Can help with Q for Oslo if someone needs it;)

Can you tell me if the TI office to purchase the Oslo Pass is still open on the pier? And exactly where is it located?

 

Thanks so much

Linda

Hope to see the answer to this question before we leave. We pre-purchased the Oslo Pass, but because we are seniors and paid the senior rate, we need to check in at the TI booth to show ID proving our age and then get the card. The advantage of pre-purchase is that we don't have to stand in line to get this done. With our luck, there won't be a line anyway.

Hope to see the answer to this question before we leave. We pre-purchased the Oslo Pass, but because we are seniors and paid the senior rate, we need to check in at the TI booth to show ID proving our age and then get the card. The advantage of pre-purchase is that we don't have to stand in line to get this done. With our luck, there won't be a line anyway.

Sorry for late answer, we had a small problem to attend during the weekend...

The tourist office is open on sundays.

http://www.visitoslo.com/en/tourist-information-centre/

So just go there and pick-up the card. They will help you:)

Can you tell me if the TI office to purchase the Oslo Pass is still open on the pier? And exactly where is it located?

 

Thanks so much

Linda

Hello Linda!

They are not open according to the official site of sales points of Oslo Pass.

See the in the link:

http://www.visitoslo.com/en/activities-and-attractions/oslo-pass/sales-points-list/?viewType=map

If your cruise is docking in Vippetangen or Akershus Festning then it is not to fare to walk to Østbanen were the head office of Oslo Tourist is located. You can walk by the Opera and have a nice view of the oceanfront. They have free wifi at Oslo Tourist Office.

Or find a sails point that are on the way of your plans in Oslo by looking in the map.

Is something big going on in Oslo at the end of May? I was looking for a hotel near Oslo S for 31 May, 2017 I had planned to book the Thon Opera but it was already fully booked. As was the hotel inside the station (a Comfort Inn I believe). Almost every hotel in central Oslo is already booked for that night. The airport hotels had availability but their rates were substantially higher than they were for a night I booked prior to our departure in mid-June.

 

Is it likely additional rooms will open up later near the train station or should we go ahead and book at the airport and just take the train into town??

Hello!

I`ve haven't found any event or other things that could be the reason to fill up the hotels already. So there are no big concert at Telenor Arena/Oslo Spektrum or sporting event at Bislett Stadion.

And it is in the middle of the week, so they are maby not open for bookings yet or they hold a lots of rooms in-case they have a congress.

I know that a lot of hotels are late open for bookings.

Have you tried to send the hotel a direct mail? If they are full due to a congress they will tell you.

If you have a short stay in Oslo, go for a hotel in the city centre:)

I did a quick search on hotels.com just to see what are open for bookings. I dont no your price range. But there are some to choose from around in Oslo and suburban areas, but many are not open for bookings:(

https://no.hotels.com/search.do?resolved-location=CITY%3A939302%3AUNKNOWN%3AUNKNOWN&destination-id=939302&q-destination=Oslo,%20Norge&q-check-in=2017-05-31&q-check-out=2017-06-01&q-rooms=1&q-room-0-adults=2&q-room-0-children=0

This is located close to the train station. Next to Oslo Børs ( Oslo stock)

https://no.hotels.com/hotel/details.html?q-check-out=2017-06-01&q-check-in=2017-05-31&WOE=4&WOD=3&q-room-0-children=0&pa=33&tab=description&hotel-id=184224&q-room-0-adults=2&YGF=14&MGT=1&ZSX=1&SYE=3

You can do a open booking on a hotel at OSL and then see again closer to christmas if it is rooms on the hotels you prefer?

Hope that helps you a litte on the way:rolleyes:

Thanks so much Norway Lady. You are so kind to answer all our questions. I will just wait a bit and see if more rooms open up after the first of the year. The Thon Opera and the Comfort in the station had rooms available a few weeks ago when I first looked but I didn't think I needed to be in a hurry to book and now they appear to be fully booked. I made a backup reservation at the airport that can be canceled if I can find something at the station. I will check out the property in your link.

Thanks so much.

