Visiting Oslo,Seeking your suggestion

Hi gals,
We r planning to visit oslo for this christmas.Can anyone suggest me which would be the best place to explore, As we r going to travel with our 3 1/2 yr old daughter.I am staying in dublin,we people rare to see snow here .Just thought of asking u does it snow in the month december or so.Pls share ur thoughts if u have any .


Kind Regards,
Madhu.

Oslo and Christmas I am thinking cold......brrrrrrr
There are chances that you will have snow

Hi chandramukhi,
Thanks for ur reply.Thats very glad to hear this,so my christmas will be with full of snow this time.I haven't seen snow before.So i was very excited.Once again thanks for the reply.Have a good time.

Cheers,
Madhu.

Hi Madhu,

Please look up the snow conditions on the internet, there might not be snow. But it will be cold for sure . Prepare to be packed in layers of clothing!


Brrrrrrrrrrr

Dear Madhu,

I lived in Norway for seven years. In my humble opinion, it is the most beautiful place on earth and you are making a good decision to visit Oslo. Only the place is cold, people (though reserved) are warm, friendly and helpful. There is absolutely no racism. Everyone will speak good English.

I lived in Bergen on the south west coast, and which has a sunny climate like India. Since the Gulf stream flows thru Bergen, we get very lil snow fall there. So, my husband also took me to Oslo during Christmas to see snow. 'En hvit Jul'- a white Christmas is something that Norwegians just love and love.

Normally, December is a season of very high snow fall in Oslo. Snow can become knee deep and even traffic can get hindered. But the civic authorities clear snow very fast.

Jul season is also very festive in Oslo. All shops will be done up with extra lights, green and red decorations. Norwegians start celebrating Jul a month before Dec25, so shops will be full of special Norwegian cookies like mandel notter,krense kaker etc- all absolutely delicious.

You can arrange sleigh rides (drawn by reindeer or dogs) for your child. The Christmas celebration in Scandinavia is also very different from that in other European countries.

If in Oslo, check for shops having Wasa crystal. This is a Swedish crystal brand. Their pieces are handmade and abolutely mind blowing. They even have Hindu Gods like Ganesha, Durga, BAlaji,Baby Krishna etc. Try to get a souvenir. Other typical Norsk souvenirs are the troll, Viking ship model etc. Please dont have shopping on your agenda, since Osle is very expensive. No point buying Norsk sweaters, incredibly beautiful as they are.

The disadvantages of visiting Oslo in Dcember are that it can get very, very freezing cold. Day temperatures can be normally minus five and mid night temps can even fall to minus 20. So, carry a lot of wollens, cold medicines, warm food.

Oslo can get a bit rough in secluded and dark areas- I am sure you will be careful in not going there.

Snow might get a bit slippery to walk if you are not used to it (like me, was always slipping in snow). Carry footwear that has good grip and spikes on soles. You can buy Norwegian spike attachments called 'bodde; which you can wear on the heels of your shoes for grip.

In summer, Indian food is easily available even in road side trucks. Not sure if that happens in winter. Also, remember that from October, most of the sight seeing places will close for winter until March. So, a lot of other sight seeing may be difficult.

if possible, make a quick visit to Bergen on the Flam Railway. This is one of the highest suspension rail lines in the world, and a must ride. You will hang on for dear life. There is a wonderful trip,'Norway in a Nutshell' running 365 days. It will take you from one end to the other of Norway. You can see snow, Arctic fox everything on the way. You will need to go to Bergen, take the boat and bus from there- everything is arranged and you just have to hop on and off.

This trip will show you the breath taking fjords of Norway.

Enjoy! God Jul!

Originally Posted by Vidya24

Dear Madhu,

I lived in Norway for seven years. In my humble opinion, it is the most beautiful place on earth and you are making a good decision to visit Oslo. Only the place is cold, people (though reserved) are warm, friendly and helpful. There is absolutely no racism. Everyone will speak good English.

