Insight Guides Pocket Norway

Insight Guides

• Éditeur: Apa Publications
• ISBN:
  9781789192384
• Édition: 1
• Sujet: Desarrollo personal
• Sous-sujet: Viajes

Insight Pocket Guides: ideal itineraries and top travel tips in a pocket-sized package. -Brand new edition of Insight Pocket Guide Norway-Innovative extra = incredible value, and unique in the market. -High production values - fresh colour-coded design, full-colour throughout, and includes a pull-out mapContent overview:-Compact, concise, and packed with essential information about Where to Go and What Do, this is a practical on-the-move travel companion - Includes Top Ten Attractions, Perfect Day itinerary suggestions and an insightful overview of landscape, history and culture

Where To Go

From the understated charm of the white-painted villages of the southern coastline, to the stark, barren beauty of the Arctic north, Norway has a lot to offer intrepid travellers, particularly those with a penchant for the great outdoors. The cities of Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger and Trondheim are big enough to be interesting and varied, but small enough to get around and feel at home in, and even here nature is never far away. The landscape is ever-changing in a country that runs for 1,752km (1,089 miles) from north to south, encompassing mountains, forests, glaciers, lakes, tundra and, most famous of all, the Norwegian fjords.

The historic wharves on the River Nidelva, Trondheim

Getty Images

Oslo

The Norwegian capital, founded in 1048, lies on the waters of the Oslo Fjord with a bustling harbour. Mountains serve as a backdrop and the Great Outdoors never seems far away even in the centre, with its leafy parks. The main artery, Karl Johans Gate, partly pedestrianised, runs through the centre, connecting many of the major sights.

Central Oslo

With 673,000 inhabitants, Oslo 1 [map] is by far the most populous city in Norway, but the centre is compact and easy to get around. The best way to see it is on foot, and the Central Station A [map] (Sentralstasjon) makes a good starting point since this is also where you find the main tourist office. Outside the station is the start of Karl Johans Gate, affectionately known just as ‘Karl Johan’, the 1km (0.6-mile) -long main street that runs through the centre up to the Royal Palace. The first half is a pedestrianised zone, running uphill to the Cathedral B [map] (Domkirke; Stortorvet 1B; www.oslodomkirke.no; Sat–Thu 10am–4pm; Fri 4pm–6am; free) only two blocks from the station. The cathedral may appear unassuming from the outside, but it’s worth a peek inside for the colourful ceiling and stained-glass windows, designed by Emmanuel Vigeland. Surrounding the cathedral is an old bazaar dating from the middle of the 19th century. Today it’s full of quirky shops, selling trendy clothes and jewellery, and there are cafés and restaurants with outdoor seating in summer. The pedestrianised part of Karl Johan is lined with shops ranging from the tackiest of souvenir stands to designer labels.

The imposing Norwegian Parliament building

iStock

Starting at the Norwegian Parliament C [map] (Stortinget; www.stortinget.no; guided tours in English mid-Jan–mid-June and Sept–Nov Sat 10am, 11.30am; mid-June–mid-Aug Mon–Fri 10am, 1pm; free), Karl Johan becomes a wide boulevard. The parliament building has been the seat of the National Assembly since 1866, when Norway was still in union with Sweden, and it is partly open to the public. Eidsvolls Plass, parallel to Karl Johan, has lovely fountains playing in summer and an ice rink in winter. It leads down to the National Theatre (Nationaltheatret), with Oslo University (Universitet) opposite. Straight ahead at the end of Karl Johan, facing the parliament, lies the serene Royal Palace D [map] (Kongelige Slottet; www.royalcourt.no; guided tours mid-June–mid-Aug, in English daily at noon, 2pm, 2.20pm and 4pm; tickets sold online at www.ticketmaster.no or tel: [phone]; some last-minute tickets available at entrance), a large building in muted yellows with clean Nordic lines, surrounded by the abundant parklands of the Slottsparken.

Christmas market

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Rådhusplassen, in front of the City Hall and the Nobel Peace Center, plays host to a large Christmas market, selling handicrafts from all over Norway.

Across Slottsparken, another of Oslo’s main thoroughfares, Henrik Ibsens Gate, leads to Munkedamsveien, a street with stroller-friendly pavements, nice shops, cafés and bars, running down to Filipstad Brygge and Tjuvholmen, both part of an ambitious waterfront development project. Next door is Aker Brygge E [map], a former shipyard that has been completely regenerated, turning it into one of Oslo’s best places to shop, eat and drink. It houses more than 70 shops and 40 eateries from fast food to fine dining and, situated right on the harbour, is positively buzzing on summer nights. A walk along the harbour promenade offers good views over the harbour and fjord where you can pick up sightseeing boats and cruises. Not far away, on Rådhusplassen, lies the Nobel Peace Center F [map] (Nobels Fredssenter; www.nobelpeacecenter.org; 10am–6pm May–Aug daily, Sept–Apr Tue–Sun), telling the history of the prize and offering exhibits on war, peace and conflict resolution. Close by is the City Hall (Rådhuset). A short walk east is Akershus Fortress and Castle G [map] (Slott og Festning; fortress area daily 6am–9pm; free; the castle was closed for restoration at the time of writing; changing of the guards 1.30pm), a 13th-century fortress built to protect Oslo from attack. On the other, Western side of the Pipervika bay, the Fearnley Museum of Modern Art (Astrup Fearnley Museet; www.afmuseet.no; Tue–Wed and Fri noon–5pm, Thu noon–7pm, Sat–Sun 11am–5pm), located in a modern waterside building designed by Renzo Piano, presents works by such artists as Olafur Eliasson, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Charles Ray and Andy Warhol.

To the east lies another magnificent modern structure overlooking the bay the Opera House H [map], which offers a varied programme of classic and contemporary opera and ballet. Continuing northwest, Christiania Square, one of the oldest squares in Oslo, is surrounded by quaint buildings, some dating from the 17th century. Akersgata leads back to Karl Johans Gate, north of which, on Universitetsgaten, is the National Gallery I [map] (Nasjonalgalleriet; www.nasjonalmuseet.no; Tue–Wed and Fri 10am–6pm, Thu until 7pm, Sat–Sun 11am–5pm), with a great collection of works by Norwegian artists. As of 2020, the collections of the National Gallery and several other museums will be housed in the new National Museum for Art, Architecture and Design which is being constructed at the site of the former Vestbanen train station.

The 13th-century Akershus Fortress and Castle

Glyn Genin/Apa Publications

East and South Oslo

Former working-class and immigrant areas in east Oslo, such as Rodeløkka, Grünerløkka and Grønland, have become hip and happening. The most interesting is Grünerløkka, easily reached from the National Theatre by tram (trikken) No. 13, which runs right through the district. This is a place to amble, soak up the atmosphere and check out the quirky boutiques, international grocery stores, organic food shops, unusual eateries and quiet residential areas. Thorvald Meyers Gate is the main street and Birkelunden park with the Paulus Church is pleasant.

Southeast of Grünerløkka, through Sofienberg Park, past the Sofienberg Church, lies the area of Tøyen, home to some excellent museums, clustered together and surrounded by the lush Tøyenhagen Botanical Gardens. The Palaeontological, Zoological, Geological and Natural History Museums can all be found here (times vary). The gardens themselves are worth a visit, especially for the aromatic herb garden. Opposite the garden entrance lies another of the city’s best museums, the Munch Museum (Munchmus...