Being the adrenalin junkie I am I don’t usually like to go near the white stuff (snow that is) unless I’m strapped to a board hurtling down the ski slope at god-knows-how many miles an hour. So when I was choosing a destination for a few days Christmas ski break, Oslo the capital of Norway didn’t spring to mind as a place to ski. But it’s a city I’ve always wanted to visit and Ryanair were selling cheap £20 return flights from London. So before you can say Techfluff.tv I had booked my flights and was heading to Oslo!
What got me even more excited was a quick Google search for ‘Ski near Oslo’. I had never heard of being able to Ski in Oslo before, but search results showed you can indeed ski and the piste is only a 30min tube ride right from the center of Oslo.
I booked a room at the Hotel Grims Grenka through Designs Hotels and let me tell you there’s absolutely nothing grim about it; After terrible troubles with the transfers from the airport to the center of Oslo (had to wait in the cold for an hour, lack of information and bus drivers ripping everyone off), I was so relieved to find out the hotel that was only a ten minute walk from where my bus stopped- central Oslo bus station.
The hotel lobby was the refuge I needed- warm, cozy and elegant with big sofas and an open fire. I was a bit disappointed when my room didn’t have a bath as the pictures on the website had a bath and I had pictured myself having a long soak- I asked the receptionist if there was any chance of an upgrade to a room with a bath-she was very friendly and upgraded me to a room of the fourth floor where all rooms have baths.
The room was massive -about 20 metres length and just what you’d expect from a boutique hotel -modern, funky design, flat screen TV, mood lighting system and of course the best thing about it was the big bath on a raised platform in the middle of the room- being able to have a hot, deep bubble bath after walking round in -20C temperates all day gave so much pleasure- I don’t think my experience would have been the same without the bath so if you stay at the GrimsGrenka make sure you book a room with a bath.
The bath I keep harping on about:
What to do:
1. Visit the park full of naked statues. Vigeland Sculpture Park is a part of Frogner Park, and all the sculptures are of humans doing a variety of things- laughing, hugging , playing -they were sculpted by Gustav Vigeland over a 15 year period. The park is beautiful, and kind of eerie in the snow, but once you get up to the top and see the main phallic like statue of intertwined bodies you’ll be full of amazement and excitement;)
2. Ski! It’s awesome that you can just hop on the metro and be skiing in half an hour. You have to get the tube to Frognerseteren and once you get to the top there is a really stunning view over Oslo. There’s a ski lift up the hill to around 650meters- OK so it’s not that high compared with the Alps, but you can ski right down to Oslo, the airport and other villages and the snow is perfect for both ski and snowboard -light and powdery. If you’re not a skier you cab rent toboggans from Oslo and take them up with you on the train -I didn’t get to do either as I didn’t bring any of my gear but when I go back I would definitely spend a couple of days skiing and sledging.
The top of Frognerseteren:
Where to eat:
1. Really cozy and warm restaurant on the harbour front called Druen. I had, quite possibly, the best soup of my life there and best wine is recommended with mains. It’s about 300NOK (£30 approx)for a main course.
2. The restaurant in The Continetial is a traditional old-skool place- It’s right opposite the National Theatre and has a classic 1920s feel to its decor. Main dish was about 330NOK (£33 approx). Quite a lot of old fogies dining here but you can try the traditional Norwegian delicacies such as Reindeer.
Rudolph:
3. At the top of Frognerseteren (where you go to sk)i is the Finstua Restaurant, it was built in 1891 and the architecture shows it- It’s a beautiful traditional lodge house cum chalet. Absolutely MUST for the views over Oslo. 330NOK (£33aprox)
The view from the Finstua Restaurant:
Tips:
1. Travel by Tram -It’s literally freezing in Oslo in winter and walking around in the snow is tiring. Tram is a cheap, warm and easy way to see the sights and find your way around the city.
2. Get an Oslo pass- I didn’t do this, but I read about it on the day I was leaving. The pass enables you to travel for free, get into museums for free amongst other benefits- you can even rent ice skates for free!
