NORWAY || Oslo - travel vlog (Opera House, Vigeland Park, Akershus Fortress) 15 Degrees North

15° North are travelling again! This time we are in Norway in its modern capital, Oslo. There we visit: its harbour, Royal Palace, Akershus Fortress, Vigeland Park, Barcode district, Opera House.
Jérémy and Ben here again! We love to travel and to satisfy our wanderlust, we are on a worldwide odyssey exploring the best places for a break around the world. We love to escape Britain to experience the best culture, cuisine and attractions that the globe has to offer. If you’re a tourist like us and just need a good itinerary for what to do and how to do it when you’re in Oslo, we will show you the best things to put on your itinerary.
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Oslo is the capital of Norway, sitting in the historical region of Viken. Viken was the cradle of Viking culture and Oslo was one of the key settlements founded by them, before later becoming the centre of the Norwegian Empire. Founded by Harald Hadrada... Hang on, we know him from Vikings: Valhalla, don’t we? He’s the really hunky one.
Like most of Scandinavia, the borders of Norway, Sweden and Denmark changed many times, but the kingdom of Norway has existed in some form since the year 872. And Oslo has been its capital since 1314. And while there are historical buildings in the city, this is a decidedly modern capital, with a citt centre that has been significantly redeveloped in recent years.
There’s no skirting around the fact that Norway is an exceptionally rich country. You can see evidence of this all over the city, but its clearest sign is - like all Scandinavian countries - its prices. Your money does not go far Oslo, so make sure to manage your expectations somewhat about eating out or drinking wine. But make no mistake, there are many places that look like great spots to eat and drink... but they come with a hefty pricetag.
There are landmarks aplenty across the city too, including its newly constructed opera house, which was constructed to resemble an iceberg. Rising from the waters of Oslofjord, it is clad in white Italian marble, with adjoining slanted roofs that you can climb up all the way to the top, creating an enormous sloping piazza. A triumph of design, it was built by Norwegian architects and opened in 2008.
Nearby is the Barcode district, so called because its full ensemble of buildings resemble, well, a barcode. Clever.
To get a slice of the older side of Oslo, you have to venture away from the centre. There are some streets with preserved authentic houses, which look like what Oslo used to look like before its newfound wealth and modernity. To me, this looks like the Norway we imagine, but to find more of it, you’d have to stray away from this glass and chrome contemporary city.
Like the UK, Norway is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. As such, like the UK, it has a King, a prime minister and an elected parliament. Harald V has been king since 1991 and he grew partially grew up in the USA after the Royal Family was exiled during the Nazi occupation of Norway. A keen sportsman, he actually represented Norway three times at the Olympic Games, competing in the sailing!
In the outskirts of the city, you’ll find another of Oslo’s unique attractions, which is the Vigeland Park. In vast open parkland, you will find 212 bronze and granite statues all carved by Oslo’s second-most famous artist, Gustav Vigeland. Second? Well who takes the top spot? Why Edvard Munch, of course, who also has a museum in city centre. If you’ve got to choose between Munch and Vigeland, we say choose Vigeland because, well, it’s free and you’ve got to economise at some point when you’re dealing with Scandinavian prices! But don’t let the prices put you off, Oslo is a genuinely wonderful city. And it’s just a hop across the North Sea to visit from the UK, so why not hop on a plane?