An unwelcoming welcome to Oslo, Norway

Filed in archive Destination: Europe on June 11, 2008

Like me you probably have an impression of Scandinavian cities as being attractive, clean and relatively safe, that's certainly how I found Gothenburg in Sweden to be. However that doesn't appear to be the case in Oslo at present.


© Morten Mitchell Larød

Several large construction projects are underway concurrently. Visitors arriving at Oslo's central station face the double whammy of avoiding a enormous pit, formerly the area in from of the station which is undergoing redesign and pockets of drug addicts and dealers. Visitors arriving by ship don't fare much better with a couple of construction projects near the harbour and a fair chance of being accosted by prostitutes.

Not exactly your expected Nordic welcome. Have you visited Oslo? Hopefully your unwelcoming arrival didn't mar your visit to Oslo.