I lived in Bergen on the south west coast, and which has a sunny climate like India. Since the Gulf stream flows thru Bergen, we get very lil snow fall there. So, my husband also took me to Oslo during Christmas to see snow. 'En hvit Jul'- a white Christmas is something that Norwegians just love and love.

Normally, December is a season of very high snow fall in Oslo. Snow can become knee deep and even traffic can get hindered. But the civic authorities clear snow very fast.

Jul season is also very festive in Oslo. All shops will be done up with extra lights, green and red decorations. Norwegians start celebrating Jul a month before Dec25, so shops will be full of special Norwegian cookies like mandel notter,krense kaker etc- all absolutely delicious.

You can arrange sleigh rides (drawn by reindeer or dogs) for your child. The Christmas celebration in Scandinavia is also very different from that in other European countries.

If in Oslo, check for shops having Wasa crystal. This is a Swedish crystal brand. Their pieces are handmade and abolutely mind blowing. They even have Hindu Gods like Ganesha, Durga, BAlaji,Baby Krishna etc. Try to get a souvenir. Other typical Norsk souvenirs are the troll, Viking ship model etc. Please dont have shopping on your agenda, since Osle is very expensive. No point buying Norsk sweaters, incredibly beautiful as they are.

The disadvantages of visiting Oslo in Dcember are that it can get very, very freezing cold. Day temperatures can be normally minus five and mid night temps can even fall to minus 20. So, carry a lot of wollens, cold medicines, warm food.

Oslo can get a bit rough in secluded and dark areas- I am sure you will be careful in not going there.

Snow might get a bit slippery to walk if you are not used to it (like me, was always slipping in snow). Carry footwear that has good grip and spikes on soles. You can buy Norwegian spike attachments called 'bodde; which you can wear on the heels of your shoes for grip.

In summer, Indian food is easily available even in road side trucks. Not sure if that happens in winter. Also, remember that from October, most of the sight seeing places will close for winter until March. So, a lot of other sight seeing may be difficult.

if possible, make a quick visit to Bergen on the Flam Railway. This is one of the highest suspension rail lines in the world, and a must ride. You will hang on for dear life. There is a wonderful trip,'Norway in a Nutshell' running 365 days. It will take you from one end to the other of Norway. You can see snow, Arctic fox everything on the way. You will need to go to Bergen, take the boat and bus from there- everything is arranged and you just have to hop on and off.

This trip will show you the breath taking fjords of Norway.

Enjoy! God Jul!

Hello Vidya,
Your immediate response is really appreciated. I could never dream of getting such detailed information even from tourist office
I see from your post that you are suggesting about reindeer/dog trip. Just to tell you something, we had been to Dog Sledding trip in a place called Are (one of swedish alps ranges) this year mid. But we always want to try that Rein-Deer trip.
Do you have any suggestion for us to see in Oslo? Do you think Rein-Deer trip is available in Oslo? Or Bergen is the only option to do this?
We are more specifically interested in breathtaking scenic routes,mountains,etc instead of normal cities with architecture,etc.
I am really looking forward to your valuable suggestion on this.
So now our choise is between Oslo and Bergen. If you think we can have Rein deer trip , mountains,etc in Oslo, then we are going to stick to Oslo.

thanks again for furnishing the details.
Madhu

Originally Posted by Chandramukhi

Hi Madhu,

Please look up the snow conditions on the internet, there might not be snow. But it will be cold for sure . Prepare to be packed in layers of clothing!


Brrrrrrrrrrr

Hi chandramukhi,
Thanks for your response.Def i will do that.Actaully we r planning to purchase few clothing stuffs to resist cold there.Ok then have a good time.

Regards,
Madhu.

Madhusri,

I am glad that I could be of some help.

If you wish to see snow and lots of it, then you should visit Oslo in December. In Bergen, there will be very little snow fall and that too will melt off in half a day in the sun and rain. (Bergen has the highest rainfall in Europe even in winter).

