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Philadelphia, PA10406 Posts
Hello to all Norwegians on TL! I'm studying for a semester at UIO, as well as hopefully doing quite a bit of traveling during the weekends, during breaks, and after the semester ends.
First, I'll say that I absolutely love your country, Oslo, your mountains, fjords, public transit, weird obsession with hotdogs and Grandiosa pizza, inspiring commitment to the political process, and opera house. The only thing about Norway that sucks is the prices.
I'm sure you get that a lot.
But the main purpose of this blog is to tap the awesome local knowledge of all of you, and maybe find people who want to meet up and have an overpriced cup of coffee with me if I come to visit. I'm definitely planning to visit Bergen (sometime between Sept 17 and 25), Trondheim and Tromsø (late in November). I'd love to visit Stavenger, Ålesund, Lofoten, and Guastatoppen (spelling corrected!) as well. And maybe other places. Honestly, what I really need is more time.
But if you'd like to meet up, or have local recommendations of what to do and visit in your city, then please let me know! And if you live in Oslo, you should also let me know, because I'm here all the time!
<3 Norway.
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Philadelphia, PA10406 Posts
On August 24 2011 19:34 Liquid`Drone wrote:I live in trondheim and would be happy to meet up if/when you come here!  I like beer more than coffee though. 
That's fine by me, haha.
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Hey tree.hugger, welcome to Norway!
Im from Oslo, study in Trondheim and was in Tromsø in the army and might have some local knowledge for you
Bars/clubs
Oslo: Dont really like the clubs in Oslo, but its alot of good bars around Grünerløkka imo!
Tromsø: "Driv" is a really good student pub/club at nighttime! Check it out. Btw, norwegians from Northern Norway like a good fistfight, so mind your tounge :p
Trondheim: Best student community in the country, no doubt. Recommend "Crash" if you want to hook up with girls and dance.
"Downtown" for mass people and dancefloors, its got a awesome piano bar at Thursday.
"Familien" if you want to sit down in a leather couch and sip whiskey before you hit the dancefloor, the music at familen is light rock/pop classics from 80s-> its a really underrated bar!
Send me a pm before you get to Trondheim!
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Haha, nice
That hotdog thing though... don't ask... It never goes well for those who do.
I've always viewed Oslo as a place filled with heroin addicts and racists (immigrants and natives) bitching at each other over nothing, but I suppose it's good compared to a lot of other big cities. And I live in the most dormant, safe part of Norway ever so that probably has something to do with my perception of the capital.
HF in Norway!
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Philadelphia, PA10406 Posts
On August 24 2011 19:48 moNsi wrote:
Hey tree.hugger, welcome to Norway!
Thanks, this is perfect!
On August 24 2011 20:02 marttorn wrote:
Haha, nice
That hotdog thing though... don't ask... It never goes well for those who do.
I've always viewed Oslo as a place filled with heroin addicts and racists (immigrants and natives) bitching at each other over nothing, but I suppose it's good compared to a lot of other big cities. And I live in the most dormant, safe part of Norway ever so that probably has something to do with my perception of the capital.
HF in Norway!
It's funny, because a few Norwegians have told me that Eastern Oslo is an example of urban blight and is super unsafe. Yet I've been all around East Oslo quite a few times now, and it's basically Queens in New York, which is completely fine and safe in my book. Also the best place to get cheap food. Oslo is really a super clean, safe, and multicultural city in my eyes. I love it, haha.
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I'm from also from Oslo. One thing you should check out that's kind of an unknown gem i Oslo is the mausoleum of Emmanuel Vigeland, the brother of Gustav Vigeland (that made the sculptures in Vigelandsparken/Frognerparken). It's supposed to be really nice, but I haven't really been there myself. I could go with you if you want to. I've wanted to see it for ages but I never manage to get my ass out of bed early on Sunday (opening hours are 12-17 supposedly, but I've hear the hours for the mausoleum are only from 12-14 or something), so I'm thinking i might be able to get there if I make arrangements with somebody i dont know. Lemme know what you think
http://www.emanuelvigeland.museum.no/museum.htm
Peace
(FauSt / sc2.no)
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Honestly, there are places in Oslo that I would tend to avoid late at night, but the whole East-Oslo is dangerous thing is pretty silly. I'm born and raised on the west side myself, so I know a lot of the prejudice towards the eastern parts of the city. Not sure how well known you are in Oslo, but some of the best places to go drinking in my opinion is Grünerløkka or Grønland. Grønland can be extremely cheap, and I always love the atmosphere! If you're more into posh places or clubs, then I really can't help you, since I avoid those places like the plague
If you're into nature, mountains, fjords etc, then the best places to go are the north-west parts of Norway. Sogn & Fjorande has some absolutely amazing nature, and this is from someone who has a summer cabin in Hardanger and is pretty used to the beatiful nature there! Northern Norway is also pretty amazing, if you go there in late November/December or January you can see the Northern Lights if you're lucky, which is absolutely worth it. It's really amazing, but very hard to describe. You also avoid the huge amounts of mosquitos!
