Oslo - Norway

Scuzi

Scuzi

Scuzi

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Has anyone been? Can you give me a rough idea of the price of the average pint, eating out, transport etc? What about things to do, is it worthwhile spending 3 or 4 nights there?

Also, what hotels would you recommend?

Ta :)
 
I remember hearing on a program about Oslo that it was something like £3 for a pint, I know it's the most expensive place in Norway, and one of the most expensive in europe.
 
See if you can see a ballet when you're out there. My ex is in it and she's great looking ;)
 
I went there on my gap year in 2003.

Was a fair while ago so things will obviously have changed but I found the city was very nice however things weren't cheap. I do remember eating a Reindeer stew however which was pretty tasty iirc.

Can't remember exactly what we got up to however we went to the Oslo National Gallery and saw the Scream - the museum itself was pretty impressive. Also remember going to see a palace but we didn't go inside.

Went to the Holmenkollen Ski-jump which is used for international competitions. You can go right to the top of it and look down which was nice. There's also a fairly interesting ski museum there too.

Sorry for being so vague but it's a while ago now. If I can think of any more things we got up to then I'll post in here again :)
 
Oslo is bloody expensive, I would take a lot of money. In fact most of Scandinavia is like that. A curry for three of us cost about £120.
 
I can echo the comments about Norway being dam expensive, the general population just do not really drink wine for example due to the cost. I normally go each year in ski season but stay around 30 mins from Oslo so I am not sure about the hotels right in the city. As for things to do there is the Viking Ship museum and Akershus castle that might be worth a look at if you get sick of the usual city stuff. There are loads of museums in Oslo, such as the National Gallary and Munch museum as well.

I thought reindeer steak was pretty horrible.. :p
 
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Una said:
I can echo the comments about Norway being dam expensive, the general population just do not really drink wine for example due to the cost.
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This is true - drinking is done differently in Norway to the UK. People eat dinner at about 4pm, drink indoors then go out for one or two at about 11pm.

It actually makes sense doing things this way and it's far cheaper.
 
Definitely expensive. I believe you have a decent job so are probably past the student skimping way. When I went for 4 days I survived mostly on Narvesen hot dogs which go for just over £1 and can be bought in most little shops which seem to be on every street corner. You can also get cheap hostel accomodation for around £15-20 pppn.

Things to see.. As mentioned, there's the Holmenkollen slightly out of town, there's Vigeland's sculpture park which is nice for a stroll, there's the old and new palaces on each end of Karl Johans gate (<< norwegian for street). If you go to the new palace at the right time you should see the changing of the guards. If you haven't booked yet you might consider going for the 17th May which is their constitution day and they all dress up in their traditional clothes.
...And then there's all the museums too.

I think a pint was about 50NOK when I went a couple of years ago.. so probably around the £5 mark. Small note, it may have just been me going to the wrong places or this might actually be the case but I found the streets were full on Friday and Saturday night and completely dead on other nights. I didn't go to a restuarant so I can't comment on that one. Managed to get a lovely meal at some family's house though.

Anyway, hope you enjoy your trip.


Ninja edit - Transport costs - not too bad. Buses, tube etc. about 30NOK per trip or 55NOK for the whole day I think.
It's about 12NOK to the GBP

Taxis are outrageously expensive though if they're the same in Oslo as they are in the north of the country.
 
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Pretty much everything is dead expensive, usually about 50% more than over here in my experience. Paid £4 a pint in most places, some clubs were more expensive though.

Go further north, Oslo isn't as good imo :)
 
Una said:
I can echo the comments about Norway being dam expensive, the general population just do not really drink wine for example due to the cost.
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Lol, this is simply not true :p

Oslo is a fantastic city - plenty to fill 3 or 4 days worth. Its all about sitting on "Akers Brygge" with a cold "halv liter" (pint, or rather half a liter) in the sun shine whilst perving on the quite simply incredibly hot women. Norwegian women are like none other - it really has to been seen to be believed.

Holmenkollen is also awesome and gives pretty spectacular views from the top.

It is going to seem pretty expensive as a foreigner, and yes, a pint will easily be £5 and a decent meal £30 per person. I've got no idea about public transport in Oslo, but taxis are also reasonably expensive.

Its important to remember though, not that it will help you, but to Norwegian people (ie, me!) the prices are not too bad - Norwegian salaries are proportionally higher than in the UK so relatively speaking its not very expensive for Norwegians.
 
I don't know much about Norway myself, but my brother lived in Haugesund for two years and has a Norweigen girlfriend so should be quite an authority on the subject.

I'll ask him and post my findings.
 
Cool. Bergen might be a possibility then.
What languages do they speak and how is their English in case I can't get to grips with the basics? :p

The females are pretty much the main reason for picking Norway, I've heard so many good stories I thought I'd better try! :cool:
 
Scuzi said:
Cool. Bergen might be a possibility then.
What languages do they speak and how is their English in case I can't get to grips with the basics? :p

The females are pretty much the main reason for picking Norway, I've heard so many good stories I thought I'd better try! :cool:
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Everyone I ever met spoke at least basic English, and most young people are fluent. Native languages are Bokmål and Nynorsk; the vast majority of people speak Bokmål, especially down south, and it's pretty much the de facto standard.

Learn a couple of phrases if you like—you might impress the locals, heh—but it's perfectly easy to get around speaking only English.
 
robmiller said:
Everyone I ever met spoke at least basic English, and most young people are fluent. Native languages are Bokmål and Nynorsk; most people speak Bokmål, especially down south, and it's pretty much the de facto standard.

Learn a couple of phrases if you like—you might impress the locals, heh—but it's perfectly easy to get around speaking only English.
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Thanks, I'll look up a few phrases. I hate going to countries not having made an effort to try to communicate in their language, it seems ignorant to just expect them to speak our language :p
 
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