Norway's trendiest districts

Oslo unfolds like a patchwork of lively neighbourhoods. For years, Grünerløkka – or just "Løkka" – has been the city’s go-to for cool cafés, street art and vintage shops, many of them clustered around Markveien. Around Birkelunden, you’ll find lively restaurants, bars and local hangouts that keep the area buzzing day and night.

To reach Grünerløkka, start your walk from Youngstorget, close to the city centre, and follow Torggata until you reach the vibrant neighborhood. These street are also great for nightlife, where cocktail bars and microbreweries light up the evening.

But there’s so much more to discover. In recent years, Oslo has reinvented itself into a truly world-class city where food, culture, nature and shopping all come together. Old working-class districts like Tøyen, Grønland and Gamlebyen are slowly being gentrified, with restored buildings, quirky bars and creative new eateries, in a multi-cultural setting.

A bold new waterfront

From vintage shops and cozy cafés in Grünerløkka to shimmering skyscrapers – Oslo’s contrasts are just a short walk apart! Trendy hotspots are now dotting Oslo's long waterfront, all well connected by the Havnepromenaden harbour promenade. Remember you swimming costume, you´re never far from a hot sauna or a sleek swimming facility!

By the fjord, Bjørvika has undergone a striking transformation. Once a dockland of shipping containers, it’s now Oslo’s boldest urban waterfront, where cutting-edge architecture meets culture, art and buzzing city life. Here you’ll find some of Oslo’s most iconic landmarks: the Opera House, where you can walk on the roof for panoramic views, the futuristic Deichman Library and MUNCH, dedicated to Norway’s most famous artist.

Just behind it, the row of towers known as Barcode rises like dominoes along the water. Trendy restaurants fill the ground floors, while rooftop terraces and bars offer the best skyline views in town.

Follow the harbour promenade west (or hop on a bicycle or public transport!) to the restaurant and shopping district of Aker Brygge. Here, you can also explore the impressive National Museum before you admire sleek apartment buildings and discover modern and contemporary art at the Astrup Fearnley Museum at the cool Tjuvholmen peninsula. Here, you can also explore many of the city's most prominent art galleries, and discover a variety of restaurants and cafés by the marina.

Walk back toward the city centre again, to explore Karl Johans gate, Oslo’s main shopping street, where you also find landmarks such as the Royal Palace, the Parliament Building and the Oslo Cathedral.

In the heart of Bergen, the area around Skostredet has become one of the city’s most vibrant and characterful spots. The name means "the Shoemakers’ Alley", a nod to the many cobblers who has worked here.

Among the small, colourful wooden houses, you’ll find niche shops, vintage treasures, and contemporary art galleries, as well as cosy cafés, lively bars, and popular restaurants.

Recently, the street welcomed Hotel Charmante Skostredet, a stylish boutique stay, and Brasserie Chérie, where French-inspired flavours meet Bergen’s urban vibe.

Skostredet and the surrounding streets have a relaxed, creative atmosphere. It’s also a cultural hotspot, home to galleries and venues that host concerts, debates, and performances throughout the year. This is also where you can find late night jazz and live performances.

After Bergen’s colourful backstreets, the journey continues to Stavanger, where the colours get even brighter!

In Stavanger, the eastern district has gone from industrial to inspirational. Old breweries and warehouses have been transformed into art galleries, breweries, and cultural venues, making Østre Bydel one of the city’s most creative areas.

A short walk away, Pedersgata has reinvented itself as Stavanger’s new food street. Once a traditional working-class neighborhood of workshops and small houses, it’s now buzzing with flavors from around the world. Cozy bakeries, laid-back street food spots, and even Michelin-starred restaurants line the historic wooden houses, giving the street both charm and edge.

By day, Pedersgata is perfect for a relaxed lunch or coffee stop. By night, it turns into a lively meeting place where locals and visitors gather to enjoy food and drinks and the city’s international spirit.

Norway’s former Viking capital has reinvented itself as a modern student city, filled with cozy cafés, buzzing nightlife, and creative new neighborhoods. From postcard-pretty streets to innovative urban hubs, Trondheim is a city that never stands still.

Sluppen

Sluppen is the neighborhood that surprises. Here you can eat street food from five continents, enjoy fine dining, sample craft beer, get a tailor-made outfit, and round it all off with a workout on the climbing wall. And the best part? It’s only a short bus ride from the city center.

Once an industrial area, Sluppen has been transformed into Trondheim’s new hub for innovation, sustainability, and urban living. Modern architecture blends with green spaces and bike paths, while coworking hubs, eateries, and cultural events create a vibrant meeting place for both locals and visitors.

Bakklandet

Bakklandet is Trondheim at its most postcard-pretty. Cross the old city bridge and step into narrow cobblestone streets lined with pastel-colored wooden houses. Many of them now host inviting cafés, small galleries, and independent shops.

It’s the perfect place for a stroll, a bike ride, or simply to sit by the river with a coffee and watch the world go by.

Lademoen and Lilleby

Lademoen and Lilleby are Trondheim’s green and innovative edge. Here, urban gardening and community living meet organic food and second-hand shops.

Lilleby, once an industrial zone, has been reimagined as a sustainable residential area with townhouses, apartments, and eco-friendly initiatives. It’s also a neighborhood where exciting food concepts and local cafés continue to pop up.

While visiting Tromsø, Storgata is the vibrant main street that holds the city centre together. It leads you from Mack’s legendary brewpub, Ølhallen, and straight into the historic heart of the city. Along the way, you’ll pass popular restaurants and bars such as Gründer, Helmersen, and Nitty Gritty.

Stortorget is one of Tromsø’s largest gathering places, hosting major events like the Rakettnatt festival and outdoor film screenings during TIFF – the Tromsø International Film Festival. Although most visitors naturally flock to the city centre, several major urban development projects are currently underway – both along the harbour promenade towards the south side and Telegrafbukta bay, as well as in the northern part of the city.

At the foot of the Tromsø Bridge lies district Vervet, home to a popular bakery and patisserie. The area features modern apartments, Tromsø’s newest hotel The Dock, and a selection of inviting commercial spaces. Nearby, you can enjoy creative cuisine at restaurants like Maskinverkstedet and Fangst, or indulge in a tasting experience at Vinsmak.

To slip into the local vibe, settle in at Verdensteatret and explore their bar menu, sample craft beer from the microbreweries Graff and Bryggeri 13, or relax with a cup of coffee at Svermeeriet or Smørtorget Café.