Oslo, Norway - Norway, Fjords & Baltic Cruises

Sit back and enjoy the scenery and beautiful islands of the Oslofjord, whilst savouring the fresh flavour of local shrimps.

Oslo, with its superb location, offers unique opportunities on and around its fjord which stretches almost into the city centre. Discover the Oslofjord scenery on a traditional wooden boat, fully restored to its former glory. You’ll sail past numerous islands, including Hovedøya and the Dyna Lighthouse, through narrow inlets and into sheltered bays so that you can capture the capital on camera from different angles.

The boat passes close to the peninsula of Bygdøy, housing many interesting museums as well as beaches such as Huk Bay. See the Maritime Museum with its veteran sailing ships moored outside, and the impressive Fram Museum, housing the polar ship of the same name.

As you sail past the interesting sights enjoy a refreshing drink whilst you savour the taste of a delicious Norwegian fresh shrimp buffet.

Note: Please be advised that there will be a short walk of 300 yards to join the boat. The boat has a short steep gangway and steep steps to reach the onboard toilets, however there is a handrail. A jacket, hat and comfortable, non-slip shoes are recommended. There is no shade on the top deck so extra care needs to be taken of exposed skin in sunny or windy conditions.

Enjoy a leisurely drive around the main sights of Oslo.

Your leisurely drive will take you past the 13th century Akershus Fortress, which is part museum and part military area, before turning towards the City Hall. The City Hall, inaugurated in 1950 at Oslo's 900 year jubilee, hosts the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony every year and is one of Oslo’s most famous buildings after its expressionist architecture won it the ‘Structure of the Century’ title in 2005. You will pass the eclectic Parliament of Norway building before proceeding down Karl Johan Street, named after the 19th century Swedish-Norwegian king, towards the prestigious University of Oslo, which was established in 1811.

View the impressive Royal Palace, built in 1849, which is the residence of the Royal Family. Carry on past the granite and wrought iron gates of the Vigeland Sculpture Park and begin the climb up Holmenkollen Hill. Perched high above Oslo, Holmenkollen is the cradle of ski jumping and the site of the 1952 Olympic ski jumping competition. On clear days, there are impressive views to parts of the town and the Oslofjord with its many islands.

Returning towards the town centre, drive down the busy ‘Bogstad-veien’ with its many shops, and continue along the Royal Park passing the House of Artists, and down to ‘Stortorget’ - the big market square, where you also find the Dutch baroque architecture of Oslo Cathedral, built in 1697, before returning to the port.

Note: All sightseeing is conducted from the comfort of your coach.

This walking tour unveils many of Oslo’s famous sites, including the Nobel Peace Centre.

Cradled between forest-clad hills with a number of islands spread out in the fjord, Oslo is a vibrant city centred around a harbour and guarded by a castle. This is an eclectic place of traditional timber houses, stately Neoclassical buildings and the latest in modern architecture.

In 1624, the town was completely destroyed by fire and King Christian IV decided to rebuild the city under the walls of the fortress of Akershus. Your walking tour starts here, passing the statue of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the modern landmark of the City Hall.

Take a closer look at the National Theatre and the Royal Palace, before turning down the main street, Karl Johan and passing the University of Oslo and the Ibsen Museum. Visit the Nobel Peace Centre, inaugurated in 2005, whose mission is to keep the spirit of Alfred Nobel’s last will and testament alive.

Note: There is approximately two hours of walking over various terrains and including lots of steps. Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Please dress according to the weather and carry a bottle of water. This tour will only be cancelled in extreme weather conditions. Wind and rain are not considered extreme. Depending on the ships berth, there may be a short coach journey at the start of the tour.

Enjoy a drive around the city’s highlights before visiting the fascinating Vigeland Sculpture Park and Viking Ship Museum.

Departing from the base of the Akershus Castle and Fortress, your guide will provide an interesting commentary as you pass the modern landmarks of the City Hall, Parliament, National Theatre, the Royal Residence and up to the Holmenkollen Hills, for excellent views over parts of the city and the Oslofjord.

A stop will be made at the Vigeland Sculpture Park, for an interesting guided walk around the fascinating ‘wonder-world’ of human figures in stone, iron and bronze. The artist, Gustav Vigeland, never explained these works, leaving the interpretation to each beholder.

Leaving the Park, you will head towards the peninsula of Bygdøy, for a visit to the Viking Ship Museum. Here you will see the incredible craftsmanship of Viking ships. The ‘Gokstad’ is a classic Viking ship, while the ‘Oseberg’, which was dug out in 1904, is richly adorned and was probably used as a pleasure boat. The Museum holds a collection of sleds, implements and gold and silver jewellery found with the ships.

