Oslo

[Lovemusic82]

Im looking at booking our first trip abroad (the DC’s first time), DC’s are 18 and 20 both ASD and one has some mobility issues. Dd1 doesn’t like hot places but love cities and history, we have had lots of city breaks in the uk. I am considering booking a week in Oslo staying in a hotel, dd1 seems pretty keen on Oslo (apparently it’s very left wing?). Apparently food and drink can be costly? Dd1 has a pretty limited diet so will likely just eat breakfast at the hotel and not much during the day, dd2 loves food.

Any tips or views on Oslo appreciated? How Autism friendly is it? Is it fairly flat for walking? Are the buses easy to use?

We went to Oslo in August. We only stayed 3 nights (before moving on to Bergen) and used buses twice in that time, but used the tram quite a bit more. They were easy to work out and went pretty much everywhere we wanted to go. Never had to wait long. The main part of the city is flat, although we stayed further out in an Airbnb to keep costs down.
Food and drink was expensive. Eating out was eye watering but food from a supermarket wasn't too bad. There were always some cheap options so groceries would only be expensive if you weren't careful.

It’s a lovely city but eye wateringly expensive.
The train to Bergen or the metro up the mountains are both worth doing.

A week feels too long. Also Norway is crazy expensive right now. Take the amount you think you will spend on everything and triple it

It's a nice bit quite low key city- not terribly exciting. That might be what suits your dc for a first trip overseas as not too many tourists. But likewise it might be a little dull for a whole week.

@Lovemusic82 Oslo (and all of Norway) is very very expensive. Left wing? Not so sure that’s obvious either. It’s pretty much a cashless society and you don’t realise how much you have spent. Sweden isn’t much better.

You might actually be better off on a Norwegian cruise. I do understand the limitations of this but it’s worth looking at.

No idea about how autism is tolerated but well I would guess. Yes, it’s pretty flat. The bigger issue is what will you do for a week. There are museums but you will need to see the countryside too. Therefore I think I would consider the cruise because it gets you over the food issues.

I would maybe consider Copenhagen instead. Flat, compact, easy to get round and loads to do. Probably not much cheaper than Oslo though.

@Hurdlin It is cheaper. Not by much, but it is.

We loved Oslo. Very easy to use the tram, and also to walk. You could spend a couple of days in museums (the Kontikki and viking ones were good), and the big gallery/art museum, and climbing up the opera house roof. Then a day island hopping on the ferries. A day going out to the mountain where the ski jump is, and a day at the sculpture park outside the city. Then there's the city centre itself. And in the summer there are places to swim, right in the centre or on the islands. So you could probably fill a week quite easily, but you don't need a week.
I'd go on a trip to a fjord, if that's doable. We took the train to Flam, and then on to Ballestrand, but that was a great day in itself- it didn't feel like a travel day.

It is expensive, but we didn't find it as eye watering as we thought it would be.

It's quite a low key city. Tends to be quite middle class although there are pockets of incredible wealth (more subtle than London but still very noticeable). Eating and drinking is expensive. It's very easy to get about on the trams. The museums are good and my favourite is the polar ship Fram (just fabulous!). It's a very outdoorsy place so best to go in summer when the weather is good but be aware that means it never really gets dark.

Norwegians are polite and helpful but can be quite reserved until you get to know them. (My ex plus one of my closest friends are Norwegian so I've spent a lot of time there).

I found Oslo pretty boring place to be honest could see everything you would want to see in one day. Copenhagen/Stockholm much nicer.

I loved Oslo and don't think a week is too long. It's not a big "wow" city but there's plenty to do and it has a very Scandi character, low key, efficient and clean.

Highlights for us were the museums and galleries: the Viking Museum, Fram Museum and Astrup Fearnley are all great. There are a few nice parks and the dockside area. We did the train to Bergen which is a really scenic & interesting journey. But you could find enough to do in Oslo itself, there's lots on the outskirts.

Food is really expensive though, we were in a hotel and spent a small fortune, meals mount up so quickly. Next time I'd self cater.

Helsinki ticks similar boxes but it's a bit cheaper and has lunch buffets so you can eat a nice balanced meal (or my similar age and similarly autistic/mobility restricted boys wanted sushi until it came out of their ears) for less than a mcdonalds.
You can get the boat to suomenlinna with your helsinki travel pass, and look at the fortifications.
There are so many museums and galleries.
The secret guide book has lots of random historical stories too.

A day?! There is way more to see and do there than anyone could squeeze into a day! There are loads of museums on all kinds of subjects, art galleries, the opera house, the waterfront, the castle, a whole load of other historic and beautiful buildings, the castle/fort, the fjord and its islands, the ski jump, the parks, the boat trips... you can have a quick look at a couple of those things in a day, but there is a LOT to keep most people occupied for a few days!

Hi! Oslo sounds like a fantastic choice for your first trip abroad—it's a beautiful, compact city with lots of history and culture. It’s quite flat in most areas, making it easier for those with mobility issues, and the public transport system (buses, trams, and metro) is very accessible and easy to navigate. It’s also known for being inclusive and autism-friendly, with many museums and attractions offering quieter times or sensory guides. Yes, food and drink can be pricey, but you can find budget-friendly options like grocery store bakeries or food courts. Hope you have an amazing time!

We spent a week there and loved it. We self catered. We had an amazing air bnb flat with a bbq. Fresh salmon wasn't actually eye wateringly dear on the shop.
We were out of town and near some beaches - there are bbqs on all the beaches.
We did the sculpture park, island hopping, opera house, fram museum, ski jump, another culture museum.
It is easy to get around on public transport.
We went in the summer and the weather was lovely and the water warm.