We British are an odd bunch. At enormous expense, we’ll thankfully fly tons of of miles the world over to go to far-flung areas in Asia, Australia and the Americas. However most of us not at all suppose to take the temporary hop all through the North Sea, the place a extremely magical land of shock awaits us in Norway.
Mountains, fjords, Northern Lights, indigenous custom, whale watching and additional beckon on this land of the midnight photo voltaic, which benefits from low crime costs, nice and welcoming of us, fascinating historic previous, beautiful construction and unbelievable, thriving and culture-rich cities.
It’s good to go to a country that’s so radically completely completely different, in so some methods, from our private. Nonetheless, in spite of everything, planning a go to to Norway could also be pretty tough, notably when you consider the language barrier. For that cause, we extraordinarily advocate using the Data to Europe web page, which brings each half you wish to know into one web page.
Whether or not or not you might be reserving lodges, flights, car lease, day journeys, excursions or completely different actions, you could make sure that the information proper right here is up-to-date and proper and might give you the perfect prices. So it really is a no brainer in case you want to organise your good journey to Norway with out loads pointless faffing.
The Data to Europe web page is a one-stop retailer to plan your whole journey
That can make it easier to further, we requested native creatives for tips on visiting the nation’s two largest cities, the capital Oslo and the second metropolis, Bergen, and they also acquired right here up trumps. Study on as illustrator Viktorija Semjonova and inventive design director Steve Value give their suggestion on visiting Bergen, whereas graphic designer Silja Haddal Mork, illustrator Kristian Hammerstad and Meghan Beaton, Film Commissioner for Norway, present their insider recommendations and pointers for visiting Oslo.
In spite of everything, there’s additional to this enormous land than merely Bergen and Oslo, so for full information on visiting Norway, go to the Data to Europe web page.
Points to do
Bergen
Nordnes Sjøbad is a 25 metre salt water pool, heated to an inviting 30°C (86°F) and overlooking the ocean and mountains. It’s located in Nordnes Park, not faraway from the aquarium and inside strolling distance from town centre. All through the winter months, it’s open Tuesday (7-1), Thursday (4-9) and Saturday (10-3).
One different place to experience unbelievable views is the Fløibanen, a funicular railway that connects city centre with the Fløyen mountain. The journey to the very best, at 320 m above sea diploma, takes between 5 and eight minutes. It runs every quarter-hour, and wheelchairs and children’s pushchairs are catered for.
From October until April, the railway is open 7.30am to 11pm on weekdays and 8am to 11pm at weekends. The cafe on the excessive is on the pricey side, though, so likelihood is you will want to eat beforehand: you’ll get breakfast or brunch at Godt Brød, which is a ten minute stroll away.
For additional information and ideas to your Bergen go to, check out the right excursions and tickets in Bergen on the Data to Europe web page.
View of Bergen metropolis with elevate in Norway. Image licensed by the use of Shutterstock
Damstredet, residential area of Oslo with well-preserved wooden houses from the late 1700s and the 1800s. Image licensed by the use of Shutterstock
Oslo
You could’t come to Scandinavia with out indulging in its standard sauna custom. So regardless of the season, no go to to Norway is full with out checking any of the eclectic saunas alongside the Oslo fjord, indoors and out. For tickets and completely different information, check out the Oslo Sauna Affiliation, a non-profit whose imaginative and prescient is “sauna for the parents”.
A unbelievable place to take kids is the weirdly superior Norsk Folkemuseum, the place houses and environments from all through Norway by the ages have been taken down and rebuilt on location. You could go inside and see real outdated interiors and the way in which of us lived in Norway sooner than, from outdated farmhouses to wooden church buildings from the Viking interval to additional trendy flats. Positioned at Museumsveien 10, 0287 Oslo, it’s open 11-4 day by day.
For a definite vibe from downtown Oslo, uncover the up-and-coming neighbourhood of Tøyen, a quiet residential area recognized for its ‘inexperienced lungs’ inside the kind of the Botanical Yard and Tøyen Park, just a few minutes stroll from the sq. and tube station. On this area, Tøyen & Bar And Postkontoret are good to work from, seize lunch or just to go for a espresso.
