From Estonia to Uzbekistan and everywhere in between, we love exploring a city at sunrise. The magical lighting, the empty streets, and the chance to watch the city coming to life are all reasons to set an early alarm and head out! In August 2020, Matt got the chance to visit Norway. So, of course, he could not miss the opportunity to hunt for the best sunrise spot in Oslo. Here is his account of a morning exploring the Norwegian capital.
Sunrise in Oslo: how early is too early?
Norway famously claims the title of the ‘Land of the Midnight Sun’. Although Oslo is over 1000km away from the likes of Tromsø – deep in the heart of the Arctic Circle and the perfect spot for 24 hours of uninterrupted daylight during the summer – it nevertheless enjoys late sunsets and early sunrises.
I was visiting Oslo in August. Although a good two months after the summer solstice, I worried slightly that this trip’s sunrise exploration would mean a very early start indeed.
Eventually, after a surprisingly respectable five hours of sleep, my alarm sounded at 5.15am. With sunrise estimated at just after 5.30am, I knew I’d be gambling on a quick wake-up and a brisk walk to take me down to the waterfront.
Commending myself for resisting the urge to snooze my alarm, I managed to dress and head out the door in less than ten minutes. As I walked to my first stop, I noticed the sky had already filled with delicate golden clouds – this was going to be a good one!
Sunrise Spot #1: Aker Brygge and Rådhusplassen
The first spot on my sunrise list was the harbour area around Aker Brygge and Rådhusplassen. Usually a hub for restaurants, bars and pedestrian ferries, attracting thousands of locals and tourists alike, I arrived to find that I had the place to myself. There was not another person in sight.
Normally, this isolation in the middle of a major city could have bordered on eerie. However, there was a calm stillness to the morning, which lent itself to feeling completely relaxed as I began to wander aimlessly. Before passing the relatively subtle entrance to the Nobel Peace Centre, I stopped briefly to take a few photos of Oslo’s functionalist City Hall, which loomed ominously over the scene.
My favourite sunrise spot here was the series of classic piers, which reached out into the Oslo Fjord towards the green shores of the distant islands. Walking towards the end of the piers, with only a handful of swooping seagulls for company, I was rewarded with sublime views of the morning light hitting the boardwalks of Aker Brygge and bouncing off the still water.
Feeling pleased with my progress and not quite ready to retreat to bed just yet, I decided to move further on. Oslo’s iconic Opera House was just a short journey down the road…
Sunrise Scooters: The Best Way to Cover Ground in Oslo
Although willing to continue my journey on foot, I couldn’t help but notice the hundreds of electric scooters piled up on the streets. In the space of a few years, they’ve sprung up all across Europe, and their unsubtle presence on every street corner is not without its critics.
However, an electric scooter was the perfect way to explore more of Oslo and make the most of my sunrise wander. So I decided to grab one in the hope of catching the first glimpse of the sun over the Opera House. Within 60 seconds, I’d downloaded the Lime app, unlocked my scooter and set off towards my next sunrise spot.
Over the course of my morning, the scooters allowed me to cover more ground than I could possibly have managed by foot. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them, particularly on the deserted streets of early morning Oslo!
Sunrise Spot #2: The Oslo Opera House
Within a few minutes of scooting along, the iconic white edges of Oslo’s Opera House came into view. As I got closer, I realised that – on this occasion – I was not alone in choosing to enjoy the sunrise from the Opera House.
A couple of groups, possibly as the final hurrah of a big Saturday night, had chosen the angular roof of the Opera House to enjoy a few sunrise drinks. The beauty of the building is that the roof is open for anyone to walk on, and the silhouettes of the distant revellers made for a classic view of this popular spot.
I quickly realised, too, that my scooter gamble had paid off. The sun hadn’t quite risen above the eclectic collection of skyscrapers looming over the Opera House – but I didn’t have long to wait.
Within a couple of minutes of arriving, the first rays began to burst through the gaps in the buildings. Before too long, the sun had bathed the whole scene in bright light, chasing away the gentle golden hue and announcing the start of the new day.
This was, seemingly, the cue for everyone to move on. The groups began to head down from the roof, and I decided to make a loop back to Rådhusplassen before contemplating my next move.
I followed the road as it hugged the harbour buildings, spotting along my way a string of fishermen stretched along the water, looking for an early morning catch. Eventually, I arrived back at the piers and decided to carry on exploring – the early morning hadn’t caught up with me yet!
Sunrise Spot #3: The Royal Palace
I had plotted a route that would take me to the incredible sculptures of Vigeland Park. As well as enjoying the leafy boulevards of residential Oslo whilst zooming along on my scooter, I was able to take in the sights of the Royal Palace.
The striking 19th-century building is home to the King and Queen of Norway and is usually a tourist hotspot. This morning, however, I once again enjoyed the view in solitude. My only company, of course, was the Palace guards on their regular marches.
The park, which surrounds the residence, had just opened its gates (I’d arrived at 7.01am!), and I was able to speed straight through – sharing a friendly nod with a soldier along the way. The palace stood grandly against the bright blue morning sky, and is another excellent candidate for an Oslo sunrise explore.
Sunrise Spot #4: The Vigeland Sculpture Park
The final sunrise spot for my early morning in Oslo was Vigeland Sculpture Park. This incredible selection of over 200 statues is purportedly the largest sculpture park in the world by a single artist. It sits inside the broader Frogner Park complex and is a special place no matter what time of day you visit.
By the time I arrived, the first early morning joggers were beginning to speed around the maze of paths. Each of us was under the watchful gaze of the Vigeland statues – uncannily lifelike stares from figures whose poses ranged from wistful simplicity to downright bizarre.
The centrepiece of Vigeland Park is aptly named The Monolith. Over 100 figures are contorted together to form this dramatic piece, which reaches up into the heavens. Impressively, the whole structure – nearly 50 feet tall – was carved out of a single piece of granite.
Vigeland Park was the perfect place to end my sunrise explore of Oslo. Although the sun was already arcing high into the sky, the lighting on the statues was wonderfully dramatic. Regardless of the weather, it was well worth beating the crowds to enjoy the relative solitude of the park at this early hour.
With that, it was time to retire back to my temporary home for a much-deserved coffee. The search for the best sunrise spot in Oslo had been a real treat from start to finish. The freedom to explore at your own pace, with the streets and parks to yourself, is reason enough to set out on an early wander of this fantastic city. Good weather is, of course, a brilliant bonus!
Sunrise spots in Oslo city centre: Final thoughts
Oslo is perfect for a sunrise wander. Sure, you’ll need to set your alarm early if you’re visiting in summer, but it’s worth the unsociable alarm.
If I had to choose my two favourite places to watch the sunrise, it would be the Opera House and Vigeland Park. Both of these iconic spots get very busy during the day, so sunrise is the perfect time to see them at their best – bathed in golden light, and with hardly any people around.