View of a Local in Oslo, Norway

Norwegian Tor Johnsen runs his formidable travel and food blog, Enjoy Food & Travel, from Oslo in Norway. Talking about his adopted hometown, Oslo, Tor has packed this interview full of solid tips for anyone visiting the Norwegian capital.

Briefly, please could you tell us a bit about yourself?

I am 46 years old, working as Head of Information at a large Research Institute, meaning that I am working with public relations and media every day. Enjoy Food & Travel was started by chance in August 2006, as a channel for my two most important hobbies - to travel and cook. Since then I have been seriously bitten by the bug, so to say.

Today Enjoy Food & Travel is a large and well visited site. Great fun!

How long have you lived in Oslo?

I moved to Oslo in 1979 to study and have lived here since.

What do you like most about living in Oslo?

Oslo is a comparatively small and quiet city, but has all that you look for in a larger city.

Many good restaurants serving food from all corners of the world, sights from a history spanning more than 1000 years, closeness to the sea and the nature and a hectic nightlife that should please every taste.

Is there anything you do not like about living in Oslo?

Oslo is now ranked as one of the most expensive capitals in the world. That means that you have to pay relatively much to go and eat and drink, even though prices have gone down compared to just a few years ago.

Oslo has a large public transportation system, but ticket prices are twice as high, compared to what you pay for public transportation in most other European cities. You have to pay EURO 2 or USD 3 for a single ticket, but you may, however, be much better off if you buy a 24 hour ticket for EURO 7.50 or USD 10 or a week pass for EURO 25 or USD 30.

Why should travellers visit Oslo?

I would highly recommend Oslo from May to August or December to February. Spring and summer in Oslo is a great experience as the trees and flowers bloom and later to enjoy the hectic life during the long and warm nights of the short Norwegian summer, when everyone is out partying. Winter in Oslo is a Mecca for those of you who like to go skiing, as there are cross country terrain and alpine pists close to the city centre.

What do you wish travellers would do when they visit Oslo?

I have tried to sum up what I would like to recommend to see in Oslo at Enjoy Food & Travel. Try to be tourists off the beaten track. Visit Gamlebyen, the site of Old Oslo, where you have remains of the old medieval buildings. See old wooden quarters as Rodeloekka, Telthusbakken, and Damstredet. Visit the ethnically mixed East End of Oslo. Do visit one of the few remaining old bars as Schröder, Dovrehallen, Original Pilsen, Lorry or Valkyrien. (I refer to the Oslo page under Enjoy from A-Z, for more information).

What do you wish travellers would stop doing when they visit Oslo?

Do not waste money at some of the tourist traps. Do visit Aker Brygge, the Dockside area, but eat and drink elsewhere. The same piece of advice is for Karl Johansgate, Oslo’s main street.

If a visitor had time to do or see only one thing in Oslo, what should it be?

I would recommend the Akershus fortress and castle, dating back to 1290 and extended during King Christian IV in the 17th Century. It is a wondeful historic monument. Here you may see the Royal Mausoleum as well. From the high walls you have a magnificent view over the harbour as well.

If a visitor had time for only one meal in Oslo, which dish would you recommend?

That is a hard one. I would recommend, if you travel in December, do try Norwegian Traditional Christmas meal, pork rib with crispy crackling, Norwegian Sauerkraut, boiled potatoes and thick brown gravy. A meal to die for.

Do you have any other insider tips for visitors to Oslo?

Why not try to visit one of the monthly farmers markets that are held at Majorstuen in downtown Oslo. There you may buy something to take home and serve your guests.

Cured meats, jam and preserves, cheese and dried herbs produced locally at small-scale producers close to the Norwegian capital. There are a few shops that also sell these products. Try the well stocked super market CENTRA at Majorstuen or the Farmers Market at Grünerloekka.

Note

Anni Poulsen: Visit Tor’s site, Enjoy Food & Travel for more information about Oslo and the many other parts of the world he has visited.

All rights to the above photos belong to Tor Johnsen.

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TAGS: Norway, Oslo, travel, view of a local

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