You'll quickly discover the city's hidden (and not-so-hidden) gems with a little help from the locals. Four Oslo residents who know the city in and out share their top tips on food, culture, and passionate individuals to check out in Oslo.
Nora Kirkvold Sæter is a freelance journalist and Lysløypa writer
Nora has been part of Lysløypa since 2024 and has put words to much of what you’re reading in this book. When she’s not giving her all to lift Lysløypa up and forward, she also writes for Blikk and Fett, does a bit of research as a teaching assistant, and takes on communications projects she finds fun (and some that she doesn’t). Her heart beats especially hard for queer rights, the fight against inequality in Norway, and making culture accessible to everyone.
Photo: Private
Where do you go when you need to feel included and full of love in Oslo?
Into the arms of my girlfriend <3 kidding (kind of). I feel above-average at home in places like Bobs Pub, Dalat Café, and Evens Espressobar, and I also try to make it to Oslo World, Oslo Jazz Festival, and Ultima every year. But I feel the most filled with love when I join Pride or a Palestine demonstration together with thousands of others. The latter is both sad and heavy, but both give me hope in abundance.
Lift up someone who’s done something important or good for our city!
Then I shamelessly want to highlight some beautiful friends and colleagues: my favorite sociologist and urban developer Rikke Sjøhelle, who fights for Grønland and the neighborhood’s soul by organizing conversations where locals meet developers. Christina Skreiberg, editor of Lysløypa, who uplifts small Oslo initiatives – and even donated 20K from the book’s earnings in 2025 to Doctors Without Borders. Damian Karlsen, who gives broken and abandoned Oslo bikes new life. Thisbe Verner-Carlsson, who founded Ung Samtale, offering free therapy sessions to young people online. And a big shout-out to the Palestine Action Group and the city-walk initiative Gatestemmer.
If you were mayor of Oslo for a day, what would you decide?
Apart from turning Pride Month into Pride Year and giving food and shelter to everyone who needs it, I’ve actually been sitting on what I think is a brilliant idea: Mandatory volunteering. Okay, hear me out: we create a giant committee that distributes and organizes all kinds of volunteer work, people can submit their own initiatives and apply for funding, and everyone contributes according to capacity. That way we can tackle loneliness, boredom, and the growing lack of empathy. The funding? I’d raise it through a wealth tax :)
Would you like great tips to unique and independent places in Oslo? Get yourself a copy of Lysløypa Oslo 2026! The book gives great discounts to selected places. Think global, act local!
Read Noman Mubashir’s (journalist and TV-host) best tips to Oslo’s hidden gems!
Read Dana Jdid’s (founder of Baba Bar) best tips to Oslo’s hidden gems!
Read Bard Yden’s (Head of and lead-programmer for Oslo/Fusion) best tips to Oslo’s hidden gems!
