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Norway : Oslo - August 2008

Country Code: Dial for Norway

The Norwegian capital is at its best in high summer, when the locals take to their boats and cruise the city’s fjord, setting up camp on the surrounding islands, hiking in the nearby forests or heading to the parks for barbecues and picnics. Gwladys Fouché heads outside

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

Take line 1 from any station in central Oslo and within 20 minutes you’ll be surrounded by hills and lush pine woods, interspersed with lakes.

Sleep soundly – The charming woodpanelled Holmenkollen Park Hotel Rica perches 350 metres above the city, so enjoys the most fantastic views.

Culture vultures – Enjoy the great outdoors on one of the many hiking and cycling trails criss-crossing Holmenkollen (Frognerseteren or Voksenkollen T-bane stations). Don’t worry about getting lost– there are signposts and maps everywhere. If it gets too hot, simply cool off in one of the many lakes around here.

Must eat – The hiking trails are dotted with chalets serving hot drinks and open sandwiches. Otherwise, head to Frognerseteren (200 Holmenkollveien, tel. ), a typical Norwegian dark-wood chalet, or Holmenkollen Restaurant (119 Holmenkollveien, tel. ), which serves seasonal food such as pan-fried trout with chive sauce.

BYGDØY

A 10-minute ferry ride from the harbour takes you to the leafy Bygdøy peninsula, home to the city’s best museums and most expensive houses.

Sleep soundly – The quirky Norsk Folkemuseum (10 Museumsveien) has a lovingly reconstituted collection of Norwegian houses from across the centuries. Vikingskipshuset (35 Huk Aveny) holds three rare, well-preserved Viking ships from the Middle Ages. You can also board Fram, the ship used by explorer Roald Amundsen on his way to conquer the South Pole, at Frammuseet (36 Bygdøynesveien).

Must eat – When the sun is shining, head to the wonderful terrace at Lille Herbern (1 Herbernveien, tel. ), where you can enjoy fresh mussels and prawns while admiring boats cruising along the Oslo fjord. Lanternen (2 Huk Aveny, tel. ) is also right on the waterfront and has live jazz every Friday night.

AKER BRYGGE

Oslo’s regenerated dockland area is one of the best places to enjoy a pint of cool lager in the warm autumn sunshine.

Sleep soundly – Centrally located and decked out in cool, contemporary style, Thon Hotel Vika Atrium (45 Munkedamsveien, tel. , thonhotels.no, rooms from €148/NOK 1190) is perfect for business travellers.

Must eat – For dinner, try Solsiden (34 Søndre Akershus Kai, tel. ), a fish restaurant 10 minutes’ walk from Aker Brygge. Or order a juicy entrecôte or grilled salmon steak at Front (7 Stranden, tel. ).

Must drink – The waterfront is lined with bars such as The Ferryman (53 Stranden) and Bar1 (1b Stranden).

Dance the night away – Head for Åpenbar (1 Stranden), a fashionable lounge-bar-restaurant, or Cosmo (14 Ruseløkkveien), a see-and-be-seen club that’s a favourite with Jay-Z.

Shop til you drop – House of Oslo (26 Ruseløkkveien) is a mecca for Nordic design fans, with close to 20 dedicated boutiques.

GRÜNERLØKKA

Situated north of the city centre, Grünerløkka is low-key and laid-back.

Sleep soundly – The Best Western Anker Hotel is good if you’re on a budget.

Must drink – Bar Boca (30 Thorvald Meyers Gate) does the best cocktails. The kitsch Aku-Aku Tiki Bar (32 Thorvald Meyers Gate) comes complete with a hanging Polynesian pirogue.

Dance the night away – Housed in a warehouse along Akerselva river, Blå (9c Brenneriveien) plays an eclectic mix of electronica, soul, jazz and R&B.

Shop til you drop – Trabant (56 Markveien) and Fretex (51 Markveien) are good for vintage pieces. For modern designers, try Boa (50 Thorvald Meyers Gate) and Anita Leer (7b Seilduksgata).

Compiled by Gwladys Fouché