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Gamle Oslo, meaning “Old Oslo” in Norwegian, is not only Oslo’s oldest borough but also one of its biggest. While a fire destroyed most of Oslo in 1624 and relocated to medieval Akershus Castle by Christian IV of Denmark for the city’s protection, Gamle Oslo retained its name while the rest of the city was renamed Christiania in the King’s honour. The borough is small enough to walk, and one of the attractions to be viewed is Grønland Street, a bright, multicultural and bohemian area which houses the Asylet, a two storey notched timber building built in 1730 and that in its day served as a courthouse, hospital and bank.

Other points of interest include the Akebergveien Mosque, one of the city’s largest mosques, the construction of which lasted almost five years, and the Vålerenga Kirke, a Neo-Gothic style church built from grey granite in 1902. After being destroyed by fire, it was rebuilt and consecrated in 1984 with added new art pieces painted by Norwegian artists Emanuel Vigeland and Håkon Bleken.

Local transportation is a simple and easy way to explore Gamle Oslo and beyond. Travellers can get around by bus, underground, tram, boat, local trains and the Norwegian State Railways

American writer H.P. Lovecraft alludes to the fact Gamle Oslo had kept its name instead of Christiania, in his story “The Call of Cthulhu” written in 1926 and first published in the magazine Weird Tales in 1928.