Similar to though not nearly as interesting or lively as Barcelona's Las Ramblas (review:…read morehttps://bit.ly/3QJkBpS), this is the primary pedestrian-only artery of Oslo, completely unavoidable if you plan to see the major sights of the city. As it so happened, our hotel (Clarion Hotel: The Hub) was just a few steps from one end of this constantly crowded thoroughfare where the foot traffic poured in and out of the Oslo Central Station. With the other end at the Royal Palace a little more than a half-mile away, we noticed the route has two distinct personalities. The palace end was a wide path surrounded by well maintained park at the beginning. Then it transitioned to a more urban promenade with greenery on one side and upscale hotels and restaurants on the other. The vibe changed considerably at Egertorget Square where we saw the prominent Freia clock up close (photo: https://bit.ly/3RQJbG2). This stretch that leads to the train station was narrower, the bars were more raucous, the eateries were more fast-food options (e.g., McDonald's, MAX Burgers), and the merchandise in the stores looked more downscale. We saw only one lonely busker in the several walks we took up and down this street (photo) but most certainly a lot of drunks. RELATED - Exploring Norway? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: bit.ly/3PEL4Fe

Karl Johans gate is a pedestrian friendly shopping street in the center of Oslo. It was a really…read morebusy place during the couple days that we were recently in Oslo. And experiencing occasional rain only added to the discomfort. Gayle and I did stop for Ice Cream and I found a sought for accessory at Fjällräven (Swedish Backpack Brand) shop. None of the other businesses looked all that interesting, except for maybe the Indian Place (Jaipur) where we enjoyed a really nice dinner. Other than that, Karl Johans gate was basically a direct means to get from one place to the Royal Palace and back.

This is my 500th Yelp Review! A memorable and exemplary stay at The Grand Hotel is deserving of my…read more500th Yelp review! A little history: The Grand Hotel was opened in 1874 by Julius Fritzner. It has a rich history, hosting international guests, celebrities, and even Nobel Peace Prize winners. Location: Grand Hotel is located in the city center of Oslo, Norway. You are literally within walking distance of many great attractions, restaurants, and shopping just outside its front entrance! Walk over or take a short ride to visit major attractions like the Royal Palace, Parliament, and Aker Brygge. It was a bit chilly when we visited in late May, however, with the brisk walking and a warm jacket we kept ourselves warm and comfortable. Accommodations: The hotel interior is stunning and exquisite in its design and decor. The rooms are suite sized and luxurious for your stay. Restaurants we dined in: During our stay, we were fortunate to experience dinner at the iconic Palmen restaurant. Entering the restaurant, your eyes are drawn to the most beautiful chandelier (see picture). The luxurious decor and expansive dining room sets the ambience for the culinary experience we were about to enjoy. The Palmen Restaurant is a renowned restaurant. The restaurant's innovative and dedicated Chefs have created an exquisite continental menu with a Nordic twist. We all enjoyed our dinner here. The service was 5 stars throughout our dinner service for 40! Attentive to everyone's needs and wants. The second location is the Grand Café: A historic cafe serving a rich breakfast buffet in beautiful surroundings. A little history: In 1874 Grand Café opened its doors. Back then, Oslo was called Kristiania. This is where it all started. Location: The Grand Café is located on the ground floor of the hotel. The new Grand Café is open and welcoming to it's guests. The kitchen is open with access to the chefs who prepare food with ingredients mainly from the Nordic countries, and with inspiration from other parts of the world. The decorative ceilings of Lars Backer have been unveiled and recreated, the original Thonet chairs have been renovated and the three famous Krohg paintings have been preserved. (Information is from its website). The fresh local fruits, Nordic cuisine, fresh local breads and so much more is a Foodie breakfast experience that I highly recommend when visiting Oslo. Do not miss your once in a lifetime opportunity to taste a 5 star culinary experience of local and international cuisine! The best way to see the food offerings is via the pictures posted for the restaurant! There is so much more that The Grand Hotel has to offer you! Check out its website for more details. Stay here if you can during your visit to Oslo, Norway. The Grand Hotel Oslo is a 5-star establishment I could not include all the food pictures in this review! You will need to look through the Yelp pictures to see all the pictures I posted. https://grand.no/en/content/unique-location-in-oslo

What a grand hotel! My stay was better than I could imagine! The room is large and spacious and the…read morebest is the most comfortable bed I've slept on! The water pressure is excellent and all the storage to hang and fold clothes. The do need better hairdryers as they're old and not very powerful. The hotel is just so beautiful with an awesome rooftop and lobby bar (both have the same menu). We paid extra for the breakfast, and it was pretty solid- meats and cheeses, eggs, bacon, sausage, lox, fruit, yogurt, cereal, pastries- you name it! Overall a wonderful hotel in a perfect location! We would definitely come back!

