FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Oslo

There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Oslo each year.
The main ones are listed below.

Held for 10 days each year in March, this festival features about 30 performances – chamber music, organ recitals, cantatas, oratorios and other choral works – from medieval repertoire to premieres of new pieces by contemporary composers. All concerts are presented in the Norwegian capital's churches, with Oslo Cathedral as the main venue. In addition to concerts, the festival programme also features lectures, organ demonstrations and master classes.

This traditional festival celebrates Oslo's patron saint, revered for his defence of an innocent thrall woman. Many of the festivities are held in Oslo's Middelalderparken, a park on the site of one of the city's earliest settlements, and include concerts, guided tours of the park, and activities for children. A ceremony, with speeches by the mayor and church dignitaries, is also held in the historic centre of the city, with guided tours of this area before and after.

Commemorates the adoption of Norway's constitution on this day in 1814. Although Sweden still ruled the country at this time, Norway gained more autonomy than it had ever had before, particularly in comparison with its previous status as a territory of Denmark, brought to an end by the union's defeat alongside France in the Napoleonic Wars. Highlights include costume and children's parades, traditional family feasts and official ceremonies.

Inspired by World Music Day, this free music festival is Oslo's first major event of the summer, featuring performances of all styles of music at nearly 40 outdoor venues throughout the city.

Established in 1972, this international football tournament for children and youths aged 10–19 is one of the largest events of its kind anywhere in the world, drawing some 30,000 participants from many countries every year.

This major festival held on the Rådhusplassen (City Hall Square) offers free admission to its entire programme of events, featuring artistic and cultural expressions from all over the world: music, arts and crafts, film, theatre and dance. In addition, the colours and scents of world cuisines are celebrated by the range of delectable delights sold at the food stalls.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Oslo

Month	Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Average Rains (MM)	Best Time to Travel
January	-7/19	-2/28	49/1.9	Not the best period to go
February	-7/19	-1/30	36/1.4	Not the best period to go
March	-3/27	3/37	47/1.9	Not the best period to go
April	-1/30	9/48	41/1.6	Good period to go
May	6/43	16/61	53/2.1	Good period to go
June	10/50	20/68	65/2.6	Good period to go
July	12/54	21/70	81/3.2	Good period to go
August	11/52	20/68	89/3.5	Not the best period to go
September	7/45	15/59	90/3.5	Not the best period to go
October	4/39	9/48	84/3.3	Not the best period to go
November	-1/30	3/37	73/2.9	Not the best period to go
December	-6/21	1/34	55/2.2	Not the best period to go

Oslo Gardermoen International Airport

Oslo's Gardermoen International Airport is located about 35 kilometres (22 miles) north-east of the city centre.

• One terminal

• By car
  • Accessible via the E6.
  • The airport offers a total of nearly 20,000 parking spaces, distributed across two garages and six outdoor lots. Short-term parking areas are available on both the arrivals and departure levels at the terminal, mainly for picking up and dropping off passengers (NOK 72 per hour). There is an additional short-term parking facility just 50 metres from the terminal (NOK 55 per hour, NOK 360 per day). Several long-term parking facilities are provided on the airport property, with rates starting at NOK 180 per day and NOK 550 per week (less if booked online in advance).
  • Several car rental companies have counters in the arrivals hall on the west side near the railway station.
• By rail
  • Flytoget, the express rail connection between the airport and Oslo S (the main train station), runs every 10 minutes. The trip takes about 20 minutes and a single ticket costs NOK 180.
• By shuttle bus
  • Flybussen runs a daily shuttle bus service connecting the airport with the main bus station in the city centre every 20 minutes. The travel time is about 45 minutes and the fare is NOK 150 each way.
• By taxi
  • Taxis are available at the ranks outside the arrivals hall. Fares between the airport and central Oslo range from NOK 400 to NOK 700.

• Services: shops, bars and restaurants, Internet access (Wi-Fi) available in the airport.
• Telephone: +47 915 06400
• Website: http://www.osl.no

GETTING AROUND Oslo

Oslo is a very easy city to get around. The Norwegian capital's public transport system is one of the most efficient in the world. Furthermore, as many of the sights in Oslo are not that far apart, it is entirely conceivable to explore the city uniquely on foot or by bicycle.