From Tøyen, head to Kampen, which is a five-minute stroll. A ravishing area with brightly coloured wooden houses. Farine, Kampen Kaffe & Bar, and Kampen Bistro all serve lush meals and drinks – and the little flower retailer is to die for. Kampen Park is gorgeous, too. Going for a stroll on this area will gasoline your inventive inspiration. Whenever you’re lucky, you would possibly moreover catch a gig at Kampen Bistro.
Oslo Fjord in Oslo, Norway. Image licensed by the use of Shutterstock
Although it’s a massive metropolis, Oslo is close to nature, with unbelievable climbing prospects a Tube-ride away. Twenty minutes from the centre, you might be in hilly forests with small lakes, mountains and trails. One different place solely a quick bus expertise away is Ingjerstrand Harmful, a modernist bathing area and restaurant from the Thirties. One different glorious spot is Henie Onstad Kunstsenter, which host paintings exhibitions in a unbelievable developing subsequent to the Oslo Fjord. It’s a tremendous place to go for a stroll alongside the seaside. Positioned 10km southwest of city, at Sonja Henies v. 31, 1311 Høvikodden, it’s closed Mondays, open 11-9 Tuesdays and 11-5 all completely different days.
For additional information and ideas to your Oslo go to, check out the right excursions and tickets in Oslo on the Data to Europe web page.
Paintings and custom
Bergen
Searching for a gallery with a distinction? Primarily based by architect Ben Wenhou Yu and designer Yilei Wang, Northing Home is a multi-functional cultural space in downtown Bergen which promotes Norwegian paintings and custom to East Asia and the alternative strategy spherical. You could uncover it on Østre Skostredet 10, 5017 Bergen, and it’s open 1-5 on weekdays and 12-5 on Saturdays.
USF is the place to maneuver for cinema, music festivals, exhibitions and additional. Constructed on the sooner web page of the United Sardine Manufacturing facility, this enormous space is now dwelling to about 200 unbiased creatives working in paintings, crafts, music, dance, dramatic paintings, design and construction, and additional. Positioned at Georgernes Verft 12, 5011 Bergen, it’s open 11am-12midnight Friday and Saturday and 11am-11pm all completely different days.
KODE galleries, Norway’s second largest paintings museum, is a must-visit for any inventive. With 4 buildings nonetheless just one entrance ticket, you could experience masterpieces from Norwegian paintings historic previous by the likes of Edvard Munch, Harriet Backer, Nikolai Astrup and J. C. Dahl. It’s open 11am-4pm Tuesday and Wednesday, 11am-8pm Thursday, and 11am-4pm Friday to Sunday.
One different cultural landmark inside the metropolis is the Bergen Kunsthall, a latest paintings museum boasting a variety of exhibitions from worldwide and Norwegian artists. Based totally on an early functionalist developing designed by the architect Ole Landmark in 1935, it moreover choices stay exhibits and membership nights. Positioned on Rasmus Meyers allé 5, 5015 Bergen, the precept galleries are open 11am-8pm on Thursday and 11am-5pm on all completely different days.
Kode Paintings Museum and Musikkpaviljongen music pavilion in Bergen metropolis, Norway. Image licensed by the use of Shutterstock
Have to delve into Norwegian historic previous? Primarily based in 1825, the Faculty Museum of Bergen is the place to maneuver. This magnificent developing was renovated and reopened in 2019 and choices zoology, geology, botany and science historic previous. Start at The Whale Hall, the place you’ll encounter one among many world’s largest collections of whale skeletons on present. It’s on Haakon Sheteligs Plass 10, 5007 Bergen and is open 11am-5pm on Sunday and 10am-4pm all completely different days.
For additional information on arts and custom on this metropolis, check out the right cultural excursions in Bergen on the Data to Europe web page.
