Already looking for your next getaway? If you enjoy beautiful landscapes, delicious food and friendly people, then head to Norway. With a direct Norwegian flight from Geneva to Oslo, you can be in the Norwegian capital in two and a half hours. Just 30 minutes on the express train or bus brings you smack into the city centre. All the major sites are central and within easy walking distance: the cathedral, the royal palace, the Nobel Peace Center, the docks, shopping malls, opera house and of course the National Gallery.
The recently built opera house is really worth a visit, since its creative and thoroughly contemporary architecture is designed to allow visitors to walk up to the roof and enjoy beautiful views. There are many museums in Oslo, including the Munch museum, which houses two of the four versions of the celebrated Expressionist artist’s most famous work, The Scream (Skrik), among 28,000 of his other works. You can admire another version of The Scream a short distance away, at the National Gallery; a third version of the painting recently sold for almost $120 million in New York.
For those who prefer to spend time outdoors, Oslo is a great city to wander around, with its abundant and lovely cafés and restaurants, especially along the docks. Just beware of how expensive restaurants can be in Oslo (you can easily pay up to double what you would fork out for the same dinner in Switzerland, but then again the fish is really fresh and delicious).
If you can spare a few more days or if you prefer the countryside to the city, embark on a train journey from Oslo to Bergen (about seven hours). This an exceptionally picturesque route, through incredible mountains and glaciers. If you stop along the way at Finse, the highest train stop at an altitude of some 1,200 metres, you can hike up to the glacier above.
For a weekend, local airline Norwegian flies from Geneva to Oslo on Thursday evening, departing at 20h55 and arriving in Oslo at 23h30. The return on Sunday morning departs from Oslo at 7h25, arriving in Geneva at 9h55.
And where to stay? The Nordic hotel chains Clarion, Radisson, Thon and Rica all offer excellent accommodation, with breakfast included.