Pops' Oslo Travel Guide

We began our day in Oslo by grabbing a croissant and coffee and walking around the city. Oslo is very clean and safe. This was in June so the weather was great with clean crisp air in the morning. It was nice walking around the older parts of the city.

 

Next we bought a ticket for the hop-on hop-off bus. When I am in a new city I like to take the bus so that I can study the lay of the city and plan where I want to get off. I usually do one circuit around the city and mark on the map places to get off and explore. On this trip, since we had limited time, we winged it. The bus took us by the Nobel Prize Center, Government Administration Buildings, several parks, the Viking Museum and the Thor Heyerdahl Museum. We got off at the Viking Museum and the Thor Heyerdahl Museum.

 

I have been to the Viking Museum in Denmark many times but I liked the one in Oslo better. I think the reason I liked the Oslo museum better was that the Viking Ships were more preserved. The Danish ships were found in the water where the Norway ships were buried in the ground. Either museum is worth the visit. Since I am fascinated by history this was a must see attraction. Outside the main building there is an area spread out over many acres where they have moved houses, shops and churches from all over Norway for display. You can walk around the buildings and some you can go into. I would highly recommend this attraction.

 

The Thor Heyerdahl Museum is dedicated to the explorations of Thor Heyerdahl. On display are the Kon-Tiki and the Ra II. Thor Heyerdahl (1914-2002) gained worldwide fame when he crossed the Pacific Ocean on Kon-Tiki in 1947. He followed this up with spectacular expeditions on the reed boats Ra and Tigris. His recreations of prehistoric voyages showed that early man had mastered sailing before the saddle and wheel were invented. His reputation as a scientist was consolidated through his archaeological excavations on the fabled, mysterious Easter Island. Curiosity was Thor Heyerdahl's driving force. Thor Heyerdahl’s archives at the Kon-Tiki Museum have now been included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World register. Whether you know of Thor Heyerdahl or not this is worth the trip.

The Thor Heyerdahl Museum is on the shore of the harbor. We had lunch there and sat outside enjoying the views of Oslo from the harbor side.

From there we hopped back on the bus and continued the circuit. In the distance you can see the ski jump Holmenkollbakken. At the end of the circuit we got off and had something to drink before walking back to the ferry. At 4pm we were back on the ferry, checked into our cabin and ready to party all the way back to Copenhagen. At 9am the next day we were back in Copenhagen.

The next time you visit Copenhagen you should plan on taking this short trip to Oslo. Not only is Oslo worth the visit but the ferry ride there and back is one big party.