Oslo must-see - Five sculture parks

Norwegians love their art, and even though Vigelandsparken is Oslo’s oldest and most famous sculpture park, there are several more scattered around the city. Some are pure sculpture parks, and some are leisure parks with the added touch of art. Here are five sculpture parks worth visiting during your stay in Oslo.

E K E B E R G P A R K E N SKULPTURPARK Idyllically placed in one of the woods-clad Oslo hills, Ekebergparken Skulpturpark opened in 2013 and aims to unite art, history and nature and give its visitors an unforgettable experience. The femalethemed sculptures have earned the park the nickname Kvinneparken (The women’s park), and in addition to the sculpture trail, make sure you take the time to enjoy the stunning views of the city. So far, there are around 40 sculptures on display, but more are to be added over the next few decades.

Ekebergparken is open to visitors all day every day and is free of charge. Guided tours are available in the summer; tickets can be found at ticketmaster.no. Trams # 18 and 19 stop at Ekebergparken.

R O M M E N S L E T T A SKULPTURPARK In Groruddalen in the northeastern part of Oslo, a brand-new sculpture park opened in 2013. Originally used as a rubbish tip in the ‘60s, Rommensletta now hosts areas for sports and exercise, hikes, a playground and water features, in addition to the sculpture park. At the time of the opening, the art on display was from the decades between 1960 and 2010, representing the history of the palace through that time.

Rommensletta is open to visitors all year round. The L1 train towards Lillestrøm takes you to the Haugenstua, a six-minute walk away from the park, and buses # 5N, 64B, 65, 67 and 345 stop at Smestua, a fiveminute walk away.

Astrup Fearnley Museum. © Didrick Stenersen

PEER GYNT-PARKEN Peer Gynt is one of the most famous fictional characters to have come out of Norway, and at Løren in the northeast of Oslo, Ibsen’s mischievous character has his own park. 20 sculptures show scenes from the world-famous play, taking the visitors on a trip through Ibsen’s and Peer Gynt’s universe. The sculptures are made in different styles, materials and sizes, by artists from nine different countries. Sculpture walks and other events take place in the park, for those who want a deeper insight into the sculptures and the history.

Peer Gynt-parken is open to visitors all year and is free of charge. Guided tours are available and the park even has its own app, available on App Store. Metro # 4 stops at Løren, a few minutes’ walk away from the park.

Ekebergparken. © Shutterstock

Peer Gynt Sculpture Park.

T J U V H O L M E N SKULPTURPARK In addition to designing the majestic Astrup Fearnley museum, world-famous architect Renzo Piano also designed the area and park surrounding the museum. The sculpture park, with its fjord views, consists of seven pieces made by famous international contemporary artists Louise Bourgeois, Peter Fischli and David Weiss, Antony Gormley, Anish Kapoor, Ellsworth Kelly, Ugo Rondinone, and Franz West. Though not very big, the park is popular amongst tourists, families with children, and people wanting to soak up the sun by the fjord. A tiny beach is also part of the area, where children in particular can have a safe dip in the fjord.

Tjuvholmen Skulpturpark is open to visitors all day every day and is free of charge. Bus # 54 stops near Tjuvholmen Skulpturpark.

T H E P R I N C E S S I N G R I D A L E X A N D R A SCULPTURE PARK The Royal Palace Gardens isn’t just a lush green park encircling the Royal Palace – it also contains The Princess Ingrid Alexandra Sculpture Park, a sculpture park containing art by, and for, children. The 12 playful sculptures were all created as the result of a nationwide competition among fifth- and sixth-graders. The winners’ ideas were turned into sculptures by professional artists and are full of colour, life and imagination, inviting children and adults to play and interact with them. They are also, of course, highly Instagram-worthy.

The Royal Palace Gardens is open to visitors all year and is free of charge. All metro lines and trams # 11, 17 and 18 stop near The Royal Palace Gardens.