So, if you want snow, if your child wants to buid a snowman, reindeer ride- then Oslo it is.

But the downside is that Oslo will be very,very cold in December. Sub ero temperatures are normal. And also, as you know, day will break only by 8am and it will become dark by 5pm. Moreover, many of the tourist attractions like country trips, museumes, glass and crystal factories etc will be closed entirely thru winter.

So, if you visit Oslo in Christmas, you can enjoy snow and the festive and different Lutheran Jul celebrations. But not anything else or more.

You have mentioned that you like scenic beauty rather than architectural sights. if so, Norway is the place to visit, it has more rugged and unspoilt nature than Alps or Switzerland. The Arctic landscape is so beautiful, it will bring peace and calmeness to your heart(remember Norway gives the Nobel peace prize, the climate and topography support that peace).

If you want to see nature in her glory, visit Bergen in summer. Do some trips like Norway in a Nutshell. You will take a ship, bus, suspension Flam railway and see beautiful places.

This trip can be done in winter also (it runs 365 days a year). But in winter the landscape will have a different white grim beauty, trees will be bare (in summer they will be fruit laden). And it will be cold.

Factor in the cold and dark when you plan this trip.However, winter or summer,Norway is beautiful and will make you very happy.

regards
Vidya

Originally Posted by madhusri8576

Hello Vidya,
Your immediate response is really appreciated. I could never dream of getting such detailed information even from tourist office
I see from your post that you are suggesting about reindeer/dog trip. Just to tell you something, we had been to Dog Sledding trip in a place called Are (one of swedish alps ranges) this year mid. But we always want to try that Rein-Deer trip.
Do you have any suggestion for us to see in Oslo? Do you think Rein-Deer trip is available in Oslo? Or Bergen is the only option to do this?
We are more specifically interested in breathtaking scenic routes,mountains,etc instead of normal cities with architecture,etc.
I am really looking forward to your valuable suggestion on this.
So now our choise is between Oslo and Bergen. If you think we can have Rein deer trip , mountains,etc in Oslo, then we are going to stick to Oslo.

thanks again for furnishing the details.
Madhu

Originally Posted by Vidya24

Madhusri,

I am glad that I could be of some help.

If you wish to see snow and lots of it, then you should visit Oslo in December. In Bergen, there will be very little snow fall and that too will melt off in half a day in the sun and rain. (Bergen has the highest rainfall in Europe even in winter).

So, if you want snow, if your child wants to buid a snowman, reindeer ride- then Oslo it is.

But the downside is that Oslo will be very,very cold in December. Sub ero temperatures are normal. And also, as you know, day will break only by 8am and it will become dark by 5pm. Moreover, many of the tourist attractions like country trips, museumes, glass and crystal factories etc will be closed entirely thru winter.

So, if you visit Oslo in Christmas, you can enjoy snow and the festive and different Lutheran Jul celebrations. But not anything else or more.

You have mentioned that you like scenic beauty rather than architectural sights. if so, Norway is the place to visit, it has more rugged and unspoilt nature than Alps or Switzerland. The Arctic landscape is so beautiful, it will bring peace and calmeness to your heart(remember Norway gives the Nobel peace prize, the climate and topography support that peace).

If you want to see nature in her glory, visit Bergen in summer. Do some trips like Norway in a Nutshell. You will take a ship, bus, suspension Flam railway and see beautiful places.

This trip can be done in winter also (it runs 365 days a year). But in winter the landscape will have a different white grim beauty, trees will be bare (in summer they will be fruit laden). And it will be cold.

Factor in the cold and dark when you plan this trip.However, winter or summer,Norway is beautiful and will make you very happy.

regards
Vidya

Hi vidya,
Thanks for ur valuable suggestion.I will come back to u if i have any more questions .

Regards,
Madhu.