Oslo Walking Tour: Oslo’s Historic & Trendy East (in English)

We begin the tour at Kulturkirken Jakob (Jakob Culture Church) before heading into the vibrant Grünerløkka district. While Grünerløkka is well known for its bars, restaurants, and independent shops, this tour goes deeper into the area’s fascinating history and cultural transformation. As someone who lives nearby, I’ll point out the hippest spots right now along with places that locals truly love. We’ll explore a highly photogenic creative arts and music hub by the river and then follow charming riverside paths upstream to Vulkan, a leading example of green urban living in Oslo, home to innovative architecture, cutting-edge venues, and the city’s best food hall.

From Vulkan we continue along the cobbled streets of Damstredet and the picturesque Telthusbakken, lined with charming small wooden houses from the early 19th century. At the top of the hill, we’ll visit the Cemetery of Our Saviour, a peaceful oasis in the heart of the city where Edvard Munch and Henrik Ibsen are laid to rest. We then return to the Akerselva river to see how former factories have been transformed into design centres and art academies, walking through the mist of urban waterfalls while learning about the impact of the Industrial Revolution on Oslo. If you like, we can pause for tea, coffee, or a delicious waffle at a cosy café perched above one of the waterfalls. The tour then leads back into the lively streets of Grünerløkka, weaving through lesser-known historic lanes filled with award-winning cafés, buzzing hangouts, and my personal favourite cocktail bars and restaurants, before finishing either at a tram stop in Grünerløkka or at Ankerbrua, close to where we began.