By rail

Oslo's Metro, the Tunnelbane (also known as T-bane) is one of the most convenient ways to get around the city. There are six lines, five of which run underground in the city centre, stopping at Nationaltheatret, Stortinget and Jernbanetorget (Oslo S) stations. Service starts at 5:30 a.m. every day and ends at 12:30 a.m.

• Single ticket: NOK 30
• 24-hour ticket: NOK 90
• 7-day ticket: NOK 240

By bus

Oslo's efficient network of bus routes offers extensive coverage of the city, serving all of the main points of interest. All Ruter tickets (single, 1-day and 7-day) may be used on Oslo's buses.

By tram

There are six tram lines running within the city (11, 12, 13, 17, 18 and 19). Trams running on these lines include both older, high-floor models and more modern vehicles with low-floor entrances for easier boarding. All Ruter tickets (single, 1-day and 7-day) may be used on Oslo's trams.

By bicycle

Although traffic in Oslo is sometimes quite congested, bicycles are an excellent way to get around the city. Oslo Bysykkel, the city's public bike-sharing system, has over 100 stations in and around the city centre. Visitors can obtain electronic Oslo Bysykkel rental cards valid for 24 hours from the Oslo Visitor Centre. The price is NOK 100 and a security deposit of NOK 250 must be paid for each card. For further information, contact the Oslo Visitor Centre:

• Address: Jernbanetorget 1 (in Østbanehallen next to Oslo Central Station)
• Telephone: +47 815 30 555

By ferry

Ferries are one of the most spectacular ways to discover the city. Ruter's ferry network provides services from Aker Brygge and Vippetangen to Nesodden, Vollen Slemmestad, Fornebu and many of the islands in the Oslo Fjord. Other companies also operate ferries from Aker Brygge to the Bygdøy peninsula and from Rådhusbrygge 4 to the islands of the inner Oslo Fjord. Fares for the Ruter ferries are integrated with the other public transport options, whereas those for ferries operated by private companies range from NOK 130 to NOK 390, depending on the distance travelled.

By taxi

Taxis are plentiful in the Norwegian capital. Expect to pay at least NOK 10 per kilometre, in addition to the initial charge of between NOK 80 and NOK 150.

Visitor information

Upon your arrival in Oslo, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organize your stay.

Offers practical information and many useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).

• Address: Jernbanetorget 1 (in Østbanehallen next to Oslo Central Station)
• Telephone: +47 815 30 555
• Opening hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Sunday in person / 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday for telephone calls
• Website: http://www.visitoslo.com

Currency and Exchange Rates

The currency used in Norway is the norwegian krone (K).

1 SEK = 0,92 NOK

1 NOK = 1,09 SEK

The above exchange rate is given for information because is variable.

Medical information

There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to Norway. For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:

• Address: 38 Quai de Jemmapes 75010 Paris
• Website: http://www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr
• Telephone: +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
• To make a vaccination appointment:
  • online (click here)
  • call the centre at +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00

Tap water is safe to drink in Oslo.

Administrative formalities

Travellers from the Schengen area, as well as those from the countries of the European Union not included in the area, need only be in possession of a national identity card or a passport valid for the duration of their stay in order to enter Norway.

As a general rule, all other travellers are subject to visa requirements, although citizens of some countries may enter Norway for a short stay of up to 90 days without a visa.

To find out whether you will need to obtain a visa for your stay, visit the website of the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI):
http://www.udi.no/en/word-definitions/persons-who-do-not-need-a-visa-to-visit-norway-/#link-708

Essential phrases

Good to know

intl. access code + 47

+ phone number (calls to Oslo)

0 : 00
of time difference with
Stockholm

Start of daylight saving time: last Sunday in March
End of daylight saving time: last Sunday in October

Banks

Usually open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Government offices

Usually open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

230 V / 50 Hz

And what about tipping?
In Oslo as in the rest of Norway, cafés and restaurants very often add a service charge to their bills. Even when this gratuity is included, it is customary to leave a few kroner to round up the bill. If you are especially satisfied with the service, you can leave a tip amounting to as much as 10 percent of the bill.