When most people travel to Europe, I understand that Oslo is not the first city on their mind. As was the case in my first journey here from Australia, their eyes are set on the famed Roman Colosseum, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Big Ben in London, or perhaps even the red-light district of Amsterdam.

I am keen to share my adopted city with family and friends, but also aware that not many people outside Scandinavia know what there is to see and do in our capital Oslo. Fortunately, having originally come to Norway on a 13-month contract (and thus knowing my time was limited), I have been very good at being a tourist in my own city. So now - drumroll - I would like to present to you My Oslo Sightseeing Guide!

The Gloater's Guide
If you are one of those tourists who is keen to boast to family and friends about the famous things you saw during your travels (and let's face it, who isn't?), I would recommend the following:
. Viking Ship Museum: Ha! And you thought there was nothing famous to see in Oslo - everyone has heard of the Vikings! The Viking Ship Museum houses three Viking long-boats that were excavated from the Oslofjord, and also features Viking artifacts and a general exhibit on Viking history and customs.
. Nobel Peace Centre: If you are like I was, you may have had no idea that Norway is the country that hands out the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. This modern and interactive museum includes the history of the award, and the contributions of its recipients to society. I very much enjoyed it!
. Munch Museum: You may not recognise the Norwegian artist's name (Edvard Munch), but you will definitely recognise his famous painting 'The Scream' (right). This museum, although small, holds over 5000 paintings bequeathed by Munch to the city of Oslo... and also has a really cool gift shop.

The History Buff's Guide
If you are not interested in gloating, but enjoy history or are simply having a longer stay in Oslo, I would also recommend:
. The Royal Palace (below, top): Standing majestically atop the hill at the end of Oslo's main street, Den Kongelige Slott is a beautiful but modest building. You can view the changing of the guard each afternoon, and in summer the palace is open for tours, which are quite fascinating. The surrounding gardens are also a great spot for picnics.
. Eidsvoll: Almost an hour out of Oslo, you can visit the estate that hosted 112 representatives from communities across the countries as they developed the first constitution of Norway.
. Parliament House: For more insight into politics and how the work of the nation's representatives has continued since Eidsvoll, join a free tour of Stortinget. I'm not terribly interested in politics, but I loved it.
. Ibsen Museum: If like me you were forced to study the works of the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen during school, you may find it fascinating to tour his final residence, which has been restored to how the apartment looked during his life. The building also houses a very interesting multimedia exhibition about Ibsen's life and works.
. Akershus Castle & Fortress (left, bottom): Constructed in the 1300s to protect the city from external threats, Akershus Slott & Festning is open for tours and also features a Prison Museum, Norwegian Resistance Museum (very interesting!) and Armed Forces Museum (not so interesting). You could easily spend a whole day looking through everything, especially if you happen to be there on the day of a free concert or theatre production. The surrounding parkland is another great spot for picnics and people-watching.
. Norwegian Folk Museum: Folkemuseum is Norway's largest open-air museum, and houses more than 140 period buildings that have been gathered up from around the country. You can also view traditional costumes, toys and tools, and there are sometimes storytelling, music and dance displays, especially around Christmastime.
. The National Gallery: This gallery features the largest collection of Norwegian art from the Romantic era to World War II, and also holds works by other famous European artists such as Renoir and Monet.

The Fun Lover's Guide
And for those who are right now thinking 'Snore!', and are more interested in fun and leisure:
. Karl Johans Gate and Bogstadveien: If you love shopping, these are the places to be! Karl Johans Gate, the main street in downtown Oslo, stretches from central station to the Royal Palace... and it is not far to Bogstadveien in the upmarket suburb Majorstuen.
. Aker Brygge: If you enjoy a leisurely stroll, stylish cafes, shopping and a lovely view of the water, then Aker Brygge harbour is for you!
. Tusenfryd (below, left): Literally meaning 'Thousand Pleasures', this theme park was better than I expected, with some great rollercoasters, and several attractions that incorporate Viking history.
. Vigeland Park (below, middle): The main attraction within Frognerparken, this park is brimming with nearly 200 awe-inspiring bronze and granite statues by Norwegian artist Gustav Vigeland. Once again, a great spot for picnics and people-watching.
. Holmenkollen (below, right): Holmenkollen ski jump is the site of annual ski festivals, concerts and also a (miss-able) museum of the 4000-year history of skiing in Norway. Unfortunately, the site is closed for the next two years to re-extend the length of the ski jump.

This list of Oslo attractions is by no means exhaustive, and in fact only covers the attractions that I myself have visited. In future posts, I will tell you about some of these sites in more detail, so consider this a preview of - and, indeed, an invitation to see - our beautiful city Oslo!