Oslo
Sommerro House is a fab Thirties landmark that’s merely undergone a whole refurbishment. Occupying the earlier headquarters for city’s electrical agency, this home-away-from-home boasts decadent rooms, good consuming locations and bars and Oslo’s first rooftop pool and terrace. You could uncover it in one among many metropolis’s oldest neighbourhoods, Sommerrogata 1, 0255 Oslo.
Two sensational new museums have opened in Oslo inside the ultimate 12 months. Munch Museum is an paintings museum dedicated to the life and works of the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, best recognized for his painting The Scream. Primarily based in 1963 ultimate October, it strikes to a mannequin new developing, which is a 3 minutes stroll from the Oslo Opera Dwelling at Edvard Munchs Plass 1, 0194 Oslo. It opens 10am-6pm Monday and Tuesday and 10am-9pm on all completely different days.
The Nationwide Museum of Paintings, established in 2003, moreover not too way back opened a model new developing, in June. Holding the Norwegian state’s public assortment of paintings, construction, and design objects, that’s the greatest museum inside the Nordics. Its most eye-catching attribute is the massive, illuminated exhibition hall on excessive of the developing, whereas the rooftop terrace affords a unbelievable view of the inside Oslo fjord. Positioned at Brynjulf Bulls Plass 3, 0250 Oslo, Norway, it’s open 10am-9pm, Tuesday to Sunday.
You will not have the power to study Norwegian, nonetheless the model new Oslo library, Deichman Bjørvika is such a dynamic and thrilling space, it’s nonetheless value a go to. Designed by architectural firms Lundhagem and Atelier Oslo, it covers six flooring, boasts a dangling seen design, and was named the world’s best library in 2021. It choices a whole floor dedicated to youngsters, a café, a restaurant, a cinema, and an auditorium. Positioned at Anne-Cath, Vestlys Plass 1, 0150 Oslo, it’s open from 8am-10pm on weekdays and 10am-6pm at weekends.
Vigelands Park, Oslo. Image licensed by the use of Shutterstock
The library is right all through from the gorgeous Oslo Opera Dwelling, which was constructed by the revolutionary Norwegian architects at Snøhetta. Residence of the Norwegian Nationwide Opera and Ballet, and the nationwide opera theatre in Norway, it’s a tremendous place to go to for a effectivity, a tour of the developing, or just to sit on the roof and admire the view. A 3-minute stroll from the Munch Museum, it’s located at Kirsten Flagstads Plass 1, 0150 Oslo. The grounds are open 24 hours a day, nonetheless most amenities, such as a result of the shop, bars and consuming locations, are solely open on effectivity days.
Lastly, in case you want to have the benefit of paintings inside the open air, the Ekebergparken and Vigelandsparken sculpture parks are every free to enter, all 12 months spherical. Ekebergparken is at Kongsveien 23, 0193 Oslo, and Vigelandsparken is at Nobels gate 32, 0268 Oslo.
For additional information on arts and custom on this metropolis, check out the right cultural excursions in Oslo on the Data to Europe web page.
The place to eat and drink
Bergen
NobelBopel is a snug place that could be very finest for espresso for two. Boasting a tremendous brunch plate sourced with native components, it’s positioned on Welhavens gate 64, 5006 Bergen and is open 10am-10pm on Thursday and Friday and 10am-8pm on completely different days.
Bergen Kaffe Brenneri, aka BKB, is one different glorious spot to get a drink by the water, not least on account of they make their very personal kombucha. You could uncover them on Thormohlensgt 45, Bergen 5006, open 9am-5pm on weekdays and 12pm-6pm on weekends.
Typical modern seafood in Oslo, Norway. Image licensed by the use of Shutterstock
One different wide variety in town is Blom, which has good lattes, good pastries… good each half, primarily. Positioned at John Lunds Plass 1, 5015 Bergen, it’s open 8-5 weekdays and 11-4 weekends.
Café Smakverket is among the many best areas for lunch in Bergen, otherwise you would possibly merely head there for a espresso. The whole thing’s delicious, and it’s good for folk watching too. Based totally on Rasmus Meyers allé 3, 5015 Bergen, it’s open 11am-4pm, Tuesday to Sunday.
