robstef

Hi everyone. Countdown to our holiday in Oslo has started. Arrive 30th June until 7th July.
Getting really worried about the constant theme of high prices in most of the posts.

Some questions. Any advice will be welcomed.
Is it possible at all to eat reasonably? How much wine can one bring into the country? As a wine lover its going to be tough to be on holiday for a week and not have a glass or three.
Can you pre-book the bus tickets from Torp into Oslo? How long does it take the bus to get there? Does the bus drop you off in centre of Oslo? We're staying at the Radisson SAS Scandinavia. Does anyone know anything about this hotel?
Is it worth buying this 3 day ticket that gets you free public ransport (2 adults and 9 y/o daughter)and access to certain touristy things?
The Norway in a Nutshell thing looks very expensive. Is it possible to get out on a boat around Oslo itself? Apologies for all the questions. Will reciprocate when we get back from Oslo.
Found the "must see" suggestions very helpful.In fact, all the threads are very helpful.
Thanks in advance

robstef

cobbie

There is a very nice tour boat that goes around the Oslo fjord. Norway in a Nutshell is worth it - do not miss it!

PalQ

As for your first question about eating reasonably - NO. Even supermarket grub costs an arm and two legs! I'd bring in as much wine as i could carry and let them confiscate it if in the rare rare chance they even check you.

tower

There are Indian, Thai, Chinese and Italian restaurants in Oslo that are appreciably more reasonable than others.
We found that even eating at Akker Brygge cafes, order one meal and a salad, plenty for two...
Don't miss the NIN...it's a trip you'll never forget or regret taking...
Stu T.

hopscotch

robstef,

How are you arriving in Norway, by land (train or auto), sea, or air? And from where?

A few months ago I was in Oslo. My first purchase was a coffee for 20 kroner. At 6.5 DK per USD that coffee cost $3.08. Then of course I had to take a pee. That cost 10 DK, $1.50. So a coffee and its consequences cost me $4.50.

Later in the morning a 33 cl (11 oz) beer cost me 46 DK, $7.08. Then a 40 cl beer cost me 58 DK at restaurant Lofoten Fiskerestaurant. I needed the beer for my pan of mussels. WORST!!! mussles I have ever had. About ten still had their beards on, it was served with the crappiest cream sauce imaginable, and there was barely a spoonful of soup. The place looks like 5 stars but it is rot rot rotten. The mussels cost 128 DK so my lunch disaster came up to 186 DK, about $28.60.

Oh, I bought a bottle of wine. It was the cheapest Burgundy I could find. That cost 77 DK, $11.86!!! The wine was to wash down my evening snack dinner, roast beef sandwiches, on the overnight train to Stockholm. Two small buns cost 16 DK and 100 g of beef cost 36.95 DK in a grocery. That beef works out to $25.81 per pound.

OK, I'm getting sick of this already. But one interesting note about hotel prices. The Hotel Scandic charges about half price on weekends. That's still way over my budget.

As for how much wine you can bring in I think it depends on where you are coming from. When I was in the Helsinki port I saw people disembarking from Tallinn with half a dozen cases of beer. They brought it off the boat on dollies.

The Scandinavian countries have always been very expensive, especially for beer, wine, and booze. Norway is a special case because they have all that oil greasing up the prices.

But go anyway and don't miss the Kon Tiki museum. It is one of the smallest museums in Europe but utterly amazing when you consider what that guy Heyerdal(sp?) did. I wouldn't go across a pond in those "boats." The Viking ship museum is also a winner. I didn't see the "must see" suggestions you mention but I'm sure some must have noted these marine exhibits.

Where is Torp? Any SAS hotel is near the head of the line. Most likely the three day ticket will be worthwhile, though I don't know anything about the Oslo version. Individual tram and bus tickets throughout Europe range from $1 to $2. Only three rides usually justifies a day ticket. Your child should be eligible for half fare. 12 yo is the usual cut-off age for children in Europe.

hopscotch

tower,

Lofoten is at Aker Brygge. I guess that two people could have been satisfied with the pan of mussels I had but I doubt it. I had a bigger portion in Lyon, France. In Lyon I had delicious moules marinere with frits and a glass of wine for €15,90. The Oslo lunch was more than 40% more expensive, and a gross disappointment.

Debs

Agree with the other posters that Olso will be pricey, so be prepared. As for the must see's, try to include a visit to the Viking Museum, Vigeland's Park (this is a statue park probably unlike anything you've ever seen before) and the MUST must see and do is the Norway In A Nutshell tour. The cost of the trip will soon be forgotten after you see what you could have missed! You CAN do this in one very long day (we did), and my regret is that we didn't break up the trip in 2 or more days, which is what I would advise anyone considering the trip. ENJOY!!

rkkwan

If you look at it this way, Norway in a Nutshell isn't that expensive:

It's NOK 1585 for NIN, roundtrip from Oslo. You ride several trains, you ride a bus, you ride a ferry. It's a 16-hour trip.

In contrast, you take the Airport Express train from airport to Central Station. It takes 20 minutes, and cost NOK 160.

You tell me, isn't NIN an excellent deal?

robstef

Hi and thanks to everyone for the replies. All very helpful in their different ways. I think we will have to do the NIN and as you say, just bring in some wine.
Certainly looking forward to the Oslo experience. Yes, have noted the must sees and they correspond with what we were thinking about.
We are flying from Scotland and arriving at Torp. Then presumably a bus into Oslo.
Thanks again everyone. Very helpful. Take care,
robstef

Viajero2

To be completely honest, do not expect reasonable prices for food in Oslo. During the daytime, there are plenty places for casual fare and pastry shops where you can buy breads, etc.., but when it comes down to dinnertime, the prices take quite the hike. As a case in point we went into a TGIF in Oslo, thinking that the menu is casual and hence the prices would be more reasonable. Wrong. A hamburger, a chicken sandwich, two sodas, and one cup of ice cream came out to over $100.

