I agree. That said, though, I live about an hour's drive outside of Oslo and it's one of the least favorite cities I've been to as well. For a capital city, it just isn't all that appealing.
The reason the area you visited is named Gamlebyen, or Old Town, is because that is where the city of Oslo was located all the way till the big city fire of 1624. After that the city was moved closer to Akershus castle. Gradually Oslo expanded back to Gamlebyen again, but all, or most, of the buildings there are of newer date than closer to what is today the city center. Sorry about the confusion this caused you guys...
My x-times removed cousin Germanic language has a word like gamle and it today means "rickety, ramshackle, dilapidated" (basically it could fall apart anytime soon). I cannot place the byen part. Looking in my language's etymological dictionary, I see alternative potential meanings that are not pejorative. It's simply "old world" where something called "new church" could be older than another building called "old church". Or, historical can become hysterical.
Gamlebyen was actually simply called «Oslo» while the rest of the city was called Christiania/Kristiania. When the city reverted to Oslo in 1925, it seemed silly to call a neighbourhood in Oslo, Oslo, so we called it «Gamlebyen». Very close to where you walked and got distracted by that shitty marked are one of the ruins of the 11th or 12the century cathedral of Oslo, abandoned and broken up when the Danish king Christian IV moved the town in 1624. There are other bits of the medieval town near where you were but as the other guys told you, all but the royal and relgious buildings were built with lumber and burned or rotted away. But you could have gone up to Akershus castle... thats old.
Yeah. Listen to the people in the comments. If you go to norway; visit the fjords and see the nature. We don't have the best cities, but our nature is pretty awesome
I was about to say the same. But I enjoyed the visit to Trondheim. Stayed in a small village called Fannrem at a horse farm. So quite , really no sound is akward. In Oslo only the main street up to the Palace and Kings guard.
They are not already saying that Norway is a very bad country or no nature in there. They just visit Oslo city center and didn’t like it which is quite normal since Oslo is not an amazing city. For sure they will like the nature up in the northern Norway.
As a Romanian who often travels to Norway, I think you could have done a little more research. Maybe next time, try to see it from a local's point of view
@ You been Romania? The history is unmatched. Also if you are a social traveler, the nature is diverse, food is incredible and Romanians are welcoming. Norwegians are a bit too distant, it gets dark too soon, and the dishes are bland. To each their own I guess.
@@javamurniadi6520 the town & country of Romania Are Exactly the places (in Romania) that Tourists/Visitors From Economically Developed Countries (to Romania) Should Avoid/Not Visit!!
@@javamurniadi6520 that may be. In fact, Romania is very similar to countries like Poland, or Croatia; so, tourists that liked those countries (Poland/Croatia), might, also, like Romania.
"Let's do no research at all and then complain" 😅 You literally went nowhere. I lived in Oslo and I never really go to any of the places you visited. Try to go outside the tourist areas, talk to some locals, make yourself at home, it's a much better way to travel.
I agree. I've spoken to people from Thailand, people who has been there, and tourists from many other places and they all say the same: don't go to the typical tourist places. I did fall into a couple of tourist traps, both in N.Y and Italy and those can really make you feel less for the city and have a less fantastic experience. I bought a wireless speaker at Manhattan, and it costed me three times more there, than at home in Norway. I was in Italy and had a couple of beers and some light food. We ended up paying 300nok each, for that. And that was just to have a quick bite to eat. At the other restaurants we visited the prices were so low, we felt we were stealing. So yeah, for the best experience, they must go outside the typical tourist traps. We didn't visit The Statue of Liberty because we were recommended not to, so we booked a boat tour and just passed The Statue of Liberty and when I saw all the people there I was really happy I didn't go there. If they team up with some locals here, I believe they'll get quite a good experience.
Good with an honest review. While Oslo may not be the best Scandinavian city, I do think you guys also had a bit of bad luck. Like going to a market in the summer in Oslo is not really a thing. Better with the Christmas markets. And LOL, the "old town" was definitely bad luck. You could not have known, the name has nothing to do with it being an old part of town. It simply means that is where Oslo used to be located before it burned down. The actual old part of Oslo which still exists is closer to "Akershus festning" So here are some things I think you could have done which may have changed your opinion: 1. Visit the fortress "Akershus festning," it is an actual medieval fortress, with various interesting historical museums: home front museum (resistance during WWII) and a military museum. It is also just a nice place to walk around. Me and my wife use to take a stroll around there when we lived downtown during sundays. 2. Walk all the way up the harbor area to Tjuvholmen. It is pretty cool with an artificial beach and modern architecture, and lots of interesting water things which are hard to explain. 3. Walk through the royal palace park and to the back. You get to Frogner, and old posh part of Oslo. If you are into beautiful old architecture, you would like it there. It is also is dotted with posh little restaurants and stores. 4. Go to Grünerløkka. It is sort of the hipster area in Oslo interesting places to eat drink and hang out. More variety of ethnic foods. 5. Take a fjord guided tour. Oslo is all about the fjord and surrounding nature. You will see where the whale ships of old used to anchor to deliver whale oil into big tanks. They had the barrel making factor for storing the oil and shipping it up to the rest of Oslo. There is a lot of other history, summer houses, islands people go BBQ and camping etc. 6. Vigelands park. This is a large sculpture park, which is quite different form what you find elsewhere. 7. As I said, a lot of what differentiate Oslo from other Scandinavian capitals is the surrounding nature. One cool thing to try is to take the subway straight into the forrest and go hiking between cabins. Or you could go see the Ski museum e.g. Due to the terrain, I think Oslo is probably a lot more spread out than the other Nordic capitals, so you may have to travel a bit more around to see the various parts of Oslo.
In Gamlebyen you can find the old ruins of St. Hallvardskatedralen, Clemenskirken, Olavsklosteret and Korskirken in the "Ruinpark". You can see the manor house "Oslo Ladegård" erected in 1725. You also have the old medieval Royal Estate you can visit, in the "Medieval Park". So this is very much the Old Town, maybe the Old Old town.
Walking all the way down from the top of Akerselva is nice. Also visit Mathallen at Vulkan. And walk around grunerløkka. Visit some museums is also nice, most of them aren't that expencive. There's a lot more to do tho
@@almasshussein6999 Ekerbergparken, restutant and eating places at Grunerløkka, Island hopping of the Oslo Fjord , Frogner Park, Vippa, Akerselva River, KOK Oslo (Sauna in the Oslo fjord) , Damstredet, Aker Brygge, hiking in the woods of Oslo (Oslo Marka), Karl Johan, Astrup Fearley museum, National Gallery etc
I actually don't understand, the video title seems satirical, because the city looks so nice, safe and all. the clean air there for being a huge city is just awesome. then the decent, down to earth people, I like it so much. but not everybody has good taste, values or proper judgement.
"Huge city"..well, Oslo has 700.000 inhabitants as of today, around 1mill, if you include urban area attached to the city, but outside the city boundaries. Which makes it the 4th largest city in the Nordic country, behind Stockholm, Copenhagen and Helsinki. "Good taste" is very subjective. I am a local of Oslo, but I have NO problems with the fact that the city is not for every single person on the planet..
Been following your travels for a while, and I was so happy to see that you came to my city. However, I cringed that you had mistaken Gamlebyen for a classic "old town square" like Gamla Stan in Stockholm. It was then that I knew you hadn't done your research. Love you guys but, you did Oslo wrong. I think the sprawliness of Oslo requires a local guide or a lot of research. What I like about this city is it's for people that live here and doesn't go out of its way to cater to tourists. Therefore, the attractions are skattered around in distant neighborhoods, and often a hike is involved, it gives it a more authentic feel. Did you guys even go to Vigland park on this trip? I think the best things to see and do in Oslo involve nature and quarky art. Velkommen tilbake!
As a Norwegian who loves Oslo I feel like I understand you, and at the same time disagree. Let me explain. Centralization in Europe, and especially Scandinavia, is a really big thing. Small towns are being left behind and forgotten for the big cities. But in Norway that centralization has never taken place, which means that for example all the cities and villages you will see in Norway are quite "lively" for how small the population is compared to other European cities, Oslo is like a really huge place with alot of small "village centers". Compare that to Sweden, and especially Denmark, where city-life outside of "the big citites" are practically non-existent, but in Norway it's put alot of money to keep all parts of the country lively. That is the same for Oslo, where different parts of the city can feel like different cities themselves. This also has to do with Norway being previously owned by both Sweden and Denmark (old European Military powers), and Norway just being "that backwards place with no universities" (Our first university was built in 1811, previously all university students had to travel to Copenhagen). Basically, TLDR; centralization was big in Sweden, Denmark and the rest of Europe, but never in Norway, even in city-levels.
Great explanation! Thx. I think many people desire a place that is less like city and more appreciative of nature. There are also no Nuclear power plants in Norway.
This was a really bad explanation.I agree that you party more in Norway and your villages have more lively in your villages. With that, it should also mean that it should be cheaper to buy beer and food.
@@sebastian920710 What kind of logic is that? If you're a Swede, you should know beer prices are all politics. Also centralization should give lower prices, not higher. Norway has less centralization, ergo higher prices ;) That said norwegians are rich with tons of oil, that's the main reason it's so expensive. For norwegians living in Norway the prices are according to our income. It's the outsiders who struggles.
@@TullaRask You don't seem to know much about our laws in Sweden... It is the same price for all systembolaget. But not at the pub, where they can have different prices.. If you think only the beer is expensive in Norway then you don't seem to know that much either. Since everything in Norway is expensive the food is more expensive clothes are more expensive. It is unreasonable for prices to be higher just because they have oil.Norway may have oil for 80 years until then it is over. And you can guess which country is richest even though we do not have no oil. ;)
@@sebastian920710 Å hei du, du har ikke peiling ;) Actually as a Swede you're just out to win another arguement. Last time I heard about it, Sweden had a big debt to some foreign country, while our "pensionsfond" feeds the international investments markeds.
Exactly. When we went to Olso we went to the Visitor Information and purchased a 72 hour Olso ticket that covered all transport options as well as lots of things to do and see. They took all foreign credit cards so I don't know why you couldn't buy travel tickets with a US card.
Vigeland Park was pretty cool. Filled with sculpture from Gustav Vigeland. Supposedly he donated all of his work to the city when he died and they made a park to house all of his sculptures. A bit away from city center. We used the HOHO bus to get there. The Royal Palace was also pretty cool. Glad you made it there.
