Explore Oslo’s most distinctive neighborhoods with Lysløypa as your guide. Inside the book, you’ll find curated walking routes that lead you through independent shops, cafés, bars, cultural spaces, and community initiatives across the city.
Carry the book in one hand and bring a friend, a grandmother, or a partner in the other—or set out solo. Discover local businesses, inspiring people, and the vibrant grassroots culture that makes Oslo unique.
Gamle Oslo
Text: Ida Frisch & Christina Skreiberg
Illustrations: Siri Marki
Gamle Oslo is where, somehow, Lillebjørn Nilsen’s songs, working-class grit, and medieval ruins exist all at once. Walk up through Kampen, with its classic wooden houses, and you can almost hear the sounds of factory workers from Oslo’s early industrial days. Sit on a bench by Vålerenga Church and you’ll hear the chants of the football fans, mixed with the far-off shouts of skaters at Jordal.
Pull out Lysløypa and start your day downtown with excellent coffee at Evita Espressobar, still offering a warm, inclusive corner of the city. On Thursdays, join yoga at Factory Tøyen with this book’s editor (!) – where work desks and beautiful interiors also await. A stone’s throw away is Galgen, newly refurbished and lovely, the perfect spot for lunch. Just meters away, you’ll find Kiosk, Oslo’s tiniest café, built right into the wall of a funky old gas station. Still thirsty? Head down to Fuglen just a block away! And yes, we knew it: you’re craving Lille Betong, where pastries are so good they feel like edible artworks. Then you’re ready for Svartdalen, now firmly on the map, with Kruttverket as its beating heart. Sauna (yes, keep that bikini in your backpack), café, and a hub for creatives. Kruttverket has quickly become a natural meeting place. And when night falls, Sankt Amand is one of the coolest bars on Tøyen, the perfect spot before the night takes over. All of these places are in Lysløypa, so don’t forget your book!
Gamle (wich mean old) Oslo is New Oslo, and always Oslo. Enjoy.
Want to discover the other districts of Oslo?
Explore the district Oslo City Center in Oslo with Lysløypa!
Explore the district Grünerløkka in Oslo with Lysløypa!
Explore the district Sagene in Oslo with Lysløypa!
Explore the district St. Hanshaugen in Oslo with Lysløypa!
Explore the district Gamle Oslo with Lysløypa!
Looking for great tips on independent and unique places in Oslo?
Get yourself a copy of Lysløypa 2026! The book gives you discounts at selected spots. Think global, shop local!
