Holmenkollen Ski Jump Tower, Ski Museum & Magic Activity Centre for kids

Holmenkollen Ski Jump Tower, Ski Museum & Magic Activity Centre for kids

Holmenkollen Ski Jump Tower, Ski Museum & Magic Activity Centre for kids

The famous statue of the late King Olav V is at Holmenkollen which has been the site for more than a century of skiing competitions.  Inside the Ski Jump is the Holmenkollen Ski Museum, the oldest of its kind in the world. The museum presents over 4,000 years of skiing history, Norwegian polar exploration artifacts and an exhibition on snowboarding and modern skiing.  Recently a new activity centre has been added for children.  Because the big events at Holmenkollen are sometimes “attacked” by fog, children can now meet the Blue gnomes and trolls who make fog – and also dispel it.  There are caves and slides to enjoy and of course the magical characters to meet.  The Blåkollen (Blue Kollen) centre is open from 10.00 to 16.00 every day.

The observation deck on top of the jump tower offers panoramic views of Oslo.   It is possible at certain times of the year, and in suitable weather conditions to buy a ticket to take the zip-line from the top to a platform at the bottom of the jump.  I have taken the zip-line myself – it was tremendous fun!  The only danger is that you might want to try it several times and thus spend all your holiday money!
The ski jump simulator next to the Jump gives a great thrill to those who dare to try that!

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When you are up at Holmenkollen to visit the ski-jump or museum, you should take the opportunity to visit the famous Frognersæteren Restaurant just 5 minutes further up the road.  This restaurant is in the best Norwegian tradition for excellent food and a wonderful atmosphere – and view!  Prices are reasonable – some examples are (in NOK): soup of the day 105,- ; homemade fishcakes with vegetables and potatoes 148,- ; warm moose meat-cake with onions 105,- ; coffee and cake from 75,-

You can take the tram from Oslo to Frognerseteren station.  From here you can either walk on up to the Oslo Winter/Summer Park or walk five minutes back down to the restaurant.

The Resistance Museum at Akershus Castle (Norges Hjemmefrontmuseum)

The Resistance Museum at Akershus Castle (Norges Hjemmefrontmuseum)

The Resistance Museum at Akershus Castle (Norges Hjemmefrontmuseum)

The photograph above is taken from Aker wharf, across the Oslo harbour.  It shows Akershus Fortress.  The resistance museum is in the large square building to the left of the fortress.

Norway’s Resistance Museum aims to give an authentic presentation of the German occupation during World War II. From prelude, through invasion and resistance, to liberation and peace, the museum gives a thorough view of important events and themes using sound, pictures, texts, authentic objects and lifelike models.

The Resistance Museum is located in a building from the 17th century on the grounds of Akershus Fortress, adjoining the memorial for Norwegian patriots executed during the war.

Opening hours:

September-May: Mon-Friday: 10.00 – 16.00; Sat-Sunday: 1100 – 16.00

June-August: Mon-Saturday: 10.00 – 17.00 Sunday: 11.00 – 17.00

Closed: Good Friday, Easter Eve, Easter Sunday, 24-26 December, 31 December and 1 January.

Astrup Fearnley Museum at Tjuvholmen

Astrup Fearnley Museum at Tjuvholmen

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.

The Royal Palace in Oslo and Oscarshall at Bygdøy

The Royal Palace in Oslo and Oscarshall at Bygdøy

The Royal Palace in Oslo and Oscarshall at Bygdøy

The Royal Palace in Oslo is open to the public during the summer. All visitors must follow a guided tour. The season lasts from mid June – mid August. Tickets are usually available from early in March.  During the season, guided tours in Norwegian are given every day at the following times:
Monday – Thursday: 11:00-17:00; Friday: 12:00-17:00 Saturday – Sunday: 10.00 – 17.00
But consult the website for exact information

The tours last about one hour and begin every 20 minutes.

During the season, guided tours in English are given:  All days at 12:00, 14:00, 14:20 and 16:00

Oscarshall

We also recommend a visit to Oscarshall, the Royal “Summer Palace”  This is a small, beautifully maintained palace on the peninsula of Bygdøy in Oslo.  During opening hours you are welcome to wander in the grounds, from the palace right down to the sea and you will find lunch or a snack at the Queen Josephine café.  However joining a guided tour is a very special experience for the palace transports visitors back to the mid 1800’s.

Oscarshall is open from 1st June to 30th August, from Wednesday to Sunday.   From 31st August to 9th September the palace is only open at weekends Friday – Sunday.
Opening hours are from 11:00 – 17:00.

The Nobel Peace Center (Nobels Fredssenter)

The Nobel Peace Center (Nobels Fredssenter)

The Nobel Peace Center (Nobels Fredssenter)

Nobel Peace Prize museum with an exciting combination of changing and permanent exhibitions that promote popular interest in issues relating to war, peace and conflict resolution.

The Peace Prize laureates are all presented on digital screens in the Nobel Field, a garden of 1000 fibre-optic lights. Don’t miss the magical book about Alfred Nobel’s life and work, the Electronic Wall Papers.

The children’s activity “Fred and Toca Loca” is suitable for children accompanied by adults, and takes approx. 30 minutes to complete.
The gift shop has a large selection of books and design items with some of the most popular being Peace t-shirts, fridge magnets, bags and Chocolate Peace Prize medals. 

Hop-on Hop-off Tours of Oslo

Hop-on Hop-off Tours of Oslo

Hop-on Hop-off Tours of Oslo

Spend a day seeing the sights of Oslo, the oldest of the Scandinavian Capitals, from an open-top, double-decker tour bus. Your pass is valid for a full 24-hour period, and you can hop on and off at your leisure. You will enjoy 360-degree views from the open top of the bus and learn about the city’s history from your multilingual audio guides.  The full loop lasts 90 minutes and frequency at the stops is every half hour.  Book your ticket online

Stops include:
• Oslo City Hall
• Oslo Cruise Terminal & Akershus Fort.
• Oslo Opera House
• Oslo Central Station
• Clarion Royal Christiania Hotel
• Grand Hotel & Karl Johan Street
• Oslo Parliament & Karl Johan
• The Royal Castle & The Ibsen Museum
• Vigeland Sculpture Park
• Norwegian Museum Of Cultural History
• Viking Ship Museum
• Kon-Tiki, Fram & Norwegian Maritime Museum
• Norwegian Museum Of Cultural History
• Aker Brygge

Useful to know:

Stop 1 is at the City Hall

The bus operates from 1st April – 30th October 2019

First departure is at 10:00

Last departure is at 16:30

There will be earlier departures when cruise ships are in port