If you're near the opera house, take the tram to EKEBERG park to see a park full of more subversive statues! It's also a beautiful park and a great hike.
I absolutely love Oslo. I've been there twice and have had no problem buying Ruter (their metro) and train tickets with my American credit card. I even have the app on my phone.
You say “this is our second time back in Oslo because we wanted to give it a second chance” and yet you didn’t bother to plan or research your trip but instead post a useless RUclips video moaning and whinging? Nice. Great work guys
Thumbs up to you. You are the only one in the comment section I noticed who actually provided some real info... all others just keep saying the vloggers did it wrong but no useful info whatsoever.
The reason why the area you went to is known as "old town" has nothing to do with old buildings nowadays. Old town Oslo burned down in 1624 because all the buildings were made of wood. There are a few church ruins left from that time, but you have to look for them to find them. The city was rebuilt by our then Danish king with a different name using concrete as building material and a square street structure. This new city was called Christiania and was situated close to the city fortress (Akershus Festning). If you go there there are some old buildings left and reminisces what you would think of as an Old Town, even though there has been plenty of new houses built in that area as well. Oslo is actually built like a small city, but it has grown out of its own frame, which is why it feels like a crowded small city. There are plenty of areas outside the center that are worth visiting, Majorstua, Grünerløkka, Kampen, Vålerenga, and if you like nature there are lots of hilly forests surrounding Oslo that are popular for hiking. There's plenty to be frustrated about in Oslo, but it's got a lot hidden charms that you won't see right away. Bergen has got more immediate beauty, but Oslo is actually a better place if you give it a chance.
I belive you mean stone and bricks as material, not concrete (which actually didn't become very common until the 1940s, or even the 1950s in many cases).
And by the way, your eating a kebab at Dronningen, but 300m away is Oslo streetfood hall. So much better and about the same price. Also. There is a market in Grunerløkka and Vestkanttorget every weekend.
Oslo is made up of smaller parts, truly, it's like many, smaller little places in one big city. Each of them have a different vibe and it's a perfect city to live in for that reason IMO. And it's constantly growing, so there is a lot of work happening constantly (esp the part you walked through at the beginning). The air feels very fresh compared to most city centers, big malls are nearby and accessible outside of the city, people even bathe in the middle of the center (and skate there in the winter). Markeds aren't really a Saturday thing in Oslo, save for one Saturday a month in Bogstadveien. Sunday is the big marked day (because almost every shop is closed on Sunday), esp Grunerløkka. Though there are fantastic food halls etc that feel like markeds open every day, just not... in the center. The center is basically our government buildings+palace and shopping. It's touristy. People who live in Oslo pass through there, they don't really go there except if they have a specific store to go to. We hang out everywhere else, really. If you'd bought a metro/bus ticket you could have taken all of those boats down at Aker Brygge with that card (there are region zones and so if you go outside of it, you just add a payment for that to your already bought card, but the zone is pretty wide) and gone so many places. "Island hopping" ending up at Bygdøy/Viking Museum. Could have taken the metro up to Holmenkollen, jumped on a buss or a trikk to Grunerløkka. Gone to Frogner with its parks and shopping and just for a nice place to walk around, honestly. St Hanshaugen, Bislett, the Botanical Gardens near Tøyen are all great. In the back of Aker Brygge you would find Tjuvholmen which is full of life. You also missed Akershus Festning which is seated just above Aker Brygge where you were, which is the oldest, most preserved part of Oslo really. There are so many parks around the city, and it's so easy to get around with trikk or bus or metro. You'll sadly miss a lot if you don't have any money to spend when you're traveling because Norway's expensive (though fair IMO for those of us who live her, we get by). But the city is so full of good food places now, the best pizza in the city (they say) is like 100m from where you ate those kebabs. BTW, you can still buy bus tickets with cash if you had that. At any kiosk at least (i can't remember if you can use cash at the stands anymore, most Oslo people just use the app). Plus, mastercards etc should work. And you obviously missed the biggest free thing in Oslo - Frognerparken. No admission, and gorgeous grounds. Plus, Vigeland, the park full of statues. It's perfectly alright not to like it, of course, but I feel a little sad that you didn't get to have a good experience when it so is easy. I'm biased because I love the city and I wish someone could have advised you better, provided some tips and tricks for your visit. So that it felt more like you actually got to see Oslo, and not just Karl Johan and its nearby surroundings. I hope if you try again that you have someone that can help you out. :)
At 2:05 you walked by the construction site for the new railway line. Archaeologists have been digging up buildings, streets and objects that are over a thousand years old there. Now THAT'S the old town. ;)
Its totaly cool you dont like Oslo, but to not like a place you have to actully see it first and I am sorry to say you guys did not see Oslo. And on a beautiful day like that, you missed out big time! But as some said in the comments you have to understand how the city is build. And I dont understand how you couldt get a ticket, I know friends and air bnb folks stayed in Oslo and they all got their tickets just fine.
Did you hike down Akerselva from the north? Grill in the sun in one of the parks at Grünerløkka? Take a late night drink at Blå with local patron bands? Sunbathe and bathe at Sørenga after a bouldering session at the DNT center followed by the world's best Wasabiburger at Bun's Burger bar? By the way you use an app for tickets (any transport), those should take any card when you register. I don't think you contacted any locals before this visit... oh well
Just a heads up about public transport tickets. Most people in Oslo now use the Ruter app on their phone. It accepts all European Union bank/creditcards. The security settings on US cards do not allow for use here (you often see US visitoris signing their receits because they do not have a pin code), however the app also allows the use of PayPal. Do a little research before arriving in Oslo and you will find that all major kiosks like Narvesen, 7-Eleven, Mix and Deli De Luca sells physical tickets. You can buy a travelcard (50kr) and top it up with cash (single trip 36kr), 24 hrs (108kr), 7 days (285kr) or 30 days (750kr) adult prices. Children and above 67 are half price, children pay from 6 and travel free with their parents on Saturdays and Sundays. Ticket prices on the app are the same, minus the cost of the card, single and 24 hr tickets are available on free throw away cards. Norway is expensive, a high cost country, import most of what we need, subsidise what we think we HAVE to produce our selves, but our wages are high, taxes low compared to lets say Denmark. Ok, so some say a pint of beer is 20-30 kr more expensive in Norway than Denmark, yes but 100 DKK is 133 NOK and the Norwegian beer is taxed 24% pr litre not 4% but the Norwegian pays 34% income tax and the dane 50%. Remember the price of alcohol in Norway is set to punish Norwegians for being unhealthy. «You want to be a burden on your country and be drinking and enjoying yourself? Well, here’s the bill in advance». Its the nanny state punishing its citizens and you, the visitor, get caught up in it I’m afraid. I wish there was a visitor price, but it would be mis-used fairly quickly I’m sure! Love your videos from this Nordic trek, I was recently in Tampere and yeah... what a treat!
Ok, let me explain the public transport in Oslo because it's the most genius thing ever. First, there are three ways to buy tickets and at least two of them work both with cash and most Visa cards. The red mashins in most large stations, just click on the screen and follow directions. The ofice in the central station. It's right outside the main entrance. In the huge clock tower. Or download the ruter biletter app (card or vipps only). Its 104 nok for a 24h ticket and this ticket let's you go on all public transport within Oslo. Subway, buses, trams, trains and the city island ferries. If you are going outside the city borders, you need a 35 nok extra ticket, but most people dont.
Glad you guys are being honest and not making out it was better than what it was! We need more honest guides like this to help potential visitors know whether it's going to be their cup of tea or not. Thanks for sharing guys! 👌
Hoenst is fine, but a travel guide should be that.. And unfortunatly they didt actully see Oslo.. Non of it actully.. Which is both funny and a little sad.. Especialy since its second visit..
I heard that Oslo is unimpressive many times. They are not the first or the last. So do try convince that they didn’t research enough and it is their fault they didn’t like it. Many people don’t like Oslo and find that Stockholm, Sweden is better for a Scandinavian big city.
@@barbgtravels Stockholm is a better big city, but a totaly diffrent kind of city.. But that dosent mean they actully saw Oslo ;) as I said, you dont have to like it, everybody got their taste, but then you have to see it.. Unless they have an whole other viedo they didt show on purpose with good stuff, they didt see it..
@@barbgtravels I live in this city and has done for 20 years. There is a lot to see here, but you need to walk or travel a bit. They didn't see a thing.
One of the reasons you didn't "vibe" with Oslo is because you apparently didn't do any solid research. It's ok to not do what all the other tourists are doing, but come on, it looks like you're just wandering blindly around with no plan whatsoever. You could go to freakin Rome and just wander blindly around and end up not experiencing what it truly has to offer and come home and say "damn, Rome isn't vibing with us, it sux!" 😒
??? Apart from Rome being flooded with a trillion tourists, how can you not like Rome? It's a wonder of the world and just walking around between over 2000 year old buildings should amaze anyone. Did this video show most of the places you went to and did you go other places the first time you went here? At least in this video you didn't visit any significant attractions.
@@WAYAWAYWithAsh you went to gamlebyen "old city", a graveyard and Aker Brygge. To me it just looks like you didn't actually try to find the sweet spots and just concluded it didn't "vibe" with you because you started in the wrong end. Any city in the world will end up not "vibing" with you if you just stumble in with no solid preparation.
Thanks for your honesty, but for myself I found Oslo to be my favorite city. Yes it's expensive, but the people are beautiful and nice to me. The city is beautiful and there's a lot of neat places all over the city to see.
Oslo needs time to grow on you, but when it does, it's a very good place to be....and this is coming from a guy who grew up in Bergen. I love both cities, but I'm never leaving Oslo.
I am not saying this to be rude but all Norwegian cities are the same, decelate with a lack of things to do and the buildings are factory like and mostly not inviting, and people are too shy to ever come in contact with. And this is from a Dane living in Trondheim....But Norway has SOOOOO much more to rave about than stupid cities, I mean who travels from one city to another to actually see the city, Norway is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever been too, and this makes up for the lack of cosiness in the cities, and ones you get to know the norwegian people, they are actually really cool and friendly..So Norway thank you for hosting me during my bachelor. Trods alt elsker danskernes deres broderland Norge, og til helvede med de Svenskere...*LOL*
Saturdays are NOT the market day in Oslo. It's Sunday. Gamlebyen is NOT the same as an old town many other countries - due to being occupied by different countries at different times. However, what you should have looked for, was the medieval ruins. Not sure where in Oslo you stayed, but there are other areas where you can do shopping as well, like Grünerløkka and Grønland. As for public transport, you could easily gotten tickets at the the central train station. It seemed to me that you hadn't done a lot of research before coming here. You should maybe contact locals and ask how to do the city cheaper as well as where to go, what to see, and learn a bit about the culture.