Hello,

We are arriving on the Regal Princess on August 31 from 10am to 11pm. I will be pushing my dad in a wheelchair. We have no tours booked. Any suggestions of sites we can visit by foot? We just want to visit the downtown area and take some pictures and have a bite to eat. Not sure if the transit system is wheelchair friendly; will take taxi if necessary. Any information will be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,

Grace

Hello,

 

We are arriving on the Regal Princess on August 31 from 10am to 11pm. I will be pushing my dad in a wheelchair. We have no tours booked. Any suggestions of sites we can visit by foot? We just want to visit the downtown area and take some pictures and have a bite to eat. Not sure if the transit system is wheelchair friendly; will take taxi if necessary. Any information will be greatly appreciated.

 

Many thanks,

Grace

Since you're docking at Akershuskai, it's a 5-10 minute walk to the city hall. You could easily pop in to see the mural in the main hall, where the Nobel peace prize is awarded. Speaking of, just across the plaza is the old Oslo West train station, which now houses the Nobel Peace Center if that's something that would interest you. The center is full of high-tech digital displays explaining the history of the prize, the laureates, etc.

If you're up for a walk, it's not far to Karl Johans gate, which is Oslo's central street. It runs from the Royal Palace down to the central train station and passes along the way the National Theatre, Oslo University, Storting (parliament), and Oslo Cathedral.

As for the typical Oslo highlights, you could visit the museums at Bygdøy by catching the Bus #30 towards Bygdøy in front of the city hall. The city buses have a ramp at the middle door that can be extended manually to facilitate passengers in wheelchairs. The bus stops right out front of all of the museums: The Folk Museum may not be as interesting, since you can't explore inside the buildings, but if it's a nice day and you're willing to brave the unpaved terrain, you could still explore the exteriors and the grounds. The Viking Ship Museum gets good reviews from wheelchair patrons, even though they couldn't climb up to the small viewing platforms for the view from above, since you can still admire the ships from ground level, and most of the museum is on the ground floor. Many people are pleasantly surprised by the Fram Museum. In addition to the ship itself (which is not wheelchair-accessible), it houses numerous exhibits about Arctic and Antarctic exploration. The Kon-Tiki Museum across the street is good if you're interested in Thor Heyerdahl's explorations, but it's mostly reading, and a lot of visitors who aren't already interested in the subject don't get a lot out of it.

Vigelands Sculpture Park is the other major highlight, but it would be a bit more cumbersome to get there. Although the Monolith sculpture in the middle is surrounded by stairs, there are plenty of pieces of artwork that are accessible in the surrounding area. Most people take the Tram #12 from in front of the city hall, however I do not believe this would be possible with a wheelchair. Instead, you'd need to walk up to the Nationaltheatret metro entrance, take the first westbound train one stop to Majorstuen, and then walk about 15 minutes down Kirkeveien to get to the park.

Thank you, Kaisatsu. Since transit is wheelchair friendly; we might take a bus loop around the area just to see the surrounding. My dad likes to ride the bus and just to see the scenery. Any suggestion on the bus loop? Can we paid in person or do we need to buy bus ticket? How much?

Grace

You can buy tickets from the bus driver, but they cost more and are cash only. The alternative is to buy tickets/passes from a convenience store, where you can use a credit card. (There is a 7-11 behind the city hall.)

The price for a single 1-hour ticket is 32 NOK purchased in advance or 50 NOK on board.

https://ruter.no/en/buying-tickets/tickets-and-fares/

The Bus #30 might still be a good option for this as the ride through Bygdøy is pleasant. It feels like you're in the countryside, even though it's just starve edge of the city center. The stretch between the city hall and Bygdøy passes through part of the classic Frogner neighborhood.

Most of the central buses travel major streets that aren't always that scenic. :(

Another ?. Does bus 30 return back to City Hall or do we have to get off the bus to take another bus back to City Hall (Downtown). Or will it be included within the hour?

Thanks again!

Another ?. Does bus 30 return back to City Hall or do we have to get off the bus to take another bus back to City Hall (Downtown). Or will it be included within the hour?

 

Thanks again!

Good that Kaisatsu had answers for you. We have just returned from a cruise in the mediterranean today:)

You can take the same bus back to the city center.

https://ruter.no/en/journey-planner/Mellom/Fra/(3010162)Bygdøynes%20(ved%20KonTiki-museet)%20(Oslo)/til/(2000001161)Oslo%20rådhus%20(Oslo)/etter/310820161339/#st:0,sp:0,bp:0

On the way out to Bygdø is #30 HUK on the front at the bus, at HUK the sing change to #30 NYDALEN.

