Food, Fun, and Culture: 2 Days in Oslo, Norway

The beautiful Oslo Palace looms large over the city. Photo by: Evan Berman

Oslo is the capital city of Norway and a city about which I had heard great things. During my time in Norway, I visited Oslo on 3 separate occasions totaling 2 days.

This recap of my time in Oslo is a part of the larger Nordic Expedition. For more on this trip, follow these links:

Intro

Flight: Delta Comfort+, CHS-JFK

JFK Lounges

Flight: Norse Airways Economy, JFK-OSL

Flight: Norwegian Economy, OSL-BGO

The Magic of Bergen, Norway

Christmas Markets

Hotel: Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret, Bergen, Norway

Flight: SAS Economy, BGO-SVG

Flight: SAS Economy, SVG-OSL

2 Days in Oslo, Norway (This Article)

Oslo Restaurants

Hotel: Comfort Karl Johan, Oslo, Norway

Flight: SAS Economy, OSL-TOS

Terrific Tromsø, Norway

A Whale of a Meal, Tromsø, Norway Restaurants

Seeing the Northern Lights

Hotel: Clarion Collection Hotel Aurora, Tromsø, Norway

Hotel: Clarion Collection Hotel With, Tromsø, Norway

Flight: SAS Economy, TOS-OSL

Flight: Norse Atlantic Airways Economy: OSL-JFK

December in New York

Lounges at LGA

Flight: Delta Economy, LGA-CHS

Conclusion

Trip Summary:

Karl Johan Gate. Photo by: Evan Berman

Oslo, Norway is a capital city that is a burgeoning culinary haven. Long known for terrific art and cultural events (including the Nobel Peace ceremonies), this is a thriving Nordic city with lots to offer. While I flew into Oslo on 3 different occasions, I only spent 2 full days in Oslo in total. During my time here, I did the following:

  • Tasted incredible food at two equally magnificent restaurants
  • Visited a bar with a live punk band performing
  • Explored the important cultural buildings, including the Nobel Peace Center, History Musuem, and Art Musuem
  • Strolled through the Christmas Market

Flight Info:

I flew SAS from Bergen back to Oslo on flights SK 4163 and 4042. These short flights were mostly straightforward and each lasted under an hour.

Read more details about the flight from Bergen to Stavanger here and Stavanger to Oslo here.

Price: The flight from Bergen to Oslo cost $151.86.

Points Earned: 157 United Miles, 759 AmEx Membership Rewards Points (5x on Flights with the AmEx Platinum Card)

Lodging Info:

Comfort Hotel Karl Johan is located in a lively part of downtown Oslo. Photo by: Evan Berman

I stayed 1 night in Oslo in Comfort Hotel Karl Johan, a Nordic Choice Hotel. This hotel was an solid experience and offered breakfast included in the room price.

Price: 12,000 Choice Points per night. I purchased 44,200 points for $350.20. In essence, this cost $95.08.

Points Earned: N/A. I earned $17.51 (5%) cash back on the points purchase but nothing for the stay.

Airport Details:

As mentioned above, I flew into OSL, the airport serving Oslo. This international airport has 72 gates, all in 1 terminal, though they are grouped in domestic or international wings.

I will review OSL in a separate article. Per Flight Connections, the main airlines that fly there are regional carrier Norwegian and Star Alliance Member SAS. Widerøe has a large presence and Norse Atlantic (which I flew to/from the US), Danish Air, Swiss, Air Baltic, and Lufthansa all fly from BGO as well. In total there are flights to 139 international destinations in 40 countries and 29 domestic destinations.

The OSL Lounge by the International gates is the only lounge in this airport not affiliated with SAS and can be accessed by any premium cabin passenger or having an AmEx Platinum card. It is tricky to find– the lounge is located prior to customs (though after security) for non-Schengen zone departures, such as a flight to the US. As such, I did not visit this lounge even when departing the country. If you decide to visit OSL Lounge before departing on a non-Schengen flight, ensure you have enough time to clear customs, should a line develop! I only flew SAS on domestic flights in economy, so I was ineligible to visit those 3 lounges.

Transportation Details:

The central bus and train station in Oslo. Photo by: Evan Berman

Both Uber and Lyft operate in Norway, but the most convenient way to get to and from the airport is via train. Everything is clearly marked. Once you clear customs (or grab your bags), follow the sign for public transportation. There is a ticket scanner next to the self-serve ticket machine. Purchase an express ticket to Oslo city center, unless you wish to go further (such as to visit the National Theater). It costs 420 NOK ($43.30 at the time I visited) for a round-trip ticket to the city center.

This city is quite easy to get around, even without a metro pass or rideshare. Once in the city, I walked everywhere I needed to and recommend you do the same– it is a great way to find off-the-beaten-path shops and restaurants/bars or just to get a lay of the land!

Price: 1260 NOK ($129.90)

Points: 390 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points (3x on Travel using my Chase Sapphire Reserve Card)

Food & Drink:

I did not eat breakfast at the hotel, though it was included with my rate. This is a common occurrence in Scandinavian hotels, particularly in Choice and Radisson Hotels. During my last day in Oslo, before heading back to the US, I had 2 extraordinary meals which are worthy of a review in a separate article.

Last Train:

The outside of Last Train. Photo by: Evan Berman

Last Train is a bar in Oslo that offers live music most weekends. I stopped in on a Saturday night and heartily recommend it to anyone who stops by on the weekend in Oslo. There was a lively punk rock band with band members who crowd surfed and a terrific crowd.

