OSLO Waterfront center
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Provided by:
Hop On
Click "DOWNLOAD" and "START" to open the map. You may use the Free Wifi onboard. Wifi: HoponWifi / Password: Hopon12345.
You are now standing right outside the monumental National Museum, where you can experience older and modern art, contemporary art, architecture, and design all under one roof and in completely new ways. The National Museum’s mandate is to develop, conserve, research, make available and promote public knowledge about Norway’s biggest collection of art, architecture, and design. The museum opened its doors for the first time in 1837. Since then, the museum has changed both its character, location, buildings and contents, but in 2022 Norway finally gathered many of its greatest national treasures under one roof. And here you are now. Go in, check out the exhibitions or use the links below for more information and booking.
Watch out! The renowned contemporary artist Brendan Murphy has brought his iconic Boonji Spaceman series to Oslo in the form of an almost 7. meter high, impressive installation with the appropriate title What's Next. Murphy takes the pulse of the zeitgeist and future of Oslo's dynamic centre and pays tribute to the city's rich historical roots and heritage by matching the matte blue body to the exact same colour as that of the Norwegian flag. What's Next represents Oslo's monumental metamorphosis and exciting future, while at the same time paying tribute to the city's rich history and culture. This gigantic blue Boonji is a beacon for Oslo's exciting future. The work is an artistic feat, and the sculpture, which weighs 1,360 tonnes, required extensive transport in five crates to cross the ocean. (The sculpture has been installed in collaboration with Norwegian Property and Fine art, Murphy's gallery partner in Oslo).
Norwegians have been a traveling people since the dawn of time. Vikings, traders, explorers, footballers, students and business people have traveled the globe in search of new experiences. And many start their adventure right here where you stand now. Color Line has transported passengers, goods and vehicles out into the wider world since 1872, but then under the name "Kristansands Damskibsselskap". First, they established a fixed route between Kristiansand and Ferdrikshavn in Denmark. Today, the boats go between Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. The "Kiel" ferry is a beloved and well-known route to Europe both with and without a car. Check out the links below for more information and booking.
Do you fancy a guided tour in The Norwegian National Opera & Ballet? Then you have the opportunity here. The Opera stands as an iconic testament to modern architectural brilliance. Designed by Snøhetta architects, its sleek marble exterior resembles an iceberg floating in the fjord, inviting exploration. When they opened their doors in 2008, they also revealedd a unique concept where visitors can walk on its roof, offering panoramic views of the city. Its interior mirrors the purity of Scandinavian design, featuring wood, glass, and steel elements. It is also the home to the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet companies, it hosts diverse performances, ranging from classical operas to contemporary ballet. The opera house embodies Norway's cultural prestige and architectural innovation. Read more and book performances or guided tours on the links below.
You are now standing in front of the sculpture of King Olav V, who was the King of Norway from 1957 to 1991. He was a very popular king and always had an amusing story to share. The King always stood by the people, and when the oil crisis paralyzed Norway, he left his limousine in the garage and took the tram like any ordinary person. He was the son of King Haakon VII and Queen Maud and was baptized Alexander Edward Christian Frederik and was the Prince of Denmark. When his father was crowned king after the dissolution of the union with Sweden in 1905, the Prince was only two years old and took the name Crown Prince Olav. The Crown Prince was then the first Norwegian heir to the throne to grow up in Norway since the Middle Ages. He developed an early interest in sports and was an active sailor for over 70 years. The highlight of his sports career was when he won an Olympic gold in Amsterdam in 1928. The year after, Crown Prince Olav married Princess Märtha of Sweden and they had three children together. Monarchy has always been strong in Norway. The motto for the Norwegian kings has been "Alt for Norge" (Everything for Norway). Approachability, warmth, and empathy in good times, and decisive action in bad times, are descriptions that contribute to the Norwegian people not only standing behind our own king but also looking up to and admiring him.
Peter Wessel Tordenskiold was an admiral in the Danish-Norwegian fleet and born in Trondheim in 1690. His father was a loyal man and was both a merchant, councilor and ship owner. He had a total of 18 children. Peter hired his father's boat at an early age and as a 15-year-old he served on several slave ships before starting the sea cadet school in Copenhagen. Peter Wessel Tordenskiold was an admiral in the Danish-Norwegian fleet and was born in Trondheim in 1690. His father was a wealthy man who was a merchant, councilman, and shipowner. He had a total of 18 children. Peter started working on his father's boat at a young age and at the age of 15, he served on several slave ships before he started at the naval cadet school in Copenhagen. His path to the navy was short from there and he quickly rose in rank, eventually becoming an admiral. Peter was known as an excellent sailor and is often described as courageous, quick-thinking, and cunning. As the commander-in-chief, he led the fleet to several victories in battles against the Swedes and is credited with sinking the entire Swedish fleet in Gothenburg. This was also a significant factor in the Swedish King Karl XII giving up his attempts to conquer Norway. Perhaps he was sometimes a little too overconfident. He died in Germany in 1720, at just 30 years old, where he lost a duel with a sword.