O S L O M E K A N I S K E VERKSTED € Low-key bar close to Oslo Central Station with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. No food is served, but bringing your own is allowed. oslomekaniskeverksted.no Tøyenbekken 34

ANGST BAR € In the narrow Strøget passageway by Youngstorget, you’ll find the hidden, colourful gem Angst, a tiny but popular bar with limited space inside, but a larger, covered outside seating area. Torggata 11

CAFÉ SARA € A dark and cosy bar with a large back garden. Open until 3.30am, it’s the last stop of the night for many an Oslo citizen. cafesara.no Hausmanns gate 29

HENDRIX IBSEN € Berlin-style hipster haven Hendrix Ibsen is located at Vulkan and offers craft beer, all the best coffee, and second-hand vinyl. hendrixibsen.rocks/senior vulkan 20

BAR ALBATROSS € € Low-key, stylish and relaxed bar in the heart of Torshov with art for sale and signature cocktails. Crowded seating areas, but most people don’t mind sharing a table or sofa. Torshovgata 5, 0476 Oslo

MERKUR BAR € € Japanese-influenced bar Merkur at St. Hanshaugen serves cocktails, natural wines and sake, and is a stylish yet low-key place to enjoy a night out with friends or colleagues. merkurbar.com Bjerregårdsgate 5a

D E N G A M L E SKOBUTIKKEN €€ Den gamle Skobutikken (‘The old Shoe Shop’) is a stylish bar several storeys high. For those who aren’t scared of heights, it has a secluded rooftop terrace at the top of an old spiral staircase. Torggata 9B

T O R G G A T A BOTANISKE €€ Quirky bar with greenery covering walls and ceilings, as well as its own greenhouse, reflecting the name of the bar. Drinks to match, using homegrown herbs and plants in the cocktails. Torggata 17B, 0183 Oslo

STRATOS € € Event space and summertime rooftop bar in functionalist building Folketeaterbygningen. Stratos has earned the nickname Roof of the City, due to its location on the 12th floor with amazing views of Oslo. Go in the summer when they open the rooftop terrace and let you enjoy the sunset or the bright summer night with good friends and good drinks. stratos.as Youngstorget 2

SVANEN €€€ Located in what used to be an old pharmacy, Svaneapoteket, Svanen is a classy cocktail bar right in the middle of Karl Johan, the main street of the capital. The warm, wooden interior and details from the pharmacy have been preserved, giving the place an atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else. Try a classic cocktail with a Svanen twist, or one of their own signature cocktails, like Tyttebær or Smørbukk. svanenoslo.no Karl Johans gate 13

GRÅDI € € Innovative neighbourhood restaurant at Tøyen, unafraid to experiment with new ingredients, flavours and combinations. This is one of the most popular brunch spots in the city, so reserving a table is advised – particularly in the summer, when the outdoor seating area is buzzing with life. graadi.dinesuperb.com Sørligata 40

POSTKONTORET € € Charming neighbourhood restaurant for the whole city,

serving pizza, salads, sandwiches and good vibes. Postkontoret also arranges concerts, quizzes and other events, and is a favourite among the hip, young Oslo crowds. Facebook: toyenpostkontor Hagegata 27

LOUISE RESTAURANT AND BAR €€ - €€€ Maritime restaurant Louise is situated right in the middle of idyllic hotspot Aker Brygge, with a view of boats and the fjord. It’s got a popular outdoor serving area and a menu focusing on Norwegian ingredients and international inspiration. restaurantlouise.no Stranden 3

V I L L A P A R A D I S O €€-€€€ Oslo’s favourite Italian restaurant with authentic food, a homely atmosphere, and a reputation reaching far beyond the city. Expect queues in the summer. villaparadiso.no Olaf Ryes plass 8

EKEBERG RESTAURANTEN €€€ Located next to Ekebergparken in the Ekeberg hillside, Ekebergrestauranten offers fine dining with one of Oslo’s most stunning views. With a seasonbased menu and fresh ingredients, Ekerbergrestauranten offers new and traditional flavours. ekebergrestauranten.com Kongsveien 15

T J U V H O L M E N SJØMAGASIN €€€ Located next to the fjord and the Astrup Fearnley Museum at Tjuvholmen, stylish seafood specialists Tjuvholmen Sjømagasin sells fresh fish and shellfish at its own fish and deli shop, and also offers courses and wine tastings. tjuvholmen.no Tjuvholmen allé 14

T H E A T E R C A F É E N €€€ Viennese-style café with historical roots, serving high-end afternoon tea, brunch and cocktails, as well as lunch and dinner. Located at Hotel Continental, and opened in 1900. theatercafeen.no Stortingsgaten 24/26

T H E T H I E F F O O D BAR €€€€ Exclusive food bar located at The Thief hotel, serving contemporary Nordic cuisine with a global twist. Expect local produce and freshly caught fish and shellfish. thethief.com Landgangen 1, O252 Oslo

ARAKATAKA €€€€ A favourite among both food critics and customers, Arakataka is a high-quality restaurant located right in the heart of Oslo’s concert and theatre district. Norwegian ingredients with a continental flair make for a great evening. arakataka.no Mariboes gate 7B