Waste no time in a cozy capital teeming with must-see landmarks, like a larger-than-life sculpture park, or the Neoclassical Royal Palace in the city center (return at 13:30 to see the changing of the guard). A stone's throw away, see home to the famous artwork The Scream, as you meander along a flower-lined street towards the stage of the National Ballet and the neo-Romanesque Parliament. Had enough of the classics? Head harbor-side to see ferries depart for the scenic Oslo Fjord, snap a pic outside the inspirational Nobel Peace Center, and drop a GPS pin at a popular boat bar before strolling along the Aker Brygge Promenade dotted with angelic sculptures. A fortress fit for a Viking awaits, then pop over to the Opera House for a dose of innovative architecture.

Tick off your first bucket list item in green dream Frogner Park, a stage for over 200 sculptures by Norwegian treasure Gustav Vigeland, before meandering along the pansy-lined Karl Johan main street in the heart of the city, strewn with cozy cafés and charming buildings, overlooked by the stucco-clad Royal Palace. Pass center stage for national prima ballerinas, towards a romantic parliament building flanked by enormous concrete lions. Head to the Inner Harbor, formerly a shipyard, revitalized into a haven of modern eateries and a promenade nestled next to lapping waters overlooking the sparkling Oslo Fjord. Dart to an old train station building transformed into an arena of political reflection, before meandering on the roof of a glacier-like opera house.