10 Best Museums in Gothenburg

Grünerløkka is one of the districts that was incorporated into Oslo in the middle of the 19th century, and the buildings were from then on built in brick. This gives the whole area a neat, angular feel, which is also repeated in the parks.

Birkelunden is the highest of the parks on the "Løkka" itself, and nicely laid out in three blocks. The park has a fountain, a music pavillion and some lovely patches of grass. Several flea markets, concerts and general markets are held here throughout the year, which are highly popular with the locals in the surrounding area. And you are guaranteed to love them too!

Grønland Torg Frukt og Grønt is a grocery store that takes pride in beating the competition on both diversity and price. Customers are always delighted to come away with bulging shopping bags and billfolds that haven't taken too bad a hit. The only downside is the shortage of space, and it could have done with larger premises.

But no one can complain at the selection at Grønland Torg Frukt og Grønt. They claim to have over 170 different types of fruits and vegetables, which should include most of what is offered by edible plants in Norway. They also sell a wide variety of spices, tea and olive dishes.

A nice thing to do in the summer is to take a trip to the flea market on Nytorget, which is full of exciting finds. There has been a square here since the middle of the 19th century, and over the years it has served all manner of purposes, from a place for horse sales and vegetable trade to demonstrations and public meetings.

The flea market is usually held here every Saturday, and is a great opportunity to nab a bargain or find some hidden treasures. Many people come here for the bustling life, and the central location makes it very easy to get here both on foot and by public transportation.

Bergen is a festival city, and the season starts with a bang in May with the city's traditional festival 'Festspillene'. This festival features high-quality music and theater as well as free outdoor performances that bring the streets to life. The Nattjazzen festival takes place at the same time, also with a wide audience appeal. In midsummer, Bergenfest offers rock, pop and related genres at Bergenhus Fortress, with ever larger names appearing on the program.

When the vacation season is over, the Bergen Beer Festival and the Bergen Food Festival keep the mood and ambience up. The beer festival is Norway's largest and reflects the enormous growth in the quantity and quality seen in the industry in recent decades. A ticket to the beer festival also gives you access to the food festival and a chance to get to know local food producers and restaurants better.

Smøråsfjellet is not particularly tall or wide, but for families and hikers in the area, it's a true gem. This is partly thanks to a volunteer group - Friends of Smøråsfjellet - who have cleared the forests with chain saws and other tools, made paths, built huts, carved sculptures and generally adapted the area to suit hikers - especially little ones.

When the weather turns bad, as it often does in Bergen, there are plenty of sheltered campfire neighborhoods to warm up in. The good gravel roads are suitable for little wheels, and many paths have small bridges over the worst bogs, so that you can venture into the forest without getting mud up your legs. You can hike through the entire area in an hour, but the kids are unlikely to be in a hurry.

Head just outside Oslo and you'll come to Nittedal and the Varingskollen Alpine Center - great for both hiking and skiing.

This hidden gem doesn't have many slopes, but offers varied runs for all skill levels, even for the most avid and advanced skiers in the family. The facility has also served as a training slope for professional alpine skiiers for many years, as reflected in the opening hours. Find your way here and you'll be rewarded with demanding slopes and great opportunities for a ramble at the top, and there is also a child-friendly area at the bottom of the slope.

Ever since 1998, thousands of people have taken the trip to the Gladmatfestivalen in Stavanger every summer to sample good food, gain culinary tips and buy exciting products and produce.

The festival is held along Vågen in the city centre, and over 100 exhibitors do what they can to give you a good dining experience. As well as some great food, you can look forward to entertainment, courses, demonstrations and concerts, and it has become a tradition to hand out the Food Culture Prize at the festival. Get ready to feast on some wonderful gastronomic experiences.

Hvervenbukta is a beautiful outdoor area by the Bunnefjord southeast of Oslo city centre, with excellent facilities and bathing conditions. Hvervenbukta benefits from good parking facilities, public transportation and facilities for the disabled, and the toilets are of a higher standard than usual. The area has two beaches - a pebble beach and one with fine sand and a soft seabed, something you rarely get at Norwegian bathing spots. There are plenty of boulders and grass to roll your towel out on and enjoy the sun, and benches and tables for those who like to sit at a table to have their picnic.

Some of the best ski slopes in Oslo are located just outside the city - and SkiHurdal is one of them. There are three elevators that operate throughout the winter so that skiers of all ages can have fun on the slopes.

There are levels to suit everyone. Even though there is a children's slope at the bottom of the facility, even the newest alpine skiers in the family will be able to manage on their own after a couple of trips up the main slope. From the top you can choose between green, blue, red and black runs - so there's something for those who need speed too.

Sydstranda on Ulvøya is a private recreation area that is open to the public for a fee that goes to the local welfare association, which provides well-developed, maintained facilities and nice, clean surroundings. As well as sanitary facilities, there is a kiosk with snacks, a floating jetty with a bathing ladder, and a diving tower. The more delicate bathers will appreciate the slightly warmer water here, all thanks to the area's geopgraphy and climate. The kiosk, toilets and ticket sales close around 18:00 during the bathing season, but you can stay onsite until midnight once you've bought a ticket. Parking is scarce, so take the bus or cycle instead.