Solo in Oslo: Starting the Year in the Stunning Norwegian Capital

I have always held an intrigue for Oslo since I first started going on European city breaks in the days of student loans and part-time work that I’d cobble together for a couple trips a year. Over the years, trips took me to other places but Oslo always sat there quietly on my wish list, waiting for a rainy (or snowy) day.

My mum had sent me some money for Christmas and birthday and I had a browse online which lead me to doing a ‘Ryanair Roulette’ (not quite a roulette but going with an open mind and seeing what locations are presented through your chosen dates and prices). I didn’t want a flight that was over two hours as it was only going to be a 2-night trip. Everything fell into line and there was my Christmas/birthday trip: Oslo; a mere 1 hour 50 minutes away from Manchester.

Typical of Ryanair, the airport they list as Oslo is actually in a small Norwegian town called Torp, some 75 miles away. Although this took some careful planning around my flight times concerning trains and hotels, it actually became a part of the adventure so I was glad of it.

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Top Things to Do in One Day in Helsinki, Finland

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On a cold, blustery October day, we decided to jump a ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki where we would have seven hours to explore the capital of Finland.

It was an absolute bargain of £12 each way per person which was incredible when you think how much you can pay for a seat on a flight and how little legroom you get for it. (I say that as someone who is 5ft3″ tall, I can’t imagine how it is for tall people..)

The biggest luxury about taking the gigantic ferry over to Helsinki was the impossibility of becoming bored. There were bars, cafes and restaurants and the ability to walk around freely was a novelty.

Pulling into Helsinki, the first thing I noticed was how the terrain looked totally different. The fir trees on a little island before the mainland looked jagged and shrouded in mist.

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