Oslo in 24 hours with beer in your hand
Oslo is rapidly garnering some serious interest. To this end, we thought it would be a good idea to put together a short guide for those of you are coming to our city.
You have arrived in Gardermoen (or Torp that is, although it is much further away from the city). Next stop is your hotel or Airbnb. Once you have checked in, time to paint the tiles and see the sights that our fair city has to offer. Before the sightseeing begins, let’s start with the ‘need to know’.
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Alcohol
If you want to save money but still enjoy a nightcap, alcohol is much cheaper at duty-free or in one of the city’s supermarkets or smaller shops. However, be warned: beer can only be sold before 8 pm on weekdays and 6 pm on Saturdays while wine, spirits and stronger beer (4.7% and above) must be bought at a Vinmonopolet outlet. Those hours could prove to be difficult what with closing at 6 pm on weekdays and 3 pm on Saturdays. On Sundays, you can only buy alcohol in bars and restaurants which will set you back upwards of £7 for a beer and with spirits, you are looking at upwards of £10.
Right! That will give you the chance to plan your trip thoroughly.
Waterfront: Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen
Head down to Aker Brygge. This is the old pier area that now is a great place to shop with an equally great food court. For a beer, head over to Beer Palace. They have a good selection of both international AND Norwegian beer (of course).
-Aker Brygge Marina - Photo: akerbrygge.no-
Then go back to the pier and make your way to the new area, called Tjuvholmen. Here you will find a contemporary museum, but more importantly, stop by their cafe and have a beer there as well while you look at the seafront and unwind.
For drinks, you can meander to the other side of the pier and look for BAR Tjuvholmen. This is not to everyone's taste but the vibe there on a sunny day is super chilled.
As you walk away from the pier, walk by the Nobel Peace Centre and the boxy city hall. Now you can check it off the list.
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City centre
The main street in Oslo is called Karl Johan. Honestly, most locals don’t hang out there. Have a look at the castle if that tickles your fancy (which was actually the summer house of the Danish king back in the day when Norway was part of Denmark, so not too grand in other words, but we like it). Stop at the YME store on the way. If shopping is not your thing, then walk on towards the Oslo S (central station). When you pass Burger King on the right along the way, look up. Our office is on the second floor. Stop by if you have time for a chat (and a beer).
-Fuglen bar in Oslo - Photo: Fuglen bar-
If you are keen for some cocktails (beer could be tough for a whole day), head over to Fuglen bar for their award-winning drinks (and coffee).
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The opera
-The Opera - Photo: VisitOslo-
Although we focus on beer and eating, the opera is a cultural experience that we would recommend. So planning a quick trip to the opera would be ideal. In that area, you will find Vippa. Vippa is a food court by the sea which you can enjoy at your leisure (but a bit overpriced sadly). Sørenga is also great and if it is a warm summer day, you can go to the beach there and indulge in a spot of sunbathing.
-Inside of the Opera - Photo: Svein Gunnar Kjøde-
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Barcode area in Oslo
-From the Barcode area beside the Opera - Photo: Svein Gunnar Kjøde-
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Youngstorget (with a few barbers thrown in for good measure)
This is as close as you can get to the party streets of Greece. There are a variety of bars to choose from and some of them even quite good. Stop by Himkok, voted to be one of the 50 best bars in the world (we had a launch party at Himkok and the drinks are really good.). If you are looking for barbers, we have one named Pels Pels (actually located in the Himkok bar) or you could venture across the street to Edge Barbers. These are the two best barbers in town I would say.
-Pels Pels Barber, part of Himkok bar - Photo: Pels Pels-
-Edge Barber after we did one of our product tests-
Kulturhuset, in the same area, is relaxed if you like to walk around and look at people. Or stop by Botaniske for some excellent drinks where they go out of their way to make it a worthwhile experience. You should just walk around in this area with Torggate being your main street. Crowbar is great for Norwegian beer.
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Løkka
-Place: Blå (Blue bar) - Photo: Svein Gunnar Kjøde-
A hipster’s paradise. It is not too big but it does the job admirably. Head to Mathallen food court for further refreshments. The longest bar in Norway, named Smelteverket, can be found in the basement there and it has a great selection of Norwegian beer. Thereafter, move on to Tim Wendelboe; said to serve the best coffee in the city. I have actually met people from Japan who have come to Oslo for the sole purpose of drinking this coffee. The whole area of Markveien and Thorvald Meyers gate is just an exceptional experience to have. There are some great bars like Tiki Tiki (which includes Hawaii apparel and crazy drinks) to Schouskjelleren Mikrobryggeri (which is an old underground brewery) where they make their own beer. Come for one drink and stay for five.
-From the River festival in Oslo - Photo: Svein Gunnar Kjøde-
After all is said and done, you would have navigated the best areas that Oslo has to offer (more or less). There are many more places to visit; however, these would be the top choices for a short trip here.
And just a small tip on the end, if you are visiting during the summer, get some beers and take one of the ferries out to the small islands in the Oslo fjords. There is a great way to chill on the beach while watching people bathing and having a good time.
So there you have it. Now you can check Oslo off your list of destinations. Cheers!
