Oslo...for one day
 

Our cruise ship will be docking in Oslo for a day and I'd like some help on planning our time. Any must see attractions? Can we do it on our own or should we take a tour? Any reliable tour companies? Would appreciate any help for planning our itinerary. Thanks.

If you are going on a cruise the Akershus Castle and Fortress may be the first thing in Oslo you'll encounter close to the harbor. An interesting sight with a 2-3 museums within the complex. The Royal Palace is a beautiful sight, the adjacent park is lovely. Down a couple of blocks from the Royal Palace is the National Museum. Of course this could be done on your own, but if you only have a day, take a tour, they know where to take you, transportation and guided visits. A word of warning, Norway is outrageously expensive, have dinner in the boat.....

If it is a nice day, go to Vigeland Park.Vigeland was a very productive sculptor and the park has handreds of his works. A little corny, but quite a site. I also love the Munch Museum. You could also visit the Viking Museum and the adjacent to that is the display of the original Con Tiki. Close by is the Open Air Museum with houses from all over Norway.

eri: I believe it's Frogner Park with all the sculpture by P. Viggeland.

If you go to the Fortress, DON'T MISS the Norwegian Resistance Museum. A must see if you have any interest in WWII at all!! It's amazing what the Norwegians did when occupied by the Nazi's.

I'm so excited. I just joined this forum yesterday and the is the first post I get to hijack :-)

In response to USNR's "correction", I feel compeled to point out that Vigeland Park was originally built seperatly from the adjacent (and older) Frogner Park. Around 1930, the scuptures from Vigeland Park started to overflow into Frogner Park.

As a practical matter, people use both names today and every one understands what you're refering to.

That said - it's a great place to visit whatever you call it.

If you see nothing else in Oslo, see the Viggeland sculpture park. It's one of the most amazing things I've seen anywhere in the world.

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Deirdré Straughan

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Don't waste your time at the Viking Ship museum in Oslo or the Vasa museum in Sweden.

If this is a Russia and the Baltic cruise it is a MUST that you see St. Isaac's cathedral in St. Petersburg.

USNR, the name of the sculptor is Gustav Vigeland. You'd better watch your Ps and Gs to stay out of trouble.

In contrast to another poster, I found both the Viking ship museum and the Vasa museum in Stockholm fascinating, particularly the Vasa.

Another vote in support of the Vasa Ship Museum AND the Viking Ship Museum; we loved both.

One suggestion:
Buy a 24-hour card on public transport.

- You could start by taking tram no. 12 from Aker Brygge to the Vigeland Park front entrance.
- Walk tru the park.
- Continue on the tram to Majorstua and change to tram no. 11 to Stortorvet and visit Glassmagasinet (The oldest shopping sentre in Oslo)
- Have a snack at one of the outdoor cafe's behind Oslo Cathedral at Stortorvet (The church next to Glassmagasinet)
- Work your way up Karl Johan to the National Theatre.
- Follow Universitetgata street to the National gallery (Behind the University.
- Then walk the street back to City Hall and end your trip at Aker Brygge or Akershus fortress close to the cruise ship dock.

On a cruise stop to Oslo, we went to the Vigeland Sculpture Park, the Viking Ship Museum, the Kon-Tiki Museum, and the Fram Museum. Liked them all, and wanted to see the Askershus complex as well, but it was a Monday, and most of the museums there were closed.

We loved the Vasa Museum in Stockholm.

Sorry, but the Vasa Museum is way overated. Yes, it is interesting to see the world's only surviving 17th century war ship (so goes the claim...), but for the life of me, I can't quiet grasp the concept than in a country with rich Viking history, a 1628 war ship made by the Dutch for the Swedes get so much hype. Again, interesting, but if you walk 5 blocks from the Vasa, the NATIONAL MUSEUM is free and the exhibits are far more interesting, rich, and have incredible Viking exhibits, including THE OLDEST FOUND VIKING SHIP IN THE WORLD.

SGF, hopefully we are not diverting too much from your travel plans in that you are getting to Stockholm as well.

In Oslo I would also recommend going to Ekeberg Hillside. Take tram no. 19 from the National theatre to Sjømannsskolen stop (the old Maritime School). Just above the station lies Café Utsikten (Café Viewpoint) with panorama view of the Oslo fjord and city. The café serve some tasty traditional Norwegian waffles with strawberry jam and Crème fraîche. The café is open from May until September and every Sunday all year. In my view this is better than going to Holmenkollen on the other side of town.

Pictures from the small coffee shop at Ekeberg:
http://www.janovebrenden.no/gallery/album03