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OSLO

Five things Oslo residents can sometimes take for granted 

Oslo is a great place to call home, and sometimes it can be easy to take the things that make it so appealing for granted. 

Published: 19 October 2022 16:22 CEST
Updated: 25 February 2023 09:30 CET
Pictured is Viegeland park in Norway.
Here are some great things about Oslo that can sometimes be overlooked. Pictured is Viegeland park in Norway. Photo by Nick Night on Unsplash

If you live in the Norwegian capital of Oslo, you may have heard people complain about how expensive the city is or how small and quiet it feels compared to other places.

However, you don’t need to look far or long to find things that make Oslo a fantastic place to live- the kind of things that residents (and visitors) should not overlook. 

Here are some things about Oslo that residents may (but should not) take for granted. 

Amazing nature 

One of the biggest draws to the city is one of the things that can be easiest to overlook- especially when the weather is far from optimal- the fantastic nature surrounding the city. 

A lot of the best spots are easily accessible via public transport. For example, you can take a ferry to islands in the Oslofjord from as little as 39 kroner. These ferries are taken from the bustling Aker Brygge district, transporting you to quiet forest trails and natural swimming spots in around 20 minutes. 

Other examples of nature spots easy to access without a car include trips along the Akerselva, taking the T-bane to Songsvann, or the bus to great swimming and camping at Trollvann. The same applies to the various forests dotted around the edge of the capital. 

Even for the hardcore that are out on hammock trips when there is still snow on the ground, there will be new places to discover. 

Public transport 

This one is more of a double-edged sword as complaining about ticket prices would be fair as public transport in Oslo is amongst the priciest in the world. 

Even still, Norway has a well-connected transport system that, for many, will eliminate the need for a car- which is handy because the city isn’t considered exceptionally car friendly. 

As mentioned earlier, the tram, ferry, bus, and T-bane links make getting to the great outdoors seamless, in addition to making getting around the city hassle-free. 

Oslo’s small size means commutes aren’t too arduous for the majority and that you can be in central and trendy districts in a relatively short time . 

Family-friendly

The many parks and green spaces around Oslo make the city a fantastic place to raise kids. But the green spaces aren’t just confined to parks. 

Many areas in the city, such as Torshov, are best known for the large communal gardens that most apartment blocks have, meaning that green space and other children to play with are easily accessible for those living in apartments, not just those in houses and the suburbs. 

This is in addition to the vast array of recreational areas, activities and parks dotted around the capital. 

In a survey of The Local’s readers respondents praised the city for being so family friendly.

READ MORE: Is Oslo a good city for international residents?

It’s an international city

Oslo may not have that same melting pot feel that bigger cities have, but it certainly is an international city. 

Around a third of the city’s residents are either immigrants or come from a foreign background (meaning their parents come from abroad). 

Roughly 177,000 of the city’s 634,000’s residents have immigrated to Norway from other countries. This can make it easier for foreigners to settle and “feel at home” compared to small rural communities where many locals are Norwegians. 

It also means that many aren’t far from their compatriots in the event they feel homesick. 

Add this to the large number of international firms with English as the primary working language, Oslo offers plenty for international residents to settle inside and outside work. 

Residents feel safe

No city is crime-free. However, one overlooked aspect of Oslo is the low crime rate compared to other European cities. 

Some 93 percent of residents in Norway said that they felt safe, and Oslo was one of the parts of the country to record the highest trust levels in the police, according to the latest annual survey carried out by the Police Directorate. 

In Oslo, over two-thirds said that they felt very safe in the city, 26 percent said they felt quite safe, and two percent said they didn’t feel safe.

Serious crime rates are quite low, with petty theft (such as bike thefts) representing some of the most common crimes committed in Oslo, according to an investigation carried out by the local paper Vårt Oslo. 

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SCHOOLS

The international school options for parents in Oslo 

Many families who relocate to Norway put their children into international schools to help with the bedding process. So, what are the options in Oslo? 

Published: 8 May 2024 13:50 CEST
The international school options for parents in Oslo 

Finding a school where your child will be happy and able to thrive is a huge consideration for parents relocating to another country. 

Oslo, luckily, has plenty of options when it comes to international schools. The benefits of these schools are a consistent curriculum across countries, children of similar backgrounds, and lessons being taught in a language your child is comfortable with. 

Oslo International School 

Perhaps the most well-known out of the international school options in Oslo, Oslo International School was established in 1963 and offers education to students ages 3 to 18. 

The school’s curriculum follows The International Baccalaureate (IB) programme, and classes are taught in English. 

At the time of writing, the fees for kids enrolled in the school full-time are 264,200 kroner per year, and preschool costs 22,000 kroner per year. 

The school is located in the town of Bekkestua in the neighbouring municipality of Bærum. 

Pupils at the school can also choose Norwegian and other languages as subjects. 

Asker International School 

Located not too far from Oslo by train or car is Asker International School, which also follows the IB programme. 

The school is partially supported by the Norwegian state, which means school fees are capped. Parents must pay 35,550 kroner per year to enrol their child in the school. 

Classes at the school are taught in English, and education is offered to children aged from 6 to 18.

More than 60 staff members are employed at the school, and approximately 560 students attend the educational institution. 

Norwegian and other languages are also taught at school. 

Norlights International School 

Established in 2015, Norlights is a partially state-funded international school with more than 40 different nationalities represented. 

The IB programme is taught at the school, and as the school is partially state-funded, fees are capped. 

Fees range based on the child’s stage of education but range between 27,195 kroner per year to 39,385 kroner a year. 

The school is located near Holmenkollen in Oslo and offers education from the 1st through the 13th grade. 

Deutsch Norwegische Schule Oslo

With its campus located fairly centrally in Oslo, the The German-Norwegian School Oslo, and its kindergarten, is part of a network of more than 140 German international schools. 

The German and Norwegian governments fund the school, however there are still fees to be paid. 

The curriculum taught at the school is both recognised in Germany and Norway, and upon leaving students receive both a German and Norwegian diploma. 

At the time of writing, it costs between 3,466 and 2,472 kroner per month to attend, depending on the child’s age. 

The French School in Oslo

The Lycée Français d’Oslo is home to nearly 700 students representing almost 40 different nationalities.

The school accepts  French-speaking and non-French-speaking students and follows the official French curricula, which strongly emphasises language learning. 

Norwegian, English, German, and Spanish are the other languages taught at the school. 

Located fairly centrally, the school admits students aged between 3 and 18. It is one of nearly 500 French schools in countries other than France. 

Fees at the school range from 33,550 kroner per year up to 145,000 kroner. 

Blindern Videregående Skole

This Norwegian state school teaches the IB programme. It offers the last two years of the Middle Years Programme and the Diploma Programme. 

As it’s a Norwegian state school, no fees are to be paid. Furthermore, the primary language of instruction is English. 

Being a Norwegian state school, admissions are handled by the Oslo Municipality Education Agency Admissions Office, and the deadline to apply to the school is March 1st each year. 

The IB programme is taught in English. 

Manglerud School

Manglerud School is a state education institute that also offers the IB. This is taught in English. However, Norwegian classes at Manglerud School are also offered.

As it is a state school, there are no fees. Students and parents also go through the state school admissions system. According to the school’s website, the international classes were a trial which was extended to 2024. Therefore, parents who are thinking about their child’s future attendance should contact the school. 

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