Oslo is the vibrant, historic capital of Norway. Although the city has pockets of the bohemian or avant garde, the Norwegians are by and large a rule-following folk, so entertainment tends to be fun, but very mainstream.

Museums

With over fifty museums in the city, a visitor can hardly avoid putting at least a few on their itinerary. The Viking Ship Museum is a good place to start, not least because it is pretty entertaining in its design – visitors literally step onboard to take in a little of Norway's warrior heritage. Another option is the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History (Norsk Folkemuseum), which tries to share the local folk-history with visitors. Although this is interesting for the anthropology, the overall impression is a little twee, and is more likely to bring to mind stereotypes of blonde Scandanavians hopping from sauna to snow than giving a well-rounded account of Norway's rich cultural heritage.

Arts

For a slice of true culture, head over to the The Norwegian Opera and Ballet (Den Norske Opera & Ballett). The dancing is truly world-class, and if you've never heard opera sung in Norwegian, you're in for a treat. The language already has a sing-song lilt, so applying it to stage-strutting sopranos and manly baritones makes for a good night out.

Cost of Living

One point to note on the subject of nights out. Norway is expensive, and Oslo doubly so. Unlike most European countries that treat alcohol as a universal human right and sell it for around the same price as bottled water, Oslo sells drinks for roughly the same price as a black-market kidney. If you like to drink, make sure you have an aperitif or ten before heading out the door – at around 100 Kroner (roughly US$17) for a double-shot of your favorite tipple, Oslo is a city full of designated drivers.

Festivals

For such a polite and tranquil group of people, the Norwegians love their heavy metal, and Oslo has more festivals devoted to the genre than any other country in the world, per capita. This is also a city that has played host to almost all the big names in music from other genres too, and hosts a number of music festivals each year. It is also an overflow and post-festival gig host for the Roskilde festival in Denmark, which draws around three hundred thousand music fans annually.

Outdoors

Just outside of Oslo it is easy to believe that the world is a pristine, clean place. Winters here produce perfect powder snow, while summer offers picture postcard green hills and umpteen thousand lakes. One of the most popular of these is Østensjøvannet, in the Nordmarka forest. The hugely efficient Oslo public transport system will get you here by bus or Metro and it is a great place for a family afternoon, especially if the kids are still entertained by feeding ducks and playing on swings. It is also free, one of the few things in Oslo that are.

Off the Beaten Path

The closest that Oslo offers to getting off the beaten path is the neighborhood of Grønland, or Little Karachi. This is where students, artists and the generally bohemian like to hang out drinking coffee and solving the problems of the world. Although everything here works with the same quiet efficiency as everywhere else in Oslo, it is refreshing to see the occasional hair out of place. This area also has some very quirky boutiques, if chain-store shopping isn't your thing.

Hotels

Hotels in Oslo, like everything else here, are expensive. Rates per night range between 640 NOK and 1100 NOK (US$112 – US$192) for a basic room. Hostels are a good option, as many of the backpackers' in Oslo offer private rooms, or rooms shared with only a couple of people, for around US$30 – US$50 per night.

Use the Hotelsio Rate Finder to find top accommodation and cheap hotels in Oslo, Norway.

(Photo:iStockPhoto/Ekely)

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