Oslo

With the oil money, Oslo finally had the resources to do what so many grand European capitals have done hundreds of years ago: construct a beautful Opera house. While sceptical at first, the cititizens of Oslo is loving the white opera, using it for picnics, outdoor screenings, concerts and reportedly even love-making. For tours, tickets and more, visit http://www.operaen.no/en/

Gourmands have recently discovered Oslo, or Oslo has recently discovered gourmands. Either way, there are plenty of new and tasty restaurants and bars around. The internationally acclaimed and very expensive Michelin-rewarded restaurant Maaemo requires a more than a decent budget, but it´s worth it.

The newly developed Tjuvholmen also boasts Oslo´s newest and much acclaimed hotel The Thief, with a cocktail bar worth the stiff price.

Oslo is growing at a fast pace, it is now one of the fastest-growing capitals of Europe. The bar and restaurant scene has flourished the past years, and the city has gotten a more international presence than only a few years back.

There is a reason Norwegian food is not world famous. Traditional meals look much like the Swedish meatballs, pickled herring, salmon and the like, and while we do have tasty local dishes (Moose stew, reindeer meatballs, lamb and cole), you´re most likely to enjoy those visiting someone´s grandmother (which you should try). The traditional Friday dinner, a tradition developed in the 90´s is simply taco dinners, with a tex mex flare.

The past few years, however, Norwegians seem to have found an increased interest in local produce, traditional customs combined with international flavors, and there are many good restaurants around. Oslo is well-known for its high prices, and for high-end restaurants, you will have to empty your pockets. There are alternatives however; decent prices sushi is found all over the city, and if you go down to the harbor in the morning, you can buy fresh shrimps from the fishing boats. There are good Chinese and Vietnamese spots around Youngstorget, and in the immigrant part of town, Grønland, you can get cheap good Indian and Pakistani food.

2012 was the year Edward Munch´s famous painting The Scream was sold for 120 million dollars. For much less, both the National Gallery and the Munch Museum offers good collections and two of three versions of The Scream now in Norway. If you taket he 34 bus from downtown up to the hills of Ekeberg (about ten minutes ride), you can enjoy the view from where a feeling of angst made him paint one of the world´s most iconic pictures.

Only a few minutes by boat or bus, lays Bygdøy, home of various historic museums, like the Viking museum, Fram and Kon-Tiki, from the Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl. The folk museum is also worth a visit, specially in the summer, since most of the museum is outdoors.

Most of the city burned down in a fire in the 1600s, but there are still a few old buildings left in Kvadraturen, downtown Oslo.

Sightseeing: Oslo is a relatively small city, best explored by bike or by foot (though the sightseeing city buses seem to draw a crowd). The islands in the Oslo fjord are beatuful and easily accessible by public transport all year round.

Due to generous welfare policies, Norwegians have more babies than almost any other European country. Strollers are hard to avoid during the day in the former artsy bohemian neighbourhood of Grunerløkka.

The very family friendly Ekeberg gård, a farm about ten minute bus ride out of the city center, offers pony rides and a warm reminder of traditional farming life and spirit.

Oslo´s unique geography, half city, half forrest (quite literally) offers great hikes, skiing and swims from the islands of the Oslo fjord. Public transportation can get you pretty much anywhere, use it! There are also great bike tours available by viking biking and others.

Norwegians like to go out, and Oslo has finally developed quite a diverse bar scene after years of trying. It is expensive to drink in Oslo, and a common custom is to have pre-parties (In Norwegian vorspiel, literally foreplay..) and then go out around midnight. The city is quite divided, and the hipster crowd around Youngstorget has little in common with the posher people at Solli Plass. Until they all meet at a random party and forget who´s who. Oslo is a small city, after all.