Oslo holidays

Oslo’s waterfront location means there’s a scattering of beaches, most of them around half an hour from the city centre. However, one of Oslo’s most popular tourist sites is Sorenga Sjobad, a manmade jetty where people go to swim and sunbathe. This popular waterfront hangout comes with shallow swimming areas and sunbathing spots.

Accessible only on foot or by bike, Paradisbukta is a remote bay on the western edge of the Bygdoy peninsula. Sugar-fine sand, clear water, and handy toilets and seating areas make it worth a visit, especially in the summer. It’s a 20-minute cycle from Oslo city centre.

Don’t leave Oslo without popping into Freia, a confectionary shop that sells treats made by Norway’s leading chocolate maker. Pick up a bar of melkesjokolade – chocolate made from Norwegian cow’s milk. There’s a range of flavours and fillings to choose from, including fudge, peanut butter, hazelnut, and caramel.

Buy something traditional in the form of bunads – the woollen national costume for men and women in Norway. These sunshine-bright outfits are often accessorised with belts and buckles, and are typically worn on state holidays, like National Day on 17th May. You can find them in Heimen Husfliden’s shops, where the outfits are handmade with techniques used since the early 1900s.

Splash the cash along Stortingsgaten, a road where high-end jewellers rub shoulders with stores selling premium leather goods. You’ll find the city’s most exclusive shops along here, including Urmaker Christensen, which sells Swiss watches that come with a hefty price tag.

If riverside evenings with a jazzy soundtrack sound right up your street, head to Bla. This club comes with a bar and restaurant, and puts on jazz acts as well as local talent and big names in the Norwegian music industry. It’s tucked up against the River Akerselva and is perfect for a drink at sundown.

If you fancy something with a bit more oomph, head to Parkteatret. This building was once one of the oldest cinemas in Europe, dating back to 1907. Today, it’s a 500-capacity music venue that’s a great bet for seeing a Norwegian music act. When there’s no music scheduled, the venue puts on cinema nights, live debates, and stand-up comedy acts.

Skolebrod is a perfect pastry snack to keep you fuelled up when you’re on the go in Oslo. It’s a type of Norwegian sweet roll that’s filled with custard, sloshed with icing, then dunked in grated coconut. The name translates to ‘school bread’, because it was usually put in school lunch boxes as a dessert.

Nothing says summer in Oslo like fresh-from-the-net prawns eaten against views of Oslo Fjord. Lots of the fisherman who catch prawns on this huge expanse of water have got cooking equipment onboard their boats. If you head to the Radhusbrygga dock area during the warmer months, you’ll be able to try the freshest prawns straight from the fjord. It’s worth stopping by a delicatessen for bread and a bit of mayonnaise if you fancy making a real meal of it.

For something traditional, try a lomper – AKA a flat bread, made the Norwegian way with potatoes, flour and a pinch of salt. These flatbreads are the size of dinner plates and can be stuffed with a sweet or savoury filling, a bit like crepes. It’s very popular in Oslo to order a hotdog with a lomper instead of a bun.

Don’t leave Oslo without a round of aquavit. Also known as the spirit of Scandia, this alcoholic beverage is distilled from grain or potatoes and tastes a bit like vodka. It’s typically served unmixed in tulip glasses, and it’s typical to say “skaal!” – or “cheers!” – before you drink it.

Finish off your foodie tour of Oslo with a dessert called tilsorte bondepiker. This traditional Scandinavian sweet treat is a bit like a trifle, made with whipped cream, apples and breadcrumbs. It’s usually served in a glass bowl. Modern takes on this dessert sometimes include caramel or vanilla sauce.