Oslo Leisure

Oslo is blessed with an incredible integration of the natural and the man-made. It is one of Europe’s most densely forested cities, a standing which its residents embrace with enthusiasm. At times, it’s difficult to remember that you are actually in one of Europe’s capital cities, with the beautiful harbour and beaches, and the lush forest parks and the fjords just minutes away. Whatever time of year you visit, there will be plenty of outdoor recreation available and you can be sure the locals of Oslo will be out there enjoying it with you.

Beaches

Most visitors to Oslo don’t think of the beach when they plan a trip to this city, but you’ll be surprised to find that there are a number of areas to hang out along the waterfront and the locals take full advantage of these places during the brief summer days. Oslo residents love the sun and are keen to absorb as much of it as they can when it’s warm enough. Granted, an Oslo beach is more like a rocky piece of shoreline where you can plunge into the cool sea, but that doesn’t deter anyone.

Several beaches are easily accessible from the city centre, which adds to the fun of it. One of the most popular is Huk, on Bygdoy Peninsula. You won’t find much sand here, as the beach is mainly grass lawns with some nice smooth rocks to lie on. In addition to the beach, you can also visit the Folk Museum, Viking Ship Museum and several other attractions. If Huk gets too crowded, as it often does, head 10 minutes north through the forest and you will come to the secluded beach at Paradisbukta.

Other excellent beaches are on the rocky island of Hovedoya. You can get there by taking a boat from the Vippetangen pier, with services running from late May through August. Hovedoya is the closest island to the mainland and is very popular in the summer for walking and picnics. The island is covered with walking trails, many of which lead to the ruins of a 12th century monastery. Whatever beach you visit, be aware that Norwegians like to strip down on the beach. Nudity is both socially acceptable and frequently practiced.

Parks

Apart from the smaller parks around the city, Oslo is surrounded by a thick forest called the Marka. Locals come to the Oslomarka in the summer for hiking and in the winter for skiing. There are some excellent hiking trails in the area and with up to 18 hours of daylight during the summer, you can get out for a walk whenever you want. One of the best hikes in the Oslomarka leads to Sognsvannet, a beautiful lake encircled by a four kilometre walking path and flanked by thick green forests.

The best thing about the Oslomarka is that it is easily reached by public transportation. The tram, marked Holmenkollen, runs from the city centre to Oslomarka. The journey takes just 20 minutes and the trams depart every half an hours, depending on the time of year. The area also contains about 24 mountain huts, where visitors can seek shelter if the weather turns inclement.

Winter sport

A 20-minute tram ride will take you from the city centre to the outdoor mecca of Oslomarka. During the snowy winter months, the Marka becomes a massive ski area, with 2,579kms of ski trails. Ski schools are open throughout the season and ski instructors are available to help you learn the art of cross-country and slalom skiing. There are 14 slalom slopes as well as ski jumps in all shapes and sizes. The famous ski jump at Holmenkollen is also on-site.

Other activities in the Marka include sleigh rides, dogsled rides and snowshoe trekking. The tourist office can help you with any information about these activities and their venues in the Marka.