You have just entered SALT, a complete cultural village with six stages, catering facilities and a sauna. SALT will be a display space for the city's creative environments, with a program that includes concerts, theatre, film, festivals, clubs, lectures, exhibitions, debates and family events. Throughout all seasons, visitors can relax in the sauna, quench their thirst and taste exciting food. The idea and the name are based on old Norwegian traditions. They call themselves a nomadic art project with pyramid constructions called "hesje", which is based on traditional construction methods along the coast of Norway. Norway has one of the world's longest coastlines and an old coastal culture where the people have fished in harmony with nature. The fishermen set up fishing lines to dry the fish in the wind. Dried fish not only provided people with nourishment, but also became an export item that has been significant in terms of building Norway. Try the food, have a drink, try the sauna and check out the versatile program on the links below.
The building that rises before you now, is the Munch museum, which is a tribute to Edwards Munch's life, work and art. The magnificent building opened in 2021 and offers 13 floors of experiences in front of the district's new skyline and reinforces the area's cultural diversity. Edward Munch is best known for his iconic work SKRIK, "The Scream", which, has become one of the most recognizable images in art history. Munch's artwork is known for exploring deep emotions, the fragility of life and human vulnerability, and his style combines symbolism, impressionism and early expressionism. Throughout his career, Munch created a number of other well-known works, such as "Madonna", "Pikene på broen" and "Livets dans". These works often reflect on universal themes such as love, death, jealousy and existential anxiety. Munch's ability to capture human emotions on canvas has secured him a place among art history's most prominent artists. Please check the links below if you would like more information or to order tickets.
Now you have arrived the Oslo Town Hall Square between the City Hall and the piers that extend out into the fjord called Pipervika. To the right of the City Hall and the piers, you see Akershus Fortress, which towers majestically over the city and down to the cruise harbor and the fjord. To the left of the City Hall you will see the Nobel Peace Center which is located in front of the National Museum. The commercial area Aker brygge lies to their left again and Tjuvholmen with the Astrup Fearnley museum completes the visual journey into the versatile life that dominates Pipervika today. In the old days, you couldn't stand here without being run over by furious cars. Here, the main traffic route ran through Oslo from east to south and west. And at Aker Brygge was one of the most important shipyards in Norwegian history. Fortunately, all of this is gone today, but there are still many dangers lurking underground. No, it's not underground creatures, but cars. The traffic still rolls from east to west, but now, luckily, in a network of tunnels a few meters below you.
Now you have arrived at Akershus fortress and hopefully ready for 700 years of exciting history. The fortess was originally built at the end of the 13th century as a medieval royal castle with a seat for the king's representatives. Inside you will find Akershus Castle, the Defense Museum and Norway's Home Front Museum,(Norway's Resistance Museum) the concert and theater stage Karpedammen as well as cultural institutions and restaurants. Throughout its more than 700-year history, the fortress has survived several sieges, but has never been taken by force by a hostile, foreign army. Today it lies like a pearl in the middle of Oslo city centre, surrounded by green oak trees in the summer. As well as being a popular tourist destination and recreation area, the area is still a military fortress under Akershus' command. All entrance to the fortress area is free. The museums, events and eateries have their own opening times and prices. You will find more information in the points of interess in this guide when you enter the fortress.
Welcome to Akershus fortress visitor center. Here you will get a full overview of what is happening at Akershus Fortress, exhibitions, information and a good starting point for exploring the fortress. They also provide guided tours about the fortress's unique history.
Here, you can follow the gravel road to the entrance and ticket purchase to one of the country's most central institutions for occupation history, The Norway's Home Front Museum. It was founded in 1962 and is housed in a half-timbered house from the 17th-18th centuries. The exhibition shows several aspects of the resistance struggle and daily life in Norway during the Second World War. The story is brought to life through peepholes, sound recordings and film clips. You can find opening times and information in the links below.
A visit to Akershus Castle is like a walk through Norwegian history from the 14th Century until the present day. Originally Akershus Castle was built as a medieval fortress in around 1300AD under the reign of King Håkon V. During the first half of the 17th Century, the Danish/Norwegian King Christian IV decided to modernise and rebuild it into a renaissance castle. In the 19th Century, the castle fell into disrepair and was close to demolition. Fortunately, Akershus Castle was rescued and restored during the first half of the 20th Century after Norway regained its independence in 1905. Today, the castle's splendid halls are home to the Norwegian government's official functions. When visiting the castle, you will find remains of the original medieval castle, rooms used as a residence for the Danish-Norwegian kings, gloomy dungeons, narrow hallways and majestic halls. The gorgeous castle church and the Royal Mausoleum are also part of your tour through the castle. More info and tickets follow below.