It’s the little things that make the biggest impact on you sometimes. Stopping in for a drink and staying for the concert was an incredible experience! If you are like me and enjoy live music, stop in and check out the talent playing here!

The bar at Last Train. Photo by: Evan Berman

Price: 298 NOK ($29.76)

Points Earned: 120 AmEx Membership Rewards Points (4x Points at Restaurants with the AmEx Gold Card)

Amundsen Bryggeri & Spiseri:

Amundsen Bryggeri is one of the breweries in Oslo. I stopped into their taproom/bar for a beer before dinner and was not disappointed! The atmosphere was very lively and the beers were great (and large)! I ordered a Norwegian IPA and as usual was amazed by the differences in IPAs between the US and the rest of the world. It’s certainly less hoppy!

Price: 140 NOK ($14.41)

Points Earned: 58 AmEx Membership Rewards Points (4x at Restaurants using the AmEx Gold Card)

Vaaghals:

The delicious cod dish at Vaaghals. Photo by: Evan Berman

The first of 2 exceptional dining experiences in Oslo, Vaaghals is a great spot for lunch. I had a terrific appetizer and main course, along with a refreshing beer. The service was good, though given how crowded the restaurant was, I cannot fault the speed. Check out the full review!

Price: 550 NOK ($56.54)

Points Earned: 228 AmEx Membership Rewards Points (4x at Restaurants using the AmEx Gold Card)

Stock:

My second whale dish of the trip– stay tuned for my recap of both this and the one in Tromsø! Photo by: Evan Berman

In the same part of town as Vaaghals, Stock is arguably the best restaurant in Oslo that you can get into without advance reservation. This was my final meal before heading back to the US and I made it a great one!

I opted for the daily four course meal and a glass of wine to accompany. Though the dessert was merely decent, every other course was outstanding. Check out the full recap of this incredible meal!

The deer at Stock is incredibly tender! Photo by: Evan Berman

Price: 962 NOK ($98.90)

Points Earned: 396 AmEx Membership Rewards Points (4x at Restaurants with the AmEx Gold Card)

Activities:

Oslo Palace:

The grandeur of the palace in Oslo. Photo by: Evan Berman

As Oslo is the capital of Norway, it is unsurprising that there is a palace where the royal family lived. There are tours available in the summertime, though this was not conducive to the time that I was there. I’ve read that scheduling a tour before the sun sets is a wonderful experience– seeing the sunset from the balcony provides great views!

Even if you just walk around the outside, as I did, you will be in awe of the building. The castle is elevated from the surrounding area and there are many steps where you walk up and see the majesty. Great view!

Price: Free, though a tour would be 175 NOK for an adult.

Points Earned: N/A

Oslo Christmas Market:

The Oslo Christmas Market, featuring two “talking” moose! Photo by: Evan Berman

This was the second of two Christmas markets in Norway. Read all about this market as well as the one in Bergen in this article. This was a very nice experience and is a worthwhile stop should you visit Oslo in December.

National Museum Oslo:

National Museum Oslo has a great selection of art– including Munch’s Scream. Photo by: Evan Berman

National Museum Oslo is the main art museum in town. The building is enormous– at 13,000 square feet is the largest museum in the Nordics and larger than Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum and Bilbao’s Guggenheim. I was woefully unprepared and only had 2 hours to explore, which flew by. Make sure you give yourself enough time to see it all!

There are many paintings, including many by Munch, as well as antiques. The Nordic theme is also found in representations of rooms in traditional houses from each of the Nordic countries.

Price: 200 NOK ($20.56).

Points Earned: 41 Capital One Miles (2x Points Earned everywhere with the Capital One Venture X Card)

Nobel Prize Museum:

The Nobel Peace Museum is near the beautiful Oslo Harbor. Photo by: Evan Berman

When most people think of Oslo, the Nobel Prize is one of the first things that comes to mind. There is a museum, aptly named the Nobel Prize Museum, that is a great way to learn more about the history of the organization, as well as the previous winners.

This is the featured prize, not my award! 😉 Photo by: Evan Berman

Price: 140 NOK ($14.01)

Points Earned: 28 Capital One Miles (2x Points Earned everywhere with the Capital One Venture X Card)

Photo of the Trip:

Is this a Nordic theme in advertising, do you think? Photo by: Evan Berman

I didn’t investigate this menu, but it seems a little… unappetising.

Total:

Price:

Food and Drink: 1,950 NOK ($199.61)

Transportation: 1260 NOK ($129.90)

Flights: $151.86 for the flight from Bergen to Oslo.

Hotel: 12,000 Choice Points. I purchased 44,200 points for $350.20. In essence, this stay cost $95.08.

Activities: 340 NOK ($34.57)

Total Price: 3,550 NOK ($611.02)

Points Earned:

Food and Drink: 802 AmEx Membership Rewards Points

Transportation: 390 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

Flights: 759 AmEx Membership Rewards Points, as well as 157 United Miles

Hotel: $17.51 cashback

Activities: 69 Capital One Miles

Total Points: 1,561 AmEx Membership Rewards Points, 390 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points, 69 Capital One Miles, $17.51 in cashback, and 157 United Miles

Thank you, Oslo. Next up: a full recap of the delicious meals in Oslo!