A day in Oslo, Norway
Norway became my 64th country, thanks to a day-long layover in Oslo. I packed as much as possible into those hours - and discovered why Scandinavians consistently top the happiness rankings.
Norway is one of the world's wealthiest countries per capita, largely thanks to its massive oil fund (worth over $1.4 trillion - that's roughly $250,000 per citizen). With just 5.4 million people spread across a territory larger than Germany, it's also one of Europe's least densely populated nations. Oslo, the capital, holds about a fifth of the entire population.
What I Experienced
The city surprised me with its modern architecture and waterfront development. The Oslo Opera House, designed to look like a glacier sliding into the fjord, lets you walk right up onto its roof. The views of the harbor and the new Munch Museum from up there are spectacular.
From the drone, Oslo reveals itself as a city perfectly balanced between water and urban development. The aerial panorama captures the distinctive white angular roof of the Opera House jutting into the Oslofjord, with the Akershus Fortress and harbor district stretching along the waterfront. The mix of historic buildings and modern Scandinavian architecture creates a cityscape that's both functional and visually striking.
I wandered through Vigeland Park, home to over 200 bronze and granite sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. It's bizarre and wonderful - naked human figures in every imaginable pose, from birth to death. The famous "Angry Boy" statue was packed with tourists, but the larger installation (the Monolith, a tower of 121 intertwined bodies) was eerily impressive.
The prices hit hard. A simple lunch easily ran 25-30 euros. Coffee was 6-7 euros. I understood why locals joke that visiting Norway is like going to the future - everything works perfectly, but your wallet cries.
Practical Notes
- Norwegian Krone is the currency (not Euro)
- Everything is expensive - budget accordingly
- Public transport is efficient and easy to navigate
- English is universally spoken
- The airport express train gets you to the city center in 20 minutes
Even a single day was enough to appreciate why Norway regularly ranks as one of the best places to live in the world. Expensive, but you can see where the money goes.
The Oslo aerial panorama is available for purchase with commercial license - perfect for Scandinavian travel content, architecture showcases, or urban cityscape wall art.