The back story
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Area guide
Sentrum and Karl Johan: the back story
Karl Johans gate from the station to the palace, Christian IV’s Kvadraturen, Akershus Fortress and the City Hall.
Area guide · Oslo
Sentrum & Karl Johan: Our Favourites
Karl Johans gate from the station to the palace, Christian IV’s Kvadraturen, Akershus Fortress, the City Hall and the grand hotels.
What's onThis week in Oslo
What to see and do
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Begun in 1299
Akershus Fortress
The medieval castle and fortress on the harbour headland, begun in 1299 and turned into a Renaissance royal residence.
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Opened in 1950
Oslo City Hall
The twin-towered City Hall of 1950, its halls painted with Norwegian history and its carillon ringing the hours.
Fridtjof Nansens plass, 0160 OsloExplore View on map
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Completed in 1849
The Royal Palace
The neoclassical palace at the top of Karl Johans gate, with the changing of the guard every day at 13:30.
Slottsplassen 1, 0010 OsloExplore View on map
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Consecrated in 1697
Oslo Cathedral
The baroque cathedral on Stortorvet, consecrated in 1697, with ceiling murals by Hugo Lous Mohr and windows by Emanuel Vigeland.
Stortorvet, 0154 OsloExplore View on map
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Viking treasures
The Historical Museum
The world’s best-preserved Viking helmet, the Oseberg ship’s serpent head and medieval art, in an Art Nouveau building.
Frederiks gate 2, 0164 OsloExplore View on map
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At Oslo Konserthus
Oslo Philharmonic
The city’s orchestra, at Oslo Konserthus, with chamber series and a summer concert on the Palace Square.
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Norway’s national stage
Nationaltheatret
Norway’s national theatre, at the western end of Karl Johans gate.
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Ibsen’s last home
IBSEN Museum & Teater
The apartment where Henrik Ibsen lived and worked the last 11 years of his life, restored with its original furniture.
Henrik Ibsens gate 26, 0255 OsloExplore View on map
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The bunad and Norwegian crafts
Heimen Husfliden
Norwegian handicrafts and the bunad, the national costume, at Glasmagasinet.
Stortorvet 9, 0155 OsloExplore View on map
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Self-guided
Karl Johans gate: the station to the palace
Oslo’s main street, from Oslo S past the Cathedral and the National Theatre to the Royal Palace.
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Self-guided
Kvadraturen: Christian IV’s town
The grid of streets that King Christian IV laid out after the fire of 1624, with Christiania torv and its pointing hand.
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On the Ruter ticket
Ruter’s island boats
The public boats from the city to the islands of the inner Oslofjord: Hovedøya, Gressholmen, Lindøya and Langøyene.
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Since 1946
Boat Service Sightseeing
Sightseeing on the Oslofjord since 1946: two-hour fjord cruises, evening skyline cruises with fish soup, and the ferry to the Bygdøy museums.
Where to eat
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One MICHELIN Star
Statholdergaarden
Classic cooking on Rådhusgata in Kvadraturen. One MICHELIN Star in the 2026 guide.
Rådhusgata 11, 0151 OsloExplore View on map
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One MICHELIN Star
Mon Oncle
French cooking on Universitetsgata. One MICHELIN Star in the 2026 guide.
Universitetsgata 9, 0164 OsloExplore View on map
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One MICHELIN Star
SAVAGE
Creative cooking on Nedre Slottsgate. One MICHELIN Star in the 2026 guide.
Nedre Slottsgate 2, 0153 OsloExplore View on map
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In the MICHELIN Guide
Festningen Restaurant
Modern cooking at Akershus Fortress, overlooking the harbour.
Akerhus Fortress, Myntgata 9, 0151 OsloExplore View on map
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In the MICHELIN Guide
Brasserie Hansken
A French brasserie on Christiania torv.
Christiania torv 4, 0158 OsloExplore View on map
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In the MICHELIN Guide
Statholderens Mat og Vinkjeller
Classic cooking in Statholdergaarden’s cellar.
