Ready to explore a city full of sustainable neighborhoods, car-free streets, and eco-friendly gourmet restaurants? Welcome Oslo to the European Green Capital 2019! Oslo’s reputation as a green city is due to much more than its many surrounding parks and forests. Politicians and businesses in the capital are working hard to improve urban planning to reduce Oslo’s carbon footprint and ensure a sustainable future not only for its citizens, but for everyone on the planet. Their efforts have been recognized and rewarded by the European Commission, which has named Oslo the European Green Capital for 2019. If you want to know how they managed to turn Oslo into a green capital out of the ordinary, read on.
Why is Oslo the greenest capital in Europe?
Sustainable urban planning
Oslo is one of the fastest growing cities in Europe, and as a result has seen numerous large construction projects in recent decades. But, unlike what happened in many other European capitals, sustainability has been a guiding principle in these projects and they have allowed the city to develop as a true metropolis but in a more environmentally friendly way.
Oslo’s new Vulkan neighborhood , nestled in a former industrial area along the Akerselva River, is an example of green urban planning. The promoters’ desire to create an energy efficient neighborhood has resulted in a local power station with geothermal wells, buildings with extensive solar water heating systems, and hotels that recycle energy from refrigerators and elevators.
They have also taken care to preserve the nature and wildlife of the city, and to reuse existing structures in new and smart ways . The construction of the Tjuvholmen coastal area included artificial reefs to ensure that the local underwater fauna remained safe. In Sørenga , another new neighborhood in Oslo, what used to be a busy bridge has been turned into a park on the same lines as New York’s Highline, an old structure that has been reused in a hyper-modern district.
Other emerging cultural landmarks in Oslo, such as the new Munch Museum, the new Deichman Library, and the new National Museum are built in an environmentally friendly way and with features that minimize their carbon footprints.
City without cars
Oslo politicians play an important role in the green transformation of the city. Through its Bilfritt byliv (“urban life without cars”) initiative, the local government has closed parking lots and limited traffic to allow space for bicycles , parks that act as green lungs, popular street parties and other things that they make people happier and breathe cleaner air.
The old car parks have been transformed and decorated in a new and original way. For example, if you go through the Akershus Fortress you can see (and hear) a machine called “Shall we dance?”, Which is nothing more than a parking meter turned into a Wi-Fi speaker that allows you to listen to your own music and dance in whatever way. They used to be parking lots.
Sustainable entrepreneurship
In addition to the large-scale efforts of the city’s rulers, Oslo is full of small projects and businesses that also do their bit to make the Norwegian capital an example to follow in the rest of the continent.
Not far from Oslo Central Station is Losæter, a large community garden in the city and the workplace of Oslo’s first urban farmer. A little further east is the so-called Landbrukskvartalet agricultural district, full of interesting sustainable projects in the fields of food, environment, urban development, technology, culture and music.
And of course there are also restaurants like the three Michelin star Maaemo, which is based on sustainable cuisine serving world-class gourmet meals based on local and organic produce . Take a look at our particular ‘green guide’ to the city below for more eco-friendly restaurants and other tips on how to plan your sustainable stay in Oslo.
What to see and do in Oslo?
Oslo offers a good selection of sustainable activities that reduce visitors’ carbon footprint. Some of them are green by nature, since Oslo is surrounded by different types of natural landscapes that can be enjoyed throughout the year, such as the many parks that surround the city or the Oslofjord Fjord, where you can kayak or get on a a ferry to explore the nearby islands.
On the other hand, in the city center, ecological tourism is facilitated by short distances and good conditions for both walking and cycling . There are public bicycles that you can rent during your stay, or if you prefer you can sign up for the famous Viking Biking, a guided bicycle tour in which you will discover the most important sites of interest in the city.
The Viking Ship Museum
This museum exhibits some of the great ninth century ships with which the Vikings sailed the northern seas, sowing fear in the hearts of the region that these fierce warriors were about to invade. The list includes ships from Gokstad, Oseberg and Tune . Oseberg’s ship is the best preserved and was found in a burial mound on a farm near Oseberg. The museum also exhibits textiles, tools and household objects, as well as objects found in Viking tombs.
The Vigeland Sculpture Park
Around 200 of the great works of the Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland – such as The Angry Child ( Sinnataggen ), The Wheel of Life ( Livshjulet ) and The Monolith ( Monolitten ) – made in bronze, marble and granite greet visitors when they arrive at the park that is an essential visit in the city. The park was also designed by the sculptor.
The Promenade of the Port
It runs for 9 kilometers along the coast of Oslo where tourists can enjoy sightseeing tours and historical, architectural and artistic exhibitions, as well as a bit of adventure.
The Nordmarka Forest
This huge forested region of Oslo is 430 square kilometers and its highest peak is Kirkeberget , which stands at 629 meters above sea level. Winter activities include skiing , while hiking, biking, and swimming are summer activities.
The Akershus Fortress
This fort is a great place to learn about the history of Oslo. The medieval castle was built in the late 13th century to defend Oslo from invaders . Situated in a strategic position on Cape Oslofjord, a later Norse king had it modernized and converted into a Renaissance castle in order to function as a royal palace.
Oslo Cathedral
Oslo Cathedral is both a place of worship and an attraction for tourists. The church dates from 1697 and is made up of an intricate stained glass window by the sculptor Gustav Vigeland’s brother, Emanuel, and a painted ceiling that was completed between 1936 and 1950. Its altarpieces are the model of the Last Supper of 1748 and a Crucifix by Miguel Rasch, but they were transferred to another place.
The natural pool of Sorenga
This year-round accessible pool offers a new vision of the pool concept. Its water is seawater that comes directly from the Oslo Fjord. It has a beach, the seawater pool and another pool for children. Sorenga’s saltwater pool is located in the new neighborhood of the same name. In addition to enjoying the water, families and friends can gather in the recreational area where there are several cafes and restaurants.
The Fram Museum
The Fram Museum focuses on Norway’s contribution to polar exploration through famous explorers such as Roald Amundsen, Fridfjøf Nansen, and Otto Sverdrup . It is home to the Fram, Norway’s first ship used in polar exploration, and the Gjøa, the first ship to sail through the Northwest Passage. The museum is located on the Bygdøy peninsula, and visitors can board the Fram, where a show takes place every 20 minutes.