Oslo is incredibly amazing, their nature is one the most inspiring experience you’ll ever encounter. Listen and feel their nature and laid back kind of living. Oslo is not like NYC and London which are loud and overwhelming, but definitely it is the most beautiful and calming city in the world.
I enjoyed taking the subway to Holmenkollen. I don’t think I ever been on any subway ride like that. Steep climbs, cute houses, nice views and very small stations (all above ground). And at Holmenkollen there’s a zipline from the top so you can sort of experience the speed and thrill of ski jumping... ⛷ When we were at the royal palace we read that the flag on the roof top is changed depending on if the king is in the country or not. Looks like he was within Norway’s borders when you were there. 😊
Hahaha yes I have distinct memories of when we had a few Nordic exchange students staying at our Australian farmhouse they were out on the lawn area sunbaking most of the summer 😄 I love the European appreciation of sunshine!
I lovee Oslo, but i feel like it is a great place to live in, but maybe not visit, at least not without a lot of research! I also think that Grünerløkka, which is kind of the hipster area in Oslo would be fun for you to visit! We also have a ton of interesting museums, some og which are free, and you should also have visited the folk museum, which is a place full of old buildings, moved to bygdøy, which creates this old villagy feel, with buildings from hundreds of years ago, to buildings built only a couple of years ago. So fun!! Anyways, enjoy the rest of Norway!
The thing about traditional Norwegian buildings is that they're mostly made of wood and *not* stone. The problem with wooden buildings is that they burn... So the "old city" of Oslo burned down in 1624 (but that's still the area where the old city used to be there). Here in Trondheim and in places like Bergen and Kristiansand however there's still a lot of the old wooden buildings standing. Still, every now and then wooden buildings burn down. Here in Trondheim for instance we had a city fire fairly recently that burned down several of the old downtown wooden buildings, so the best preserved wooden buildings in Trondheim are no longer in the downtown area but rather the old workers quarters outside the downtown areas in places like the hills of "Bakklandet" east-southeast of the city center and the wealthier areas further from the city at the top of the hill.
I've been there in Norway last week. I stayed in Bergen 4 days, then I did the Norway in a nutshell and I arrived to Oslo where I stayed other 4 days... I found Bergen a cool place but maybe too much for tourists and really expensive.. And Oslo... cheaper, I loved it!!😍
Im from norway , and im from a city two hours away from Oslo, and i dont like Oslo at all. But there’s alot of other nicer places than just Oslo in norway:)
You are doing Norway wrong 😊 Next time you travel there, go north - way north, Lofoten Islands, Tromsø and Kirkeness are the place to be. And do spent a little time to get to know some of the amazing people in Norway. But Bergen and the trip there and back are truly beautiful.
yeah this particular trip to Norway was based around a rail trip through the nordics and we had to come south to get over to Norway from Sweden :/ BUT the north sounds SO lovely!
Aaah, so sorry you didn't like it! As a receptionist at a hotel in the city senter of Oslo I feel obliged to help you out :))) I can understand Oslo could be a bit tricky compared to the other big cities in Scandinavia - we are a bit different. If you ever decide to give Oslo a third chance you should visit Grunerløkka! You should find your way over Akerselven to the street Markveien and just follow this street up to Olaf Ryes Plass and Birkelunden, you find yourself the essence of Oslo. This is more like the urban part of Oslo with good shops, both modern and second hand. You also have lots of places to eat and go out for drinks. Here you can also find pop-up markets - but usually during the spring and early summertime. From this part of the city you can find your way back over the river Akerseleven over to "Vulkan" through the street Telhusbakken - up to St. Hanshaugen and then Bislett. In my opinion this is where "it happends" in Oslo. While you are in Oslo you should of course also get yourselves up to Holmenkollen (this is free, beside the public transportation tickets), visit the Vigelandpark (also free) and maybe also the museums at Bygdøy. Tickets for public transportation you can buy at any kiosk in town (like 7/11 and Narvesen, and at the tourist information senter at Aker Brygge).
it's so sad that you guys didn't have the chance to have a local guiding you. And yeah you started to explore the city from a very odd place, Günnerløkka would of been the best way to start the day. instead of the royal palace.
@@WAYAWAYWithAsh I'd bet if you tried contacting some Norwegians on here, some or most would probably lend you a spare room for some days. And at the same time give you good times. Like a bit of local hiking, fishing, take a trip out on the sea. Help you see what a real local party looks like. Or whatever you want. Most of us are really welcoming. I know quite a few around here in the southern part of Norway. Myself i live between Grimst and Arendal.
Oslo is expensive; we skipped it this time but when exploring other Norwegian cities, not alot of the old city os left in certain places, you have to wonder off ;)
I don't know if you have. If not, you gotta come to Tromsø in the north! If you like nature, northern lights or midnight sun. If you wanna see northern lights, come in the late fall or winter time, October-March. December is really cozy tho, with the Christmas streets. The summer, June-August is also very nice, with beautiful light & midnight sun. September is usually also summer, but getting a bit darker at night. I love Tromsø in winter, especially December to February. Its cold, crisp & snowy. Tromsø is not the place for you if you like the city life. Its for nature lovers, photographers who wants cool shots bc of all the beautiful light and colors on the sky, snow lovers, or people who likes mountains and hikes. Its worth it when you reach the top. 🤭 Fjellheisen is the most popular tourist attraction. I personally like to hike up there, its not that far up. But you have to take the "Fjellheis" (tranalated to mountain elevator) up at least once just bc its so unique. 🎉 The view from Fjellheisen is stunning, especially if there's midnight sun. I personally love the night life on Fridays and Saturdays here. There's a lot of small pubs and bars which I love, with a cozy atmosphere, and a few "clubs" for those who love to dance. On Heidi's you can dance on the wooden tables. 😂 Been there done that... 🍻
1,952nd view, 231st like and 92nd comment. I appreciate your honesty, some travel and food channels I watch are just constantly gushing how wonderful everything is. Once you found the popular spots your enjoyment grew. Everywhere has its positives and negatives. I have really been enjoying this series, thank you for sharing and continued safe travels.❤️😃
I have to say, I am pretty sad that you guys didn't like Oslo as I have been there a few times and loved it everytime! There is some amazing sea fronts, churches, architecture and whatnot that I ran into as an american who lived in Britain for 8 years I seemed to really jive with the area, so maybe you didn't get to see all the right places or meet the right people? Or maybe the pricing just got you down? Not sure... But hey, glad you gave it another shot? My hubby and I went there every year to a Christian Metal festival, called Nordic Fest and hung out with some amazing people, so now I always have this amazing connection that way, so it also might just be a community connection thing? Not sure, but still love you guys and your vids
I agree with you. I made a trip to Norway last month, visited Trondheim, Ålesund, Geiranger, Bergen, Stavanger, Oslo etc. and Oslo was the least nice town in my opinion. Bergen is definitely number one.
Ive been living in oslo since 1982. Before that on the countryside in beautiful Telemark. Im totally agree. When i came to live futher out from the city of Oslo, it all is so much better. By the way Sweden and Stockholm is Awsome. 😊 You should go there instead. And yes.. what you say is totally true.
I wonder how many of those who gave you thumbs up are actually from Oslo?.. LOL. PS: I`m a local myself, although I wasn`t born here. There are some places in Oslo that I find totally un-interesting, and other places that I visit again and again. PS: I totally understand that the PRICES in this city are a bit too high for many foreigners. But it is doable also on a low budget. More info for instance on www.visitoslo.no
How you missed most of the interesting things is puzzling. Do you travel without guidebooks or a phone? Point of fact, the public transit does work with American credit/debit cards. I have traveled all over the world and spent a fair amount of time in Cape Town, Milan, London, and the Caribbean and have lived in major us urban areas (Bay Area, Chicago). Oslo, where I am currently living imo is a world class city, it's a shame missed it somehow.
I liked Oslo! Though it did totally help that we 1) chose a spot near Mathallen so we could get pies every day and 2) visited during Matstreif and ate most of our food there. (And they had Rørosmat ice cream!) Here's hoping you find a city you love even more than Oslo soon?
I admire your willingness to just explore without doing much (any?) research. But when you do that, you run the risk of missing so much. Talk to the locals! One of the benefits of staying in a hotel instead of an Air B&B is their expertise in the local scene. It’s sad because even from the little I know about Oslo, I know you missed so much.
A friend lives in Oslo and said it's more about local neighborhoods/boroughs/communities than about the city as a whole. Though this person does present the "social media" facade and tries to make it seem like Oslo is an awesome place. But everything I've seen in my research says to temper expectations.
Take the overnight sleeper train from Oslo to Bergen. Bergen is a picturesque small walkable city. On the way back try to stop halfway and get out and see the countryside. Oslo should be your starting point to go to the rest of Norway. Hope you will have a better experience in the countryside. Take care and Happy Travels!
Why didnt you take the ferry out to one or several islands in the oslofjord? Its one of the best thing to do a hot summerday. It cost the same as the bus or tram, same ticket.
"The Old town" is just where the old town used to be, pre 1624. The town burnt down and was resettled on the other side of the bay, sheltered by the Akershus fortress. There is nothing left of it except some Church ruins.
I remember your first time there ( i recall you checking out the opera house ) and how it didn't exactly win you over. What makes you guys a winning team (one of several things) is the way you're honest without being harsh. Critical but fair. And cool that your day was wrapping up on a more positive note😁
The one thing I can see from this video, is a lack of energy in that city. No loud boisterous people, street performers, music etc. Even how the people are walking; they are so orderly and almost saunter along. European cities are normally so lively outside, in the summer. Not sure if that might be a part of why you didn't click with the place, but that really stood out to me.
Yes, you really nailed it there....Oslo is mellow compared to the zoo that European cities become in the summer. Even eastern European cities can be more of a festival during summer.Karl Johans street might be the one obvious gathering place but it's really just a shopping strip.
Thank you for being honest! Some u tube vloggers say every place is amazing and that just can't be the case. Every country or city won't vibe with everyone. I watch these videos to plan my trips so real feedback is important. Another reason to love the Way Away!
