Five Reasons to Visit Oslo by a Luxury Hotelier

Andrea is the head of international sales at Nordic Hotels & Resorts, and previously director of sales at one of Oslo’s coolest boutique hotels, The Thief. As if that wasn’t enough, in her spare time she’s the co-founder of HER Oslo, the city’s branch of HER Europe – a global women’s network. If you’re looking for a reason to visit Oslo, Andrea’s guide to the city is it.

Part of our Five Reasons series, here you’ll find the most local of tips – from unique hotels to small businesses and secret spots (we trust you to keep these on the DL). Because, we firmly believe there’s no better way to get to know a place than when guided by someone who knows it best.

Read on for Andrea’s favorite places to eat, drink, stay, and shop in Oslo.

Name: Andrea Belck-Olsen

Home: My favorite local area of Oslo, Grünerløkka

From: I feel like a citizen of the world as I have lived in multiple countries, but I am originally from just outside of Oslo

Job: Head of international sales at Nordic Hotels & Resorts, and Co-Founder of HER Oslo, part of HER global network

Five reasons to visit Oslo

The food

Skaal Matbaris well worth a visit to Oslo. Otherwise, my local favorites include Ostebutikken, a gourmet cheese store / bistro, and the cocktail bar 2TH.

The hotels

Stay at either The Thief, with amazing views over the Oslo fjord, or Amerikalinjen, right next to the stunning Oslo Opera House.

The shopping

I have so many local favorites including Luck Oslo, Sanatorium, Kollekted by and Ensemble. Or go to Ilums Bolighus and pick up a piece by AWAN. They make the most comfortable dresses, which you can wear both while lounging on your couch or out and about in public.

The thing to do

In Oslo, you can rent your own floating sauna and enjoy the Oslo fjord. It is definitely one of the coolest things to do in this city.

I also love to go for long walks, and can never miss my daily walk by the Akerselva river. It’s a great, scenic path with lots of cafes and historic spots along the way. Get a waffle and a coffee at either Raadeshagekafe or Hønse-Lovisa.

The culture

Make sure to visit the privately-owned museum of modern art – the Astrup Fearnley Museum. It’s both indoor and outdoor, and conveniently located on the waterfront right next to The Thief hotel.

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