The Defense Museum is the main museum of the Norwegian Armed Forces, and has been housed in this old arsenal building at Akershus Fortress since 1860. The exhibitions show the history of the Norwegian armed forces, with an emphasis on the period from the 15th century to the present day. The exhibitions give an insight into the development of the Armed Forces and show how military thinking and the reality of war have been closely linked to technological, economic and political development. The museum has several thematic exhibitions and conveys information from all branches of defence. This is how you can, on a historical basis, take a stand on issues of defense history, and on the role of the Armed Forces today. The museum has many activities in and around the exhibitions for both young and old.
The slightly squeezed statue in front of you is the memorial to the catastrophic fire on the car ferry Scandinavian Star in 1990. On the night of April 7, the ferry sailed from Oslo to Fredrikshavn in Denmark, but when it crossed the Skagerak, the fire alarm went off at two in the morning. In the hours that followed, several fires broke out elsewhere on board which indicated that they were arson. Scandinavian Star was towed to Lysekil in Sweden, where the fire was finally extinguished. 158 people were then killed, one person later died of injuries. Most of the dead were Norwegians. This is the biggest ship disaster in recent Norwegian history. The cause of the fire has never been clarified.
You are now standing in the open circular area, Fridtjof Nansens plass. Fridtjof Nansen is one of Norway's most versatile and internationally famous people of all time. He was a pioneering naturalist, polar expedition leader, writer and artist, diplomat and philanthropist. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922 and is one of the country's most decorated people. To the east, you can see the stairs leading up to the entrance to the Town Hall, where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded each year. In the opposite direction, the road named after another famous Norwegian polar explorer, Roald Amundsen, stretches up to Karl Johans gate, the Palace and the Stortinget. If you follow the side street to the right of the City hall, you will reach the Crown Princess Mârtha's place before you enter the National Museum and the restaurant and shopping area Aker Brygge.
Here, in the middle of the city by Stortorvet, a sacred space opens up. Here is the Cathedral, which is open to the city and people in all their diversity. The doors are open every single day from Monday to Thursday during the daytime, and on Fridays in the evening. Then the visitors can light a candle and make an appointment for a conversation. As you can see, the cathedral is a magnificent building, and even though it is over 300 years old, services and events such as concerts, seminars, lectures and tours are still held throughout the year. Oslo Cathedral brings the city and the whole country together when they need something bigger than themselves. It is the church for the Royal House, the Storting and the Government. Check the links for more information and opening times.
Do you like to read? At least the man who originated the building and the library in front of you did, Carl Deichman. He lived in the 18th century and was a real voracious reader. Here at Deichman Bjørvika, which is Oslo's main library, you will find six floors of literature, reading and study spaces, stages, a cinema and workshops for young and old. In 1780, Deichman bequeathed his book collection to Christiania city, today's Oslo, just a few months before he died. He wanted the city's residents to finally have their first public library, and i 1785 the Deichmanske Bibliothek opened its doors for the first time. Today, Deichman has 22 libraries all over Oslo. The collection has grown to over a million books, films, CDs and other material. Carl Deichman's original collection is still intact and is well preserved on the main library's 5th floor. Enter, enjoy the atmosphere and see the rich selection and get to know the activities. Have a coffee on the roof cafe terrace or enjoy a better tasting experience in the restaurant. Opening hours and other information can be found on the links below.
Now you are standing at Jernbanetorget, midway between the start of Karl Johans gate and Oslo S, the bustling central railway station and transportation hub of Oslo! Oslo S stretces from the building Østbanehallen, up the stairs to Hovedhallen and then around the whole quarter which is as big as a small town. Trains have run here ever since Norway's first railway opened from Kristiania, today's Oslo, to Eidsvoll in 1854. Today, the station has grown and is connected to the entire railway network in Norway, as well as to Sweden and Denmark and further south in Europe. Oslo S is not just a station for trains and buses. There, travelers and others can relax, sleep, get information and explore a diverse range of stores offering fashion, electronics, dining, and more. Head inside, follow the map and check out the links to find more information about destinations, tickets and other information.
