Combining urban and natural highlights, a trip to Oslo is often punctuated with strolls through the city’s various organic and concrete jungles. While the idea of hiking in Norway has long enticed outdoor enthusiasts, travellers will do well to spend at least three days in Oslo before exploring the rest of the country. After all, the nation’s capital is famed for its sculpture parks, modern architecture, art galleries and eclectic neighbourhoods – you’ll have no shortage of cultural points of interest to add to your Oslo itinerary.

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 The city is so walkable and idyllic that many are often surprised they didn’t visit this beautiful European destination much sooner. In a single day, you can go island hopping in the Oslofjord, walk on the roof of Snøhetta’s Oslo Opera House, visit the Munch Museum and cap it all off with a picnic in Vigeland Sculpture Park.

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 Here & There Magazine originally intended to travel to Oslo for the architecture, but it wasn’t long before we became immersed in the city’s other offerings. As one of Europe’s fastest growing capitals, Oslo’s design scene has grown rapidly, with countless new developments like the Barcode Project attracting international attention. Even the city’s art galleries are architectural points of interest themselves (visit the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, and you’ll see this phenomenon in full swing). Many of the city’s buildings feature the innovative modernity that one would expect of Scandinavian design, but also an added quirkiness that is completely unique to Norway.

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 Throughout our trip, we took note of Oslo’s arts scene, as well as the city’s intoxicating blend of futuristic infrastructure and green space. In this city guide to Oslo, we invite you to join us in stepping off the beaten path as we explore Norway’s capital by foot.