The economic and governmental centre of Norway, Oslo is one of Europe’s fastest-growing cities and boasts a high quality of life. The city centre is situated at the end of the Oslofjord, from which point the city sprawls out in three distinct “corridors”—inland north-eastwards, and southwards along both sides of the fjord. Wide, forested hills surround the city. The city’s scenic setting and excellent infrastructure make running in Oslo a treat — there are lovely waterside paths, great parks, and trail running in nearby hilly forests.
The center of Oslo is quite compact, and several of our central Oslo running routes can be mixed and combined. Our Oslo ‘runseeing‘ tour showcases the city’s major sights, Royal Palace, and scenic waterfront paths. Another great route from downtown highlights three urban parks: Slottsparken (Palace Park), St. Hanshaugen, & Stensparken. One of the best places to run in Oslo is Frogner Park (Frognerparken), located on the grounds of a former manor house and known Gustav Vigeland’s sculpture installation. The Akerselva River Trail boasts 5 km of riverside paths, while just east of the city, we’ve put together a route combining Birkelunden, Sofienberg Park, the Botanical Garden, & Tøyenparken. Just north is a loop around Sognsvann lake, and extensive adjacent hilly wooded trails. And for a taste of Norway’s famed forests, do a trail run in Østmarka or Nordmarka — both accessible by subway!
Oslo has a great public transport system. consisting of a five-line metro, six-line tramway, and eight-line commuter rail. Runners should take note of Oslo’s climate: winters are cold, snowy, cloudy, and dark. Summers are mild delightful for running, and those long days are a treat.