I used to live in Oslo for a year, and i agree with your opinion that Oslo is one of the Scandinavian cities that I like the least. People in Oslo are busy, introverted, but if you go a few kilometers outside the city people are quite different, very friendly and hospitable and the northern part is a completely different story. I even heard several times that people from Oslo don't like those from outside the city and vice versa
I have been a local in Oslo now for 30 yrs, but I was born on the south coast. I don`t think that people in Oslo are more introverted than many other cities in Norway, personally I am more extraverted, I chat with tourists on the streets quite often, if I see them standing there with a city map, looking complete lost. I think it is a myth that people from Oslo don`t like those from outside the city, I think it all boils down to personal chemistry, what they have in common (if something at all). Also, you should take into concideration that quite a few people living in Oslo have migrated from other parts of the country, AND many other countries as well. I have heard, however, that some people from small places around the country have a somewhat negative attitude towards Oslo, maybe it is because it is the capital, and this is where the government sits. But I have heard similar stories from other countries, like the UK. A guy from up north talked about London in the same way, it was to him a "completely other world", where he didn`t want to live. Personally, I DO like Oslo (of course there are interesting places, and not-so-interesting places, but anyone can do the research on for instance www.tripadvisor.com), no intention of leaving soon. But I also love cities like Copenhagen, Antwerp, Auckland and Hamburg, for instance.
Tips for where and when to travel in Norway. Oslo and south east along the Oslo fjord; best time is may to august. Mostly dry and warm weather. Oslo is the biggest city and have a lot to offer for shopping, art exhibitions, concerts and parks. Going south west and west you can visit Norway's second largest city, Bergen. Renting a car and driving along the coast will let yoy experience deep fjords and tall mountains. Best time are june to September. The snow normally melts in june, so hiking in the mountains earlier can be difficult. Further north you can visit the third lsrgest city Trondheim. Best time will be in the summer. Good for shopping and culture, like festivals and other culture arrangements. If you want extremely beautiful nature you have to go north. Best time will be desember to april if you want snow and northern lights. But also July and August is nice. You can also visit Svalbard which are an artic archipelago not so far from the north pole. The summer months are good for boat trips. The sun will never set in the summer. The best time is late winter and early spring. The sun will be back and the snow hasn't yet melted. Go with snowmobiles and you will have the best experience in your life. Be aware of polar bears. The largest land living predator in the world. Do not travel alone without a large caliber weapon. Happy travel :)
I live in Oslo, but western and northern Norway are the places to go. Old town, or Gamlebyen in norwegian, is called that just because the original medieval Oslo was founded here, but nothing is left of it since it was almost entirely built in wood and burned down many times, only one church was built in stone and even that one is a ruin at best (only the foundations are left of it). The oldest buildings are now in "Kvadraturen" arround the Akershus Fortress, from the new founding of the city in the 1600's, then called Christiana before later called Oslo again in the 1920's.
I live in Oslo and will never in my life move to another place even though Norway has many incredibly nice cities. There are not many places in Norway where you can ski 25 minutes from the city center in the wilderness or at the same time lie on a beach in the summer! It is unbelievable that tourists do not check the price level in Norway and save money before they come here! Save money, explore Norway without comparing prices with your home country! Ridiculous to listen to!
if I had been a tourist, and I went to these places, I´d be pretty bored too - Oslo is great, you just have to visit the right places - if you ever come back, visit Grünerløkka, St. Hanshaugen (and Telthusbakken), Frogner, Bygdøy, and Folkemuseet:))
If you Come to Oslo with empty pockets, then no wonder you’re not enjoying it. It is known Norway is expensive, so maybe save up before you visit? I have traveled the world, but would never live anywhere else than Oslo.
I been to Akerhus fortres just yesterday and I like it becouse of its simplicity and older design. Be it in Denmark it would have been rebuild into something robust and impressive but becouse it is in Norway which used to be poor for ages it has kept many of its older and simpler elements. What you want to see in Oslo is probably the Bygdoy area with museums, as you point out take a walk around the seafront from Opera house to Akerhus and Aker brygge, take boat through Oslo fjord, see the Munch museum and perhaps head up to Holmekolen... Also do not mind spending a "little bit" extra for food and drinks. Its sickly but it makes you appreciate the service wherever you come from more...
Seems as though they have compared Oslo’s Hard Rock Cafe withe that of the rest of the Scandinavian cities they “visited” (they’ve been in) and decided that this one doesn’t have the same vibe... Oh well.
As a Norwegian I agree that everything is unreasonably expensive here, but it makes me sad that it made you not buy ice cream and other stuff you wanted. Maybe your experience would have been better? Even though, or rather because everything is expensive, we get paid a lot to be able to afford living in Norway. So when we travel abroad we all of a sudden are super rich! So I am not complaining. Sorry again about that. 😂
How expensive is it, compared to Stockholm or Köpenhamn? (I haven't been to Oslo since I was a kid in the early 1970s. At that time it was pretty reasonable prices, of course.)
You didn't really see the most beautiful places in Oslo. I would never take someone to city centrum or the oprah or anywhere you guys went really, if I wanted to show someone what Oslo is about :-) If you take the metro out of centrum there is SO much beautiful nature and lakes.. Im sorry you guys missed it ;(
You guys definitively got it all wrong. For starters; wrong Airbnb too far away from the city centre (cheapo deal?..), then a long walk through the trashiest part of the Old Town.. You should have figured you were doing something wrong when you saw no other people around on a saturday.. Next time do better research.. And don't travel on a low budget to Scandinavia...
Oslo is a city that took a long time to grow on me. It cannot compare in many ways to Bergen, Stockholm, Copenhagen or smaller petite Norwegian towns like Ålesund. All of those are just amazing cities, and should be the place to go for tourists. Often, I honestly feel sad when I see all the foreign tourists who goes to Oslo - knowing that if they came for Norwegian nature, they went the wrong place, and if they came for a cool Nordic city, they went to the wrong place. But as I spent more time in Oslo - years, in fact - I got to see some sides of Oslo which really makes it now one of my favourite cities. Not ideal for the average tourist, I'd still recommend against going there. But, it has some it's charm. One of them is just doing what the Norwegians do; chill in parks. Norway is too expensive to go out to do stuff - Norwegians very rarely goes out to eat - so just buy a disposable grill, something to grill, a couple of beers and chill out in a park with the locals. Sometimes the best thing to do, is to do nothing. Another thing locals love to do, is to head out to the woods outside of Oslo. Take a train, a subway or a bus all the way to the woods and start hiking, either for a days walk, or stay in a DNT cabin(which are really affordable, mostly unmanned and maintained with non-profit work). These cabins will have an old well or a creek as only water source, and no electricity - which is part of the charm. Candle lights for lighting, and an old stove for heat source, and gas for cooking. Just be prepared that you might have to share the cabin if the season is busy, be respectful and considerate, and clean up after yourself. And for some more good advice about enjoying Oslo without spending half a year of wages, you aught to find some local students and ask them. This is how I discovered the summer park life, and all-year hiking.
Well its not weird when they only go to shit tourist traps and no interesting and cool places like, Grünerløkka, Vigelandsparken and all the street art and foodhalls, or holmenkollen
![Oasis - Oasis Live '25 [Official Trailer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gol_JnuEtKM/mqdefault.jpg)
You literally went all the wrong places
So true !
Oslo is awsome tho
I agree. That said, though, I live about an hour's drive outside of Oslo and it's one of the least favorite cities I've been to as well. For a capital city, it just isn't all that appealing.
@@DillaryHuff Kjenner ingen som har flyttet hjem fra Oslo etter studiene sine.
True. Still - If you want to really see Norway - then dont go to Oslo. Go everywhere else. (Yes I live in Oslo). :)
The reason the area you visited is named Gamlebyen, or Old Town, is because that is where the city of Oslo was located all the way till the big city fire of 1624. After that the city was moved closer to Akershus castle. Gradually Oslo expanded back to Gamlebyen again, but all, or most, of the buildings there are of newer date than closer to what is today the city center.
Sorry about the confusion this caused you guys...
My x-times removed cousin Germanic language has a word like gamle and it today means "rickety, ramshackle, dilapidated" (basically it could fall apart anytime soon). I cannot place the byen part. Looking in my language's etymological dictionary, I see alternative potential meanings that are not pejorative. It's simply "old world" where something called "new church" could be older than another building called "old church". Or, historical can become hysterical.
flippak spot on!
Gamlebyen was actually simply called «Oslo» while the rest of the city was called Christiania/Kristiania. When the city reverted to Oslo in 1925, it seemed silly to call a neighbourhood in Oslo, Oslo, so we called it «Gamlebyen». Very close to where you walked and got distracted by that shitty marked are one of the ruins of the 11th or 12the century cathedral of Oslo, abandoned and broken up when the Danish king Christian IV moved the town in 1624. There are other bits of the medieval town near where you were but as the other guys told you, all but the royal and relgious buildings were built with lumber and burned or rotted away.
But you could have gone up to Akershus castle... thats old.
@@jpdj2715 Gamle, or gammel, comes from the old Norse word gamall. Byen, or by, comes the old Norse word býr.
Yeah, well - perhaps a little research could have solved that problem (even though it was their 2nd visit to Oslo).
Yeah. Listen to the people in the comments. If you go to norway; visit the fjords and see the nature. We don't have the best cities, but our nature is pretty awesome
For sure the natural beauty is amazing!
I was about to say the same.
But I enjoyed the visit to Trondheim. Stayed in a small village called Fannrem at a horse farm. So quite , really no sound is akward.
In Oslo only the main street up to the Palace and Kings guard.
but there is a pretty cool amusement park like 20 min from downtown, called Tusenfryd, that would have helped..
They are not already saying that Norway is a very bad country or no nature in there. They just visit Oslo city center and didn’t like it which is quite normal since Oslo is not an amazing city. For sure they will like the nature up in the northern Norway.
@@muharremaslan3508 That's literally the same thing we are saying
No museums, no art galleries, you wasted your trip! There is lots to see and do in Oslo!
As a Romanian who often travels to Norway, I think you could have done a little more research. Maybe next time, try to see it from a local's point of view
Why would you go to Norway? Romania is a more pleasant country to be imo esp the countryside
@ You been Romania? The history is unmatched. Also if you are a social traveler, the nature is diverse, food is incredible and Romanians are welcoming. Norwegians are a bit too distant, it gets dark too soon, and the dishes are bland. To each their own I guess.
@@javamurniadi6520 the town & country of Romania Are Exactly the places (in Romania) that Tourists/Visitors From Economically Developed Countries (to Romania) Should Avoid/Not Visit!!
