The Hidden North
North European travel guide
self-guided walks
Grønland
Explore Oslo’s historic and multicultural neighbourhood of Grønland, located east of the Central Station.Â
What you get
Historic overview of Grønland with photos.Â
Printable map with the route and major landmarks highlighted
Link to a Google Map that can be loaded into your phone for easier navigation
Clear directions with English & Norwegian names of places, addresses, and step-by-step guides
Photos of each point of interest
This guide is 9 pages and comes in a PDF format.Â
Fascinating Grønland
Grønland is an area in Oslo with quite the reputation. It is known across the country for its high immigrant population, higher crime levels compared to the rest of the country, but also cheap markets and restaurants. Some people love Grønland while others call it a no-go zone. However, Grønland is also an interesting historic area of Oslo. It was one of the main entrances into the city in the 19th century, and because of that many guesthouses and markets were established here. Today Grønland is known amongst locals as a cheap, fun place to go for a bite to eat!
Grønland is safe, cool, vibrant, and provides a totally different insight into Oslo.Â
Trip Highlights
- Walk down the historic highway into Oslo
- Learn about the impact immigration has had on Oslo
- Visit places only the locals know about!
Distance
1.7km (1.1 miles)
Activity Level
Level 1 – paved roads, flat, no stairs.Â
Start Location
Vaterlandsparken
End Location
World Islamic Mission
Itinerary
This is a summarised itinerary. More stops are included in the walk.Â
Vaterlandsparken
Vaterland is a very old and interesting neighbourhood. The name is actually a Dutch word (for Waterland) as Dutch schooners began coming here to load timber that had been floated down in the river. They first started coming here in the 17th century. After the construction of the Vaterlands Bridge in 1654, Vaterland became an important gateway to the city and the road that the park is on, Brugata, was one of Christiania’s main access roads from the east.
Grønland Square
Grønland Square was established in the 1860s as a cattle square, where farmers would bring their cattle in for sale. Today most of the square is gone as those apartment buildings were constructed in 1989. The square today is something of a market with good fruits and vegetables for sale at prices somewhat cheaper than the rest of Oslo. Locals know that the bars around here have some of the cheapest beer in the city.
Intercultural Museum
The Intercultural Museum is a fitting museum for this neighbourhood. The goal is to promote intercultural understanding and respect.
Oslo Fire Museum
The building that today houses the Oslo Fire Museum (Oslo Brandmuseum) is the old Grønland Fire Station. The Grønland Fire Station opened in 1866, though it has been rebuilt several times.
World Islamic Mission
This is the Norwegian branch of the World Islamic Mission. It was established in October 1984 by Norwegian Muslims with a Pakistani background.
Example of what the guide looks like.Â
