You'll quickly discover the city's hidden (and not-so-hidden) gems with a little help from the locals. We have asked five Oslo residents who know the city inside and out to share their top tips on food, culture, and passionate individuals to check out in Oslo.
Alexandra is Festival Director of Oslo World Music Festival
Also Chair of the global network Keychange, which works for gender equality in the music industry, jury member of the Telenor Culture Prize, soccer coach for Frigg Blå (boys, age 10), and mother of three boys plus a Golden Retriever named Sonja.
Photo: Lars Opstad
You can only eat at five places in Oslo for the rest of your life. Where do you go?
Gazakjøkken (Middle Eastern food tops my list), Girotondo (love pizza, pasta, and burrata), Dinner (still great after so many years), Le Benjamin (French cuisine never disappoints), and Plah.
Your top three cultural experiences in Oslo?
Cosmopolite and the passionate people behind it. The Norwegian National Ballet: What an ensemble! Marka: I couldn't live without my bike rides in Marka. Living in a city so close to nature is a huge privilege.
Highlight someone who has done something important or great for our city!
Miloud Guiderk, who has been booking the program at Cosmopolite for years. He and his team have fought to fill Oslo with music from around the world for over 40 years, navigating an increasingly challenging market.
What do you do when you need a bit of international inspiration in Oslo?
I might be biased, but the Oslo World festival is an uncompromising provider of the best music the world has to offer. The Mela Festival is also important for Oslo. Baba Bar is another place our city needs.
If you were mayor of Oslo for a day, what would you decide?
I would fight for more funding for culture and for cultural activities to be equated with other essential rights we have. Art and culture foster tolerance and solidarity and strengthen our democratic values. I would also fight for freedom and justice for the Palestinian people.
Would you like great tips to unique and independent places in Oslo? Get yourself a copy of Lysløypa Oslo 2025! The book gives great discounts to selected places. Think global, act local!
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Read Line Khateeb’s (Head of the Palestine Committee of Norway) best tips to Oslo’s hidden gems here!