For dinner, within the meantime, Lysverket is a Michelin-starred cope with. Proper right here, inventive Norwegian dishes pair with craft cocktails and wine in a contemporary, fashionable space. Positioned in Kode 4 (see Arts & Custom above), it’s open 6pm-11pm, Tuesday to Saturday.
Oslo
Searching for a canteen-style neighbourhood bistro based in a former intercourse retailer? In spite of everything you are! Scorching Retailer is the latest Michelin-starred addition to the thriving Norwegian meals scene. It’s located at Københavngata 18, 0566 Oslo, and opens 6-10 Wednesdays and Thursdays and 5-10 Fridays and Saturdays.
Kafeteria August is a casual restaurant and wine bar. Set in a beautifully-designed space, it serves breakfast platters, espresso inside the morning, then straightforward vegetable dishes and small plates like potato salad and beef tartare alongside wine inside the afternoon and night time. It’s located at Universitetsgata 9, 0164 Oslo: correct subsequent to the model new exterior mild arrange by design studio Void.
Bjørvika in Oslo, Norway. Image licensed by the use of Shutterstock
Searching for a energetic night? Head to Grünerløkka. One among Oslo’s hippest areas, it’s recognized for its highway paintings, trendy bars, going down dance golf tools and mellow cafes. Strategies embrace Bortenfor, Bar Boca, Aku Aku Tiki Bar and Nedre Løkka Cocktailbar. Or enterprise proper all the way down to the Tjuvholmen area and The Thief for a elaborate cocktail impressed by the paintings at Astrup Fearnley, ideally drunk from a shoe!
The place to purchase
Bergen
Heim Bryggen is a cute, tiny retailer specializing in nordic design, paintings and homeware. You could uncover distinctive objects from native and Norwegian artists and designers, along with some worldwide merchandise: a tremendous place to maneuver for presents and real souvenirs. You could uncover them at Strandgaten 25, 5014 Bergen, open 11am-5pm.
Organised by Pamflett, an artist-run, self-publishing workshop, Bergen Paintings E e-book Truthful showcases native, nationwide and worldwide artists and small press publishers. This annual event has an unbelievable atmosphere and is a must-visit for artists and avid readers. The next one occurs from 14-16 April 2023 on the Bergen Kunsthall.
Oslo
Norwegians have a saying: ‘There is no such issue as unhealthy local weather, solely unhealthy garments’. If you happen to want to be greater prepared, go to Norwegian Rain’s flagship retailer, the place you’ll uncover a top quality variety of varieties. Positioned at Operagata 75C, 0194 Oslo, it’s open 12pm-4pm on Sunday and 10am-6pm on all completely different days.
Pretty Norway. Image licensed by the use of Shutterstock
One different must-visit is Norwegian fashion mannequin Holzweiler’s flagship retailer, at Akersgata 16, 0158 Oslo, Norway. Primarily based by two siblings, this Oslo-based fashion residence objectives to make good fashion that will stand the test of time. It’s closed on Sunday, open 10am-6pm Saturday, 10am-8pm Thursday and 10am-7pm all completely different days.
Moreover holding it native is Oleana , a Norwegian textile agency established in 1992 that produces each half at our private manufacturing facility. A unbelievable place to buy a Norwegian jumper, their flagship retailer, could also be found at Stortingsgata 8, 0161 Oslo.
The best way to get the right prices in Norway!
Whether or not or not you want to book tickets and excursions, be taught additional about Oslo and Bergen, or uncover the alternative areas of Norway, the Data to Europe web page, which brings each half you wish to know into one, easy-to-navigate portal.
A recent, thrilling and useful strategy toaccess the assorted wonders of this Nordic nation, Data to Europe allows you to consider each half from flights and lodges to autos and experiences to get the right prices to your Norway journey. Furthermore, its workforce of specialists are on a regular basis available and eager to help make your travels as cosy and gratifying as doable.
