I thought it would be better. A grungy setting next to Canal, which could be a mixed bag and this…read moretime lean towards the negative. This is based on a Sunday afternoon visit with free music on the terrace. It was very crowded, which would be fine but some of the locals acted like they own the place and we're a bit pushy. Also, the music was average. What they don't tell on the website is it's also karaoke And most of what I heard wasn't that special. If you visit Sunday, maybe go earlier to stake out a table. Even if I had a table in this instance, I don't think I would've stayed long because of the music. It was old time jazz, and a crowd leaning towards that age as well.

Nice place for a late afternoon drink stretching into the early evening. Large selection of beers,…read morebut they were out of ingredients to make cocktails which was less than ideal in my book. Kind of a hip place with cool grungy vibes. Lots of people sitting outside. Drinks fairly reasonably priced. Enjoyed the fact that it's so close to the river. Order drinks at the bar and take them to your table.

Wonderful museum; great staff, expansive collection of Edvard Munch…read more 4th floor is obviously a must-visit, as they rotate three versions of "Scream" every 30 minutes. I only had 1.5 hours before closing but because of this rotation, I was able to see all three versions! One floor is interactive and creative. You draw something on iPad and it finds a closest match from Munch's works. It was fun. Bonus is the view from the top floor. It overlooks the city and the Ferris wheel. You should get an Oslo Pass.

MUNCH is a must when in Oslo, this is one of the best museums I've been to, hands down…read more The space and the content work so well together; they've curated the collection with a clear experience in mind, going so far as to tell you explicitly how to approach the many floors (start at the top, work your way down to the scream!). Each floor tells a story about a specific part of the artist's life and work, and the execution is flawless. Lots of good storytelling both in the walls descriptions and the art itself. The layout was truly excellent. The building takes you through a variety of presentations across the floors, whether the cavernous hall for the big pieces; the mockup of Munch's home; or the unique floor plan for the scream and the other concepts. It makes you feel like you've been through a whole journey by the end. Definitely worth the price of admission!

Every time I set my foot onto the inner yard of Bare Jazz, I ask myself why I don't do it far more…read moreoften. It is like I forget that it exists. Maybe it is because It's situated in a part of town where I rarely spend time, or because they don't serve any proper lunch. Or maybe it is because this well hidden inner yard possess some magical power that cuts it of from the rumble and tumble of everyday life - because that is for sure how it feels like. Bare Jazz is Scandinavia's biggest jazz music store, providing knowledgeable staff and a good selection. On the second floor there is a small café and bar that serves nice coffee, wine, beer, and some simple cakes and sandwiches (as mentioned before: for a proper lunch you better go somewhere else). And on the secluded yard jazz music is playing all day long, flower pots are blooming and at the first drops of rain big awnings are unrolled. There are plenty of seating outside, but not so many inside. Go here to relax, sip a cup of coffee and listen to John Coltrane doing what he does best. Or bring your laptop and do some work, or your date for that sake! If you're a jazz fan, Bare Jazz is the place for all occasions.

Great place, super nice staff. Coffee is very good and a tiny selection of cakes and nibs. Decor is…read morecozy and very brick and mortar feel. Night time is nice but hardly any seats. Clients are a wide cross section of people. Lots of outdoor seating so it's nice in summer

The first thing we saw upon entering the museum is the massive ship known as the Fram. After going…read moreup the stairs to the upper levels, we realized that there is ramp that allows people to actually enter the ship. We had no idea that we would be allowed on, so this was a nice surprise. After looking around on deck we went down the steps to explore the ship. The crew rooms, store houses, dining hall and engine room were all made into beautiful exhibits. There are still books, tools, equipment, and clothing items left from the ships voyages. A real treasure for me was the vintage Singer sewing machine, it was stunning. Seeing the ships diesel engine was also really cool. In the halls of the building that surround the ship, there is a lot of information on the crew, the Greenland voyage, and much more. There are a few places for kids to enjoy, like the polar room. As far as accessibility, there is an elevator and ramp, though I only saw stairs that lead below deck. The stairs that are built into the ship are steep, so caution is needed. We bought the 2 museum combination ticket and I think it was worth the price for what we got.

We had seen very positive reviews of this museum so we hopped on a ferry from pier 3 in Oslo and…read moreventured out to this area. It was quite busy given it was a Saturday at the height of tourist session. We were able to get a good discount and got the combo ticket to also visit the Kon Tiki museum next door. The museum is quite good and did a nice job of telling not only the story of the Fram and it's many expeditions but the story of other related explorers and explorations to the Artic and Antarctica. Most of this was new to me so it was quite educational. The two ships were fun to walk through and the many displays contained a ton of information (frankly way more than I could absorb). They do have a small snack area but it has a pretty basic selection if you are counting on it for lunch. Overall a worthwhile visit.

Akershus festning - During my visit to Oslo, I simply could not miss Akershus Fortress, and this…read moreplace made a great impression on me. The historic fortress is exceptionally well preserved and offers stunning views of both the Oslofjord and the harbor. I really enjoyed the combination of rich Norwegian history and the peaceful atmosphere that can be found here. Walking along the ramparts, courtyards, and ancient buildings was a wonderful experience. The entire area is well maintained, clean, and perfect for exploring at a relaxed pace. It is a place where you can comfortably spend several hours while learning more about the history of Norway. Admission to the fortress grounds was free, with charges applying only for the museums. I also appreciated that the visitor center provided free drinking water and free soda from a dispenser. We were able to refill our bottles as well. The toilets located around the site were also free to use.

I actually just walked the outside of the castle. The grounds were gorgeous. There were various…read morefruit trees. Oranges and crab apples. The large crab apple tree planted in the center of the large lawn was so abundant that there were tons of over ripened ones that had fallen all over and littered the lawn. This caused a bunch of bees buzzing around them on the lawn. There are also a lot of tourists walking the outer grounds of the castle, stopping to pose next to the cannons. The views of the ocean and blue skies are noteworthy. It was worth the long walk from the hotel.

The music day in Oslo is definitely one of my favorite days in the world! It's arranged on the…read morefirst weekend of June every year. Everything for local folk music to hardcore clubbing starting up around noon and keeps on going until the sun rises What more could you ever want..... Music playing all day long everywhere you go, and it's for free! St. Haugen park, Birkelunden at Grunerløkka for outdoor venues if were blessed with sunshine. Blå, Dattera Til Hagen, Jaeger, The Villa and other clubs for indoors music! Basically just a really happy day for music lovers