Afterwards, travel past the pleasure boat harbour and glimpse the charming, little castle ‘Oscarshall’, built in the 19th century by the Swedish-Norwegian King, Oscar I.

Note: The Viking Ship Museum is a popular attraction and can get crowded. There is approximately one hour of walking including several steps in Vigeland Park. Comfortable, flat, walking shoes are recommended. The journey may involve two tunnels. The itinerary order may operate in reverse.

Discover the spirit of Norwegian explorers through the ages, at three of Norway’s most fascinating museums.

As you travel to Bygdøy, you will pass some of Oslo’s main landmarks including the City Hall, National Theatre and Royal Residence. Bygdøy, once the King's private property, is now partly laid out as a museum area, you’ll stop here for a guided visit to three interesting museums; Viking Ship, Kon-Tiki and Fram.

The Viking Ship Museum contains well preserved Viking ships, which are an excellent example of the Viking period's daring initiative and ship building craftsmanship. The museum also houses a collection of household implements found during the excavations of the ships and a Viking Age display which includes sledges, beds, a horse cart, wood carvings, buckets and other artifacts.

The Kon-Tiki Museum houses original boats and exhibits from Thor Heyerdahl’s world famous expeditions to Ra, Tigris, Fatu-Hiva, Kon-Tiki, and Easter Island. It also has a 100 foot cave tour, cinema and an underwater exhibition containing a life-size 33 foot whale shark.

The Fram Museum shows the history of the polar explorers, including Nansen's journey across the Polar ocean, Sverdrup's expedition to Greenland and Amundsens journey to the South Pole. There are exhibits displaying animals from the Polar region and the world’s most famous polar ship, the Fram, built in 1892. The Fram is in its original condition with its interior and objects perfectly preserved.

Note: The Fram ship is not wheelchair accessible. There are souvenir shops at the museums.

Take a leisurely walk around the highlights of Oslo followed by a drink in a unique bar made totally from ice.

As you stroll past historical buildings, cosy cafés and art galleries, your knowledgeable guide will provide an interesting commentary of the history of Oslo.

On arrival at ‘Stortorget’, the big market square, you’ll see the dramatic Oslo Cathedral and the statue of King Christian IV, pointing to where the town should be rebuilt. Heading along Karl Johans Gate, you will pass the Parliament of Norway and the original University of Oslo buildings from 1811, before reaching the Royal Palace. Finally, you will stroll towards the City Hall with its two impressive towers and a building adorned with statues and artwork of various kind.

The highlight is a visit to ‘Icebar Oslo’, where you will be provided with warm clothing before entering the -5°C bar. Everything including the walls, bar counter, furniture and artwork is made from 60 tons of solid ice sourced from the Torne River in Lapland. Enjoy a drink served in an ice glass while you view the ice art in this unique surrounding, before taking a leisurely walk back to the port.

Note: There is approximately two hours of walking over mostly flat ground with some uneven terrain and several steps. Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Please dress according to the weather and carry a bottle of water. This tour will only be cancelled in extreme weather conditions. Wind and rain are not considered extreme. Depending on the ships berth, there may be a short coach journey at the start of the tour.

Enjoy a nostalgic steam train ride on the 16 mile Krøderbanen Vintage Railway from Vikersund to Krøderen.

Krøderbanen Vintage Railway is a steam powered railway, opened as a narrow gauge line in 1872, it was rebuilt to standard gauge in 1909. After being abandoned in 1985, it became a museum railway line operated by the Norwegian Railway Club and at 16 miles long it is Norway’s longest museum.

After a coach journey to Vikersund, you’ll take a seat in the quaint wooden carriages of a vintage steam train. Enjoy the nostalgic sounds and smells associated with steam travel as you pass a varied landscape of forests and farms as well as the station buildings, which are part of the Krøderbanen Foundation. The train ends at Krøderen Station, which is a superb example of an old, Norwegian railway station. There will be a brief stop to browse the various exhibits and memorabilia displayed in the little shop on the platform, before rejoining your coach for the return journey to Oslo.

Note: The train journey takes approximately one hour along a single track line. There are a few steep steps to board the train. Please be advised that the train travels thorough one tunnel and there are no lights in the tunnel or in the carriages. Guests are reminded that the train is vintage therefore the toilets will be basic and the windows may experience condensation in certain weather. There is no commentary onboard. This itinerary order may operate in reverse.