Oslo Holidays

Norway's compact and cultured capital city may be nestled in cinematic scenery and used as a springboard to adventures in the fjords, but Oslo itself has plenty going for it.

The city has a rich history (dominated by those formidable Vikings) and an avant-garde dining scene (with a sprinkling of Michelin stars that sit happily alongside the local comfort food known as Husmannskost). There are plenty of cultural attractions, museums, and galleries found amid some pioneering, eye-catching architecture, such as the glacier-like Oslo Opera House and the timber-battened exterior of the excellent Holmenkollen Ski Museum.

Don’t leave without trying out Oslo’s urban sauna culture, where you can sit shoulder to shoulder with the locals on the floating saunas on Oslo Harbour. It’s a ritual that’s said to relax and cleanse the body (while having a chat with your fellow sauna-goers). Of course, Oslo’s nightlife is notoriously excellent, so there’s every chance of a post-sauna retox when you explore the bars and clubs around Karl Johan Street, the up-and-coming scene around Youngstoget, or at one of the rooftop bars where you can party with a view over the city.