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Hand-picked deals by our pirate team
Hand-picked deals by our pirate team
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Hand-picked deals by our pirate teamOslo holiday guide: Tips and guidance for your stay
Oslo, Norway's capital city, is a great place to visit for a weekend break or longer. Much of the city centre can be explored on foot, but public transport is also available. Check out some of the great deals for hotels and flights to Oslo. There is something to suit everyone with cheap and last-minute package deals. If you are considering making Oslo your next holiday destination, then read on to find out more about the city.
What is the quality of accommodation like in Oslo?
Like most Nordic cities, hotels in Oslo are clean and well-run. You can find everything from four- and five-star hotels near the harbour area to much more budget-friendly options. Most hotels in Oslo provide breakfast, but check the hotel listing before booking. Norwegian hotels tend to offer continental breakfasts, with some local delicacies thrown in.
If you want to book a family trip to Oslo, then only the larger hotels tend to offer suites. Family rooms will be in short supply during the high season, so it is advisable to book these in advance. If you want adjoining or interconnecting rooms, then book early, too. Couples and solo travellers will often find that last-minute bookings are the best way to get a bargain.
Advice for finding cheap flights to Oslo and securing a deal
Booking Oslo flights as soon as budget operators release them is a good method for obtaining the lowest seat prices. If you can travel with carry-on luggage – which should be enough for a weekend trip – then this will also help to keep travel costs down. Couples and families might want to share one or two suitcases between them. This lowers the fees associated with check-in luggage that most budget airlines charge nowadays.
Look for midweek flights to Oslo. Friday and Sunday services for UK-to-Oslo flights are the most popular. Budget airlines tend to hold their prices on flights that are almost fully booked. Last-minute deals can come about only a matter of hours before scheduled flights depart. At times of peak booking, such as the run up to Christmas, last-minute flights to Oslo are often unavailable. This is because all of the seats have already been booked well in advance.
What is there to do in Oslo once you have arrived?
Wandering through the city streets of Oslo is a good way to get to know the city. Oslo is not huge by European standards and is easy to navigate. The modern area by the Opera House and Edvard Munch Gallery is trendy, with plenty to see and do, even if you don't venture inside. Walking distance from here is the famous Akershus Fortress. It offers commanding views over the fjord beyond and has an interesting museum.
If you want to understand the Nordic heritage of Oslo, then a trip to the Viking Ship Museum is worth it. Even if you're not that bothered by history, this is a fascinating place with more than a few surprises. Grünerløkka is the best place to head if you want to try out some of Oslo's trendier bars.
Bear in mind, however, that fine dining and drinking in Oslo is very expensive. Prices are sky-high in upmarket eateries. Look for independent and family-run places to help keep your spending down. Don't feel the need to tip, however, since service charges are typically included in Oslo's dining establishments.
If you have children with you on a family holiday, then head to TusenFryd Amusement Park. It is located just outside the city, but it’s worth the effort. Heading out onto Oslofjord on one of the many ferry services is also a fun activity. Meanwhile, the Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology is an interactive attraction, which is good for entertaining younger ones if the weather is bad.
Is Oslo a good base for exploring the rest of Norway?
Since Oslo is quite small, some visitors want to spread their wings and head further afield. Remember that the capital is in the far south of the country. Therefore, onward travel to Narvik and Trondheim, much further north, takes hours of travel. You can opt for an internal flight or hire a car. However, rail services, even in the depths of winter, are reliable and relatively inexpensive if you organise tickets in advance.
If you tour Norway, then a good tip is to book overnight accommodation in a hotel in Oslo ahead of your return flight. Many good hotels are clustered around Oslo's main train station, which offers both stopping and express services to the city's principal airport. This way, even if your train to Oslo is delayed by a few hours, you will still be able to make your flight the next day.
FAQs about Oslo holidays
Q: What month is the cheapest to fly to Norway?
A: Norway is the least costly to fly to in midwinter. After-Christmas flights to Oslo are often less expensive. Flights to Oslo from the UK and other parts of Europe tend to be at their lowest in January and February. However, prices for flights to skiing destinations further north in Norway often remain high until after the winter sports season.
Q: Which UK airports fly direct to Oslo?
A: Three London airports offer flights to Oslo: Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. Other than flights to Oslo from London, you can also fly from Manchester and Edinburgh. Beyond UK-to-Oslo services, cheap flights to Oslo tend to be found from several European hubs, such as Dublin, Amsterdam and Copenhagen.
Q: Are there two airports in Oslo?
A: The Norwegian capital is served by two international airports. The closest is Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL), which is the country's major air hub. The other is Oslo Torp Airport (TRF) in Sandefjord, where tickets can be cheaper because of the onward travel needed to get to the city. Either way, public transport connections to Oslo city centre are reliable and straightforward.
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