Between the Oslofjord and the forests lies the Norwegian capital. As a gateway to all of Norway, and as an inspiration for Disney’s Frozen, Oslo offers a unique combination of city life and easy access to great outdoors. Experience unknown Oslo by the means of four new maps, Oslo Escape Routes.
Oslo escape routes
Explore four captivating walks through Oslo – between the new harbor district Tjuvholmen and the post-industrial riverside area alongside the Akerselva river. Oslo escape routes are four caredully selected routes through the city centre of Oslo. The routes will guide the individual visitor through design, architecture, art and alternative culture in Oslo. All you need is a map and a comfortable pair of shoes. The map is available at the Tourist Information Centre at “The Thief” hotel, at the “DogA” – Norwegian Centre for Design and Architecture and at “Vulkan”, former industrial district at the Akerselva river, with hotels and Mathallen food court.
The new Oslo is shaped by ground-breaking architecture, a nrw food culture and urban development of old industrial areas. The Oslo Escape Routes range of maps lead you through a new and different Oslo on foot, from Tjuvholmen in the west to Vulkan in the east.
Forget Holmenkollen, the Vigelandspark and Karl Johan. Today Oslo’s most exciting treasures are in new urban areas. “When it comes to architecture, design and population figures the biggest urban development in Europe in recent years has been taking place in Oslo. Many discerning guests are looking for new perspectives, and we welcome both the map and the initiative,” Tor Sannerud, head of tourism in Oslo, said when the range of maps was released at DogA – the Norwegian center for Design and Architecture earlier this year.
Urban energy
Oslo Escape Routes consist of four different routes with different themes: Architecture, design, art and alternative experiences, and is a partnership between DogA, Aspelin Ramm, the company behind Vulkan, and The Thief. All four tours run between Tjuvholmen and Vulkan next to the Akerselva river, two new urban areas which were formerly shaped by industry.
Now both of them showcase architecture, art, food and urban energy, bit both have their own distinctive identities. Tjuvholmen consists of several signal buildings on the waterfront and has the city’s highest building-plot prices, while the environment at Vulkan is more diverse.
Along the banks of Akerselve there is a fascinating mixture of industrial buildings transformed to house cultural institutions such as DogA, the Oslo National Academy of the Arts and Dansens Hus (House of Dance), Norway’s national dance theatre. Oslo city center is right in the middle.
Unknown pearls
“With Oslo Escape Routes we want to show that it is possible to walk through the city and encounter nrw pearls in every quarter you pass through. Oslo is so much more than the main street Karl Johan. The maps provide inspiration to experience Oslo’s many contrasts in a simple and easy-to-follow way,” says Anna Hammer, general manager of DogA.
The highlights of the architectural route are of course the two new prides of Oslo, Snöhetta’s opera building at Björvika and Renzo Piano’s Astrup Fearnley Museum on Tjuvholmen. The latter is also a stop on the art route, while the design toute leads you to less known perals such as Anti Bradstore and Fuglen (The Bird).
The route for alternative experiences crosses Våre Frelsers gravlund, visits DogA and passes Hausmania. Each route features goodies for the hungry and thirsty and those who want to shop.
Oslo Escape Routes are handed out for free in the reception at The Thief.