Honestly, bring in with you as much wine as you can get away with.

jbtan

Hi there, hope this reply isn't too late. Just got back from Scandinavia. And yes, it's an expensive region. For Oslo, I did the Royal Fjord Tours (with the famed Flamsbana train ride) with two-night stopover in Bergen. The train-ride from Oslo crosses many ski fields before descending to Flam. On the Flamsbana, you'll be in the tunnel most of the time; hard to take in the views. The cruise along the fjord is beautiful. Most probably can see the same from around Oslofjords. Meals are expensive; fortunately I was there on business most of the time with several days to play tourist. I made my lunch at the breakfast table itself; if you're staying at Radisson SAS, the breakfast spread should be good and well worth grabbing something for lunch. I found Subway Sandwich near the central station and that's just great. Other than that, I ate a lot of salads from 7-Eleven. Sorry, I saved my best meals for when clients were buying ;-) or at the hotel where my employee is paying (at Grand Hotel). Places to see: yes, definitely Vigeland, Bygdoy (for Kon-Tiki, Norsk Folkemuseum and Viking Ship museums), Historisk Museum and the Nobel Prize museum. Don't forget to stroll down Karl Johan's Gate and pause at the park in front of the Parliament. The 3-day pass is definitely worth the money especially when you don't have to pay for most of the museum entrance fee. Good for traveling outside of Oslo too. Have a great trip!

Heimdall

Prices: yes, they are high, but don't spoil your trip by eating polse (hot dogs) every day. If your hotel includes breakfast in the room price, pig out in the morning, and hopefully you will only need a light snack to see you through until dinner.

One night I took an evening cruise on Olso Fjord, with a prawn (shrimp) meal thrown in - one dinner taken care of. I understand you can also get cooked prawns somewhere around the docks, and eat them there. Beer is also expensive, but light beer (lett øl?) a little less so.

I thought the Olso Pass was a good deal. There are several museums on Bygdøy besides the Viking Ship Museum (Fram, Kon-Tiki, Norsk Folkemuseum), and they are all within walking distance of each other. Had I more time I would have done the NIN.

Just accept that Norway is expensive, budget for it, and have a good time.

Ozarksbill

Yes, I do have a suggestion about avoiding high prices for meals. What we did is eat heartily at the hotel breakfast smorgasbord and then grab rolls, cheese, meat, jam, etc. for lunch. Also you can grab a bite on the street, sandwiches and such.

And you will find reasonable little places in Oslo as did we: mousaka at Cafe Istanbul next to the harbor and Bacchus near cathedral and Kaffistova down Rosenkrantz gate (tradional Norwegian fare) and Politker'n at Youngstroget (where the unionist eat) and for a bit nicer Engebret Cafe across from contemporary art museum, on of the oldest in Oslo.

To see: Vigeland statues at park, Akerhus Castle, nearby Resistance Museum, walking tour of area from history museum, stroll down Karl Johan Gate (pedestrian walkway) to Royal Palace, National Art Museum despite The Scream being stolen, excursion of Bygdoy with outdoor folk museum, Viking & Kon Tiki museums, and certainly the long day Nutshell trip to Bergen since you do have a full week (if you can stay two nights in Bergen i.e.)

ozarksbill
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robstef

Once again everyone, thanks for all the advice We're off soon, credit cards at the ready!
Will post some impressions when we get back
Robstef

PrincessOfPenguins

There are lots of reasonable places to eat in Oslo... they're just not at Aker Brygge (overpriced, overrated, mediocre) or Karl Johansgate (also overpriced, overrated, mediocre). If you go to places like TGIF, then you deserve to get ripped off...

As far as wine goes, you can actually get more upscale wines cheaper in Oslo/Norway than in a lot of other countries, as the alcohol tax is based on alcohol percentage only, not on "luxury." Stay away from the cheaper stuff...

WillTravel

We had a hearty buffet breakfast where we were staying in Oslo. Then we had dinner every night at a Bengali restaurant - it was at Storgata 55 in 2003, but I don't know if it's still around. We bought a few snacks from the supermarket, but no lunch.

padams421

We were in Norway- Oslo and Bergen 2 weeks ago. We didn't think prices were that high, specially considering all of the posts about the high costs of Scandinavia. We spent much more in Switzerland.

My kids laughed so hard at the crowd at the TGI Fridays as we walked by it. They wanted to know if all those people were Europeans wanting to see how we Americans eat (which they could understand) or if they were non-adventurous Americans who couldn't live without microwaved American food (which they couldn't understand).

WillTravel

Maybe TGIF was the best option. When I was there in 2003, a New Zealander explained to me that most restaurant meals were not particularly high quality, despite the high cost. Her belief was that eating out just hadn't become part of the culture.

Anciana

Robsteff, don't mind their little side feud. Eat delicious shrimp sandwiches and fishballs with dill sauce. None of those requires wine: low alcohol beer, a Scandinavia specialty will do nicely.
And you'll have culinary memories to tell your grandchildren.

PrincessOfPenguins

TGIF is one of those "trendy" places where people go to see and be seen - it's especially popular for going out for those fancy drinks.

That Bengali place vis-a-vis Anker was shut down by the health authorities some time ago.

There are lots of good restaurants in Oslo, including 5 with Michelin stars. You won't find any of these on Karl Johansgate or Aker Brygge though.