Jonty travels…

Probably the most expensive place I’ve ever been to, but also home to some of the best museums, mainly focused on the spirit of exploration.

Opera House
One of my favourite pieces of modern architecture though you’d need sunglasses to on a sunny day to protect yourself from the dazzling whiteness of the exterior. Beautifully interactive and engaging, welcoming you to walk all over the roof, enjoying the views of Oslo’s waterfront.

Viking Ship Museum
The first of three brilliant museums on Bygdoy Island. I’ve visited them twice, 20 years apart, finding seemingly no change but would be hard to improve on them. The Viking Ship Museum is home to the best persevered Viking longships, housed in a simple but effective cross-shaped white building.

Fram Museum
Fascinating history, and the actual ship, used by the famous Norwegian polar explorers Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen in the Arctic and Antarctica.

Kon-Tiki Museum
Thor Heyerdahl was quite a character. His theories on Polynesia being populated from South America rather than Asia have been disproved, but this doesn’t take away from the sense of adventure and bravery of building reed rafts, and despite having almost no sailing experience, venturing in them across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

Norwegian Folk Museum
Not quite the equal of Stockholm’s Skansen but pretty close, with buildings gathered from around Norway.

Oslo City Hall (Radhus)
A striking piece of mid twentieth century architecture, which hosts the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony.

Architecture
Plenty of interesting buildings to enjoy while wandering around town.