The bus only has a short stop at HUK. So you can ride on the same ticket back to the city town hall.

If you would like to get of the bus and go visitt a museum or to take a walk at Bygdø, you can by a day-pass at 7/11-kiosk or Narvesen.

https://ruter.no/en/buying-tickets/tickets-and-fares/24-hour-tickets/

How old are your dad? If he is older then 67 he is travelling on a child ticket.

AND

Wheelchair

If you are in a wheelchair, you travel free on our transport services. #Ruter

https://ruter.no/en/journey-planner/accessibility/

Enjoy your day in Oslo:D

Thank you for answering everyone's questions. Here is mine, we will be staying just out side Oslo and will be flying from Oslo to Copenhagen. Our flight is at 7 o'clock in the morning. What time should we be at the airport? Joan

Thank you for answering everyone's questions. Here is mine, we will be staying just out side Oslo and will be flying from Oslo to Copenhagen. Our flight is at 7 o'clock in the morning. What time should we be at the airport? Joan

Hello!

What time of year are you flying from OSL? During the holidays it is more traffic during the morning then the rest of the year.

Summer season is from ish 20.june to 20.august. Autumn holidays is week 40/41. Winter holidays is week 8. And christmas and easter is the holidays+ some days in front and after depending on if it is in connection whit a weekend.

All dates that are marked whit RED and not placed under SØ is a holiday i Norway. That means that most shops, schools, kindergarten etc are closed. You can click on 2018/2017 and you will see when the moving holidays are, since they will allocate from year to year. Moste moving holidays take place in may/june. Im sorry that this calendar only is in norwegian, but it is easy to find RED dates that means holiday.

http://www.norskkalender.no

You can print boarding cards and bag tags from alle the kiosk at the airport. Just pick your airline on the front page. If you travel whit SK or DY and your bag are less then 23kg you can scann it by your self, at self-service counters. It is very easy. Just put your bag on the belt and scann the tag. Of it goes:)

If i have a plane to catch at 7.am i will be at the airport at 5.15-5.45. Then I have plenty of time to go thru security and have a cup of coffee.

You will not go thru passport-controls. Just security.

Hope that helps on your planning:)

Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge!

We will be in Oslo on the first Sunday in September. Are all museums, stores, etc open?

We will be in Oslo on the first Sunday in September. Are all museums, stores, etc open?

Museums and restaurants should be open, but most stores will be closed. Only small shops and those in tourist areas are open on Sundays.

We will only have an afternoon and evening in Oslo. Staying at an airport hotel. What can we do in that time? Can you recommend a tour guide?

We don't have pin and chip cards here in US that I know of. Will we have to use Krones for everything? I will have to get more Krones if we do. Thanks Lucy from the USA

When I was in Europe this past summer, I could not figure out why they would ask me pin or signature...then it dawned on me that they were really asking debit or credit. Just like in the US, merchants have to pay to accept credit cards. Debit (using your pin) is cheaper for the merchants :-) :-)

My university daughter is headed to Oslo in February for an international case competition at BI Norwegian School of Business. They have 2 free days after the competition ends, what can they do? She would love to see the fjords or the Northern lights, but that looks ambitious for 2 days... Any close in fjord tours by Oslo? Any other day trip suggestions?

Thanks

Leslie

Hello CC!

 

We are living in Oslo, Norway. So if someone has questions for Oslo and needs help whit planning feel free to ask. We ask you when we go somewhere new, so we can share from the homeport:cool:

 

Quicklinks for Oslo and some regional:)

 

TRAVEL GUIDES

 

Visit Norway-Official travel guide to Norway.

http://www.visitnorway.com

 

Visit Oslo-Official travel guide to Oslo

http://www.visitoslo.com

 

Oslo Pass-Touritscard that covers local transport and entry to more than 30 museums.

http://www.visitoslo.com/en/activities-and-attractions/oslo-pass/

 

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Cruise piers

 

http://www.visitoslo.com/en/trade-media-cruise/cruise/the-port-of-oslo/cruise-piers-and-facilities/

 

If you don´t know were you will be docking or wondering if another cruise will dock at the same day.

