Walking in Oslo
Jul 6th, 2014, 05:49 PM
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Walking in Oslo
Hello, only three weeks before we leave for Norway, and trying to figure out some last minute details. I will have an afternoon after about 2:00pm and evening to explore Oslo. Not a lot of time, I was wondering if I can manage Vigiland park and the national museum to see Munch's The Scream.are the close enough or better to travel by public transportation? Thank you for any information.
Jul 6th, 2014, 06:10 PM
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Oslo is compact and easy to manage. Remember it is summer and it is really late getting dark. I'd get my opening & closing schedules together, probably go to the museum and be sure to leave there at a predetermined time and go to the park. Public transportation is easy and what I would use. That is what we used but I didn't have to work within time limits. Enjoy. Sorry you don't have time for the waterfront and other places of interest.
Jul 6th, 2014, 07:01 PM
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The bus/tram system is really simple: ask at your hotel where the nearest stop is to take you to Vigeland Park. The stop to get off at is directly in front of the park. Also, ask which tram to take to get back closer to town. Get off the stop closest to the museum and just walk from there. We walked everywhere in Oslo, except when we took the tram to Vigeland. You are tight for time so I would suggest the same.
Jul 7th, 2014, 02:00 PM
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National Gallery is fairly central and probably walkable from hotel, closed on Mondays, open to 18:00 most days so do this first. Vigelandpark is open 24 hrs and it will be still daylight to late in the evening. Too far to walk in your timetable - use public transport travel planner at https://ruter.no/en/ will get you there. Buy tickets beforehand at Narvesen newsagents at National Theatre and other locations (ask hotel). Buying on bus/tram is expensive.
Jul 7th, 2014, 05:43 PM
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You should have no problem... we had a similar amount of time and did a pretty thorough exploration of Akershus Fortress then some minor sightseeing while walking to Vigeland Park. I actually really liked it late in the afternoon and at sundown.
Enjoy... even though we were only there for 1/2 a day, it's a favorit of mine.
Enjoy... even though we were only there for 1/2 a day, it's a favorit of mine.
Jul 9th, 2014, 11:46 AM
#9
Actually anjun, you can visit Vigeland Park and see the scream and visit The Fram and Kon Tiki.
You see your main time consuming is getting from point A to point B.
I thought you wanted to go the Munch's Museum which is a little bit further out from the "downtown " area.
Here is what I did , I hired a private guide, actually a nice taxi driver.
He drove me to the Vigeland Park and I told him to come back in one full hour...
then I had him drive me to the Bygdoy Penninsula to see the Fram and the Kon Tiki.
then on the way out after seeing the Fram and Kon Tiki, we had a short stop to see the 3 nice vessels at the Viking Ship Museum.
Also on the way out we stopped for picture taking of the Stave Church ( you want to see this).
Then I had him drop me off at the Royal Palace and from there I knew where everything along Karl Johan Gate ( the main avenue in Oslo)was.
I do not know exactly how much time you have but it is worth to pay extra to cut down on travelling time. ( I never mind paying more IF I am seeing more !!).
Let me give you a brief outline , it may help ,it may not.
1. The number ONE place to see is Vigeland Sculpture Park.
It has about 650 statues in bronze, granite and wrought iron.
It is a beautiful walk over a bridge and a wide paved walkway that is about a mile long.( it does not seem like a mile).
Admission is FREE and it is open 24 hours per day.
The best way to see the sculptures is like this:
Just walk along at a nice pace and look...if a certain sculpture strikes your fancy them walk up to it and take a picture or whatever!
The "Angry Boy" is the most photographed sculpture. He is not easy to find, so let me tell you that he is on the bridge on the LEFT hand side( about 2/3 of the way across the bridge).
Next most photographed is the Monolith( actually I think the monolith should be #1 !
The Monolith is a granite pole with 121 nude carved figures on it.
