Oslo - Family weekend break

BenEadir

Hi all,

I've read all the threads here (not that many) on Oslo and done my online homework so hoping someone with experience of Oslo can help me with this.

So it's 2 Adults and 2 kids aged 9 and 13 arriving in Oslo Rygge airport at 9:25am Saturday morning next the 25th and returning Tuesday morning the 28th. Note: I had a knee operation 6 weeks ago (after this trip had been booked) which I'm still recovering from. I can walk with some discomfort but I can cycle no problem and that's influenced the following tentative itinerary which we can change as we go depending on weather, how we're feeling etc:-

Saturday

http://vikingbikingoslo.com/tours - 1pm - €70 for the four of us to do the Oslo 3 hour highlights cycling tour. (We should be at the hotel around 11:45am)

Check into the hotel http://www.scandichotels.com/Hotels/Norway/Oslo/Scandic-Byporten/#.VEEY_fldV8E and head out to either http://www.lorry.no/ great TA reviews http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g190479-d793660-Reviews-Lorry-Oslo_Eastern_Norway.html or http://www.mehfel.no for an early dinner. We'll have been up since 4am to catch the flight so early to bed Saturday night.

Sunday

Do the Hop on Hop off mini fjord cruise starting at the City Hall Dock at 9:45 (or 11:15) http://nyc.no/en_index.php. €70 for the 4 of us.

On the cruise we can see The Museum of Cultural History http://www.norskfolkemuseum.no/en/, The Viking Ship Museum http://www.khm.uio.no/english/ (Ticket for one gives free entry to the other for 48 hours) and the Kon-Tiki Museum http://www.kon-tiki.no/en/.

If we finish the fjord cruise early (I doubt it) we can do the https://www.facebook.com/OsloFreeTour which is a free (tips based) two hour walking tour of the city starting at 13:00. Not sure my knee would be up to it but if it is I'd do it.

After the cruise or after the walking tour go to The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design as one of my kids has an interest in design/architecture. http://www.nasjonalmuseet.no/en/visit_us/locations/ It's open 12:00 to 17:00 on Sunday and has Free Admission.

Might have to do a Burger King/Fast Food/Pizza type dinner Sunday evening as a lot of restaurants are closed.

Monday

Have a relaxing stroll around after breakfast and head down to the harbour to see the fishing boats etc? Buy some freshly cooked shrimp?

See the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace in the Palace Park which happens at 1:30 pm

Stop off in the Munch Museum http://www.munchmuseet.no/ to see The Scream (my wife loves the painting so this would be special for her) on the way to visit the Botanical Garden and Natural History Museum etc in the afternoon - http://www.nhm.uio.no/english/

Go to Lorry or Mehfel for dinner, whichever one we didn't go to Saturday night.

I didn't think we'd have much to do to occupy ourselves in Oslo but I think the above will keep us busy and interested for the weekend.

Thoughts? Alternatives?

Irishrossoblu

Sounds like you have done your homework. Just a little warning, this itinerary would be fantastic in the summer, but next weekend it going to be between 2 and 7 degrees (yr.no). I wouldnt fancy the cycling in that weather, and the fjord cruise may be a tad cold.

Visit all the attractions you mentioned. Check out http://www.tekniskmuseum.no/ and http://www.doga.no/, and see the opera house. Check out Holmenkollen ski jump too.

http://www.visitoslo.com/en/activities-and-attractions/attractions/?TLp=496475&Holmenkollen-Ski-Museum--Tower

Frongerparken is a must also.

BenEadir

Irishrossoblu wrote: »

next weekend it going to be between 2 and 7 degrees (yr.no). I wouldnt fancy the cycling in that weather, and the fjord cruise may be a tad cold.

Thanks Ross,

We'll wrap up well. I brought the kids to Rovaniemi to see Santa's village etc about 5 years ago and it was -10c. We wrapped up well and had a great time. My 9 year old daughter is actually as tough as old boots, aged five I couldn't get her to wear gloves, she was building snow men and making snow balls with her bare hands at -10c!! I was concerned she'd get frost bite.

If we're well layerd up with clothes, have hats and gloves and are walking around or cycling it'll be fine. The only issue I'd see with the bike tour would be if it was very windy, that could be a problem all right but cycling in calm cold (hopefully dry) weather shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks for the other suggestions, the Museum of Science and Technology in particular museum looks great.

BTW, do you know if taxi's in Oslo are mad expensive? I looked at the day passes but as we're planning to mostly walk around and they'd cost €100 a day for the four of us I was thinking we'd use taxis for the longer trips eg to the Museum of Science and Technology or to the Lorry restaurant.

