Off the beaten path in Oslo – Grünerlokka

Exploring Grünerlokka in Oslo by Sabine Zoller, Visit Oslo

Grünerlokka – a charming former working class area

Oslo offers a lot more than the Karl Johans gate main street. A few minutes walk from the city centre, or a short tram ride, you find the authentic, charming Grünerlokka area.
The scenic Akerselva river runs through the area, even with a cascading waterfall – surrounded by an 8 km park with walking trails along the river.
Grûnerlokka offers charming cafés, coffee shops, tiny boutiques as well as restaurants – a vibrant area!
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Cafe in Grunerlokka by Tord Baklund, Visit Oslo

Cafe in Grünerlokka

Located on the east side of the city, it used to be a typical working class neighbourhood, due to its proximity to the industry along the Akerselva river. Nowaydays the area has become the “Notting Hill of Oslo”; a vibrant, popular and trendy area, with coffee shops, nice restaurants, tiny, local shops and park areas.

Mathallen indoor food market located close to Schous Plass, is well worth a visit, with fish, local produce as well as cheese & charcuterie from Italy & France, cafés & restaurants. Mathallen is closed on Mondays.

Tram in Oslo by Tord Baklund, Visit Oslo

Blue tram in Oslo

How to get to Grünerlokka:

By foot: A 15-20 min. walk from the centre of Oslo.
By tram: Take the tram #11 (marked Kjelsas), #12 (marked Disen) or #13 (marked Grefsen Stasjon) for just a few minutes. They all pass by the Oslo central station area.

Disembark at Schou’s plass for Mathallen food market and the Italian restaurant Trattoria Popolare (informal), with authentic Italian food. Both are located a short walk from the tram stop (in different directions).
Mathallen food market is located close to the Akerselva river, as well as the charming Nedre Foss gard restaurant.
You will also find the charming Deichmanske library branch at Schou’s plass.

Outside Mathallen Food Market by Didrick Stenersen, Visit Oslo

Food truck outside Mathallen in Oslo

Olaf Ryes Plass:
You can also disembark at Olaf Ryes Plass, the next stop after Schou’s plass.
This is a vibrant square with several restaurants & coffee bars, shops and a nice little park.
See our travel tips for Oslo

Photos from Grünerlokka:

Cozy cafe in Grünerlokka by Sabine Zoller, Visit Oslo

Cozy coffee shop in Grünerlokka

Street view in Grünerlokka by Tord Baklund, Visit Oslo

Grünerlokka street view

Small cafe at Akerselva river

Street art in Grünerlokka

Oslo Opera House - Photo By Bob Engelsen

The iconic Oslo Opera House

Balcony in Grünerlokka by Sabine Zoller, Visit Oslo

Grünerlokka in summer

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About Grünerlokka

Akerselva river by Tord Baklund, Visit Oslo

The river area used to be the industrial area of Oslo, with breweries and different kinds of factories. The river has now become a picturesque eco-park and important recreational area.

Eventually the industy moved to other locations, and this urban area was discovered by artists and musicians, becoming trendy and popular among students and the younger generation.

The famous Norwegian painter, Edvard Munch, lived in Thorvald Meyers gate 48 (now Schous plass 1) at Grünerlokka from 1885 to 1889, where he painted the famous “The sick child”.

Tours to Oslo:

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Oslo in summer

Oslo City Hall

Astrup Fearnley Museum Oslo by Tord Baklund, Visit Oslo

Fjord view from the Astrup Fearnley Museum on Tjuvholmen

Oslo main street, Karl Johansgate. Photo Rita de Lange, Fjord Travel Norway

Summer on Karl Johans gate main street with the Royal Palace in the background

Highlights

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Thank you for assisting us with our trip to Norway. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Kirkenes and the Snow Hotel. The arrangements you made for us were perfect. The lodging was comfortable and the excursions were fun. Tom and I rarely use the services of a travel company when we travel; you enriched our trip and made the planning easy.

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On behalf of the group I would like to thank you and your colleagues for organizing our wonderful tour of Norway. Everything went very well including the weather, which was spectacular. We enjoyed all the hotels, the central locations you chose and the amenities, especially the lavish breakfasts. Three extra days in Oslo allowed us to tour the city at our leisure and to enjoy more of the important sights including the newly opened National Museum. The Norway in a Nutshell tour was amazing and made much easier by using your recommended porterage service between hotels in Oslo and Bergen. Both the train journeys and the boat trip were spectacular, and combined with a night in the beautiful Kviknes Hotel made for an unforgettable two days. We were very impressed by the Hurtigruten cruise, particularly the way they combined a working ship with a cruise ship, the comfortable accommodations, the food and service. It was fascinating to visit all the various ports, islands and fjords and the two included tours were excellent and informative. In the end we were glad to have the extra night in Kirkenes, to visit their lovely museum and take a trip to the Russian border. It was a good way to end the tour. Again, thank for staying with us through 2 years of pandemic postponements and changes. We certainly will recommend Fjord Travel in the future.

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