Open the PDF and find your sailing in the list.

http://oslohavn.no/no/cruise/

 

 

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TRANSPORTTATION

 

Oslo Airport Gardermoen OSL-main airport for Norway.

https://avinor.no/flyplass/oslo/

 

NSB- Train in Norway. Local and regional trains.

https://www.nsb.no/en/frontpage

 

Ruter#-Local transportation Oslo and Akershus. Bus, Tram, Train, Metro and Boat

https://ruter.no/en/

 

SAS- Domestic and international flights. Together whit Widerøe they cover the small airports in Lofoten, Helgeland and Finnmark.

https://www.flysas.com

 

Widerøe- Domestic flights that covers small airports around Norway(Lofoten, Finnmark etc)

http://www.wideroe.no

 

Norwegian- Domestic and international flights. Do not cover the small airports in Norway. Low-cost carrier.

http://www.norwegian.com

 

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APPs

 

Ruter# There is 2 app´s. One for tickets and one for departure times.

 

Ruterbillett

This app is just for buing tickets to the local transportation in Oslo/Akershus.

 

Ruterbillett IPHONE. For bying tickets if you dont have OsloPass.

https://itunes.apple.com/no/app/ruterbillett/id581486486?ls=1&mt=8

Ruterbillett ANDROID. For bying tickets if you dont have OsloPass.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=no.ruter.mobile&hl=no

Ruterbillett WINDOWS. For bying tickets if you dont have OsloPass.

https://www.microsoft.com/nb-no/store/apps/ruterbillett/9nblggh0873c

 

RuterReise

This app is for departure times and for finding routes to destination.

RuterReise IPHONE

RuterReise ANDROID

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=no.ruter.reise

RuterReise WINDOWS

https://www.microsoft.com/nb-no/store/apps/ruterreise/9wzdncrdc89j

 

 

VisittOslo

http://www.visitoslo.com/en/oslo/apps/

Gives you offline map of Oslo, event calendar, museums, cafes etc. Can be used when dataroaming is off. IPHONE/ANDROID

 

OsloPass App

http://www.visitoslo.com/en/activities-and-attractions/oslo-pass/oslo-pass-app/

You can buy the pass at home and activate it on arrival in Oslo. No need to pick up cards. IPHONE/ANDROID

 

VisitNorway App

Gives you information about museums, hotels, nature walks, mountains, restaurants etc.

IPHONE

https://itunes.apple.com/app/id391468072?mt=8

ANDROID

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=makingwaves.in.vn.android.app&feature=search_result&hl=en

 

NorwayLights App

Northern lights (Aurelia Borealis) forecast.

IPHONE

https://itunes.apple.com/no/app/norway-lights/id717106363

ANDROID

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.visitnorway.norwaylights&hl=en

 

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Places of interest in Oslo, a small list of what you can do.....

 

The Royal House of Norway

Guidet tours in the castle during the summer season. Nice walk from the pier.

http://www.royalcourt.no

 

The Vigeland Museum

Offers guidet tours and you can walk free inn the park.

http://www.vigeland.museum.no/en

 

Norsk Folkemuseum

Here you will find old norwegian houses and a stav kirke. Open air museum.

http://norskfolkemuseum.no/en

 

The Viking Ship Museum

Viking ships

http://www.khm.uio.no/english/visit-us/viking-ship-museum/

 

Kon-Tiki

Thor Heyerdahls rafts and tours.

http://www.kon-tiki.no/en/

 

Opera

http://operaen.no/en/

 

Edvard Munch

Famous painter, Skrik

http://munchmuseet.no/en/

 

Astrup Fearnley

http://afmuseet.no/en/hjem

 

Ekebergparken

http://ekebergparken.com/en

 

The Ibsen Museum

http://norskfolkemuseum.no/en/Related-units/The-Ibsen-Museum/

 

Akershus Fortress

http://www.forsvarsbygg.no/festningene/Festningene/Akershus-festning/English/

 

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TIP

In Norway the salary is higer then in the US. So there is no need to give lots of tip. If you have a sit-down lunsj or dinner and you are very pleased then you leave some tip. But there is no need to tip 18%.

If you are on a guidet tour and your guide is super, feel free to give some tip but you dont have to tip according to price of the tour.

