My goodness it has been way too long since I last posted! I have been busy out on the road having amazing solo travel adventures; however anyone who has been following this blog for a while will know that I tend to post retrospectively, as I find it pretty impossible to sit down for long enough to actually write whilst travelling. I have just returned from an incredible journey through Iceland, Greenland and Scotland and am so excited to dish about the amazing things I have seen and done. So without further ado, regular posting will now recommence!
Flying from South Australia to Iceland is a pretty long journey and requires multiple stops. Usually these stops are so short that I am unable to see anything but the airport, but occasionally a person can luck out and get a stopover long enough to fit in a day of exploring. After spending 25 hours on planes and in airports I arrived in Oslo at around 12.30pm and since my flight to Reykjavik didn’t depart until 9.45pm, I decided to make use of the day!
After clearing customs and leaving my backpack in the airport left luggage, I caught the super efficient Flytoget airport train right into the city centre. I was conscious that I needed to be back at the airport by 7.30pm so I decided to just wander the city and see what I could find.
My first impression of Oslo was that it was an incredibly aesthetically pleasing piece of the world. The city boasts stunning architecture, a vast array of public gardens and literally some of the most beautiful people I have ever seen. This is not an exaggeration. If you are looking for an almost impossibly beautiful subset of humans, Oslo has got you covered. It’s creepy to photograph strangers though, so I will just be sharing pictures of the stunning city and not its stunning inhabitants.
Walking is my absolute favourite way to see a city. Buses, boats, ferries and trains are great, but there is something about exploring on foot that just makes me happy. Plus it’s the cheapest way to get around, and in an infamously expensive city like Oslo, any way to save money is a gift.
My wanderings eventually led me to Frogner Park; a public park famous for being the home of an array of sculptures created by Gustav Vigeland approximately 70 years ago. Not only is the park incredibly green and gorgeous, but the sculptures are truly beautiful.
I ended up spending most of my day in the park. It was lovely and relaxing, and the locals were extremely friendly and chatty. The park is also absolutely chockers with people walking dogs, and if you have heard of the Dogspotting Facebook Group, then you’d understand the massive appeal that a dog mecca holds.
As the sky began to lose light I realised it was time for me to head back to the airport for yet another flight. The walk back to Oslo Central station is a gorgeous walk, and it was the perfect way to spend a free day even when I was completely jetlagged and exhausted.
T H E L O W D O W N
Getting There: The Flytoget Airport Train runs regularly and a single trip to Oslo Central Station will set you back a pricey 180 NOK ($30 AUD)
Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M1 with 12-40mm lens and 52mm HOYA polarising filter
Remember: To be discreet when checking out all the Norwegian hotties
Budget: $60 AUD for a round trip on the airport train and $8 to leave luggage at Oslo airport
great to have you back!! 🙂
Thank you! 🙂 Great to be back!
Oslo is great, isn’t it? I spent a weekend there over the summer and I hadn’t really known what to expect, but I was really impressed by how pretty it was 🙂
It really is! I had no idea what to expect either but it was definitely the most pleasant long layover I have ever had 🙂
Hahahaha being discreet when checking out Norwegian hotties is my new favourite travel tip! Oslo is full of them!
Haha glad I could entertain 😊 and oh my goodness it really is! There must be something in the Norwegian water!
Hey!
Great to see your smile again, its been a while, great to have you back!
I love that image of the Park with the trees, just stunning. I wish I was lost in that park right now… just musing away.
I look forward to all you stories, pics etc from your travels.
#LoveAndTravelHugs©
Cee
Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing in my adventures 😊 I can’t wait to share many more with you
This is so beautiful! 👌
(do check my travel blog too)
Thank you 😊 and will do!
Your trip sounds amazing!
It is great that you don’t have time to get on the computer and you are out there enjoying life!
That’s a good way of looking at it! 😊
I moved to Oslo this summer and this post has warmed up my cold autumn day. Also, I definitely agree that walking is the best way to explore a city, especially Oslo because it’s quite a small city and it is very pedestrian friendly.
How are you liking living there? It seems like a wonderful city to live in 😊
I love it! If you had asked me 5 years ago I would never have thought that Norway is where I’d end up, but I’m very glad I’m here and I’m enjoying integrating into the Norwegian lifestyle.
I am due to go to Norway next summer and your trip to Oslo has just excited me very much 🙂
How exciting! Where in Norway are you going to go?
Bergen, Oslo and Stavanger 🙂 currently deciding whether to go alone or accompanied.
Go it alone! Solo travel is amazing! You’ll save money, meet more locals and get to do whatever you want 😊
I want to do south and central america alone 🙂
That’s on my list too 😊 so many places to see!
Looks like an awesome day in Oslo! I loved it there as well, the architecture and urban art are really something!
It really was lovely 😊 when did you visit?
This past July. We spent two nights there before heading to Flam and Bergen. Definitely could have spent more time there though.
