Living in Oslo
Some useful links and info
Here we will post some useful links that can help you with some information about Oslo and Norway. If you would like to get an impression of what is happening in Norwegian society at the moment visit norway.org for news and articles. News about Norway can also be found in one of the very few really good newspapers www.aftenposten.no .
Although you are here to study there is probably some "touristing" to be done as well. There will be opportunities to see more of Norway (and of course you will experience Oslo with surrounding areas). Tourist information is also a useful information source.
There are sites with information on Oslo. What information you are interested in may vary, so does the quality of these sites. But give them a try at least, there may be some things of interest there. norway.com offers info on several Norwegian towns, among them Oslo. More, and maybe the same on other sites like:
- norwaves.com (lots of good links)
- norge.no (public information)
These are just some examples to start with. But remember that getting there is half the fun. Don't give up if your questions aren't answered through these links. Use a good search engine (like Google ) and explore on your own.
Dining in Oslo
does not necessarily have to be expensive. Contrary to the general impression Norway is not always intolerably expensive. Although the general cost of living is high in Oslo it is not at all that bad apart from the alcohol prices - which are steep due to national taxes. Tobacco is rather expensive too.
But back to dining. Oslo has a very international kitchen, Asian and Middle east cooking dominate the reasonable end of the price scale. A good list can be found in Oslopuls and they all provide a place to sit, a table and a hot meal on a plate. Unfortunately the information is in Norwegian, but all the restaurants are situated in Oslo within reach. Prices from 70 kroner and less (less than app. 9 Euros at the time of writing). Have a nice meal!
Getting around
As a student you will probably not bring a car. Hence you have to rely on public transport. Although not as good as in most other European capitals, it still provides a decent way of getting around. Taxis in Oslo are expensive - so don't rely too much on them. AS Oslo Sporveier has got the necessary information in English as well as in Norwegian and German and maybe other languages as well.
Culture and nightllife
Oslo is crawling with bars, pubs and concert venues. Actually you will probably be surprised at the bustling nightlife Oslo can provide. Not that we expect you to frequent those places all the time, but it is nice to relax with some live music now and then. Opera, theatre, museums and the like are of course available throughout the year. We will not overdo this section, but state that you will find something here, whatever your taste is.