@@mariusmatei2946 Hey its better than Bulgaria lol
@@javamurniadi6520 that may be. In fact, Romania is very similar to countries like Poland, or Croatia; so, tourists that liked those countries (Poland/Croatia), might, also, like Romania.
"Let's do no research at all and then complain" 😅 You literally went nowhere. I lived in Oslo and I never really go to any of the places you visited. Try to go outside the tourist areas, talk to some locals, make yourself at home, it's a much better way to travel.
I agree. I've spoken to people from Thailand, people who has been there, and tourists from many other places and they all say the same: don't go to the typical tourist places. I did fall into a couple of tourist traps, both in N.Y and Italy and those can really make you feel less for the city and have a less fantastic experience. I bought a wireless speaker at Manhattan, and it costed me three times more there, than at home in Norway. I was in Italy and had a couple of beers and some light food. We ended up paying 300nok each, for that. And that was just to have a quick bite to eat. At the other restaurants we visited the prices were so low, we felt we were stealing. So yeah, for the best experience, they must go outside the typical tourist traps. We didn't visit The Statue of Liberty because we were recommended not to, so we booked a boat tour and just passed The Statue of Liberty and when I saw all the people there I was really happy I didn't go there.
If they team up with some locals here, I believe they'll get quite a good experience.
Lucky Charm ou do the Statue of Liberty much better if you on the Free ferry to Staten Island 👍
Anders Hanche Aasmundsen talk to some locals? They are hostile!!!!
@@royhaukedal3264 Not my experience at all.
Don't be offended by their opinion of your capitol, little flower
To bad you didn't se Grünerløkka, that's a place in Oslo with lots of parks and little stores and 2 hand stores and more "Old Town" like..
Good with an honest review. While Oslo may not be the best Scandinavian city, I do think you guys also had a bit of bad luck. Like going to a market in the summer in Oslo is not really a thing. Better with the Christmas markets.
And LOL, the "old town" was definitely bad luck. You could not have known, the name has nothing to do with it being an old part of town. It simply means that is where Oslo used to be located before it burned down. The actual old part of Oslo which still exists is closer to "Akershus festning"
So here are some things I think you could have done which may have changed your opinion:
1. Visit the fortress "Akershus festning," it is an actual medieval fortress, with various interesting historical museums: home front museum (resistance during WWII) and a military museum. It is also just a nice place to walk around. Me and my wife use to take a stroll around there when we lived downtown during sundays.
2. Walk all the way up the harbor area to Tjuvholmen. It is pretty cool with an artificial beach and modern architecture, and lots of interesting water things which are hard to explain.
3. Walk through the royal palace park and to the back. You get to Frogner, and old posh part of Oslo. If you are into beautiful old architecture, you would like it there. It is also is dotted with posh little restaurants and stores.
4. Go to Grünerløkka. It is sort of the hipster area in Oslo interesting places to eat drink and hang out. More variety of ethnic foods.
5. Take a fjord guided tour. Oslo is all about the fjord and surrounding nature. You will see where the whale ships of old used to anchor to deliver whale oil into big tanks. They had the barrel making factor for storing the oil and shipping it up to the rest of Oslo. There is a lot of other history, summer houses, islands people go BBQ and camping etc.
6. Vigelands park. This is a large sculpture park, which is quite different form what you find elsewhere.
7. As I said, a lot of what differentiate Oslo from other Scandinavian capitals is the surrounding nature. One cool thing to try is to take the subway straight into the forrest and go hiking between cabins. Or you could go see the Ski museum e.g.
Due to the terrain, I think Oslo is probably a lot more spread out than the other Nordic capitals, so you may have to travel a bit more around to see the various parts of Oslo.
In Gamlebyen you can find the old ruins of St. Hallvardskatedralen, Clemenskirken, Olavsklosteret and Korskirken in the "Ruinpark". You can see the manor house "Oslo Ladegård" erected in 1725. You also have the old medieval Royal Estate you can visit, in the "Medieval Park". So this is very much the Old Town, maybe the Old Old town.
THIS. Perfect introduction to the good parts of Oslo
Thanks for the information!!!
When I go to Oslo I like to take the local train up to Holmenkollen or Frogneseteren on the Mountain where you can get some good views of Oslo.
you did oslo completely wrong
think you did oslo completely wrong, think you need to do more research
You didn`t visit the best spots in Oslo. You gotta do more research guys, next time you visit :)
Like what??
Which are the best spot we need to know.
Walking all the way down from the top of Akerselva is nice. Also visit Mathallen at Vulkan. And walk around grunerløkka. Visit some museums is also nice, most of them aren't that expencive. There's a lot more to do tho
Botanisk hage and Vigelandsparken
@@almasshussein6999 Ekerbergparken, restutant and eating places at Grunerløkka, Island hopping of the Oslo Fjord , Frogner Park, Vippa, Akerselva River, KOK Oslo (Sauna in the Oslo fjord) , Damstredet, Aker Brygge, hiking in the woods of Oslo (Oslo Marka), Karl Johan, Astrup Fearley museum, National Gallery etc
I actually don't understand, the video title seems satirical, because the city looks so nice, safe and all. the clean air there for being a huge city is just awesome. then the decent, down to earth people, I like it so much. but not everybody has good taste, values or proper judgement.
"Huge city"..well, Oslo has 700.000 inhabitants as of today, around 1mill, if you include urban area attached to the city, but outside the city boundaries. Which makes it the 4th largest city in the Nordic country, behind Stockholm, Copenhagen and Helsinki. "Good taste" is very subjective. I am a local of Oslo, but I have NO problems with the fact that the city is not for every single person on the planet..
Been following your travels for a while, and I was so happy to see that you came to my city. However, I cringed that you had mistaken Gamlebyen for a classic "old town square" like Gamla Stan in Stockholm. It was then that I knew you hadn't done your research. Love you guys but, you did Oslo wrong. I think the sprawliness of Oslo requires a local guide or a lot of research. What I like about this city is it's for people that live here and doesn't go out of its way to cater to tourists. Therefore, the attractions are skattered around in distant neighborhoods, and often a hike is involved, it gives it a more authentic feel. Did you guys even go to Vigland park on this trip? I think the best things to see and do in Oslo involve nature and quarky art. Velkommen tilbake!
I went to Compton, Westside and Inglewood in Los Angeles, so now I know that Los Angeles suck.
As a Norwegian who loves Oslo I feel like I understand you, and at the same time disagree. Let me explain.
Centralization in Europe, and especially Scandinavia, is a really big thing. Small towns are being left behind and forgotten for the big cities. But in Norway that centralization has never taken place, which means that for example all the cities and villages you will see in Norway are quite "lively" for how small the population is compared to other European cities, Oslo is like a really huge place with alot of small "village centers".
Compare that to Sweden, and especially Denmark, where city-life outside of "the big citites" are practically non-existent, but in Norway it's put alot of money to keep all parts of the country lively.
That is the same for Oslo, where different parts of the city can feel like different cities themselves.
This also has to do with Norway being previously owned by both Sweden and Denmark (old European Military powers), and Norway just being "that backwards place with no universities" (Our first university was built in 1811, previously all university students had to travel to Copenhagen).
Basically, TLDR; centralization was big in Sweden, Denmark and the rest of Europe, but never in Norway, even in city-levels.
Great explanation! Thx. I think many people desire a place that is less like city and more appreciative of nature. There are also no Nuclear power plants in Norway.
This was a really bad explanation.I agree that you party more in Norway and your villages have more lively in your villages. With that, it should also mean that it should be cheaper to buy
beer and food.
@@sebastian920710 What kind of logic is that? If you're a Swede, you should know beer prices are all politics. Also centralization should give lower prices, not higher. Norway has less centralization, ergo higher prices ;) That said norwegians are rich with tons of oil, that's the main reason it's so expensive. For norwegians living in Norway the prices are according to our income. It's the outsiders who struggles.
@@TullaRask You don't seem to know much about our laws in Sweden... It is the same price for all systembolaget. But not at the pub, where they can have different prices.. If you think only the beer is expensive in Norway then you don't seem to know that much either. Since everything in Norway is expensive the food is more expensive clothes are more expensive. It is unreasonable for prices to be higher just because they have oil.Norway may have oil for 80 years until then it is over. And you can guess which country is richest even though we do not have no oil. ;)
@@sebastian920710 Å hei du, du har ikke peiling ;) Actually as a Swede you're just out to win another arguement. Last time I heard about it, Sweden had a big debt to some foreign country, while our "pensionsfond" feeds the international investments markeds.
I think it's a good idea to go to Tourist Information when you get to a new city. Better luck next time!!
Exactly. When we went to Olso we went to the Visitor Information and purchased a 72 hour Olso ticket that covered all transport options as well as lots of things to do and see. They took all foreign credit cards so I don't know why you couldn't buy travel tickets with a US card.
Vigeland Park was pretty cool. Filled with sculpture from Gustav Vigeland. Supposedly he donated all of his work to the city when he died and they made a park to house all of his sculptures. A bit away from city center. We used the HOHO bus to get there. The Royal Palace was also pretty cool. Glad you made it there.
Oh that sounds cool! Wish we had seen it
@@WAYAWAYWithAsh Oh yes, those are intense sculptures. You might think they are rough but they are so very expressional. A masterpiece.
Yeah, that park is weird lol
@@WAYAWAYWithAsh wait, whaaaaa??! You went to Oslo without going to the Vigaland Sculpture park??? How does that even compute?
If you're near the opera house, take the tram to EKEBERG park to see a park full of more subversive statues! It's also a beautiful park and a great hike.
I absolutely love Oslo. I've been there twice and have had no problem buying Ruter (their metro) and train tickets with my American credit card. I even have the app on my phone.
You say “this is our second time back in Oslo because we wanted to give it a second chance” and yet you didn’t bother to plan or research your trip but instead post a useless RUclips video moaning and whinging? Nice. Great work guys
You guys missed the Kon Tiki museum that highlights all of Thor Heyerdahls great expeditions including Ra 1 and 2
Thumbs up to you. You are the only one in the comment section I noticed who actually provided some real info... all others just keep saying the vloggers did it wrong but no useful info whatsoever.
And the viking museum with the boats , and the skanzen in Bygdøy with the old buildings. Munch museum.Barcode buildings....etc...etc..
