The perfect combination of green areas and the concept of a large metropolis makes Oslo a highly sought-after tourist destination, especially in recent years.
While the Norwegian city knows how to offer great historical and cultural heritage, it also provides tourists who visit it with a variety of incredible natural landscapes that can leave anyone lucky enough to admire them speechless.
All this, however, is made possible thanks to a travel solution accessible by the wealthiest tourists, namely the chartering of a private jet, which allows them to move freely in any time slot with great comfort and enjoying services at the airport intended precisely for this special category of travelers.
The many parks in the city, museum hubs of infinite artistic value, fjords surrounding the city center, and major shopping streets make Oslo a gem to be explored quietly and with dedication.
But what are its most iconic points?
Let's examine that and more in this article!
Historical and geographical background on Oslo
The precise location of Oslo is above a fjord contained within the Skagerrak basin. It is a strip of land cut by the Nesodden Peninsula that looms in front of the city, as well as bordered by natural boundaries such as hills and mountains. The territory administered by the Norwegian capital also implies some 40 small islands, as well as Lake Maridalsvannet, a major source of water supply for one of the most densely populated areas of the city, the western one. Oslo is dominated by the Kirkeberget, a peak over 600 meters high that looks down on its old town. As is fitting, Oslo's origins are closely linked to Viking culture: its foundation, in fact, dates back to the 11th century when that population plied the Scandinavian waters colonizing Norway in order to establish support bases during their bloody naval battles. The Viking Age represented a period of great innovation for Oslo in terms of shipbuilding thanks to a port that from early on was central to its economy. In the Middle Ages, King Haakon V made Oslo the capital of his kingdom, commissioning the construction of the Akershus Fortress, which can still be visited perfectly today; thanks to this majestic military edifice, the Norwegian city acquired an increasingly prominent role throughout Scandinavia. Over the years, however, it had to contend with several fires that almost razed it to the ground until the mid-seventeenth century, when King Christian IV decided to move the capital to an upper town he called Christiania. Over the centuries, Oslo has also been quite well known because of the dozens of native explorers and cartographers who spontaneously decided to undertake polar and Arctic expeditions in makeshift boats, braving the cold and the many dangers associated with it. During World War II, Oslo was occupied by the Nazis, who took control of wood and fish exports; after liberation in 1945, the city soared by hosting the Winter Olympics and becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination.
What to do and see in Oslo
Visiting the historic center of Oslo by chartering a yacht
The beating heart of Norway's capital is undoubtedly its historic center, where a myriad of buildings stand that offer magnificent views of the Oslo Fjord, such as The Thief, a historic, visitable palace that abuts the Tjuvholmen harbor area. It is a district that skillfully blends different architectural styles discernible in the varied art installations, art galleries and contemporary exhibitions that the exhibition complexes within it host. Deserving honorable mention and an in-depth visit is the Astrup Fearnley Museum, a museum hub of modern and contemporary art that houses masterpieces by the greatest artists of the current modern art scene, all in one of Oslo's most distinctive buildings designed by Renzo Piano. Oslo's historic city center can also be perfectly visited by chartering a private yacht: wealthy tourists are spoilt for choice in selecting the boat that best suits their needs so they can admire the urban scenery from a sensational perspective while having lunch or dinner on board with champagne and seafood.
Oslofjord Spa
Another luxurious and rather exclusive experience that VIP tourists can have in Oslo is to soak in the hot springs at Oslofjord, a spa complex located in the Aker Brygge area that can also be reached by sea thanks to the presence of a small mooring pier. Here you can experience a number of one-of-a-kind experiences such as ice baths, saunas, and salt scrubs, to name a few, for a day of total relaxation and carefreeness. Once again, a private boat can be hired to reach the area where such a spa complex is located to enjoy total autonomy and luxury comforts.
Private tours for the Akershus fortress
In addition to what has been described so far, wealthier tourists can also take part in a private tour aimed at discovering the Akershus Fortress, which dominates Oslo from above. Here you can get an up-close look at the history of Norway and its capital city; not only that, the huge green space below also allows you to have a picnic or walk through the grounds surrounding the castle while staying in close contact with nature. Finally, from the top of the fortress there is a sublime view of the entire city and the Oslo Fjord.