If you buy take-out coffee and pastery, no need to tip.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Debit/Creditcards

Most places in Norway take cards (99%) All norwegians cards have pin+chip.

You must have pin-code to your card. Prefer to have pin and chip.

 

 

Hope this give you a quick introduction for Oslo and Norway. If you have questions, feel free to ask.

Good morning Leslie:)

So exciting for your daughter to participate at the case competition at BI:)

Fjords and northern lights is tricky, since it is a short time. You have to go north for northern lights(it happens that you can see it in Oslo, but that is not usual) and fjords are more of the western part of Norway (Bergen, Ålesund, Geiranger etc)

Do you know if BI has plans for their guests? If they will have a sightseeing or other arrangements?

I will ask around if they are going to have som activities for them during the stay. I have a family member that works part time in BI, he is a Dr.Econ.

I will come back to you later;)

Hi

Thank you in advance for your answer. We land at 430pm on a Sunday, then leave on Norway in a nutshell to Bergen the next morning at 7am, only to return from Bergen that night on the overnight train from Bergen. Is there reliable and safe place to store our big luggage (and only take a day bag with us) at the train station? We are to arrive back in Oslo by 7am and our flight is at 11am back the the U.S.

Thank you!

Hi

Thank you in advance for your answer. We land at 430pm on a Sunday, then leave on Norway in a nutshell to Bergen the next morning at 7am, only to return from Bergen that night on the overnight train from Bergen. Is there reliable and safe place to store our big luggage (and only take a day bag with us) at the train station? We are to arrive back in Oslo by 7am and our flight is at 11am back the the U.S.

How large is your "big luggage"? There are lockers at the central train station, but they may not fit something like a 29" suitcase. This photo is a bit old, but the photo might give some idea of the locker sizes:

http://travel.stackexchange.com/questions/50186/how-big-are-the-luggage-lockers-at-oslos-central-railway-station

Where are you staying on Sunday night? Most full-service hotels are willing to hold your luggage for a day and some will do so overnight (or even longer). If you're staying reasonably close to the train station (or airport), you might contact the hotel to find out if this is an option.

I'm not sure if this belongs in a new thread, but I thought I'd start here first since you so kindly offer your expertise!

We're planning to take a Baltic cruise this summer, round trip from Copenhagen. Unfortunately, the only Scandinavian port missing from the itinerary is Norway. I did a quick search and found that after the cruise ends, we could possibly take the ferry to Oslo, spend a day or two and return to Copenhagen for our flight home. Is this a realistic idea? If so, would it be worth it if we could only spend such a short time in Oslo? Is the ferry the best way to get there?

Many thanks for any advice you can offer!

I'm not sure if this belongs in a new thread, but I thought I'd start here first since you so kindly offer your expertise!

We're planning to take a Baltic cruise this summer, round trip from Copenhagen. Unfortunately, the only Scandinavian port missing from the itinerary is Norway. I did a quick search and found that after the cruise ends, we could possibly take the ferry to Oslo, spend a day or two and return to Copenhagen for our flight home. Is this a realistic idea? If so, would it be worth it if we could only spend such a short time in Oslo? Is the ferry the best way to get there?

Many thanks for any advice you can offer!

Hello!

You can take the ferry, DFDS. They sail daily from Copenhagen to Oslo. I leaves from CPH 16.30 and arrive the next day in Oslo 09.45. It is the same on the return. Keep in mind that this is a ferry and not a cruise ship;) Since it is summer season the price on the ferry can be hige. So an alternative can ble air. CPH-OSL is 60min and flights leave all day, 7days a week. So this is a very flexible choice.

If you should take the time to come to Norway, depends on your preferences. Have you been to Copenhagen before? It is much to see and do in Denmark in wider Copenhagen. Do you have something special you would like to see in Oslo?

Oslo during the summer i very nice and theres a lots of different things to do, it all hang on what you want and your preferences. So i can not say yes or no, it all depend on your taste....:)

If you are thinking about fjords and mountains, you have to go other places then Oslo.

Hope this give you something to think on, feel free to ask more if you wonder;)

Hi, and good morning. Can you recommend a hotel close to the train station in a good safe area, please, that's not too high in price for May, please, for 2 nights, and easy access to get to airport by either taxi or public trains? We will be coming from Bergen by train into Oslo.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Liz