Gustav Vigeland (died in 1943)had 3 men sculpturing 13 years to complete this pole.
Oh! I forgot to tell you, all the sculptures are nude.
This is a Do NOT miss place.
2. If you go to the Bygdoy Peninsula then see the Viking Ship Museum , The Fram Museum and the Kon-Tiki ship Museum. ( if time allows you to do so)
Fram is the ship (boat) that Roald Amundsen journeyed to the South Pole in.
He was the first man to reach the South Pole
The building that houses the Fram is unique and you get to go on the Fram and take pictures and turn the steer wheel!
Right next to the Fram is the Kon-Tiki Museum.
The Kon-Tiki looks too fragile to be able to do much but Thor Heyerdahl sailed it from Peru to Polynesia in 1947 ( foolish boy!)
Also at the Kon-Tiki is the Ra ll,( made of papyrus reeds) Heyerdahl sailed this one from Morocco to Barbados. (boy oh boy!)
All the main sites you want to see are along Karl Johan Gate, so you can go at your own pace and take in all the sites.
here are some of them.
1. University Building and National Gallery(Munch's "The Scream" painting is here).
2. National Theatre (across from University)
3.Parliament Building and Park.
4. Grand Hotel (across street from Parliament).
If you pass by the Grand Hotel , just going inside the Grand Café and see this Mural on the Wall !
5.Domkirke Cathedral.
6.Finally ..The Central Train Station and Square, at the end.
You see your main time consuming is getting from point A to point B.
I thought you wanted to go the Munch's Museum which is a little bit further out from the "downtown " area.
Here is what I did , I hired a private guide, actually a nice taxi driver.
He drove me to the Vigeland Park and I told him to come back in one full hour...
then I had him drive me to the Bygdoy Penninsula to see the Fram and the Kon Tiki.
then on the way out after seeing the Fram and Kon Tiki, we had a short stop to see the 3 nice vessels at the Viking Ship Museum.
Also on the way out we stopped for picture taking of the Stave Church ( you want to see this).
Then I had him drop me off at the Royal Palace and from there I knew where everything along Karl Johan Gate ( the main avenue in Oslo)was.
I do not know exactly how much time you have but it is worth to pay extra to cut down on travelling time. ( I never mind paying more IF I am seeing more !!).
Let me give you a brief outline , it may help ,it may not.
1. The number ONE place to see is Vigeland Sculpture Park.
It has about 650 statues in bronze, granite and wrought iron.
It is a beautiful walk over a bridge and a wide paved walkway that is about a mile long.( it does not seem like a mile).
Admission is FREE and it is open 24 hours per day.
The best way to see the sculptures is like this:
Just walk along at a nice pace and look...if a certain sculpture strikes your fancy them walk up to it and take a picture or whatever!
The "Angry Boy" is the most photographed sculpture. He is not easy to find, so let me tell you that he is on the bridge on the LEFT hand side( about 2/3 of the way across the bridge).
Next most photographed is the Monolith( actually I think the monolith should be #1 !
The Monolith is a granite pole with 121 nude carved figures on it.
Gustav Vigeland (died in 1943)had 3 men sculpturing 13 years to complete this pole.
Oh! I forgot to tell you, all the sculptures are nude.
This is a Do NOT miss place.
2. If you go to the Bygdoy Peninsula then see the Viking Ship Museum , The Fram Museum and the Kon-Tiki ship Museum. ( if time allows you to do so)
Fram is the ship (boat) that Roald Amundsen journeyed to the South Pole in.
He was the first man to reach the South Pole
The building that houses the Fram is unique and you get to go on the Fram and take pictures and turn the steer wheel!
Right next to the Fram is the Kon-Tiki Museum.
The Kon-Tiki looks too fragile to be able to do much but Thor Heyerdahl sailed it from Peru to Polynesia in 1947 ( foolish boy!)
