Norwegians have a wonderful word for that exuberant feeling you get when winter ends: vårfølese, which means “springfulness.” There’s no better place to experience springfulness than in Oslo, the capital of Norway. This waterfront city welcomes visitors to stroll scenic streets, sample Nordic cuisine and savor the sunshine.

Our quick-read guide for visiting Oslo suggests a few things to see, some great places to eat, and where to stay in this fjord-side city.

3 reasons to buy travel insurance for Norway

1. Emergency medical and transportation benefits are a must-have. Many American travelers don’t realize that their U.S. health insurance may not cover them in Europe. The emergency medical benefits in your travel insurance plan can reimburse the cost of covered emergency care. Emergency transportation benefits, which can pay for a necessary medical evacuation as well as your transportation home after a covered emergency, are also key—especially if you’re traveling outside of Oslo. “The remote and sparse populations in northern Norway and the dependence on ferries to cross fjords of western Norway may affect transportation and ready access to medical facilities,” warns the U.S. Department of State.¹
2. You don’t want lose money on a last-minute cancellation. Even the best-planned trip can be derailed by an unexpected emergency. Trip cancellation/trip interruption benefits can reimburse you for nonrefundable, prepaid trip costs If you must cancel or interrupt your trip for a covered reason. The Cancel Anytime upgrade, available on select plans, can reimburse 80% of your lost non-refundable trip costs if you cancel your trip for almost any unforeseeable reason your plan does not already cover.
3. Travel delays don’t have to be a drag. If your flight home from Oslo gets canceled and you find yourself staying in the city for an extra day, that can get expensive… unless you have travel insurance with travel delay benefits. These benefits can reimburse you for your extra lodging, food and transportation expenses during a covered delay. And if your plan includes SmartBenefits®, you can opt to receive a fixed inconvenience payment of $100 per insured person, per day for a covered delay. You don’t need to provide any receipts—just proof of the delay!

What’s the best travel insurance plan for Norway? Many travelers choose OneTrip Prime for international travel, because it has a wide array of benefits and also covers kids 17 and under for free when they’re traveling with a parent or grandparent (not available on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents).

3 of the best things to do in Oslo

1. Dive into Norway’s seagoing history. The FRAM Museum is dedicated to polar expeditions and displays the strongest wooden polar ship ever, dating to 1893. If that makes you shiver, visit the Kon-Tiki Museum, which tells the story of Thor Heyerdahl’s epic journey on a balsa-wood raft from Peru to Polynesia. Not yet ready to return to shore? Add the Norwegian Maritime Museum to your itinerary.
2. Spend an afternoon in Vigeland Park. Artist Gustav Vigeland spent 40 years creating the 200-some sculptures in granite, bronze and wrought iron that now reside in Vigeland Park. Today it’s one of the top attractions in Oslo. One of Vigeland’s most famous works is the Monolith: a column composed of 121 human figures entwined.
3. Sail the fjord. You’ll appreciate Oslo from an entirely different angle when you take a sightseeing cruise through Oslofjord. See islands, bays, and the city’s distinctive architecture, including the iconic Norwegian National Opera & Ballet House.

3 of the best hotels in Oslo

You’ve never seen a hotel quite like Sommerro. An imaginative revamp of a 1930s building that once housed the city’s electric company, Sommerro has 231 rooms with Art Deco details, as well as a private movie theater and several restaurants. It’s home to the city’s first rooftop pool as well as Vestkantbadet: a historic bathing area and spa with an infrared sauna and cold plunge pool.

The Thief has an even more fascinating backstory: It stands on Tjuvholmen (Thief Islet), once a haven for smugglers and scoundrels. Now, this boutique hotel in Oslo offers modern rooms with designer furniture, art and water views. Get a little something extra when you book the Apparatjik suite, “filled with video art, music, disco textiles and art installations signed by A-ha’s Magne Furuholmen and his Apparatjik supergroup.”

For an entirely different experience, stay at Scandic Holmenkollen Park. This recently renovated property is perched high on a hill, giving you sweeping views of Oslo. It’s popular in the winter for its easy access to the Holmenkollen ski jump. While the rooms are basic and the taxi ride to city center can be expensive, the cozy décor and fairytale architecture make this an inviting place to stay.

3 of the best restaurants in Oslo

The best place to eat in Oslo is actually 40+ places: the Mathallen Oslo food hall. Located in the riverfront district of Vulkan, Mathallen invites you to try just about any Norwegian culinary delight you can think of: homemade sausages, local bread, artisan cheese, fiery aquavit, and the freshest salmon, oysters and king crab. You’ll also find other cuisines, from Basque tapas to Colombian arepas.

Rorbua Aker Brygge is a homey spot that’s decorated like a rorbu, a traditional fisherman’s house. It serves Norwegian specialties like reindeer steak and cured cod, as well as seasonal offerings such as seagull eggs and lutefisk. The creamy fish soup is a favorite.

Committed foodies must book a table at Maaemo, Oslo’s only restaurant to earn three Michelin stars. “An exceptional dining experience in a dramatic, high-ceilinged dining room, where the open kitchen is theatrically lit and time seems to stand still,” Michelin raves.² Expect to taste 18 or more courses, each consisting of local seafood, meats and produce exquisitely plated, over four hours or more.

Ready to explore Oslo? See travel insurance options from Allianz Travel Insurance.

What Do I Need to Travel to Norway?

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