Oslo Travel Guide

City Facts

Location

Norway.

Time Zone

GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity

230 volts AC, 50Hz; two-round-pin plugs are standard.

Average January Temperatures

- 4.3°C (24.3°F).

Average July Temperatures

16.4°C (61.5°F).

Average Annual Rainfall

1,045mm (41 inches).

Language

One hundred and fifty years ago, Norwegians spoke Danish. There are now two official languages, Bokmål and Nynorsk, which have equal status and are used in public administration, schools, churches and the media. Bokmål, a Norwegian form of Danish, is the more popular of the two official languages, being spoken by 95% of the population. Nynorsk, created in the 1850s from spoken Norwegian and Old Norse, is spoken by about 20% of the population. Of the seven additional languages spoken in Norway, two are gypsy and five are Finn (often referred to by the derogatory term Lapp) languages. The two official languages are mutually comprehensible, but the Finn languages are not related to Norwegian and cannot be understood by those who have not learnt one of them. English is widely spoken in Oslo and German, French and Spanish may also be understood. Phrases Yes - Ja No - Nei Hello - Hei Goodbye - Hadet Please - Vær Så Snill (Vaer Saa Snill) Thank you - Takk My name is ... - Mitt navn er ... / Jeg heter ... How are you? - Hvordan går det? (gaar) I am very well - Jeg har det bra / Det går bra (gaar) I feel ill - Jeg føler meg syk (foeler) How much does it cost? - Hvor mye koster det? Do you speak English? - Snakker du Engelsk? I do not understand - Jeg forstår ikke (Forstaar)Where is ...? - Hvorer ...?Entrance - InngangExit - UtgangDanger - FareOpen - Åpen (Aapen)Closed - StengtToilets - ToalettDoctor - DoktorHotel - HotellRestaurant - RestaurantBeer - Øl (Oel)Wine - VinMenu - MenyToday - I DagTomorrow - I MorgenMonday - MandagTuesday - TirsdagWednesday - OnsdagThursday - TorsdagFriday - FredagSaturday - Lørdag (Loerdag)Sunday - Søndag (Soendag)One - EnTwo - ToThree - TreFour - FireFive - FemSix - SeksSeven - SyvEight - Åtte (Aatte)Nine - NiTen - TiTwenty - Tyve / TjueThirty - Tredve / TrettiForty - Førti (Foerti)Fifty - FemtiSixty - SekstiSeventy - Søtti (Soetti) / SyttiEighty - Åtti (Aatti)Ninety - NittiOne Hundred - Ett HundreOne Thousand - Ett Tusen

Cost of Living

Special Events

Oslo Church Music Festival
March
Two weeks of concerts starting at the beginning of March each year. Events include a children’s choir and piano recital as well as a series of lectures.
Oslo Domkirke (Oslo Cathedral)
Website: www.oslokirkemusikkfestival.no

Nordic World Cup Skiing
March
The annual World Cup ski competitions are held at the Holmenkollen ski jump, Norway’s most popular tourist destination.
Holmenkollen
Website: www.skiforeningen.no

Nasjonaldagen (Norwegian National Constitution Day)
May
National holiday with a parade of flag-waving adults and children, led by various bands, to see the Royal Family on the castle balcony.
Royal Palace

Norwegian Wood Rock Festival
June
Three-day outdoor rock festival featuring major international and Norwegian artists.
Frogner Park
Website: www.norwegianwood.no

Norway Cup
August
World’s biggest junior football tournament.
Ekebergsletta Sports Center
Website: www.norway-cup.no

Oslo Jazz Festival
August
Jazz from local and international acts.
Various venues across the city
Website: www.oslojazz.no

Oslo Chamber Music Festival (Oslo Kammermusikkfestival)
August
A variety of performances take place during a two-week festival.
Various venues across the city
Website: www.oslokammermusikkfestival.no

Ibsen Festival
August-September
The festival celebrates Henrik Ibsen’s work on several of the city’s theater stages.
Various venues across the city
Website: www.ibsenfestivalen.no

Oslo Half-Marathon
September
A challenging half-marathon across Oslo’s hilly terrain.
City center

ULTIMA Oslo Contemporary Music Festival
September-October
Annual international festival of high artistic standing whose aim is to present modern music and related art forms in Oslo.
Various venues in the city center
Website: www.ultima.no