Shopping

You will find everything in Oslo! Shopping Malls, department stores, small boutiques, shopping streets with hundreds of small shops and retailers, charming antique shops, flea markets, suppliers of exclusive international brand names and local handicraft shops. In the town centre the shops are situated in different main areas.

Aker Brygge

One of Oslo's newest and most attractive shopping areas with a delightful location on the wharf! (Bryggen). In the old shipyard buildings there are several theatres and cinemas, entertainment, approx. 35 restaurants, clubs and bars, as well as many shops, food-stores, delicatessen and galleries. All along the wharf there is bustling activity. Here you can take a walk by the harbour and enjoy the atmosphere and the view from all the outdoor cafes and restaurants. Old sailing boats, fresh shrimp, Norwegian beer and mead onboard a Viking ship in the bargain. Aker Brygge is much more than shops: it is a place of experiences and impressions. You must come here and place your finger on Oslo's pulse on a hot and sunny summer's night or day. Remember, the sun sets late in Oslo in the summer.

Vikaterrassen

Vikaterrassen is a shopping street near Aker Brygge, with several small exclusive shops. Oslo Konserthus (Oslo Concert Hall) is also located here, as well as cafes and restaurants.

Karl Johansgate

Karl Johansgate is the City's main street. It begins at the Palace and ends at Oslo Central Station. The University, Studenterlunden, Stortinget (the Parliament Building) and the National Theatre are on this street. Henrik Ibsen and Edvard Munch strolled along the street every day and frequented their usual haunt, Grand Café. Behind the meticulously-restored facades from the previous century, Paléet Shopping Centre has created an impressive milieu of "boutiques" and restaurants.

Pedestrian precincts

Pedestrian precincts in the town centre and at Stortorvet (the main square). From Karl Johansgate you automatically enter Oslo's pedestrian precincts. Hundreds of shops and restaurants. The department stores Steen & Strøm, GlasMagasinet and street hawkers from every corner of the world offer their wares. Don't miss the colourful flower market on Stortorvet in front of the Cathedral.

In Storgaten, Møllergaten and Torggaten

A mass of shops and fascinating small shopping lanes. And, of course, Husfliden on Møllergaten, where craftsmen from all over Norway market homemade goods whose characteristics belong to a rich tradition.

"Oslo City" and "Grønlands Torg"

A visible proof of Oslo's modernization: the shopping centre Oslo City, the new congress and concert hall Oslo Spektrum, and behind the largest hotel in Scandinavia - The Plaza -, the new pedestrian precinct Grønlands Torg.

Bogstadveien, Hegdehaugsveien and Majorstua

Between the Royal Palace and Frognerparken lies one of Oslo's most popular shopping areas, with more than 400 stores.

NORWAY TAX-FREE

If you are a resident of a country outside Scandinavia, and intend taking your purchases out of the country, you will get the Norwegian Value Added Tax (MOMS in Norwegian) refunded. But you must remember to mention this to the shop so that you can take a Tax-Free check with you.

Norway Tax-Free Shopping AS
Postboks 48, N-1345 Østerås
Tel 67 14 99 01 Fax 67 14 97 84.

GOLDSMITHS, JEWELLERS

David-Andersen AS
Karl Johans gate 20, Tel 22 41 69 55

Donna's Smykkegalleri
Basarhallene, Stortorvet 1 B, N-0155 Oslo,
Tel/Fax 22 41 44 07

Thune
Egertorvet, Øvre Slottsgate 12, 0157 Oslo
Tel 22 41 41 15
Steen & Strøm, Kongensgate 23, 0153 Oslo
Tel 22 00 41 33
Majorstuen, Valkyriegate 13, 0366 Oslo
Tel 22 60 11 21

Urmaker Bjerke
Karl Johansgate 31, 0157 Oslo
Tel 22 42 20 44
Prinsensgate 21, 0157 Oslo
Tel 22 42 60 50
Bogstadveien 11, 0355 Oslo
Tel 22 69 11 90

SOUVENIRS, ARTS AND CRAFTS, SWEATERS

Heimen Husflid AS
Rosenkrantzgaten 8, N-0159 Oslo
Tel 22 41 40 50

Husfliden AS
Møllergaten 4, Tel 22 42 10 75

Oslo Sweater Shop AS
SAS Scandinavia Hotel, Tullins gate 5,
Tel 22 11 29 22
Royal Christiania Hotel
Skippergaten/ Biskop Gunnerusgt 3, Tel 22 42 42 25

Ritzo AS
Stortingsgaten 22, Tel 22 42 77 35
Olympic souvenirs

OPENING HOURS

Most shops in Oslo open at 9.00 and close at 17.00. On Saturdays they open at 9.00 and close at 14.00. Many shopping centres have extended opening hours 10:00-20:00 on week-days and 10:00-18:00 on Saturdays. Most shops are closed on Sundays but many souvenir shops are open. Thursday is generally the day for evening shopping. Shops - especially department stores and souvenir shops - have extended opening hours until 19.00 or 20.00. Banks are open until 17.00. In Oslo the first Saturday of every month is "Super Saturday". The shops in the City Centre are open until 19.00 (and later), often with special bargains. Within the last few years there has been a gratifying development with a number of shops open into the evening. At the large kiosks, supermarkets or shopping centres outside the City Centre, you can purchase what you require at almost any time of the day. Don't forget that we also have dozens of petrol stations, open 24hrs a day, which stock most things.

Narvesen kiosks are to be found everywhere in Oslo and most stay open until late in the evening. Here you can buy foreign newspapers and periodicals (in city centre at Hotel Continental, Aker Brygge, Grand Hotel, Oslo Central Station, Nar-vesen Stortingsgt. 2).

FLOWER, FRUIT AND VEGETABLE MARKET

You will find the flower market on Stortorget in front of Oslo Cathedral. The fruit and vegetable market is at Youngstorget.

FLEA MARKET

Every Saturday throughout the summer there is a flea market on Vestkanttorget (Amaldus Nielsens plass) by the Frognerpark. Arranging flea markets is traditional for schools in spring and autumn.

NORWEGIAN SPECIALITIES

Some famous Norwegian brand names are: Porsgrund Porselen (china), Hadeland Glassverk (glass), Magnor Glassverk (glass), David-Andersen (jewellery), Husfliden (handicraft), etc.

Famous Norwegian souvenirs and specialities are: Trolls, products made of pewter, painted rose decoration, handicraft, arts and crafts, wood carvings, gold, silver and enamelled jewellery, furs, knitted wear etc.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE OSLO

Many visitors buy food specialities to take with them before they leave. You can buy these at a very reasonable price at most food-stores in Oslo. Smoked salmon and trout, gravet laks (marinated salmon) Gudbrandsdal cheese (with a cheese parer!), caviar in tubes or jars, cranberry-, blueberry- and cloudberry preserves.