Ski Oslo

For a good dose of Viking culture and a handful of museums of art and history, go to Oslo, Norway. In Oslo, a small city by most measures, with a mere 500,000 people, has a surprisingly large collection of good museums - most of them easily accessible from downtown and, with the Oslo Pass in hand , cheap to boot - and a wealth of Scandinavian architecture, both historic and modern.

For visitors for the first time in Oslo, however, because it is easy to be overwhelmed by the offers of the city, here in Oslo 'Top 10' tourist draws.

1. Oslo Opera

Oslo new Opera House, inaugurated in April 2008, is absolutely, positively a must-see. " It is bold Oslo, New Millennium declaration to the world, just made of slabs of granite and white marble 36,000. Partially submerged in the sea, rising to 700 million architectural masterpiece of the fjord as a massive ice sheet, with its angular slabs, like giant ski, surprising at all levels. The opera is home to both the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet of Norway.

2. Holmenkollen

Holmenkollen is one of the world's most famous arenas of ski jumping and easily pull all of Oslo. The arena was built in the late 19th century and renovated in 1952 largely for the Winter Olympics. Holmenkollen is situated 357 meters (1,000 feet) above sea level, and the ski jump tower, which is the main attraction here is another 60 meters (180 feet) higher, with spectacular views around the summit. There is also a ski museum here, the oldest in the world dedicated to the history of skiing, which goes back some 4000 years! Holmokollen is in the region of Marka Oslo, and open to the public year round.

3. Vigeland Sculpture Park

Located in the Frogner park largest in the western part of Oslo, Vigeland Park is renowned for its wealth of sculptures in granite and bronze by Gustav Vigeland, one of the most famous sculptors of Norway, whose park is named . There are over 200 sculptures of Vigeland here, and there is also a museum with the work of Vigeland located just opposite the park, open to the public year round from Tuesday to Sunday. The park is open to the public 24 hours, all year.

4. Oseberg Viking Ship Museum

One of the most popular museums of the city, houses the Oseberg Viking Ship Museum, three of the world's best preserved Viking ships. The ships are over 1100 years and were found nearly a century in Oseberg, which is near Oslo, in the county of Vestfold. The museum also has exhibits showing fabric and weaving techniques of the Viking era, and an assortment of tools and weapons. The museum is open daily.

5. National Art Museum

Oslo National Museum of Art is home to world's most recognized painting, Edvard Munch Skrik, also known as The Scream. Besides this masterpiece in 1893, the museum houses important collections of art both International and Norwegian. The museum is located next to the University of Oslo Universtetsgaten, a few blocks from the main street of Oslo, Karl Johan. The museum entrance is free.

6. Munch Museum

Here is a museum devoted to the most famous Norwegian artist, Edvard Munch, one of the pioneers of expressionism and the painter of the famous Skrik (The Scream). The museum has two versions of The Scream, one in each pastels and oil, the latter dating from 1910. The museum, which is probably a 10 minute walk from Karl Johan, literally hundreds of paintings by Munch, donated by the artist to the city. The Munch Museum is open every day except Monday.

7. Akershus Fortress

The Fortres Akershus.