Aker Brygge lekeplass - This playground is a fantastic place for families visiting Oslo. The…read moreequipment is modern, clean, and well maintained, while the location near the waterfront makes it even more enjoyable. I was impressed by the thoughtful design and the variety of play options available for children. The area felt safe and welcoming, with plenty of nearby seating for parents. It is great to see such a high-quality public playground integrated into one of Oslo's most popular districts. A wonderful place for children to have fun while adults enjoy the surroundings.

This "district" or community is fantastic!…read more Built my the marina. There are residential buildings, a multi-building shopping mall, multiple museums, art installations, beutiful scultpures, a playground, food hall, many food establishments. Very shoppable, very livable, very artistic, very photogenic, very Instagrammable.

Oslo City Hall - Oslo City Hall is one of the most fascinating buildings I visited in the city…read more From the outside, it looks impressive, while inside I was amazed by the beautiful murals, rich decorations, and unique architecture. I particularly appreciated that the building was open to visitors during my stay, allowing me to see the representative halls where the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony is held each year. The building is located by the beautiful waterfront and also offers lovely views of the Oslo Fjord. For me, it is one of the most interesting places in all of Oslo. Be prepared to wait in line before entering, but the visit is definitely worth it.

We got personal guide tour to this amazing place. Located in central of the city and well known…read morefor the amazing mural and the annual Nobel ceremony celebration. Huge main floor and brick wall covered with events taken place here with informations. Quite a unique place to check out.

Beautiful architecture with a little history lesson surrounding it. From a tourists pov, it's a…read morenice place to see in the center of town and is within walking distance of other sights. This is the Parliament building, but limited tours are offered in the summer. We weren't able to take one because of timing, but seeing the outside was more than enough.

The Parliament building for Norway, it's courtyard is the seat of most political gatherings and as…read moreour guide said, is one of the most important spaces in Oslo. The two lions who overlook it were made by two prisoners who were given jail time but as a rehabilitation measure were both directed to carve one each. One turned his life around and became a famous sculptor, the other fell back into crime and was executed. The courtyard itself is where any and all persons can protest or bring something to Parliament for discussion and later in the day after our tour one was setting up as we walked by. All in all, it's a great stop on a tour and one of the more interesting parts of Oslo, but I'm still curious which lion was made by who.

Akershus festning - During my visit to Oslo, I simply could not miss Akershus Fortress, and this…read moreplace made a great impression on me. The historic fortress is exceptionally well preserved and offers stunning views of both the Oslofjord and the harbor. I really enjoyed the combination of rich Norwegian history and the peaceful atmosphere that can be found here. Walking along the ramparts, courtyards, and ancient buildings was a wonderful experience. The entire area is well maintained, clean, and perfect for exploring at a relaxed pace. It is a place where you can comfortably spend several hours while learning more about the history of Norway. Admission to the fortress grounds was free, with charges applying only for the museums. I also appreciated that the visitor center provided free drinking water and free soda from a dispenser. We were able to refill our bottles as well. The toilets located around the site were also free to use.

I actually just walked the outside of the castle. The grounds were gorgeous. There were various…read morefruit trees. Oranges and crab apples. The large crab apple tree planted in the center of the large lawn was so abundant that there were tons of over ripened ones that had fallen all over and littered the lawn. This caused a bunch of bees buzzing around them on the lawn. There are also a lot of tourists walking the outer grounds of the castle, stopping to pose next to the cannons. The views of the ocean and blue skies are noteworthy. It was worth the long walk from the hotel.

We came to see the changing of the guard and take some photos. We were able to see the guards…read moreupclose and crowd control was maintained with out any barriers. This procession is much smaller than the changing of the guard in England, but respectable in it's own right. The gardens in the back of the palace were really nice and there are tours available that can be booked online, though we didn't partake.

I visited twice during my trip to Oslo, once early in the morning and again the day King Harald had…read morepassed, so I was able to see the outpour of people coming to pay their respects.