Did you think you had to travel far up into the mountains to find good skiing and nature in winter's shroud? In Oslo you will find Winter Wonderland a fifteen minute subway ride away from the centre of town.
07/02/2006 :: Merely a few kilometres away from the main street Karl Johan in the centre of Oslo, you can put on your skis and take off amongst heavy snow covered branches. From here, distance and destination is up to you. There are 2600 kilometres of well prepared cross-country ski trails, 90 kilometres of which are lit. In fact, large parts of Norway are connected through ski trails.
The Sunday Walk is a tradition amongst Norwegians, and ski trails are especially well visited on Sundays. Even busier than the trails themselves are the serviced cabins scattered throughout the forests. Here, you may sit in front of the fireplace and enjoy a cup of coffee and a waffle, while planning the trip ahead. The cabins are also open in summer.
Sledging and tobogganing are amongst the fun activities that children of all ages enjoy. In Oslo you can experience the thrill of speed in the several kilometre long tobogganing run 'Korketrekkeren', both during the day and at night. Catch the subway to the top, and feel the wind in your hair as you race down at great speed. When you reach the bottom, simply jump on the subway again to return to the top of the course!
In the middle of Karl Johan, you can go ice-skating to the latest pop hits. The rink is a natural meeting point in the heart of the city. It is open all through winter, and offers skates for rental. Also, a larger rink with music and skate rental can be found at Frogner Stadion by the Vigeland Park.
Thus, in Oslo you may combine the best of both city life and refreshing winter activities. Should you desire steeper slopes and wilder nature, a host of destinations all over Norway await you. Welcome to Winter Wonderland!
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs