We took a mini cruise through the Oslofjord using the public ferries…read more Hovedoya was one of the main islands that had its own direct ferry as well as a stop over on the other ferry lines. Having more frequent stops meant we could hop off and walk around and get back on and continue with our "cruise". No additional fare needed since we had the Oslo Pass. The island itself was quite beautiful with a path surrounded by trees. We passed by a cafe and ruins of a monastery which was undergoing some repairs. There was a beach but we skipped since it started raining. Would try to come back again in nicer weather to spend more time and escape the city of Oslo.

Pretty island, very close to mainland; it's only an eight-minute ferry ride to the island! The…read moreferries that go to this island are part of the public transportation system, so you could just use the same tickets! The island itself is quite pretty, with a lot of trees and access to the beach and shoreline. The water isn't too cold, but I wouldn't want to swim in it either. Definitely worth a visit, seeing that this place is so close! It's cool to have a naturey place so close to the city, and if you just want to get away from the busy city life to relax no enjoy nature, it's really close by.

Tjuvholmen Sculpture Park is an arts facility on Tjuvholmen, next to Aker Brygge, Oslo's central…read morebasin. The sculpture park opened on 10 August 2012, and consists of seven works performed by internationally renowned artists like Louise Bourgeois , Peter Fischli & David Weiss, Antony Gormley, Anish Kapoor, Ellsworth Kell, Ugo Rondinone and Franz West . The sculptures stand out against the Oslo Fjord, with a view to the Akershus castle and fortress, and surrounding the new Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, which is also listed on Tjuvholmen. The new art museum was designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano, who also designed the sculpture park. Adjacent to the sculpture park is a beach that is open to the public. The sculpture park is developed by Selvaag group and Aspelin Ramm Gruppen which together own Tjuvholmen KS, the company responsible for the development of Tjuvholmen. When Tjuvholmen was purchased by the Port Authority, was part of the purchase price allocated to a gift to the city consisting of a sculpture park, Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, beach and lookout tower thief titts. If you appreciate art and sculptures, this is a great visit. I did not spend anytime at the beach area, it was overcrowded during the day with nowhere to sit. If you want to go there, I would suggest going early. I took many pictures of this area, especially of the small fjords and and buildings. Very nice for strolls and there are areas to relax besides the beach. Really enjoyed my time here.

Now if I was a young up-and-comer living in the fast lane of Oslo - if indeed Oslo has a fast lane…read more- then I'd probably live in Tjuvholmen, the ultra-modern tip of the peninsula emanating from the tourist-saturated Aker Brugge area. But since I'm an old down-and-outer, it was still worth strolling the area for the humorous public art and creative outdoor spaces which included an elaborate man-made beach that looked to draw other young up-and-comers, the ones who needed to be seen in their skivvies. The centerpiece was the privately owned, Renzo Piano-designed Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, which showcases American appropriation artists. How appropriate. Otherwise there were high-end restaurants and shops should you want to give up more kroners than you anticipated. RELATED - Exploring Norway? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3PEL4Fe

Tjuvholmen is a neighborhood in the borough Frogner in Oslo, Norway. It is located on a peninsula…read moresticking out from Aker Brygge into the Oslofjord. It is located east of Filipstad and south of Vika. The area was bought by the shipyard Akers Mekaniske Verksted in the mid 19th century, who planned to build a drydock there. The Norwegian National Academy of Ballet was located there. Since 2005, the area has been sold to private developers, who are conducting an urban renewal with housing. The area will have about 1,200 apartments by 2012. It is part of the Fjord City urban renewal program. The first element is tjuv 'thief', the last element is the finite form of holme m 'islet'. (The islet was later turned into a peninsula because of post-glacial rebound.) Thieves were executed here in the 18th century. An older (Danish) spelling of the name was "Tyveholmen". The architecture of the newer buildings are magnificent and I could not stop photographing the area. There are also many shopping, bars and restaurants. It is rapidly growing and becoming a popular tourist attraction in Oslo.

Sørenga sjøbad is a fantastic public space just near the heart of Oslo and the Opera / Barcode…read morearea. Floating jetties right in the fjord allow you to have a safe and enjoyable swimming experience right in the ocean, whilst being in the heart of the city. For the children, there is a beach with sand and shallow water, and for adults, you can dive directly into the deeper water off the jetties. There is also a Olympic sized lap area, which even though there are many people that visit the bathing area, most don't use the lanes/lap pool area. So if you are looking for a place to do laps, without many people in your lane, this is the place to go. The best part about all of these bathing areas, is that is completely free! Every time I have been there, a lifeguard has been present at the bathing area. Café's restaurants and a supermarket are all within walking distance, grab yourself, a drink, coffee or ice-cream on a hot day.