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Norway : Oslo - May 2008

Country Code: Dial for Norway

Oslo rouses itself from hibernation in May. The winter snows have finally melted, the days are getting longer and the cafés and restaurant terraces are suddenly packed with locals enjoying the first rays of sunshine. Gwladys Fouché shrugs off her parka and takes to the streets

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).

SENTRUM

Oslo’s compact city centre is a laid-back, pedestrian-friendly area with most of the city’s cultural attractions.

Sleep soundly – Nobel Peace Prize winners are put up at the sumptuous Grand Hotel.

Culture vultures – The new Opera House (1 Kirsten Flagstads Plass) is a marvel of contemporary architecture. You can even picnic on the roof and gaze down at the still waters of Oslo Fjord. Admire Edvard Munch’s The Scream at the National Gallery (13 Universitetsgata) and Damien Hirst’s pickled cow at the Astrup Fearnley Museum (4 Dronningensgate).

Must eat – Go back in time at Henrik Ibsen’s favourite hang-out, the belle epoque-style Grand Café (31 Karl Johans Gate, tel. ). Those on a budget should head to Kaffistova (8 Rozenkrantz Gata, tel. ) for meatballs and gravlax (salmon cured in salt, sugar and dill).

Must drink – Bar Robinet (7 Mariboes Gate) is a tiny retro bar tucked away down the sidestreets.

Dance the night away – Rockefeller (16 Torggata) is Oslo’s best live rock venue.

Shop til you drop – Majorstua’s main avenue is lined with boutiques like Traktøren Kjøkkenutstyr (25 Bogstadveien), a design shop that specialises in kitchenware, or Georg A Nilsen (29 Bogstadveien), Oslo’s oldest fishmonger. Nearby, interior shop Sally Ann (62 Kirkeveien) is the Salvation Army’s fair trade outpost.

GRØNLAND

This former working-class district, east of the train station, is one of the trendiest areas in the city.

Culture vultures – The Interkulturelt Museum (5 Tøyenbekken) deals with the history of Norwegian immigration and is a jewel of a museum.

Must eat – Set inside the Interkulturelt Museum, Vann og Brød (5 Tøyenbekken, tel. ) serves excellent tapas. Otherwise, tuck into good sashimi at Le Meo Sushi (10 Mandalls Gate, tel. ).

Must drink – Stargate (2 Grønland) is a great place when the sun is shining – take your drink out on the terrace.

AKER BRYGGE

The waterfront used to be Oslo’s dockyards. It’s now an upscale residential area and buzzy nightspot.

Culture vultures – The Ibsen Museum (26 Henrik Ibsens Gate) houses the lovingly reconstructed last home of the Norwegian playwright, a stone’s throw from Aker Brygge.

Must eat – Café Sorgenfri (4 Bryggetorget, tel. ) is a quirky little café with a ceiling hung full of musical instruments and toys. American diner Beach Club (14 Bryggetorget, tel. ) serves tasty burgers.

Dance the night away – Head to Lekter’n (3 Stranden) for live music and a roster of guest DJs every night in May. An open-air venue, it comes into its own during the summertime.

Shop til you drop – You’ll find shoes, clothes and gifts at Aker Brygge’s shopping centre (3B Stranden).

Compiled by Gwladys Fouché