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Norway : Oslo - November 2007

Country Code: Dial for Norway

It frequently snows in Oslo in November, turning the Norwegian capital into a romantic winter wonderland. The buildings are capped with snow, the surrounding countryside turns white and restaurants are warm and cosy inside. Gwladys Fouché puts on her coat to enjoy the Norwegian winter

Getting around

Gardermoen Airport is 48km north of the city centre.

Bus: A shuttle bus leaves the airport every 20 minutes, taking about 40 minutes to reach central Oslo. A single ticket costs €15/NOK 120.
Train: The Flytoget express train leaves Gardermoen airport every 10 minutes and takes about 20 minutes to reach the city. A single ticket is €20/NOK 160.
Taxi: A journey to the city centre costs approximately €70/ NOK 560 and takes about 45 minutes.
Tourist information: The main office is near Central Station in the Trafikanten Service Center, 1 Jernbanetorget (tel. , visitoslo.com).

Holmenkollen

Oslo’s highest hill is a paradise for nature lovers, especially in winter when skiers take to the great outdoors.

Sleep soundly – Holmenkollen Park Hotel Rica (26 Kongeveien, tel. , holmenkollenparkhotel.no, rooms from €180/NOK 1,395) is a red-and-yellow wooden building straight out of Hansel and Gretel.

Culture vultures – Downhill skiers can rush down the slopes of Tryvann (Voksenkollen tube station) while cross-country skiers can choose between dozens of tracks (Frognerseteren tube station). Enjoy breathtaking views of the city and the countryside by taking the No 1 tube (from any station) up the hill. Try to fit in a visit to the Holmenkollen Ski Museum (5 Kongeveien).

Must eat – Head to Frognerseteren (200 Holmenkollveien, tel. ), a beautiful wooden chalet overlooking Oslo, for apple tart and hot chocolate. Alternatively, try Holmenkollen Restaurant (119 Holmenkollveien, tel. ), which also has great views.

Torshov

Historically a working-class district, Torshov is rapidly becoming one of the most fashionable spots in Oslo.

Culture vultures – Take a stroll through the past along the Akerselva river where old warehouses sit next to airy parks.

Must eat – Set in a fantastic 1920s building, the Soria Moria Restaurant (64 Vogtsgate, tel. ) houses a great bar, theatre and cinema. For traditional Norwegian food, such as reindeer and salmon, try Oscar Braathen (2 Torshovgate, tel. ).

Must drink – The theatre and bar Trikkestallen (33 Torshovgate) used to be a 19th-century warehouse.

Shop til you drop – Foodies should head straight to Strøm-Larsen (53 Vogtsgate), a butcher’s shop that has become a local institution with specialities like its famed Christmas sausage.

Grønland

Often nicknamed ‘Little Karachi’, Oslo’s immigrant quarter has found favour with a young, fashionable crowd.

Sleep soundly – The elegant turn-of-the-century Hotel Continental (24/26 Stortingsgaten, tel. , hotel-continental.no, rooms from €165/ NOK 1,270) is situated a stone’s throw from Aker Brygge.

Culture vultures – The futuristic Nobel Peace Centre (Rådhusplassen) is dedicated to laureates of the Peace Prize. A 10-minute walk will take you to the free Nasjonalgalleriet (23 Kristian Augusts Gate) where you can admire The Scream by Edvard Munch.

Dance the night away – Cosmo (14 Ruseløkkveien) is Oslo’s top seen-and-be-seen nightclub – the kind of place where hip-hop impresarios drop in after their shows.

Shop til you drop – House of Oslo (26 Ruseløkkveien), a department store that specialises in Nordic-style interiors, is a must for any fan of Scandinavian design.

Compiled by Gwladys Fouché