Oslo

Does it still count as coolcationing if we travel from cold and rainy June in Lithuania to a warmer, sunnier Oslo for a long weekend?

It was my first time in Norway, and I was open to a good first impression from the Nordic city—and it delivered!

Our tour guide misled us into thinking that Le Corbusier had something to do with Oslo City Hall. That wasn’t true, but regardless, it was a marvelous building—both inside and out. I wish we saw more of this kind of brave architecture today.

Everyone knows that Norway is a leader in renewable energy, but I didn’t realize even the ferries are fully electric. It’s so nice to be on a boat that doesn’t make a roaring engine sound—so silent, and it feels incredibly clean.

The city has some really beautiful parks. I wish we had spent more than 72 hours in Oslo to enjoy them at a slower pace. No one warned us that the James Turrell art installation is only accessible on Sundays, so that’s one thing we’re genuinely sorry to have missed.

The Munch Museum has a whole building dedicated to the artist, but to be honest, it was a bit of a disappointment. It felt like they haven’t quite figured out their concept.

They rely on one gimmick that seems more about building hype than offering substance. The museum holds three versions of the famous The Scream. They say they’ve calculated how much light each version can safely be exposed to during the day to preserve them, so only one is displayed at a time—for just 30 minutes. It’s all automated, and there’s a dramatic moment when the curtain closes and a new version is revealed.

Then you visit the Oslo National Museum and find the fourth version of The Scream—arguably the most iconic one. It’s always on display, no theatrics. If you go early, you might even have the room to yourself, with just two security guards quietly standing by.

All in all, I really enjoyed seeing the rest of Munch’s work—I truly like his style. The colors, the themes, the mood—everything resonated with me.

Some tips:

• Get the Oslo Pass — it’s a good deal.
• Trams are my favorite way to get around.
• The electric ferries for island hopping are a close second.
• Oslo Pride is an example for other cities — though even here, there’s always that one guy shouting about how Jesus will punish everyone.
• Summer days in Oslo feel never-ending… if only the places didn’t have closing hours.