IF you’re looking for a city break with a difference next year, Oslo is tipped to be one of THE places to visit in 2025.
Intrepid has just announced its ‘Not Hot List for 2025,’ charting less-visited destinations that are deserving of more visitors.
And the Norwegian capital has earned its place on the list, despite once being known as the underdog of the Scandinavian travel scene.
According to Intrepid, Oslo is emerging as the new epicentre of Nordic travel.
For years, the Norwegian capital has gained a reputation for being expensive – with a sandwich meal in some cafes costing almost £17, and travellers to the Nordics swerve the city for its famous Scandinavian siblings, Stockholm and Copenhagen.
But there are plenty of reasons why Oslo is worth a visit, from its unique museums to diverse cuisines.
Lipa Adomaityte, Intrepid Norway Trip Leader and Oslo local, said: “Go to Oslo with zero expectations – and I promise you’ll leave with stories to tell. Every day (and night), you’ll find something interesting, from incredible cuisine to culture and clubbing.
“Want to start your day at a museum and end it at a stranger’s house party? That’s a regular Tuesday in Oslo. It’s our own mini-Berlin.”
It also happens to be bursting at the seams with unbelievably gorgeous people.
Norwegian women are regularly lauded as the most beautiful in the world and the men aren’t bad looking either – standing in a bar can sometimes feel like you’re at a models-only party.
Oslo is known for its fresh ingredients, particularly its fish that comes directly from the harbour.
Many of the chefs also grow their own ingredients on-site at their restaurants – spots like Vulkan bee garden or Losæter.
Social eating and concepts like food stalls with shared tables can be found at places like Mathallen, Oslo Street Food, and Vippa by the Oslofjord are a couple examples of this.
And if you’re looking for something more budget friendly, the city has a growing culture of food trucks.
Oslo has many museums to visit, from art museums to history museums.
The National Museum is the largest art museum in all the Nordic countries and features works from international artists like Picasso, van Gogh, and Matisse.
The Museum of Oslo showcases the city’s history through a variety of exhibits, and the Kon-Tiki museum tells the story of Thor Heyerdahl and his partners, who crossed the Atlantic in a wooden boat.
The city has a vibrant nightlife scene with a wide variety of bars, clubs and comedy clubs.
Bars range from cocktail lounges to dark-wood pubs. Some to check out are Summit Bar, which has a nice panoramic view of the city, and Eight Rooftop Bar, with a large drinks menu.
Oslo’s clubs include themed dance clubs and ones that are small and cosy. Mabou has a playlist that ranges from top 90s and 00s to modern day music. Kavakava, Pigalle, Heidis Bier Bar Oslo, Weekend Society, and Ingensteds are also popular.
If you’re looking for a day trip and want to experience Oslo’s wilder side, then an hour and a half drive south of the city of Oslo Fjord – a 100-km-long scenic gem is in the Oslo area, buzzing with life and activity.
During the summer, you can go swimming and hike among the colourful cabins, or try your hand at stand up paddleboarding.
In the winter, you can still go swimming, but warm up afterwards in one of the many fjordside saunas.
Cheap flights to Oslo are easy to find, and are typically cheapest when booked around 40 days in advance.
Flights on Friday afternoons tend to be the best value, and most experience on Monday at midday.
Spring and autumn are good times to visit the city because the crowds are smaller but the weather is still pleasant.
Travel writer Janice Hopper shared the best things to do in the city...
Oslo is the place to go for amazing art, delicious food and enough horn-helmeted history to sink a long boat.
Nicknamed the tiger city, there is much more depth to Oslo than meets the eye.
Here are some ideas of what to get up to.
Go sculpture spotting
Start the morning with a stroll through the mesmerising Vigeland Sculpture Park – a celebration of life and emotions in over 200 artworks by Gustav Vigeland.
Also unmissable is The National. This mega-gallery, which reopened last year, isn’t just about art by the likes of Monet and Van Gogh, but fashion, homeware and music vids, too.
Wander by the water
Scandinavians love the great outdoors, and Oslo’s shining Opera House invites you to walk on its roof and enjoy the serene views over the fjord.
Come lunchtime, stop by the Royal Palace to catch the changing of the guard daily at 1.30pm – then pretty garden opens for summer, too.
Scoff seafood waffles
Nordic seafood is exquisite, so book a table at The Salmon in Tjuvholmen to enjoy waffles topped with smoked salmon, salmon roe and dill, £14.
Or keep it casual at a cool food court – Oslo Street Food offers international treats from kimchi to tacos, but be sure to stop by Hawaii for delicious poke and order the spicy tuna and rice bowl, £16.
Bag a bargain bed
If you’re not planning to hang out in your room much, try Citybox, just five minutes from Oslo Central Station.
Offering sleek rooms with a colourful shared lounge complete with table football and ping-pong, it’s great even if you have kids in tow.
Doubles start from a brilliant £56 a night.
