Situated on the Oslo fjord, Oslo, Norway, is what I call the perfect little city. Because of its compact size, you can walk from the waterfront to the city center in just 20 minutes. With my centrally located hotel just a few blocks off the water, I found this to be the perfect starting point for my explorations. Along the way, I found what I believe are five not-to-be-missed stops for every visitor to this Scandinavian capital.

During your stay, take time to explore the city and stroll Karl Johans gate, Oslo’s main street. Along the way, I enjoyed the antics of street performers, took a respite in one of the area’s small parks and strolled through the grounds of the Royal Palace. You’ll also find shops, boutiques and cafes, all hawking quite a selection of wares. If you are as fortunate as me, you’ll even happen upon a street market, where vendors offer such products as fresh-baked goods, a selection of handbags and a variety of books. All in all, it’s a wonderful place to spend a few hours enjoying the great outdoors.

See Oslo's maze of islands on a fjord cruise

Another treat, I embarked on a fjord cruise with Båtservice Sightseeing A/S for a new perspective on the city; of course, any time I’m on the water I consider it a good time! As part of this two-hour guided excursion, we traveled through the water in a traditional wooden sail ship. Since it was a lunch cruise, we also enjoyed a traditional Norwegian prawn buffet, which consisted of prawns “au naturelle” with lemon, mayonnaise, bread and butter.

Speaking of maritime excursions, you must check out Oslo’s museums that chronicle much of the country’s history on and around the water. For example, at the Viking Ship Museum, you’ll see three of the best preserved Viking ships around, along with a wealth of unique and interesting finds that give a glimpse into the lives of the folks of this era. For me, it was amazing to see actual remnants of something I long considered legend.

Also amazing is the Kon-Tiki Museum, where you’ll learn about Thor Heyerdahal’s famous expeditions on such boats as the Kon-Tiki (a balsa raft), Ra (a papyrus vessel) and Tigris (a reed boat). Reading the stories of this scientist and adventurer was not only interesting, but also mind-boggling. When viewing the actual vessels, you wonder how anyone survived!

The giant Monolith above Vigeland Sculpture Park

Make sure to infuse some art in your trip with a visit to Vigeland Sculpture Park. Covering 80 acres and featuring 212 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland, this park is a wealth of breathtaking cultural treasures. From the artist’s famous figure of the Angry Boy alongside the bridge to the imposing Monolith, which depicts man’s longing and yearning for the spiritual and divine, these sculptures will capture your interest and imagination for hours.

While traveling through Oslo, my most enlightening discovery was that everyone spoke English. Although signage is in the native language, you can find guides and maps in English, and all the people I encountered were more than helpful with directions and answering questions. This certainly made traveling in another country easier than expected, and resulted in quite a memorable trip.