It’s so nice to see a beautiful young woman enjoying life and smiling. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed 😊
Feels great to be Norwegian after reading this post 🙂
Hahaha good to hear 😊
Great photography, this looks like a beautiful destination. Love your smile, so pretty!!
Thank you so much ☺️ Oslo really is gorgeous!
My husband and I visited Oslo in the 80’s. Having moved to NYC from Hawaii a short while before…found me shivering in my boots in this beautiful, but cold, city. My husband’s CEO is from Norway. And our niece is working in Norway. Coincidence that I should read your post…about Norway.
Oslo is high on my bucket list. So jealous.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you get there soon 😊
I went to Copenhagen last year but want to return to that side of the world to visit Oslo! Great to know it’s possible to see something with a long layover.
Ooh I would like to return to visit Copenhagen! I have heard that Denmark is wonderful 😊
Wow, Oslo looks beautiful. Glad you had such an awesome experience! 🙂
Great stuff as always, Ellen. Keep up the good work.
I very much like the sound of the dog-filled park! Can’t wait to hear about Iceland – it’s been top of my list of ‘go-to’ places for ages…
You should definitely go to Iceland! I look forward to sharing all my stories with you 😊
Amazing pics! Looks like quite the little adventure!
Very adventurous!
Oslo looks wonderful! I would imagine that it is a good break to take after spending so much time in the air..Is this during winter? 😊
This was actually just at the beginning of September, so it’s autumn 😊
Going to Norway next sept. Thanks for the tips
Enjoy!! It’s certainly a gorgeous country 😊
I enjoyed your post. In late July/early August I was in Oslo and found the city lovely. If you’re curious, check my blog in which I comment on Norway. nomadwomansworld.wordpress.com
Will do!!
Have wanted to check out Scandinavia and Iceland for some time however I am looking forward to seeing what you got up to in Scotland. One of my favourite countries.
Me too! It was my third time in Scotland and it definitely won’t be my last 😊
Oslo looks gorgeous! I love people watching too, so it’s hard for me not to take photos of people haha! Love the photos, can’t wait to get to Oslo at some point soon!
So glad your back posting i cant wait to read more of your posts from this trip and get inspired all over again 🙂 hope you had a brill time. it looks so beautiful there x x x
It really is gorgeous! And my trip was amazing! I only wish I could’ve stayed longer! Xxx
What a wonderful look at Oslo. Your photos are superb – and definitely an advert for the camera you named. Theyre so clear and vivid. I thoroughly enjoyed reading all your interesting and well expressed information, too! I’m so pleased you’ll be posting regularly about this trip, and can fully understand why you didn’t post while you were there. Getting out and enjoying these wonderful places is what it’s all about. 🙂
Thankyou so much! This was actually my first time using this camera and my first time using an SLR so that means a lot to me 😊
What I said was very true. It was a lovely post!
Wow – beautiful photos and, it looks like you had a great time.
I spent a couple weeks in Norway in August and Oslo really is a great city for walking and exploring. It was definitely hard to not stop and stare with an open mouth every time a gorgeous male walked by (which was a lot)! Glad you were able to see a bit of Oslo and get your adventure off to a great start!
Glad to know it’s not just me that appreciates all the handsome Norwegains haha 😉
Thank you for reading!
Did you like Scotland? I live here and still have much to see.
About a week! It was my third time in Scotland though, I love it so much that I keep coming back! Where in Scotland are you based?
Elgin Morayshire. Sorry about the delay.
Hi Ellen, lovely photos. Karen and I visited Oslo a long time ago! However we remember it as a beautiful relaxed city and easy to walk around. Looking forward to reading about your time in Iceland. It is on Karen’s list.
PS thanks for visiting my blog too.
Cheers, Mark
Oslo is an incredibly beautiful city! I’m happy to live here now 🙂
Great post!
Your photos are amazing I love them. Your travels always inspire me.
Thank you so much 😊 I love getting comments like that! I look forward to sharing many more adventures with you!
Amazing travels! Keep exploring!
Will do! I hope I never stop 😊
I loved your pics and write up on the Vigeland sculpture park! I’ve been there and the sculpture is so unusual, it needs to be seen worldwide! Energizing post!
This reminds me of my recent trip to Oslo. But more memorable yet is my visit to Hell. You can read all about this in my blog.
I also did Oslo in a day a few years ago when visiting there for a conference. This year all I saw was an airport hotel 🙁
Hopefully you can return one day and do more exploring!
loving your blog, Ellen! <3 and I'll be going to Norway this Feb so I can refer to your post:D
BTW i'd like to suggest you to travel to Hong Kong / Indonesia (Bali, specifically). These two are also amazing 🙂 x
Thankyou so much 🙂 I have actually been to Bali not too long ago, but I am sucky at writing on the road so always post retrospectively! I hope to visit Hong Kong later this year too 🙂