Gothenburg, Sweden and Oslo, Norway: The Short Trip with my Cousins


Not so long ago, my cousins from the United Kingdom expressed their intention to visit us in Norway. It has been almost over a decade we have seen each other, and they think it would also be an opportunity for them to bond with each other and meet us as well. These cousins are from my paternal side, who used to live in the Philippines and migrated in Great Britain almost a decade ago, with my aunt. So, since Norway and UK seem not to far from each other, it would be natural to spend time with them either of the two countries. I planned to visit them later this year, so it their turn to appreciate the beauty and the uniqueness of Norway, as part of Scandinavia.

 Being task as the primary responsible for deciding where to go, I opted to have a short tour in Gothenburg, Sweden, a place I had been few months ago. Click here for my Gothenburg adventures. It was raining that time, so I was really eager to come back again. Furthermore, my sister also has not visited the Swedish city before, as well as one of our friend in Norway. It was a perfect plan I guess, suited for the given time and resources available for us. Of course, part of the tour is showing what Oslo has to offer. I have posted similar articles about Oslo. Click here for more.


 The places we have been to is the focus of this blog post.
The following places were visited in Oslo, Norway.

1.    Vigelandsparken


This is the world’s largest sculpture collection in a park, which was named after the artist who made the sculptures. It has five major units, namely the main entrance, the bridge, the fountain, monolith plateau and the wheel of life. Click here for a separate article on this park.



2.    Nationaltheateret


The National Theatre is located along the Karl Johan Street in Oslo. Historically, the University of Oslo objected with the current location of the theatre being so close to the university and the castle. The building is now considered a Norwegian cultural monument.



3.    Stortinget


The unicameral parliament of Norway is located in Oslo, which is consisted of 169 seats elected every four years. Historically, the Norwegian parliament was composed of two chambers which was dissolved in 2009.

4.    Holmenkollen


This is a ski recreation area and a residential neighborhood.  It is bordered by the protected forest area Marka in the north.



5.    St. Olavs kirke


This is the Catholic parish of Oslo. This is considered the second Catholic diocese in Oslo after the Old Aker Church. The Church is dedicated for the Norwegian Catholic Patron Saint and Norwegian ancient King Olav.

6.    Regjeringskvartalet


This is a square of collection buildings in the center of the Norwegian capital. The office of the Prime Minister used to be in the High Building before a bomb exploded and heavily damaged the buildings in the square. The bomb attack was initiated by a Norwegian extremist, who revolted against the influx of immigrants in the Norwegian nation.

7.    Operahuset


This is the home of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet. The angled exterior surfaces is covered with Italian marble and white granite to create the illusion that the Opera arises from the water. This is considered the largest cultural building in Norway.

8.    Barcode


This is redevelopment area and industrial land in Central Oslo facing the Opera House. The height of the buildings has been regulated by the government, since the buildings must not interfere with the view of the Oslofjord.

9.    Akershus festning


The Akershus Castle is a medieval Castle used to protect the city of Oslo, and has once functioned as a prison before. Today, there are many military installations in the area.


10. Oslo Rådhuset


The City Hall of Oslo is the place of the awarding of the Noble Peace Prize. It is one of the most famous buildings in Oslo, but was only finished completely after the Second World War.

11. Kuba Park


This is a park on both sides of the Akerselva. It was made as an expansion of a former warehouse near Alexander Kiellands Plass. Today, celebrations and cultural events are held in the area.


12. Tjuvholmen


This is a neighborhood located on a peninsula near Aker Brygge along the Oslofjord. This area was used as a shipyard before. Currently, a museum and a sculpture park are situated in the area.



The following places are those visited in Gothenburg, Sweden.

13. Gustav Adolfs Torg


This was named before as the Big Square before the statue of the Swedish King Gustav Adolf of Sweden was places. The city hall, the law court extension, the stock market and the main harbor canal are situated in the area.

14. Christinæ Kyrka


This is the German Church in Gothenburg, named after the daughter of King Gustav Adolf. The architect of the church also designed the Swedish Royal Palace in Stockholm, the Swedish capital.

15. Maritiman


This is where the floating museum of Sweden is located, which comprises of tens of naval vessels along the Geats River.


16. Göteborgsoperan


The Opera House in Gothenburg is just almost ten years old after its construction. The building follows the Classical style of architecture.

17. Kungsparken


The King’s Park is a large park behind the a theater. There are several sculptures in the area, and the park is a well-known gathering place of the city’s gay men.

18. Haga


This is city district known for its distinct wooden houses and 19th century atmosphere. This was originally a working class suburban district, which has transformed into a major tourist attraction in the city.

19. Götaplatsen


This is a public square in Sweden’s second largest city, Gothenburg. The city was inaugurated during the 300th anniversary of the foundation of the city. At the center of the square is the sculpture of Poseidon, marking the rich maritime history of the Swedish nation.

20. Trädgårdsföreningen



The Garden Society of Gothenburg is a horticultural park in the central Gothenburg. The park has a rose garden, several sculptures, fountains and recreational areas for locals and tourists.

 Honestly, I doubted I little bit whether my cousins would appreciate Oslo or Scandinavia. They live from a larger metropolis than Gothenburg or Oslo. However, I think Oslo and Scandinavia are unique, such that it has really something to offer to the visiting tourist, even those coming from Europe. We have only visited two cities and what they saw was just a glimpse of what Sweden and Norway have to offer. I believe they need to come back again in a more convenient time, so we could travel to other Scandinavian cities as well. Just coming back.

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