Also at the Kon-Tiki is the Ra ll,( made of papyrus reeds) Heyerdahl sailed this one from Morocco to Barbados. (boy oh boy!)
All the main sites you want to see are along Karl Johan Gate, so you can go at your own pace and take in all the sites.
here are some of them.
1. University Building and National Gallery(Munch's "The Scream" painting is here).
2. National Theatre (across from University)
3.Parliament Building and Park.
4. Grand Hotel (across street from Parliament).
If you pass by the Grand Hotel , just going inside the Grand Café and see this Mural on the Wall !
5.Domkirke Cathedral.
6.Finally ..The Central Train Station and Square, at the end.
Jul 9th, 2014, 04:08 PM
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But, she doesn't arrive in Oslo until 2pm. Do you think all this is possible when the museums start closing at 5pm (Fram)? Should she run out to the Fram first, then the Kon Tiki and Viking and then come back to Vigeland Park? How will she fit in the National Gallery in that short of a time frame? If you can fit them in, that is great, they all have they own wonderful merits.
Jul 9th, 2014, 06:46 PM
#11
I do not know michele_d,... anjun will have to find out the closure times of the places she wants to see.
Vigeland Park is always open.
And there will be longer hours of daylight.
anjun says she has from 2PM to evening,I am wondering what time in the evening ...is it until 8PM or 9 PM.
She can see The Scream first and then to Fram and Kon Tiki
and then Vigeland Park last, what ever time is left over she can walk down Karl Johan Gate or wherever.
I am assuming that she really wants to see The Scream, so I do not think she will spent an hour or two at the National Museum.
If you know the history, the Fram and Kon Tiki can be done in 30-40 minutes.
It takes 5 minutes to take a picture of the Stave Church.
I did Vigeland Park in one hour and I was not rushing, but I knew the layout of the place quite well before I walked in.
I do not know what time anjun means by "evening".
What do you think?
Does she have time to see all three places.
Vigeland Park is always open.
And there will be longer hours of daylight.
anjun says she has from 2PM to evening,I am wondering what time in the evening ...is it until 8PM or 9 PM.
She can see The Scream first and then to Fram and Kon Tiki
and then Vigeland Park last, what ever time is left over she can walk down Karl Johan Gate or wherever.
I am assuming that she really wants to see The Scream, so I do not think she will spent an hour or two at the National Museum.
If you know the history, the Fram and Kon Tiki can be done in 30-40 minutes.
It takes 5 minutes to take a picture of the Stave Church.
I did Vigeland Park in one hour and I was not rushing, but I knew the layout of the place quite well before I walked in.
I do not know what time anjun means by "evening".
What do you think?
Does she have time to see all three places.
Jul 9th, 2014, 07:34 PM
#13
Oh yes colduphere you went to Aker Brygge and sat and drank... why am I not surprised, in fact the Oslo police told me you caused a ruckus ,but that is another story. ! ( 
)
Yes I was at the waterfront also, high rent district, some Hollywood people own apartments there.
What do you think, anjun should be able to see
The Scream
Fram and Kon Tiki
and then Vigeland..... right ( ?)
)Yes I was at the waterfront also, high rent district, some Hollywood people own apartments there.
What do you think, anjun should be able to see
The Scream
Fram and Kon Tiki
and then Vigeland..... right ( ?)
Jul 10th, 2014, 05:52 PM
#14
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Wow Percy, you are very thorough. I actually have an evening when we first arrive in Oslo at the beginning of our trip. We get into Oslo at 3:30pm, for that day I was thinking by the time we get to our hotel and settle in we only have time to go to the Opera House and get dinner, but maybe I can do Vigeland that day. We depart for Copenhagen the next morning. But on our return to Oslo is when we get into town at 2:50pm and have that night and fly out next morning. We have five people so how expensive would a taxi be? I do like that idea, it takes less stress and figuring out public transportation schedules.
Jul 10th, 2014, 07:26 PM
#16
Are you going to the Opera House to see it or to see a concert?
