Astrup Fearnley Museum at Tjuvholmen

Astrup Fearnley Museet is a private museum of contemporary art, and has since its opening in 1993 been one of the most important art institutions in Oslo. The museum moved to Tjuvholmen in 2012, beautifully located in Oslo centre by the Oslo Fjord in a building designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano. The museum presents temporary exhibitions of international art, and houses the Astrup Fearnley Collection, one of Norway’s most important and most extensive private collections of contemporary art, with iconic works by artists such as Damien Hirst, Anselm Kiefer and Jeff Koons.

Opening hours: Monday closed; Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 12-17; Thursday 12-19; Saturday and Sunday 11-17. Ticket sales ends half an hour before closing time. Click here for opening hours on public holidays

Admission: Adults: 120,- Students: 80,- Children under 18 free; Oslo pass free.

Michael Jackson and Bubbles by Jeff Koons

From 31st January 2020 until 17th May 2020, the museum is showing an exhibition of Contemporary African Art – Alpha Crucis. This is an absolutely great exhibition and unreservedly recommended when you are in Oslo. The pictures on the right below are from that exhibition while the others illustrate the quality and fascination of many of this art centre’s displays.

Looking in wonder at works by Damien Hirst

Miss Dakar: sculpture by Romuald Hazoumè, 2011 one of the jerry can masks exhibited

Above is one of the fascinating installations at the Alpha Crucis exhibition of Contemporary African Art.

Below: the photograph is taken in early February, as we are walking along Akerbrygge ((Aker Wharf where the boat from Vollen arrives in Oslo) towards the Astrup Fearnley Museum. The tall square towers in the background are Oslo City Hall.

Henie Onstad Kunstsenter / Art Exhibition Centre

The Henie Onstad Kunstsenter (HOK) is located in the beautiful park and recreation area of Høvikodden on the Oslo fjord peninsula, surrounded by public trails, wharfs and shorelines. The statues outdoors in the park are well worth looking at. The exhibitions change several times a year. For example from 3rd January to 3rd May the Henie Onstad Centre is hosting an absolutely fascinating exhibition of Picasso’s Suite 347 which consists of 347 erotic etchings and engravings. The suite of works has only been presented in its entirety once before. In addition the exhibition presents Picasso’s work in the Government Quarter in Oslo.
From 3rd January to 23rd August 2020 there is a mini exhibition of Claude Monet’s motifs from Norway. These paintings are really beautiful and a treat for those who love Impressionist work.

The museum ticket is NOK 120,-, students NOK 70,- with free entrance for children and youths below 18 years.
Opening hours:
Monday: closed
Tuesday – Sunday 11:00 – 17:00 but open until 22.00 on Thursdays
The centre is closed on 1st, 17th and 30th May; 21st December – 26th December and on December 31st and January 1st.

The photos shown below are from the permanent Yayoi Kusama installation – Hymn of Life (on the upper left hand side), the Picasso Exhibition and the Monet exhibition (on the lower right side)

Sonja Henie was one of Norway’s most famous women, winning three Olympic gold medals, six European Championships and ten World Championships in figure skating and, after 1936, becoming a very successful film actress in Hollywood. Sonja and her husband Niels Onstad donated all her awards, films and documentation as well as their art collection to the Exhibition Centre at Høvik in Bærum.
Today the Henie Onstad Art Centre is well known for its modern art exhibitions, sculpture park and events.

Henie Onstad kunstsenter Sonja Henies vei 31, 1311 Høvikodden, Norway

SPA at Holmen Fjordhotell

A few minutes bus-ride from Vollen is Holmen Fjordhotell which has a lovely swimming pool and training centre, with sauna, steam-bath, cold pool, pool and big whirlpool. There are lockers available. In the Fitness centre there is a large variety of training apparatus and a solarium. You can buy a day ticket to the SPA for NOK 385,- which includes loan of bathrobe, towel and slippers. You can enjoy the salad buffet as well as help yourself to juice and coffee.

From Monday to Friday it is also possible to buy the day ticket which, as well as the above, includes a 50 minute massage treatment.

You can drive to Holmen Fjordhotell where there is plenty of parking, or take the local bus which takes about 15 minutes. As you can see from the map, the hotel is right by the sea and has its own little harbour.

Other attractions at this hotel are the owner’s collection of vintage cars and also the various ship’s bow figureheads and model ships found around the hotel.

Opening hours:
Monday 07 – 20.30
Tuesday – Friday 6:30 – 20:30
Weekends 9 – 19:00

Age limit is 20 years

Risenga ice-skating rink (kunstisbane)

Risenga ice-skating rink is about 6 km from Vollen and is prepared daily during the winter season from the beginning of November. The opening hours are given here but in general the rink is open from 09:00 – 22:30 daily.

Korketrekkeren – Oslo Corkscrew sleigh track

A run down the Corkscrew track takes about 8 – 10 minutes – it’s 2700 meters long with a fall of 255 meters. You get to the start by taking the 13 minute long Metro (T-banen) from Midstuen to Frognerseteren. Alternatively you can drive up to Frognerseteren or take the 35 minute Metro from Nationaltheatret in Oslo centre to Frognerseteren.
You can either use your own sleigh or rent one at Akeforeningen or Skiservice. Rent of a wooden sleigh costs about NOK 100,- with half price for children under 18. Remember to wear a helmet – if you don’t have one, you can rent that too.
In season the track is open: Monday – Friday 10:00 – 20:30, Saturday 10:00 – 20:00, Sunday 10:00 – 18:00.

When you are up at Frognersæteren to enjoy sleighing, you should take the opportunity to visit the famous Frognersæteren Restaurant just 50 meters down the road from the sleigh rental house. This restaurant is in the best Norwegian tradition for excellent food and a wonderful atmosphere – and view!

Oslo Winter Park – Alpine sports

The best place to enjoy good alpine skiing in the Oslo district is at Oslo Winter Park which is just 20 minutes up from the centre of the city. The season usually begins in December and continues to early April, depending on weather conditions.