Set the alarm clock and make sure you are out on deck as your cruise ship approaches the port of Oslo. You will be rewarded with an impressive panorama of green hills, granite rocks and colorful wooden summer houses.  Don't forget to bring your camera!

Oslo is the capital of Norway and despite its big city status, the town feels comfortably compact. Oslo's city center faces the Oslo fjord and is dominated by the remarkable City Hall. Built in 1950, the stark, angular interior spaces are complemented by murals depicting Norwegian life in post-war days.  

Oslo's City Hall can be found on Fridtjof Nansens Plass, the large city square with beautiful statues facing the Oslo fjord. Just a short stroll from your cruise ship, this is where you will most probably start your Oslo discovery.  

Aker Brygge is a relative new development, consisting of apartments, offices, shops and restaurants overlooking the water. There are some great restaurants here, so stroll  along the seafront, admire the sailing boats and order freshly caught Norwegian shrimps with a glass of beer on any of the outdoor terraces. It's what the Norwegians do! 

One of our favorite stops in Oslo is the Vigeland Park, a sculpture garden just outside the city center. It is Norway's most visited attraction, there is no admission fee and once you have been there, you will want to visit it again. And again... 

Gustav Vigeland (1869-1943) sculpted approx. 200 works that depict human life in its broadest sense. Using granite and bronze, Vigeland has skillfully managed to add a touch of emotion to a piece of rock. Still, Oslo boasts many more cultural diversions, such as the Viking Ship and Kon-Tiki Museums, both definitely worth a visit.

What could be more appropriate after a visit to the country of trolls and Vikings than to take a fjord cruise? Once the lines are cast and your ships sets sail from Oslo, why not order another cocktail and stay put in the Observation Lounge while a beautiful panorama unfolds before your eyes. While not as impressive as the fjords in Western Norway, the 2-hour sail through the Oslo fjord out to the open sea will please most. Be sure to be on deck approx. 45 minutes after departure from Oslo as your ship navigates the treacherous narrow passage of Drøbak. It is here that the German warship Blücher was sunk in 1940, enabling the Norwegian royal family to safely leave the country.