I hope you mean the Oslo Opera House by the water.
It will be daylight until maybe 9 - 9:30 PM but I do not think you can see a concert, have dinner and then see Vigeland because you do not want to rush through Vigeland but rather do a nice stroll.
I do not know what a taxi would be as rates do change but if the share a can 5 ways it should not be that expensive.
I have seen those colourful Hop on Hop off buses but I did not use one.
I think to maximize your site seeing when you come back at 2:50 PM a taxi driver would be best , these guys also know some history also...so pick their brain.
I think this is what you should do:
1. Find out the closing time of the National Museum and then the Fram and Kon Tiki, then as time allows,
2. Go first to see the Scream
3. Then the Fram and Kon Tiki and do not forget to take a picture of the Stave Church, the taxi driver will stop the car and you get out and take a picture of this unique church.
4. Vigeland Park is last because it is always open.
5. If you do not want the taxi to come back in a good hour to pick you up , then you can take the Hop on Hop off bus which , of course, stops right at the lovely gates into Vigeland Park.
Whatever you decide, do add to this thread when you get back home and let us know how it all went.
The reason why I want you to see the Mural in the Grand Café which is inside the Grand Hotel is because there is an interesting story to it.
I hope you mean the Oslo Opera House by the water.
It will be daylight until maybe 9 - 9:30 PM but I do not think you can see a concert, have dinner and then see Vigeland because you do not want to rush through Vigeland but rather do a nice stroll.
I do not know what a taxi would be as rates do change but if the share a can 5 ways it should not be that expensive.
I have seen those colourful Hop on Hop off buses but I did not use one.
I think to maximize your site seeing when you come back at 2:50 PM a taxi driver would be best , these guys also know some history also...so pick their brain.
I think this is what you should do:
1. Find out the closing time of the National Museum and then the Fram and Kon Tiki, then as time allows,
2. Go first to see the Scream
3. Then the Fram and Kon Tiki and do not forget to take a picture of the Stave Church, the taxi driver will stop the car and you get out and take a picture of this unique church.
4. Vigeland Park is last because it is always open.
5. If you do not want the taxi to come back in a good hour to pick you up , then you can take the Hop on Hop off bus which , of course, stops right at the lovely gates into Vigeland Park.
Whatever you decide, do add to this thread when you get back home and let us know how it all went.
The reason why I want you to see the Mural in the Grand Café which is inside the Grand Hotel is because there is an interesting story to it.
Jul 10th, 2014, 07:41 PM
#18
Yes you can see the Viking Museum on the way back from the Kon Tiki.
Actually if you want to be sneaky and not pay, you can take the stairs to the second floor as you walk in , now you are looking down on all three vessels..
take a picture of the ships and leave.
But that's being sneaky. !!! shsssh !
Actually if you want to be sneaky and not pay, you can take the stairs to the second floor as you walk in , now you are looking down on all three vessels..
take a picture of the ships and leave.
But that's being sneaky. !!! shsssh !
Jul 11th, 2014, 01:56 PM
#19
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Ok I checked the times and it looks like the museums are open till 6:00pm, so I will head straight out after checking in and go there first. Then work my way to the park. I am going to the Opera house on the water just to see it, no show. Thank you all again.
Jul 11th, 2014, 03:15 PM
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Vigeland would be #1, simply unlike anything anywhere, so just take taxi to/fro up from harbor to save time; #2 would be viking museum, ongoing restoration of these magnificent vessels not likely seen elsewhere and very different (better!) than Stockholm's. Munch's Scream I have seen at MOMA & Neue Galerie (NYC, different years), then at MFAHouston when they had MOMA holdings during their (MOMA's)renovation 10 yrs ago, was docent there and was part of my tour; soooo, just know it travels frequently and can be seen elsewhere; in any event, should you decide to go see it, be sure it is hanging in Oslo!