Irishrossoblu

BenEadir wrote: »

Thanks Ross,

BTW, do you know if taxi's in Oslo are mad expensive? I looked at the day passes but as we're planning to mostly walk around and they'd cost €100 a day for the four of us I was thinking we'd use taxis for the longer trips eg to the Museum of Science and Technology or to the Lorry restaurant.

I personally wouldnt take a taxi, as they do cost a lot. It could be 500kr to the Tek museum, and the same or more to the ski jump. Lorry is not far from your hotel, 3/4 stops on the 18 or 19 tram door to door. I would reccomend public transport. Buy 4 top up cards and use them for each journey, or get a 7 day ticket.

You wont get cheaper than the 7 day ticket, and you can take all boats, trams, busses, tubes and trains inside zone 1.

View

BenEadir wrote: »

Hi all,

I've read all the threads here (not that many) on Oslo and done my online homework so hoping someone with experience of Oslo can help me with this.

So it's 2 Adults and 2 kids aged 9 and 13 arriving in Oslo Rygge airport at 9:25am Saturday morning next the 25th and returning Tuesday morning the 28th. Note: I had a knee operation 6 weeks ago (after this trip had been booked) which I'm still recovering from. I can walk with some discomfort but I can cycle no problem and that's influenced the following tentative itinerary which we can change as we go depending on weather, how we're feeling etc:-

Saturday

http://vikingbikingoslo.com/tours - 1pm - €70 for the four of us to do the Oslo 3 hour highlights cycling tour. (We should be at the hotel around 11:45am)

Check into the hotel http://www.scandichotels.com/Hotels/Norway/Oslo/Scandic-Byporten/#.VEEY_fldV8E and head out to either http://www.lorry.no/ great TA reviews http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g190479-d793660-Reviews-Lorry-Oslo_Eastern_Norway.html or http://www.mehfel.no for an early dinner. We'll have been up since 4am to catch the flight so early to bed Saturday night.

Sunday

Do the Hop on Hop off mini fjord cruise starting at the City Hall Dock at 9:45 (or 11:15) http://nyc.no/en_index.php. €70 for the 4 of us.

On the cruise we can see The Museum of Cultural History http://www.norskfolkemuseum.no/en/, The Viking Ship Museum http://www.khm.uio.no/english/ (Ticket for one gives free entry to the other for 48 hours) and the Kon-Tiki Museum http://www.kon-tiki.no/en/.

If we finish the fjord cruise early (I doubt it) we can do the https://www.facebook.com/OsloFreeTour which is a free (tips based) two hour walking tour of the city starting at 13:00. Not sure my knee would be up to it but if it is I'd do it.

After the cruise or after the walking tour go to The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design as one of my kids has an interest in design/architecture. http://www.nasjonalmuseet.no/en/visit_us/locations/ It's open 12:00 to 17:00 on Sunday and has Free Admission.

Might have to do a Burger King/Fast Food/Pizza type dinner Sunday evening as a lot of restaurants are closed.

Monday

Have a relaxing stroll around after breakfast and head down to the harbour to see the fishing boats etc? Buy some freshly cooked shrimp?

See the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace in the Palace Park which happens at 1:30 pm

Stop off in the Munch Museum http://www.munchmuseet.no/ to see The Scream (my wife loves the painting so this would be special for her) on the way to visit the Botanical Garden and Natural History Museum etc in the afternoon - http://www.nhm.uio.no/english/

Go to Lorry or Mehfel for dinner, whichever one we didn't go to Saturday night.

I didn't think we'd have much to do to occupy ourselves in Oslo but I think the above will keep us busy and interested for the weekend.

Thoughts? Alternatives?

It is years since I visited Oslo but one place that sticks in my memory above all else is the Vigeland Sculpture Park (if that was the correct name of the park).

Admittedly we saw it first late on a Summer's evening when it was quiet. The second time in mid-afternoon when it was in full use as a playground wasn't as magical. :-)

BenEadir

Irishrossoblu wrote: »

I personally wouldnt take a taxi, as they do cost a lot. It could be 500kr to the Tek museum, and the same or more to the ski jump. Lorry is not far from your hotel, 3/4 stops on the 18 or 19 tram door to door. I would reccomend public transport. Buy 4 top up cards and use them for each journey, or get a 7 day ticket.

You wont get cheaper than the 7 day ticket, and you can take all boats, trams, busses, tubes and trains inside zone 1.

The top up cards will probably make most sense, thanks for the advice. Are they much hassle to buy and top up? Is there a complicated registration process to prove the kids are kids etc? Four of the seven day zone one tickets would be circa €85 so if the top up cards aren't easy to buy and use I might be as well to just buy the 7 day cards. What do you think?

Will the Scandic Byporten Hotel sell top up and seven day cards?

Thanks very much for your advice, I really appreciate it.

Irishrossoblu

The 7 day cards end up costing 50% less than the top up cards. I world reccomend them. All 4 would cost the same as one taxi journey to Ski museum.