The reason why the area you went to is known as "old town" has nothing to do with old buildings nowadays. Old town Oslo burned down in 1624 because all the buildings were made of wood. There are a few church ruins left from that time, but you have to look for them to find them. The city was rebuilt by our then Danish king with a different name using concrete as building material and a square street structure. This new city was called Christiania and was situated close to the city fortress (Akershus Festning). If you go there there are some old buildings left and reminisces what you would think of as an Old Town, even though there has been plenty of new houses built in that area as well. Oslo is actually built like a small city, but it has grown out of its own frame, which is why it feels like a crowded small city. There are plenty of areas outside the center that are worth visiting, Majorstua, Grünerløkka, Kampen, Vålerenga, and if you like nature there are lots of hilly forests surrounding Oslo that are popular for hiking. There's plenty to be frustrated about in Oslo, but it's got a lot hidden charms that you won't see right away. Bergen has got more immediate beauty, but Oslo is actually a better place if you give it a chance.
Ah that's a GREAT explanation! Thank you! I think Oslo would be a great place to have a friend show you around in.
I belive you mean stone and bricks as material, not concrete (which actually didn't become very common until the 1940s, or even the 1950s in many cases).
@@herrfriberger5 Yes, you're right. Even not everyone could afford that, they allowed some citizens to build with timber framing with added bricks.
And by the way, your eating a kebab at Dronningen, but 300m away is Oslo streetfood hall. So much better and about the same price. Also. There is a market in Grunerløkka and Vestkanttorget every weekend.
Ahhhhh! Wish we had known about the Streetfood hall!!
Oslo is made up of smaller parts, truly, it's like many, smaller little places in one big city. Each of them have a different vibe and it's a perfect city to live in for that reason IMO. And it's constantly growing, so there is a lot of work happening constantly (esp the part you walked through at the beginning). The air feels very fresh compared to most city centers, big malls are nearby and accessible outside of the city, people even bathe in the middle of the center (and skate there in the winter). Markeds aren't really a Saturday thing in Oslo, save for one Saturday a month in Bogstadveien. Sunday is the big marked day (because almost every shop is closed on Sunday), esp Grunerløkka. Though there are fantastic food halls etc that feel like markeds open every day, just not... in the center. The center is basically our government buildings+palace and shopping. It's touristy. People who live in Oslo pass through there, they don't really go there except if they have a specific store to go to. We hang out everywhere else, really.
If you'd bought a metro/bus ticket you could have taken all of those boats down at Aker Brygge with that card (there are region zones and so if you go outside of it, you just add a payment for that to your already bought card, but the zone is pretty wide) and gone so many places. "Island hopping" ending up at Bygdøy/Viking Museum. Could have taken the metro up to Holmenkollen, jumped on a buss or a trikk to Grunerløkka. Gone to Frogner with its parks and shopping and just for a nice place to walk around, honestly. St Hanshaugen, Bislett, the Botanical Gardens near Tøyen are all great. In the back of Aker Brygge you would find Tjuvholmen which is full of life. You also missed Akershus Festning which is seated just above Aker Brygge where you were, which is the oldest, most preserved part of Oslo really. There are so many parks around the city, and it's so easy to get around with trikk or bus or metro.
You'll sadly miss a lot if you don't have any money to spend when you're traveling because Norway's expensive (though fair IMO for those of us who live her, we get by). But the city is so full of good food places now, the best pizza in the city (they say) is like 100m from where you ate those kebabs. BTW, you can still buy bus tickets with cash if you had that. At any kiosk at least (i can't remember if you can use cash at the stands anymore, most Oslo people just use the app). Plus, mastercards etc should work. And you obviously missed the biggest free thing in Oslo - Frognerparken. No admission, and gorgeous grounds. Plus, Vigeland, the park full of statues.
It's perfectly alright not to like it, of course, but I feel a little sad that you didn't get to have a good experience when it so is easy. I'm biased because I love the city and I wish someone could have advised you better, provided some tips and tricks for your visit. So that it felt more like you actually got to see Oslo, and not just Karl Johan and its nearby surroundings. I hope if you try again that you have someone that can help you out. :)
The place where you ate at the end “aker brygge” is one of the most expensive places in Norway.
At 2:05 you walked by the construction site for the new railway line. Archaeologists have been digging up buildings, streets and objects that are over a thousand years old there. Now THAT'S the old town. ;)
That would be cool to see!
Its totaly cool you dont like Oslo, but to not like a place you have to actully see it first and I am sorry to say you guys did not see Oslo. And on a beautiful day like that, you missed out big time! But as some said in the comments you have to understand how the city is build. And I dont understand how you couldt get a ticket, I know friends and air bnb folks stayed in Oslo and they all got their tickets just fine.
I used cash when I was there to buy tickets so they should of done that
Did you hike down Akerselva from the north? Grill in the sun in one of the parks at Grünerløkka? Take a late night drink at Blå with local patron bands? Sunbathe and bathe at Sørenga after a bouldering session at the DNT center followed by the world's best Wasabiburger at Bun's Burger bar? By the way you use an app for tickets (any transport), those should take any card when you register.
I don't think you contacted any locals before this visit... oh well
Just a heads up about public transport tickets. Most people in Oslo now use the Ruter app on their phone. It accepts all European Union bank/creditcards. The security settings on US cards do not allow for use here (you often see US visitoris signing their receits because they do not have a pin code), however the app also allows the use of PayPal. Do a little research before arriving in Oslo and you will find that all major kiosks like Narvesen, 7-Eleven, Mix and Deli De Luca sells physical tickets. You can buy a travelcard (50kr) and top it up with cash (single trip 36kr), 24 hrs (108kr), 7 days (285kr) or 30 days (750kr) adult prices. Children and above 67 are half price, children pay from 6 and travel free with their parents on Saturdays and Sundays. Ticket prices on the app are the same, minus the cost of the card, single and 24 hr tickets are available on free throw away cards.
Norway is expensive, a high cost country, import most of what we need, subsidise what we think we HAVE to produce our selves, but our wages are high, taxes low compared to lets say Denmark. Ok, so some say a pint of beer is 20-30 kr more expensive in Norway than Denmark, yes but 100 DKK is 133 NOK and the Norwegian beer is taxed 24% pr litre not 4% but the Norwegian pays 34% income tax and the dane 50%. Remember the price of alcohol in Norway is set to punish Norwegians for being unhealthy. «You want to be a burden on your country and be drinking and enjoying yourself? Well, here’s the bill in advance». Its the nanny state punishing its citizens and you, the visitor, get caught up in it I’m afraid. I wish there was a visitor price, but it would be mis-used fairly quickly I’m sure!
Love your videos from this Nordic trek, I was recently in Tampere and yeah... what a treat!
Ok, let me explain the public transport in Oslo because it's the most genius thing ever.
First, there are three ways to buy tickets and at least two of them work both with cash and most Visa cards. The red mashins in most large stations, just click on the screen and follow directions. The ofice in the central station. It's right outside the main entrance. In the huge clock tower. Or download the ruter biletter app (card or vipps only).
Its 104 nok for a 24h ticket and this ticket let's you go on all public transport within Oslo. Subway, buses, trams, trains and the city island ferries. If you are going outside the city borders, you need a 35 nok extra ticket, but most people dont.
Thora Risan not to mention most convenience stores sell tickets!
Glad you guys are being honest and not making out it was better than what it was! We need more honest guides like this to help potential visitors know whether it's going to be their cup of tea or not. Thanks for sharing guys! 👌
Hoenst is fine, but a travel guide should be that.. And unfortunatly they didt actully see Oslo.. Non of it actully.. Which is both funny and a little sad.. Especialy since its second visit..
Maybe they should be honest about not really making an effort as well.
I heard that Oslo is unimpressive many times. They are not the first or the last. So do try convince that they didn’t research enough and it is their fault they didn’t like it. Many people don’t like Oslo and find that Stockholm, Sweden is better for a Scandinavian big city.
@@barbgtravels Stockholm is a better big city, but a totaly diffrent kind of city.. But that dosent mean they actully saw Oslo ;) as I said, you dont have to like it, everybody got their taste, but then you have to see it.. Unless they have an whole other viedo they didt show on purpose with good stuff, they didt see it..
@@barbgtravels I live in this city and has done for 20 years. There is a lot to see here, but you need to walk or travel a bit. They didn't see a thing.
One of the reasons you didn't "vibe" with Oslo is because you apparently didn't do any solid research. It's ok to not do what all the other tourists are doing, but come on, it looks like you're just wandering blindly around with no plan whatsoever. You could go to freakin Rome and just wander blindly around and end up not experiencing what it truly has to offer and come home and say "damn, Rome isn't vibing with us, it sux!" 😒
Haha, it's ironic because we also didn't like Rome too much either!
??? Apart from Rome being flooded with a trillion tourists, how can you not like Rome? It's a wonder of the world and just walking around between over 2000 year old buildings should amaze anyone.
Did this video show most of the places you went to and did you go other places the first time you went here? At least in this video you didn't visit any significant attractions.
@@WAYAWAYWithAsh you went to gamlebyen "old city", a graveyard and Aker Brygge. To me it just looks like you didn't actually try to find the sweet spots and just concluded it didn't "vibe" with you because you started in the wrong end. Any city in the world will end up not "vibing" with you if you just stumble in with no solid preparation.
Thanks for your honesty, but for myself I found Oslo to be my favorite city. Yes it's expensive, but the people are beautiful and nice to me. The city is beautiful and there's a lot of neat places all over the city to see.
Oslo needs time to grow on you, but when it does, it's a very good place to be....and this is coming from a guy who grew up in Bergen. I love both cities, but I'm never leaving Oslo.
I am not saying this to be rude but all Norwegian cities are the same, decelate with a lack of things to do and the buildings are factory like and mostly not inviting, and people are too shy to ever come in contact with. And this is from a Dane living in Trondheim....But Norway has SOOOOO much more to rave about than stupid cities, I mean who travels from one city to another to actually see the city, Norway is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever been too, and this makes up for the lack of cosiness in the cities, and ones you get to know the norwegian people, they are actually really cool and friendly..So Norway thank you for hosting me during my bachelor. Trods alt elsker danskernes deres broderland Norge, og til helvede med de Svenskere...*LOL*
Ja damn, den må ha lagt langt langt inne. Ikje vær dag man hører det 😂
Saturdays are NOT the market day in Oslo. It's Sunday.
Gamlebyen is NOT the same as an old town many other countries - due to being occupied by different countries at different times. However, what you should have looked for, was the medieval ruins.
Not sure where in Oslo you stayed, but there are other areas where you can do shopping as well, like Grünerløkka and Grønland.