Here starts the harbor promenade from the Opera House to Sørenga, which takes you on an unforgettable trip packed with good experiences and impressions. First you come to the monumental opera roof, before you enter the idyllic Operastranda and the Munch Museum, then the promenade takes you to Sukkerbiten with its saunas and outdoor seating before you stroll across the fjord to the new vibrant district and the outcrop Sørenga with its popular sea bath. Operastranda in particular is suitable for families with children, and don't worry if you've forgotten your swimwear. The opera shop sells crab rope, towels and other nice beach effects. Good trip!
Do you use sugar in your coffee? They will surely fix that here! Now you have arrived at Sukkerbiten, which means sugar cube in Norwegian, is an artificial island, technically part of the Bjørvikautstikkeren. The name comes from the old administration building for Nyland's workshop that stood there in the old days, and which was a white, fairly square building, yes, almost like a sugar cube. Here you will find the outdoor restaurant with the same name, Sukkerbiten, and there you can lean back in comfortable sunbeds by the water's edge, and enjoy delicious music, a good atmosphere and a relaxing atmosphere that suits both young and old. Tempt it with a sauna and a refreshing dip. Both here and at other places along the harbor promenade you can hire a sauna. Information, prices and booking can be found on the links below.
Are you ready for an adventure! Then all you have to do is force the revolving doors of perhaps Norway's most famous shopping centre, Oslo City. Five floors of brands, delicious fragrances, great offers and a pulsating environment in safe surroundings await here. The center is connected by a footbridge to the Hotel Oslo Plaza and the Byporten shopping center across the road, and further on to the traffic station Oslo S. Check out opening times and other practical information below.
"It is important that art is not closed in. It must be shown and experienced. We have to learn from it.” The words belonged to Hans Rasmus Astrup, who is the founder of the Astrup Fearnley museum, which today has one of Europe's most extensive collections of international contemporary art. Astrup began buying art in the 1960s, and right from the start he built up a collection where the artistry was at the center rather than historical periods and styles. At the time of his death in 2021, the Astrup Fearnley collection consisted of more than 1,500 works, and it is constantly being expanded with new purchases. The works shown in the exhibition give an insight into one of the Nordic countries' most comprehensive collections of international contemporary art and show Hans Rasmus Astrup's unique contribution to the Norwegian art community. Visit, see, enjoy and learn! More information and booking at the links below.
Do you see the long quays with all the beautiful people crowding around the fashionable restaurants and apartment complexes? Now you are at Aker Brygge! In the old days there were no restaurants and no apartments here, but there were just as many people. They didn't have as nice clothes, and the good smell of food was replaced by diesel, burnt steel and old coffee grounds. Aker Brygge is built on what used to be the shipyard, Aker's mechanical workshop. The shipyard was established in the middle of the 19th century and gradually gained a large and central position in the Norwegian industrial environment which lasted for over 140 years. The shipyard was closed in 1982 and the old factory buildings were demolished or converted into modern housing. And suddenly the sounds that had characterized the center for just as long also disappeared. The banging against steel, the trucks and the countless signals for shift start, break or stop, ceased overnight. Walk round the quay, find a bench or a staircase and dip your toes in the water with a refreshment in hand. Drop by the side streets named after the old shipyard, find a comfortable place and enjoy life. More information and opening times on the links below.
Now you have arrived at Tjuvholmen, which is connected to Aker Brygge with its two small bridges. Previously, this was an abandoned part of Oslo, but now it has been transformed into a modern and artistic urban area. Here you will find many art galleries, a sculpture park, modern architecture, a five-star hotel and a number of good restaurants and cafes. Here you will also find the Astrup Fearnley Museum, which is a modern art museum located close to the water's edge. Tjuvholmen is a beautiful pearl today, but in the very old days, in the 17th century, the view that met the seafarers was probably a little different. The area was once a haven for the city's stray birds, and we're not talking about pigeons and seagulls. The name Tjuvholmen originates from the time when the city's thieves were taken to the court on the islet and hanged. It was not unusual for the spoils from both small and large robberies to be buried out here, which the police of course quickly caught wind of. If there is still a buried treasure here? Nobody knows, but you can always check out the links below with information and good offers.
What do Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama and Malala Yousafzai have in common? They have all received the Nobel Peace Prize, which is awarded here in Oslo at the Town Hall. Here, in front of the converted 1872 train station, you will see the Nobel Peace Center as is the public face of the Nobel Peace Prize. They use the power of the Nobel Peace Prize laureates’ ideas, work and causes, to engage and inspire small and large actions which make the world a more peaceful place. Experince exhibitions, guided tours, events, education programs, and digital content. The center disseminate laureates’ work, build knowledge and skills, and act as a meeting place to facilitate international engagement. The Center also serves as an arena for topical events and discussions related to peace, human rights, and conflict resolution. Visit the centre, or read more and book tickets on the links below.