Getting To Know Olso – Cruise Port Guide
Norway’s capital and a city renowned for its green spaces, ski-jumping hill, museums and so much more, Oslo is a cosmopolitan hub that is just waiting for you to visit and explore. Our Oslo cruise port guide is your one-stop for everything you need to know about planning your visit to this incredible destination.
Oslo has been Norway’s capital city since 1814 and its home to some of the country’s most prestigious cultural institutions. It’s also a hub for some incredible dining options, numerous galleries and museums, amazing scenery and natural areas.
Your cruise ship is likely to dock at Akershus, in the centre of Oslo. Before you even arrive, though, you’ll be treated to a magical sail-in along the Oslofjord, which, as well as being part of the Skagerrak strait, also holds Norway’s highest all year temperature: 7.5 degrees Celsius. Once alongside, the city is your oyster and the beating heart of it is within walking distance. The city is best explored on foot as it is compact and easy to navigate. You can enjoy approx 50 different museums, hundreds of restaurants and cafes, interesting shopping and more. If you’d like to enjoy something slightly different, then make sure you visit Vigeland Park, the largest sculpture park in the world. The sculpture park is Gustav Vigeland’s life work and is home to more than 200 figures. The park itself is always open, but the indoor museum has daily opening times on its website. The Holmenkollen Ski Jump is one of Norway’s most visited attractions and the views across the city from the top are simply stunning.
Travel Tips:
There is a city-wide hop-on hop-off bus service available
The VisitOslo website features a FREE downloadable app that can help you plan your visit
Key highlights of Oslo
- The Vigeland Park
- Viking Ship Museum
- Akershus Fortress
- Frogner Park
- The Royal Palace
- Oslo Opera House
- Katl Johans Gate
- Rådhuset
- Holmenkollen Ski Museum
- Nobel Peace Center
- Oslo Cathedral
- Oslo City Museum
- Norway Resistance Museum
Regular cruise line visitors
- Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
- P&O Cruises
- Saga
- Holland America Line
- Cunard
- Princess Cruises
- Viking Ocean
- Oceania Cruises
Cruise Expert Insider 🔎 Oslo Port by Carly Perkins
Oslo, Norway’s Capital is a must to see on any Norwegian Fjords cruise…
It’s so easy to walk into town straight from your ship, by strolling through the picturesque medieval Akershus Fortress, originally built in the 1300’s.
Old Oslo has been burnt to the ground several times so most of the landmarks date from the 19th century including the Royal Palace and the National Theatre. The city is therefore made up mainly of wide streets built on a grid format, so it’s easy and very pleasant to wander around, with lots of green spaces in which to relax, and museums to visit.
My own highlight is the Munch museum, dedicated to the work of Norwegian artist, Edvard Munch. His best known work, The Scream, has become one of the most iconic images of modern art, however this is only one facet of a talented and diverse artist who painted stunning expressionist Norwegian landscapes and portraits. Actually the museum will be relocated to a brand new and larger purpose-built location in spring 2021.
I recommend taking a tour to the Viking Ship Museum on the Bygdøy peninsula where some of the World’s best-preserved Viking ships and finds from Viking tombs around the Oslo Fjord are conserved, some dating back as far as the 9th century. And call in to see a more modern vessel, the Kon-Tiki raft built by the Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl to sail from Peru to Polynesia in 1947.
Another benefit of cruising into Norway is that visitors do not have to pay the phenomenally high prices to eat and drink in Oslo. After an amazing day exploring the city, visiting museums, taking boat trips, hiking or cycling around the stunning scenery, you may return to your ship for a delicious meal – that’s already included in your cruise fare