As for public transport, you could easily gotten tickets at the the central train station.
It seemed to me that you hadn't done a lot of research before coming here. You should maybe contact locals and ask how to do the city cheaper as well as where to go, what to see, and learn a bit about the culture.
this is the perfect example of what NOT to do when visiting oslo
Love it when travel vloggers are being honest than faking enjoyment. Keep up the great work.
Oslo is incredibly amazing, their nature is one the most inspiring experience you’ll ever encounter. Listen and feel their nature and laid back kind of living. Oslo is not like NYC and London which are loud and overwhelming, but definitely it is the most beautiful and calming city in the world.
I enjoyed taking the subway to Holmenkollen. I don’t think I ever been on any subway ride like that. Steep climbs, cute houses, nice views and very small stations (all above ground). And at Holmenkollen there’s a zipline from the top so you can sort of experience the speed and thrill of ski jumping... ⛷
When we were at the royal palace we read that the flag on the roof top is changed depending on if the king is in the country or not. Looks like he was within Norway’s borders when you were there. 😊
That looks nice to me!!
Hahaha yes I have distinct memories of when we had a few Nordic exchange students staying at our Australian farmhouse they were out on the lawn area sunbaking most of the summer 😄 I love the European appreciation of sunshine!
Hehe, I guess when half the year is cold and dark you've gotta take advantage
I lovee Oslo, but i feel like it is a great place to live in, but maybe not visit, at least not without a lot of research! I also think that Grünerløkka, which is kind of the hipster area in Oslo would be fun for you to visit! We also have a ton of interesting museums, some og which are free, and you should also have visited the folk museum, which is a place full of old buildings, moved to bygdøy, which creates this old villagy feel, with buildings from hundreds of years ago, to buildings built only a couple of years ago. So fun!! Anyways, enjoy the rest of Norway!
The thing about traditional Norwegian buildings is that they're mostly made of wood and *not* stone.
The problem with wooden buildings is that they burn...
So the "old city" of Oslo burned down in 1624 (but that's still the area where the old city used to be there).
Here in Trondheim and in places like Bergen and Kristiansand however there's still a lot of the old wooden buildings standing.
Still, every now and then wooden buildings burn down.
Here in Trondheim for instance we had a city fire fairly recently that burned down several of the old downtown wooden buildings, so the best preserved wooden buildings in Trondheim are no longer in the downtown area but rather the old workers quarters outside the downtown areas in places like the hills of "Bakklandet" east-southeast of the city center and the wealthier areas further from the city at the top of the hill.
I've been there in Norway last week. I stayed in Bergen 4 days, then I did the Norway in a nutshell and I arrived to Oslo where I stayed other 4 days... I found Bergen a cool place but maybe too much for tourists and really expensive.. And Oslo... cheaper, I loved it!!😍
Im from norway , and im from a city two hours away from Oslo, and i dont like Oslo at all. But there’s alot of other nicer places than just Oslo in norway:)
I think Aker Brygge is one of the most expensive places in whole of Oslo.
You are doing Norway wrong 😊 Next time you travel there, go north - way north, Lofoten Islands, Tromsø and Kirkeness are the place to be. And do spent a little time to get to know some of the amazing people in Norway. But Bergen and the trip there and back are truly beautiful.
yeah this particular trip to Norway was based around a rail trip through the nordics and we had to come south to get over to Norway from Sweden :/ BUT the north sounds SO lovely!
You DID however find the Mack beer 🤣 its from Tromsø, the place you want to be based out of if you want to do the aurora winter version of Norway.
Haha... Kirkenes lol.. yea thats the place to be..
yes go to Karasjok in february. so fun
Vesterålen is just as good as Lofoten , it just isnt as well known
Aaah, so sorry you didn't like it! As a receptionist at a hotel in the city senter of Oslo I feel obliged to help you out :))) I can understand Oslo could be a bit tricky compared to the other big cities in Scandinavia - we are a bit different.
If you ever decide to give Oslo a third chance you should visit Grunerløkka! You should find your way over Akerselven to the street Markveien and just follow this street up to Olaf Ryes Plass and Birkelunden, you find yourself the essence of Oslo. This is more like the urban part of Oslo with good shops, both modern and second hand. You also have lots of places to eat and go out for drinks. Here you can also find pop-up markets - but usually during the spring and early summertime.
From this part of the city you can find your way back over the river Akerseleven over to "Vulkan" through the street Telhusbakken - up to St. Hanshaugen and then Bislett. In my opinion this is where "it happends" in Oslo. While you are in Oslo you should of course also get yourselves up to Holmenkollen (this is free, beside the public transportation tickets), visit the Vigelandpark (also free) and maybe also the museums at Bygdøy.
Tickets for public transportation you can buy at any kiosk in town (like 7/11 and Narvesen, and at the tourist information senter at Aker Brygge).
it's so sad that you guys didn't have the chance to have a local guiding you. And yeah you started to explore the city from a very odd place, Günnerløkka would of been the best way to start the day. instead of the royal palace.
Yeah I think having a local guide would make it much better!
I'm guessing you haven't watched "YourWay2Norway" channel??? You get the rundown on what REAL Norwegians do...is so funny!!
No! Haha, sounds like we could have taken some advice! :p
I second that.😄
YourWay2Norway is in my opinion (as a norwegian) the best, most truthfull and humouristically most accurate guide to Oslo and the norwegian mindset.
Gayle Arnold love that channel!
@@WAYAWAYWithAsh I'd bet if you tried contacting some Norwegians on here, some or most would probably lend you a spare room for some days. And at the same time give you good times.
Like a bit of local hiking, fishing, take a trip out on the sea. Help you see what a real local party looks like. Or whatever you want.
Most of us are really welcoming. I know quite a few around here in the southern part of Norway. Myself i live between Grimst and Arendal.
Hi remember me? You visited me on a farm in Norway 3 years ago❤😍
Oslo is expensive; we skipped it this time but when exploring other Norwegian cities, not alot of the old city os left in certain places, you have to wonder off ;)
I don't know if you have. If not, you gotta come to Tromsø in the north! If you like nature, northern lights or midnight sun. If you wanna see northern lights, come in the late fall or winter time, October-March. December is really cozy tho, with the Christmas streets. The summer, June-August is also very nice, with beautiful light & midnight sun. September is usually also summer, but getting a bit darker at night. I love Tromsø in winter, especially December to February. Its cold, crisp & snowy. Tromsø is not the place for you if you like the city life. Its for nature lovers, photographers who wants cool shots bc of all the beautiful light and colors on the sky, snow lovers, or people who likes mountains and hikes. Its worth it when you reach the top. 🤭 Fjellheisen is the most popular tourist attraction. I personally like to hike up there, its not that far up. But you have to take the "Fjellheis" (tranalated to mountain elevator) up at least once just bc its so unique. 🎉 The view from Fjellheisen is stunning, especially if there's midnight sun. I personally love the night life on Fridays and Saturdays here. There's a lot of small pubs and bars which I love, with a cozy atmosphere, and a few "clubs" for those who love to dance. On Heidi's you can dance on the wooden tables. 😂 Been there done that... 🍻
Don't feel bad about not liking Norway. Most visitors don't really love it either.
Outside of the city is AMAZING!!! Go hiking or biking.:)
I am OFFENDED
WHAT???!!! It's one of the most beautiful countries in the world!! I would go back in a heartbeat!
Not Norway, but Oslo :P Big difference. Norway is amazing. Oslo is not.
1,952nd view, 231st like and 92nd comment. I appreciate your honesty, some travel and food channels I watch are just constantly gushing how wonderful everything is. Once you found the popular spots your enjoyment grew. Everywhere has its positives and negatives. I have really been enjoying this series, thank you for sharing and continued safe travels.❤️😃
Viking ship museum was one of the coolest museum’s I’ve been to
I have to say, I am pretty sad that you guys didn't like Oslo as I have been there a few times and loved it everytime! There is some amazing sea fronts, churches, architecture and whatnot that I ran into as an american who lived in Britain for 8 years I seemed to really jive with the area, so maybe you didn't get to see all the right places or meet the right people? Or maybe the pricing just got you down? Not sure... But hey, glad you gave it another shot?
My hubby and I went there every year to a Christian Metal festival, called Nordic Fest and hung out with some amazing people, so now I always have this amazing connection that way, so it also might just be a community connection thing? Not sure, but still love you guys and your vids
I've never been to Oslo but I've heard that Grünerløkka is the neighborhood for that "old town" feeling.
The city has almost no people
I agree with you. I made a trip to Norway last month, visited Trondheim, Ålesund, Geiranger, Bergen, Stavanger, Oslo etc. and Oslo was the least nice town in my opinion. Bergen is definitely number one.
Yeah we really want to go to Ålesund now after so many people have said it's wonderful but we did like Bergen a lot!
@@WAYAWAYWithAsh Stavanger is lovely too!
Ive been living in oslo since 1982. Before that on the countryside in beautiful Telemark. Im totally agree. When i came to live futher out from the city of Oslo, it all is so much better. By the way Sweden and Stockholm is Awsome. 😊 You should go there instead. And yes.. what you say is totally true.
@@MissMaria1988 welcome to visit Helsinki :)
You did Oslo wrong
Americans can only dream to have a city like Oslo.
I wonder how many of those who gave you thumbs up are actually from Oslo?.. LOL. PS: I`m a local myself, although I wasn`t born here. There are some places in Oslo that I find totally un-interesting, and other places that I visit again and again. PS: I totally understand that the PRICES in this city are a bit too high for many foreigners. But it is doable also on a low budget. More info for instance on www.visitoslo.no
How you missed most of the interesting things is puzzling. Do you travel without guidebooks or a phone? Point of fact, the public transit does work with American credit/debit cards. I have traveled all over the world and spent a fair amount of time in Cape Town, Milan, London, and the Caribbean and have lived in major us urban areas (Bay Area, Chicago). Oslo, where I am currently living imo is a world class city, it's a shame missed it somehow.
I liked Oslo! Though it did totally help that we 1) chose a spot near Mathallen so we could get pies every day and 2) visited during Matstreif and ate most of our food there. (And they had Rørosmat ice cream!) Here's hoping you find a city you love even more than Oslo soon?
OOhhhhh!!! Situation your stay near food is definitely a good strategy! Pro tip right there. haha.
I admire your willingness to just explore without doing much (any?) research. But when you do that, you run the risk of missing so much. Talk to the locals! One of the benefits of staying in a hotel instead of an Air B&B is their expertise in the local scene. It’s sad because even from the little I know about Oslo, I know you missed so much.
