The city of Oslo is a great place to discover by bicycle. The city isn't too big and city life and life out doors go together effortlessly. You reach nature very quickly from the city center.
As a cycling city, Oslo is a rising star. The interrest in to cycling from inhabitans and tourists a like is increasing and for this reason more cyclepaths are being created.
Route: The highlights of Oslo
- Distance: 15 kilometers
- Starts/ends at: Nationaltheatret station (both subway station and train station), situated in the city centre.
- Download here the GPS track
- The map of this route can be found in the guide.
- Surface: approximately 2/3 paved roads and 1/3 gravel roads
- Difficulty level: easy
- Best season: mid May to late September
- Recommended bike: all kind of bikes, except roadbike
- Traffic: Some car traffic first two kilometres, the rest of the trip is on low-trafficked roads, hiker-roads, or separate cycle lanes
Highlights:
Vigelandsparken
Oslo's biggest park, with several hundred granite and bronze sculptures, made by Gustav Vigeland
Kongeskogen (Kings forest)
Car free gravel roads through the forest on the west side of Bygdøy peninsula. Sea views, a few beaches, bathing possibilities, posh mansions, the viking ship museum – and more
Tjuvholmen / Aker brygge
A fancy residential area at he harbour, rebuilt from earlier industrial buildings and shipyards, one the liveliest places in Oslo during summer. Galleries, dining, marinas and shopping. A must see for art and culture lovers!
This route is also described in the guide and is provided by Øyvind Wold from Oslo. He made this route especially for Via Gaia.
Øyvind is one of the most experienced local cyclists in Norway who works for Syklistenes Landsforbund (the Norwegan cycling federation).
He has written various books, among which: På sykkel i Oslo (Cycling in Oslo) and also works as a freelance writerand photographer for various cycling and nature magazines in Norway.
See also the Visit Norway website for more route suggestions in Oslo by Øyvind.