Wednesday 4 June 2008

Scandinavian Delight-Oslo

The Scandinavian countries are some of the most beautiful countries to visit in Europe . I had a chance to go there last summer.Of all the 4 Nordic Countries, the most beautiful among them is Norway. Previously known as the land of the Vikings, Norway has everything to offer,, tall mountains ,narrow deep fjords(deep creeks) and picturesque towns.

My experience began with the capital City,Oslo. Stayed there for about two nights. Its a bustling metropolis located at the head of the Oslo fjord. A well planned and neat city..not too crowded. There are many fun things to do, while you are here.

The Royal Palace with its change of guards draws a lot of crowd. Another important not to be missed is the Nobel Peace Museum. Strangely only Oslo is associated with the Peace Prize, while all the other Nobel prizes are distributed at Stockholm.The Vigeland Sculpture park and the museum is also an amazing place to see.

But the high point in Oslo is definitely the Hollmenkollen Ski Jump Tower. This Ski Jump tower is situated on a tall hill overlooking the city at the northwestern end. A nice hill train takes you all the way up there. The views you get from the top of this tower....are just brilliant. At the base of the tower, there is a ski museum which is definitely worth a visit.

These are just some of the important tourist spots that you should not miss while you are staying here.Any nature lover would definitely like this city as it is has a rugged and beautiful landscape.

Quick facts and tips:
Getting there:

Oslo has an international airport at Gardermoen ,48 km north east of the city center. Regular flights connect the airport to other major destinations like London Heathrow,Paris etc. Getting to the airport from the city center is also not a difficulty as there is a high speed rail linking the city railway station to the airport covering the distance non stop in about 20-25 minutes.
The main railway station in Oslo is Oslo SentralStasjon is at the city center. Convenient night trains are available to Stockholm and Copenhagen.

Getting Around:
The public transport in Oslo is efficient and varied, with buses,trams,and local trains connecting to most parts of the city.Most of the tourist places are located within walking distance from the main railway station.Only two spots Vigeland and Hollmenkollen are a little further away, but can be easily reached by public transport.

Food and Bedding:
As is always the case with exotic locations, Oslo is a little more expensive compared to other Scandinavian countries. Most hotels,restaurants and supermarkets are located in the city center between Oslo SentralStasjon and Royal Palace in a 3-4 km radius. I stayed at the Thon Hotel Munch. It is a decent place, good rooms, good breakfast and a little more budget. I would recommend it to anyone looking for budget hotels here.