What Your Oslo-Norway Itinerary Should Include

Norway may be known for its natural resources, ski jumps and nature trails but this does not mean that the country has no “citified” sights to offer. You can probably get your fill of these kinds of sights in Oslo, the largest city in Norway and also its capital. Oslo is the seat of the current monarchy and also the center of commerce and finances in the country. It is also home to some of the largest maritime companies in the world.

One of the places that you can visit in Oslo is the Vigeland Park, an 80 acre artistic masterpiece. This is the biggest and the most popular park in the country. The park is filled with more than 200 stone and granite sculptures, spread all over the park. What is surprisingly wonderful about the park is the fact that only one person created the sculptures, Gustav Vigeland, a famous Norwegian sculptor and artist.

The park is divided into several areas: The Main Gate, which was commissioned in the 1920s; the Bridge, where the sculptor “Angry Boy” can be found; the Children’s Playground, where all the sculptures depict children at play; the Fountain with its skeletons and children in the arms of giant trees; the Monolith Plateau which houses the Monolith totem; and the Wheel of Life, which is an 850 meter long sundial.

Another must-see is the Royal Palace where the current monarch, King Harald V is residing. The palace is actually open to public viewing since 2002. One attraction in the Royal Palace is the changing of the guards, which often happens from 1:30 to 2:10 in the afternoon. In the summer, the changing of the guards is even accompanied by a marching band.

Surrounding the Royal Palace is the Palace Park, which is actually a public park. The layout of the park was made by the same architect that designed the Royal Palace, Hans Ditlev Franciscus Linstow.

Also known as the Museum Peninsula, Bygdøy is a place that art lovers will definitely marvel at. It is where the Bygdøy Royal Estate can be found. This is the official summer residences of the King of Norway. The Oscarshall Castle can also be found here.

Bygdøy has within its jurisdiction several notable museums like the Kon-Tiki Museum, which featured the expeditions of Thor and the Viking Ship Museum, which has on display items from the Vikings, most notable of which is the . There is also the Norwegian Maritime Museum and the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History.

Besides museums, Bygdøy also has lush and sinful beaches where tourists can relax. In fact, the nudist beach can be found in this area. Tourists on a holiday in Norway can also visit the St. Hanshaugen Park, a park that sits on a high hill in Oslo. There is also the Toyen Park which is right beside the Munch Museum. The Toyen has a magnificent botanical gardens.

There are lots of other sights in Norway that you can visit when you are on a holiday. Go on and drink in the beauty and history of Oslo.