it’s a great place to fritter away your hard earned krone! Not that frittering away your hard earned krone is that difficult to do anywhere else in the country… Karl Johan’s Gate is also home to such buildings as Stortinget (the Norwegian parliament, which is a much prettier building than ours), the National Theatre and det Kongelige Slottet (the Palace).

3- Norwegian generosity!
From what I’ve experienced, Norwegian people are lovely and friendly. And they’re also generous when it comes to students. I saved lots of money at various places like Holmenkollen, the Nobel Museum and the opera, just for looking young :) No one even bothered checking my international student card, which is a bit of a difference to here in Britain, where they analyse everything in detail trying to catch you out and stop you getting your precious 10% off. So that was nice, particularly seeing as Oslo is the most expensive city in the world and everything.


4- Narvesen shops
I know you can find them all over Norway, and I know they’re just newsagents, but still, Narvesen shops are cool! And they do good offers like hot dogs for 19 krone and pizza for 22 krone and stuff. If only we had them here…

5- Public transport
What’s so special about a few underground trains and tram lines? Well, nothing really I suppose, it’s just that in Oslo I can use them without getting confused like I would in London. For a start, there’s only 6 underground lines, which can only be a good thing. And the stations and trains never seem to be ridiculously packed like they are in London. Of course, Oslo is small enough for you to walk to most places, but just in case you’re lazy, it’s nice to know there’s a good public transport system :)



6- Dronningparken
Dronningparken is part of the Palace grounds, and it’s my favourite part of the city. It’s a nice place to sit and relax, (apart from if you get accosted by the local ducks like we did :) ),and it has very pretty little lakes.

7- Fit men
Oslo (as I assume is also the case for the rest of Scandinavia) is full of ridiculously attractive men. Which is nice. Unfortunately I have no photographic evidence of this, but just as a guideline, Oslo is where the lovely Bjørn Einar Romøren comes from, and a good percentage of the population of the city are just as sexy as him. If not sexier.


8- Anker Hotel
It’s not a particularly attractive place from the outside, and it’s certainly not in the most attractive part of Oslo either, but it’s where I’ve stayed on both occasions now, and I couldn’t imagine staying anywhere else. Fabulous service (ooh I sound old), fabulous views (now I sound even older), and the biggest breakfast buffet I’ve ever seen at a hotel!


9- Aker Brygge
Aker Brygge is where I want to live one day, it’s lovely. Very lively when the weather’s nice, but still kind of romantic on the not so nice days. There’s loads of shops and restaurants (I recommend the Albertine Bar, it’s super), and if you go round the other side and go to the top of the Akershus Fortress, there’s fabulous views of the Oslofjord.


10- Holmenkollen
Going to the top of the Holmenkollen ski jump is without a doubt, the scariest thing I’ve ever done. But it was completely worth it, the view from the top is pretty spectacular (although it would have been even better if it hadn’t have been so bloody cloudy). There’s also a ski jump simulator at the bottom, which I would have liked to try, but seeing how scared I was going to the top of the tower, simulating going down a high slope at 90mph probably would have been even worse!