Mrs Aruns and I are going to Oslo at the end of the month for a few days. I’d appreciate some advice on interesting things to see and do there, especially from those that live there (I think I remember a couple of posters from Norway, right?).
I also would like to know what the weather is like there, how hot it will be (heatwave? gentle breezes? freezer?) and what kind of clothing I’d better bring.
Fire off, I’m all ears!
The thing that everyone does is “Norway in a Nutshell”, a wonderously steep train down to a fjord, a ferry trip through the fjord and then a bus trip back up. It’s on the train from Oslo to Bergen. It’s pretty touristy, but gives you a quick and dirty look at some truly stunning vistas (1000 meter granite cliffs, and gorgeous verdant valleys). It’d be worth it to stay a day in Bergen (it’s a beautiful town with some of the oldest wooden buildings around). If you are pressed for time, it may be a little difficult to pull off. The viking ship museum in Oslo is pretty cool, too.
Gah! I give up- I must post to this forum. (/#"%& addictive craziness)
Anyway, one thing yoy might like to look at are the History museum (historisk museum). Filled with strange items form viking ages and later medieval times. Pretty neat.
And if youre interested in that sort of thing (I am), Forsvarsmuseet (no idea what they call it in tourist-speak…“Defense museeum” is the direct translation) is full weapons, armour and other coolness from medieval times til today. Hallberds next to hand cannons next to mines. Its neat. And entrance is free-gratis. Its in the Akershus Fortress, which should be looked at anyway, and if you go early afternoon on a sunday, you might catch a bunch of people in strange costumes beating the living daylights out of each other with steel weapons.
-Checking out.
You should consider Kenya instead. Forget about Norway.
Septima, welcome to the SDMB.
I’m not from Oslo, but as a norwegian, I can give you this link to Oslo attractions. Since I myself am not much of a city slicker, I couldn’t tell you what to enjoy in a “city”.
The weather here is summer, around 25 degrees celsius, and since you are british, I guess you find that somewhat summery as well, so no need to pack any winter gear.
Please note that Norway is very expensive, so expect to get shocked when they charge you for the beer.
Kotick
Caveat: It can get cold, despite summer weather, and it very often does so at night, so at least take a sweater each. Rain gear might also be good idea.
Hei Optima, velkommen til forumet 
Kotick
Incidentally, I’d really appreciate some advice on accommodation! Got any favourite hotels/B&Bs that won’t bleed me dry?
I’ve not been there for a few years but I stayed on a permanently-moored ship called the Innvik, which is in Oslo harbour and has bars and restaurants aboard as well… seemed a good price at the time and very central. I’m sure it’s still there.
The various ship museums are good, including the Kon-Tiki one and there’s a large park, fairly central, which has an avenue with a large number of very large carved figures - I forget it’s name, or the sculptor, but it was pretty impressive. And a nice park, anyway!
That’s an extremely interesting idea, just the kind of style Mrs Aruns loves.
These suggestions were all great. Any more suggestions?
I don’t know if you’ll have time for this, but I loved Rodane National Park. Just incredibly beautiful. Hiking there was the highlight of my honeymoon.
I hate you, Shibb. I really really do.
Where to come and see lions? Only in Kenya! Come to Kenya, we’ve got lions…
Sweden. 
Hey, at least it didn’t get a song stuck in your head! Kenya, Kenya, Kenya, Kenya…
Why just last week I took my Norwegian friends to the airport, they were visiting for two weeks. It was really wonderful having them here.
They taught me to count to ten:
Pronun: Spelling:
one ehn (En)
two two (To)
three tre (Tre)
four feeda (fire)
five fem (Fem)
six sex (Seus)
seven seeve (Syv)
eight oatha (Atte)
nine knee (Ni)
ten tea (Ti)
They were a father daughter combination and the father was Thai, whenever they spoke Norwegian, the room would fall silent to hear a Thai, who still struggles with English converse in fluent Norwegian with his beautiful daughter. Plus like how often do you get to hear this language spoken?
They brought us a bottle of Aquavit and I think they expected us to crack it open and drink it, but I don’t even drink! So it will probably sit around until someone daring happens by, it doesn’t seem to say what the alcohol content is by volume or whatever.
I seem to remember the Viking and Kon-Tiki/Fram museums are very close to each other. Both good. Akershus is very central and also worth going to.
Central Oslo is quite pretty but very small - most of Oslo is newer and damn ugly.
Personally I recommend jumping in a train/bus/rental car and heading north an hour or two - you’ll get scenery which blows the UK away. Even the bus ride to Hønefoss (not that special by Norwegian standards) is beautiful on a sunny day. In Scandinavia the thing to do is to get out into nature and smaller towns - it’s fantastic.
But be prepared to pay a LOT for anything with alcohol in it, and a lot for most other things. Self-catering is the way to go if you are on a budget. If you are visiting anyone you can make friends by bringing a bottle of spirits with you 
Heh heh. My work here is done.
Forget the museums. Oslo’s main tourist attractions, Holmenkollen and Vigelandsparken (mentioned above as the park with all the carved figures), are decent but all the tourists straight kill them. I personally love the city, but for a tourist with no memories of it, it’s probably quite ugly. You could check out Blå, a small club where they have all sorts of great concerts, and it’s in close vicinity of some other nice places; Damstredet, Grünerløkka and Akerselva, all showing the old-school, slow-moving side of Oslo.
But if you have the time, by far the best thing about Norway is the nature. Sørkedalen, close to Holmenkollen and Lommedalen, half an hour west of Oslo comes to mind, but if you get the time to start driving to Bergen, you’ll be blown away. You won’t get there, though, there’s too many amazing places to stop along the way. The south is also great this time of year, with the warmest and kindest people Norway’s got to offer. I can’t do it justice with words, but when you get here, ask around about Sørlandet, and see if it tempts you.
The chicks. Og only knows why they don’t all go off to Milan and become supermodels or something.
Beyond that… nah, not much.