Rådhusgata 11, 0151 OsloExplore View on map
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In the MICHELIN Guide
Izakaya by Vladimir Pak
A Japanese izakaya on Kirkegata.
Kirkegata 1, 0153 OsloExplore View on map
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Classic Oslo
Theatercaféen
The grand café of Hotel Continental, opposite the National Theatre.
Stortingsgata 24/26, 0161 OsloExplore View on map
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Classic Oslo
Grand Café
The Grand Hotel’s historic restaurant, with a wine cellar below.
Karl Johans gate 31, 0101 OsloExplore View on map
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Since 1963
Fuglen
Oslo’s coffee shop of 1963: coffee by day, cocktails by night, and vintage design you can buy.
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Coffee and tea specialists
Stockfleths
The Oslo coffee and tea specialists, with their biggest coffee house on Prinsens gate and their first modern one in Lille Grensen.
Prinsens gate 6, 0152 OsloExplore View on map
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Weekends
Palmen at the Grand Hotel
Afternoon tea at weekends in the Grand Hotel’s Palmen.
Karl Johans gate 31, 0101 OsloExplore View on map
Bars
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Distilled on site
Himkok
A cocktail bar with its own distillery for aquavit, gin and vodka, a cider bar and a backyard kitchen.
Storgata 27, 0184 OsloExplore View on map
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At Amerikalinjen
Pier 42
Amerikalinjen’s cocktail bar, named after Pier 42 in New York.
Jernbanetorget 2, 0154 OsloExplore View on map
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At Hotel Continental
Bar Boman
The bar of Hotel Continental, by the National Theatre.
Stortingsgata 24/26, 0161 OsloExplore View on map
Shopping
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Since 1797
Steen & Strøm
Oslo’s department store, six floors of fashion and lifestyle, with a history back to 1797.
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On Karl Johan
Paleet
A calm shopping gallery of 25 fashion and lifestyle shops, cafés and restaurants on Karl Johans gate.
Karl Johans gate 37–43, 0162 OsloExplore View on map
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On Stortorvet
Glasmagasinet
The department store on Stortorvet, long specialised in design for the home, with Illums Bolighus and Heimen Husfliden.
Stortorvet 9, 0155 OsloExplore View on map
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Since 1876
David-Andersen
Oslo’s jeweller for five generations, founded by David Andersen in 1876, on Karl Johans gate.
Karl Johans gate 20, 0159 OsloExplore View on map
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Since 1957
Norway Designs
Norwegian design and craft since 1957: art glass, ceramics, silver and textiles.
Lille Grensen 7, 0159 OsloExplore View on map
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Since 1879
Dale of Norway
Norwegian wool sweaters since 1879, at the concept store on Karl Johans gate.
Karl Johans gate 45, 0162 OsloExplore View on map
Where to stay
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Leading Hotels of the World
Hotel Continental
Oslo’s five-star hotel by the National Theatre: 151 rooms and suites, Theatercaféen and Bar Boman.
Stortingsgata 24-26, 0117 OsloExplore View on map
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Since 1874
Grand Hotel Oslo
Norway’s most famous hotel, in the middle of Karl Johans gate since 1874, with Palmen’s afternoon tea and the Grand Café.
Karl Johans gate 31, 0101 OsloExplore View on map
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A theatre from 1918
Hotel Christiania Teater
A boutique hotel in a listed theatre that opened in 1918, on Stortingsgata: Restaurant Teatro over three floors and a wine bar below.
Stortingsgata 16, 0161 OsloExplore View on map
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On Karl Johans gate
Karl Johan Hotel
A historic hotel on Karl Johans gate, with breakfast under a glass roof.
Karl Johans gate 33, 0162 OsloExplore View on map
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Oslo stories since 1918
Savoy 1918
The old Hotel Savoy, renovated and reborn as a boutique hotel by the National Museum, with Cafe Watt and its bar.
Universitetsgata 11, 0164 OsloExplore View on map
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The Norwegian America Line
Amerikalinjen
A boutique hotel in the old headquarters of the Norwegian America Line on Jernbanetorget, with the Pier 42 bar and Atlas.
Jernbanetorget 2, 0154 OsloExplore View on map
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