A friend lives in Oslo and said it's more about local neighborhoods/boroughs/communities than about the city as a whole. Though this person does present the "social media" facade and tries to make it seem like Oslo is an awesome place. But everything I've seen in my research says to temper expectations.
Like you said, you don't have to like every where you go. Can't wait to see where you go next!
Take the overnight sleeper train from Oslo to Bergen. Bergen is a picturesque small walkable city. On the way back try to stop halfway and get out and see the countryside. Oslo should be your starting point to go to the rest of Norway. Hope you will have a better experience in the countryside. Take care and Happy Travels!
Why didnt you take the ferry out to one or several islands in the oslofjord? Its one of the best thing to do a hot summerday. It cost the same as the bus or tram, same ticket.
You went to all the wrong places
you did Oslo all wrong, talk to someone local and ask them about somewhere cooler to go, away from the main tourist areas
"The Old town" is just where the old town used to be, pre 1624. The town burnt down and was resettled on the other side of the bay, sheltered by the Akershus fortress. There is nothing left of it except some Church ruins.
I remember your first time there ( i recall you checking out the opera house ) and how it didn't exactly win you over. What makes you guys a winning team (one of several things) is the way you're honest without being harsh. Critical but fair. And cool that your day was wrapping up on a more positive note😁
The one thing I can see from this video, is a lack of energy in that city. No loud boisterous people, street performers, music etc. Even how the people are walking; they are so orderly and almost saunter along. European cities are normally so lively outside, in the summer. Not sure if that might be a part of why you didn't click with the place, but that really stood out to me.
Yes, you really nailed it there....Oslo is mellow compared to the zoo that European cities become in the summer. Even eastern European cities can be more of a festival during summer.Karl Johans street might be the one obvious gathering place but it's really just a shopping strip.
Thank you for being honest! Some u tube vloggers say every place is amazing and that just can't be the case. Every country or city won't vibe with everyone. I watch these videos to plan my trips so real feedback is important. Another reason to love the Way Away!
I used to live in Oslo for a year, and i agree with your opinion that Oslo is one of the Scandinavian cities that I like the least.
People in Oslo are busy, introverted, but if you go a few kilometers outside the city people are quite different, very friendly and hospitable and the northern part is a completely different story.
I even heard several times that people from Oslo don't like those from outside the city and vice versa
I have been a local in Oslo now for 30 yrs, but I was born on the south coast. I don`t think that people in Oslo are more introverted than many other cities in Norway, personally I am more extraverted, I chat with tourists on the streets quite often, if I see them standing there with a city map, looking complete lost. I think it is a myth that people from Oslo don`t like those from outside the city, I think it all boils down to personal chemistry, what they have in common (if something at all). Also, you should take into concideration that quite a few people living in Oslo have migrated from other parts of the country, AND many other countries as well. I have heard, however, that some people from small places around the country have a somewhat negative attitude towards Oslo, maybe it is because it is the capital, and this is where the government sits. But I have heard similar stories from other countries, like the UK. A guy from up north talked about London in the same way, it was to him a "completely other world", where he didn`t want to live. Personally, I DO like Oslo (of course there are interesting places, and not-so-interesting places, but anyone can do the research on for instance www.tripadvisor.com), no intention of leaving soon. But I also love cities like Copenhagen, Antwerp, Auckland and Hamburg, for instance.
Tips for where and when to travel in Norway.
Oslo and south east along the Oslo fjord; best time is may to august. Mostly dry and warm weather. Oslo is the biggest city and have a lot to offer for shopping, art exhibitions, concerts and parks. Going south west and west you can visit Norway's second largest city, Bergen. Renting a car and driving along the coast will let yoy experience deep fjords and tall mountains. Best time are june to September. The snow normally melts in june, so hiking in the mountains earlier can be difficult.
Further north you can visit the third lsrgest city Trondheim. Best time will be in the summer. Good for shopping and culture, like festivals and other culture arrangements.
If you want extremely beautiful nature you have to go north. Best time will be desember to april if you want snow and northern lights. But also July and August is nice.
You can also visit Svalbard which are an artic archipelago not so far from the north pole. The summer months are good for boat trips. The sun will never set in the summer. The best time is late winter and early spring. The sun will be back and the snow hasn't yet melted. Go with snowmobiles and you will have the best experience in your life. Be aware of polar bears. The largest land living predator in the world. Do not travel alone without a large caliber weapon.
Happy travel :)
Norway is a nature country.
I live in Oslo, but western and northern Norway are the places to go. Old town, or Gamlebyen in norwegian, is called that just because the original medieval Oslo was founded here, but nothing is left of it since it was almost entirely built in wood and burned down many times, only one church was built in stone and even that one is a ruin at best (only the foundations are left of it). The oldest buildings are now in "Kvadraturen" arround the Akershus Fortress, from the new founding of the city in the 1600's, then called Christiana before later called Oslo again in the 1920's.
You have a great smile Ashley, greatings from Sweden.
Fun tour and honest opinion. Everyone's different of course and look for different things. The kebabs looked awesome too. -Henry
"Yourway to Norway" could show you a good time...
Yes, YTN's summer tour video is a great template to plan a visit. Also OsloPro's video's show a more candid rough view.
I live in Oslo and will never in my life move to another place even though Norway has many incredibly nice cities. There are not many places in Norway where you can ski 25 minutes from the city center in the wilderness or at the same time lie on a beach in the summer! It is unbelievable that tourists do not check the price level in Norway and save money before they come here! Save money, explore Norway without comparing prices with your home country! Ridiculous to listen to!
if I had been a tourist, and I went to these places, I´d be pretty bored too - Oslo is great, you just have to visit the right places - if you ever come back, visit Grünerløkka, St. Hanshaugen (and Telthusbakken), Frogner, Bygdøy, and Folkemuseet:))
If you Come to Oslo with empty pockets, then no wonder you’re not enjoying it. It is known Norway is expensive, so maybe save up before you visit? I have traveled the world, but would never live anywhere else than Oslo.
I been to Akerhus fortres just yesterday and I like it becouse of its simplicity and older design. Be it in Denmark it would have been rebuild into something robust and impressive but becouse it is in Norway which used to be poor for ages it has kept many of its older and simpler elements.
What you want to see in Oslo is probably the Bygdoy area with museums, as you point out take a walk around the seafront from Opera house to Akerhus and Aker brygge, take boat through Oslo fjord, see the Munch museum and perhaps head up to Holmekolen...
Also do not mind spending a "little bit" extra for food and drinks. Its sickly but it makes you appreciate the service wherever you come from more...
Seems as though they have compared Oslo’s Hard Rock Cafe withe that of the rest of the Scandinavian cities they “visited” (they’ve been in) and decided that this one doesn’t have the same vibe... Oh well.
As a Norwegian I agree that everything is unreasonably expensive here, but it makes me sad that it made you not buy ice cream and other stuff you wanted. Maybe your experience would have been better?
Even though, or rather because everything is expensive, we get paid a lot to be able to afford living in Norway. So when we travel abroad we all of a sudden are super rich! So I am not complaining. Sorry again about that. 😂
Haha, that is true, I've talked with many Norwegians who love their travel conversion rate. :p
How expensive is it, compared to Stockholm or Köpenhamn? (I haven't been to Oslo since I was a kid in the early 1970s. At that time it was pretty reasonable prices, of course.)
You guys should hook up with Norwegian RUclipsrs Yourway2Norway. Those guys would help you out I'm sure. They're hilarious!
8:04 she doesn't like Oslo because she couldn't get ice cream lol so cute and innocent
Not everyone will like Oslo while others might. Stop getting into your feelings because this couple is being honest.
You didn't really see the most beautiful places in Oslo. I would never take someone to city centrum or the oprah or anywhere you guys went really, if I wanted to show someone what Oslo is about :-) If you take the metro out of centrum there is SO much beautiful nature and lakes.. Im sorry you guys missed it ;(
You guys definitively got it all wrong. For starters; wrong Airbnb too far away from the city centre (cheapo deal?..), then a long walk through the trashiest part of the Old Town.. You should have figured you were doing something wrong when you saw no other people around on a saturday.. Next time do better research.. And don't travel on a low budget to Scandinavia...
Holmenkollen with the little train up to it specially in winter is amazing, all pine forests and snow amazing!
The Metro app "Ruter" takes Paypal. That's how I used my US card for public transport.
Oslo is a city that took a long time to grow on me.
It cannot compare in many ways to Bergen, Stockholm, Copenhagen or smaller petite Norwegian towns like Ålesund. All of those are just amazing cities, and should be the place to go for tourists. Often, I honestly feel sad when I see all the foreign tourists who goes to Oslo - knowing that if they came for Norwegian nature, they went the wrong place, and if they came for a cool Nordic city, they went to the wrong place.
But as I spent more time in Oslo - years, in fact - I got to see some sides of Oslo which really makes it now one of my favourite cities. Not ideal for the average tourist, I'd still recommend against going there. But, it has some it's charm.
One of them is just doing what the Norwegians do; chill in parks. Norway is too expensive to go out to do stuff - Norwegians very rarely goes out to eat - so just buy a disposable grill, something to grill, a couple of beers and chill out in a park with the locals. Sometimes the best thing to do, is to do nothing.
Another thing locals love to do, is to head out to the woods outside of Oslo. Take a train, a subway or a bus all the way to the woods and start hiking, either for a days walk, or stay in a DNT cabin(which are really affordable, mostly unmanned and maintained with non-profit work). These cabins will have an old well or a creek as only water source, and no electricity - which is part of the charm. Candle lights for lighting, and an old stove for heat source, and gas for cooking. Just be prepared that you might have to share the cabin if the season is busy, be respectful and considerate, and clean up after yourself.
And for some more good advice about enjoying Oslo without spending half a year of wages, you aught to find some local students and ask them. This is how I discovered the summer park life, and all-year hiking.
It seems the Norwegians aren’t the only ones who need some vitamin D
Hahaha, preach
I have lived in Norway for about a year and a half. Oslo didn't quite stick to me either. It reminded me a lot of a "wanna be Paris".
Kara and Nate said the same thing about Oslo. I'm not sure it would be for me either, but Norway as a whole looks amazing!
Well its not weird when they only go to shit tourist traps and no interesting and cool places like, Grünerløkka, Vigelandsparken and all the street art and foodhalls, or holmenkollen
Personally, I love Oslo. Best city to live in (if you're not on a budget).