The top hotels in Oslo
There is no shortage of luxury lodging options in the Norwegian capital: first and foremost, mention must be made of the Grand Hotel, the city's iconic building where businessmen gather to transact business. It features numerous amenities including a spa, several conference rooms, a fitness center, and a gourmet restaurant, as well as a welcoming lobby with dedicated concierge service. Also worth mentioning is the Thief, a modern hotel located on the island of Tjuvholmen characterized by a rather unique style: its suites offer beautiful views of the city and its canals, but the gem is definitely the integrated spa, one of the best spa complexes in Norway.
Climate and best time to visit Oslo
The climate that dominates Oslo is of the Baltic continental type, with very cold winters and rather mild, non-sunny summers. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year, while sunny days are certainly fewer than gray or rainy days. The spring period is characterized by a quick thaw with temperatures not exceeding 12°C; however, the very first mild days arrive with slightly less precipitation thanks to the anticyclone dominating northern Europe and giving a little spring warmth. Summer temperatures hover around 25°C maximum: great heat is practically nonexistent, and the days are long and characterized by very pleasant weather, although during the night hours they are quite cool. From mid-May throughout the summer there are white nights, days when the sky is never completely dark even in the middle of the night. The arrival of autumn brings with it the drastic drop in temperatures, substantial rainfall and the onset of cold weather that preludes the winter season. The first snowfalls begin to occur from October onward, and sunny days become more and more of a mirage. During the winter season, temperatures are almost always around 0: frequently blowing Atlantic currents could cause them to drop even below 0, while the days are extremely short. That said, the best time to charter a private jet to Oslo is definitely the summer, a season where the weather is the best of the year and allows for sightseeing in pleasant weather conditions.
How and why to fly private to Oslo
After its very first opening in the early twentieth century, Oslo International Airport (ICAO code ENGM) has seen the gradual increase in air traffic that has led it to carry out necessary expansion work on the infrastructure and terminals present. Today, the Norwegian hub is the nation's largest and one of Northern Europe's landmarks as it can operate several routes with major European capitals. In addition to the main terminals intended for scheduled flights, the airport also has one dedicated to general aviation in order to accommodate the large number of passengers on private flights landing and departing from Oslo. At their disposal, in fact, is a VIP Terminal equipped with private lounges that make the stay of both business and leisure travelers absolutely comfortable. Amenities include several fully equipped conference rooms, separate check-in and security check desks, private transportation from the terminal to the gate, stores, restaurants, a free WiFi connection, and escort service in the VIP Team. A private exhibition also stands in the terminal, displaying masterpieces by Norwegian artists through collaboration between the airport and museums, galleries, and private collections. The 2 runways are suitable for any type of aircraft; however, noise restrictions affecting the 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. time slot must be observed. The approximately 50 km between Oslo and the airport can be traveled by cab, by rental car with or without a driver, or by limousine that waits for VIP tourists directly on the tarmac.
How much does a private jet cost to Oslo
Oslo is well connected to several European capitals such as London, from which it is separated by a flight of about 2 hours and 15 minutes; it is possible to rent a Light Jet, a Medium Jet and a Large Jet for about €11,000, €21,000 and €30,000 respectively. The flight time required to get to Oslo from Paris is about 2 hours and 30 minutes; the 3 categories of jets mentioned above are available at respective prices of about €12,000, €23,000 and €32,000. Definitely closer to the Norwegian capital is Berlin, a flight that takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes; the 3 classes of jets are available for hire at a respective price of approximately €9,000, €16,000 and €24,000.
The best jet to fly to Oslo
The Cessna Citation CJ3 is a high-performance light jet: it consists of 6 seats in its fairly spacious interior cabin, while the attainable speed hovers around 750 km/h, and the number of kilometers that can be traveled on a single fill is no less than 2,500. The Learjet 60/60XR, on the other hand, is a Medium Jet that expands the number of transportable guests to 7 while traveling at an average of about 800 km/h and with a total range of more than 4,000 km. For longer distances, one could opt for the Gulfstream G500, Large Jet with as many as 14 seats, a cruising speed of more than 850 km/h and a range of more than 7500 km; its interior cabin gives great space to passengers, very high comfort levels and a considerably capacious luggage compartment!
The most frequent flights to and from Oslo
Below of the most frequent connections to Oslo:
