Gamle Oslo & Ekeberg
Gamle Oslo and Ekeberg: the back story
Area guide
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Helge Høifødt · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Gamle Oslo and Ekeberg: the back story
The history of Oslo begins in the Middle Ages below the Ekeberg hills, in what is now Gamlebyen, the Old Town: around 1300 about 3,000 people lived here, and King Håkon V was the first king to reside in Oslo, VisitOSLO records. Ruins of churches and the medieval town remain. Above, Ekebergparken mixes sculpture with forest and views over the fjord.
Sights
Medieval Oslo in Gamlebyen, Ekebergparken and the Botanical Garden at Tøyen.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Helge Høifødt · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsEating
Hot Shop (One MICHELIN Star, 2026) and The Little Pickle (Bib Gourmand); Ekebergrestauranten on the hill.
Take tram 13 or 19 up to Ekebergparken.
Our advice: walk up the Love Path to the Ekeberg viewpoint.
Why it's on our list
- Sights
- Eating
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Gamle Oslo and Ekeberg: the back story before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from Gamle Oslo and Ekeberg: the back story are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 14 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest T-bane, tram and rail stations
- Oslo HospitalTram200 m2 min walk
- MiddelalderparkenTram350 m5 min walk
- BjørvikaTram850 m10 min walk
Key sights
- MUNCH850 mWalk 10 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 7 min
- The Opera House1.0 kmWalk 13 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Akershus Fortress1.8 kmWalk 23 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 9 min
- The Royal Palace2.8 kmWalk 34 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 12 min
- Fram Museum3.9 kmCycle 17 minCar or taxi 14 min
- Vigeland Park4.6 kmCycle 20 minCar or taxi 16 min
- Holmenkollen8.8 kmCycle 38 minCar or taxi 26 min
Main railway stations
- Oslo S1.2 kmWalk 15 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Nationaltheatret2.5 kmWalk 31 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 11 min