No issue getting them. You can buy them in the buss terminal when you get the bus in from rygge. You can also buy them in any newsagent (7 eleven, narvessen). Your hotel is also above the central station Oslo S, which has hundreds of places to buy tickets. The hotel will help you find the Ruter office opposite the hotel. No registration required, no Id, just ask for weekly ticket.

BenEadir

Irishrossoblu wrote: »

The 7 day cards end up costing 50% less than the top up cards. I world reccomend them. All 4 would cost the same as one taxi journey to Ski museum.

No issue getting them. You can buy them in the buss terminal when you get the bus in from rygge. You can also buy them in any newsagent (7 eleven, narvessen). Your hotel is also above the central station Oslo S, which has hundreds of places to buy tickets. The hotel will help you find the Ruter office opposite the hotel. No registration required, no Id, just ask for weekly ticket.

I'll go with the 7 day cards so Ross. Thanks so much for all the advice.

sue97

Thanks for this thread, it's really interesting.

Thinking of visiting Oslo for a couple of days in August. Will be arriving on the 21st and staying until 23rd August so two days. 2 adults, 3 kids.

We would need transport from Airport to a hotel, hotel, stuff to do, transport, places to eat.

Any additional recommendations and rough idea of budget for hotel, food and travel would be brilliant.

whomitconcerns

Food and drink are big money in Oslo. I go regularly enough and still laugh when I see how ridiculously expensive some things are. But it's a great city with a fantastic atmosphere. When you hand over almost 80€ for two pints, two shots, and two burgers in a pub you will get what I mean!

BenEadir

sue97 wrote: »

Thanks for this thread, it's really interesting.

Thinking of visiting Oslo for a couple of days in August. Will be arriving on the 21st and staying until 23rd August so two days. 2 adults, 3 kids.

We would need transport from Airport to a hotel, hotel, stuff to do, transport, places to eat.

Any additional recommendations and rough idea of budget for hotel, food and travel would be brilliant.

Hi Sue,

My wife and I and our two kids (9 and 13) spent an amazing weekend in Oslo in October.

We got really cheap flights with Ryanair to Oslo Rygge airport and got the http://rygge-ekspressen.no/EnglishInformation/tabid/121/language/en-US/Default.aspx bus to the central bus terminal in Oslo. It cost about €110 return on the bus for the four of us, it's a 40 minute journey.

The bus terminal is 300m from the Scandic Byporten Hotel http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Hotel_Review-g190479-d229284-Reviews-Scandic_Byporten-Oslo_Eastern_Norway.html which is bang in the middle of shopping and transport links etc. We got a family room and it was fine. It's Jury's Inn kind of standard with a fantastic buffet breakfast which we really took advantage of as food and drink are VERY expensive. We basically loaded up on the buffet each morning and that kept up going with a snack or two along the way until dinner. I think we paid circa €125 a night for the hotel which given there were four of us I think was pretty good value.

The absolute key to enjoying Oslo is the 7 day travel pass for the central zone 1. You can purchase it from the train station attached to the hotel and it gives you free travel on the buses, trains and trams and public transport in Oslo is amazing. It's all clean and on time. You'll get everywhere you want to go using those passes including using the public ferrys to do some island hopping which is great fun.

The best thing we did on arrival (literally within an hour of getting to the hotel) was we took a http://vikingbikingoslo.com tour which took three hours but not only do you see all the sights but you get an oral history of the city/country and an insight into the culture along the way. Absolutely worth the €100 or so it cost for the four of us.

We spent most of our time rambling around, looking at museums and basically exploring the city. We were there for 3 days and loved it. If you take the bike tour you'll see and/or hear of places you can then go back to on your own time. Definitely use the public ferry's to go island hopping and take the tram up to the ski jump, it's a bit of a walk from the station to the ski jump but it's a great trip and you get fantastic views over the city.

Food wise be careful. We tried to keep things simple but still ended up paying over €200 for a very ordinary Greek meal one night. The cost of food and drink is the only downside to Oslo. Apart from that it's an amazing place which is safe, friendly and everyone speaks English so you'll have no problems getting around even if your kids are very young.

If you are researching what to do there list your proposed itinerary here and I'll let you know what we thought of the place etc as I think we pretty much covered nearly everything there is to see there.

I'd strongly recommend going.

sue97

Thank you so much for the update. It is really useful.

stargazer 68

Was just about to post about Norway! We are off on 6th Feb. Arrive in Oslo and onto the night train to Bergen. Planning to spend the night in Bergen - any suggestions on what to do there? Have checked and all the Fjjord trips dont seem to be running in Feb.

Then the 12 noon train back to Oslo. We have Monday in Oslo so will check out some of your suggestions. Hotel suggestions in both places would be recommended - just the 2 of us.