If you're into mountain trekking, Jotunheimen is really something to check out. One of the best things is to walk from cabin to cabin in the mountains. There are trips you can go without a guide, and you just reserve beds at the various cabins, and walk with a map and a compass (a GPS is probably a good idea just in case!) A week is probably enough, especially if you don't have a lot of experience with it. Your feet will likely be pretty sore!
Lastly, you probably mean Gaustatoppen
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From a tourist perspective Oslo is probably the least interesting town in the country, it's just like any other middlesized European town. No really dangerous compared to most other places out there, I have friends from the worst part of Oslo and you're not likely to get into trouble unless you do something stupid.
If you're planning to travel as far North as Tromsø I would definitely drop by Lofoten, which is at its best during summer and winter, depending if you want to see snow and the northern lights or experience the summer with midnight sun. (Midnight sun approx end of may --> mid july). Polar night between around 6. december to 6. of january. (Dark all the time, so depending on your interests you might want to avoid that period). Maybe consider the Norwegian Coastal express?
The great thing about rural Norway and Lofoten in particular is that people are different and more open than in the southern parts. Usually pretty easy to hitchhike, thought you might end up waiting 10-15 minutes depending on your luck and traffic.
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Norway1530 Posts
Hei!
If you want to meet up while in Bergen, just pm me. My local knowledge is awful though.
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On August 24 2011 20:50 Blackthorne wrote:
If you're into mountain trekking, Jotunheimen is really something to check out. One of the best things is to walk from cabin to cabin in the mountains. There are trips you can go without a guide, and you just reserve beds at the various cabins, and walk with a map and a compass (a GPS is probably a good idea just in case!) A week is probably enough, especially if you don't have a lot of experience with it. Your feet will likely be pretty sore!
Imo Trollheimen is a better than Jotunheimen :p Just listen to the name, Home of the Trolls!
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I thought this was for a new Halo game 
Why must you torment me, tree?
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Philadelphia, PA10406 Posts
I think all of you are silly for thinking Oslo is boring. I invite all of you to take a vacation in the American midwest. Oslo is about as pretty as a city of its size can be, I think.
On August 24 2011 21:56 Jonvvv wrote:Hei! If you want to meet up while in Bergen, just pm me. My local knowledge is awful though.
Absolutely. I know pretty well when I'll be in Bergen too, and I think I'll visit Trondheim during that break too.
On August 24 2011 21:12 tYsopz wrote:
From a tourist perspective Oslo is probably the least interesting town in the country, it's just like any other middlesized European town. No really dangerous compared to most other places out there, I have friends from the worst part of Oslo and you're not likely to get into trouble unless you do something stupid.
If you're planning to travel as far North as Tromsø I would definitely drop by Lofoten, which is at its best during summer and winter, depending if you want to see snow and the northern lights or experience the summer with midnight sun. (Midnight sun approx end of may --> mid july). Polar night between around 6. december to 6. of january. (Dark all the time, so depending on your interests you might want to avoid that period). Maybe consider the Norwegian Coastal express?
The great thing about rural Norway and Lofoten in particular is that people are different and more open than in the southern parts. Usually pretty easy to hitchhike, thought you might end up waiting 10-15 minutes depending on your luck and traffic. I'm limited by budget as always though, so I'm a little worried about finding a place to stay in Lofoten. Actually, I'm worried about finding a place to stay everywhere, but in the cities there are always cheap-ish hostels. But Lofoten really seems too beautiful to pas up, so I think I'll have to do my research. I get out of school mid-November, so I'll be traveling up north around then.
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Avoid Haugesund, it's a small city south of norway along the coast and unless you are attending the "Silda Jazz (wich is pretty baller)" or the film festival it's the most boring shit place in the world. I can't wait to move the hell out of here. The biggest drug city in norway (in comparison to size that is)
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On August 26 2011 06:00 Moda wrote:
Avoid Haugesund, it's a small city south of norway along the coast and unless you are attending the "Silda Jazz (wich is pretty baller)" or the film festival it's the most boring shit place in the world. I can't wait to move the hell out of here. The biggest drug city in norway (in comparison to size that is)
Nice, the "Silda Jazz (wich is pretty baller)" festival is indeed highly recommendable.
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I wish I could go to Norway
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Mid november is generally barren, wet and cold in Lofoten, but might be worth a look regardless. Might be snow by then depending on your luck, wheather is incredibly unstable up there. Toss me a PM in good time before you go and I'll at least be able to give you a headsup what the best and cheapest lodging would be and some tips as to what you should be doing. Also, I live in Bergen so if there's anything feel free to give me a msg!
As someone noted, stay away from Haugesund. (Not because of the bad environment, but because it is boring and has nothing of interesting in it.)
EDIT: If you say something about your age and interests you might get more headsups.
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