You have rented an apartment in Grünerløkka for a few days, but are pretty clueless as what to do next? Need groceries, or a bottle of wine? Wondering what todo? Here’s everything you need to know to get the ultimate, full-on Grünerløkka experience.
Groceries
First things first: Food. For filling up your fridge, you stoll along lower Trondheimsveien. There you can find both rellay good halal-meat at Makwans and cheap veggies at Elma. Here you also find the regular grocery stores Kiwi and Extra. For Sunday shopping, Joker and Bunnpris is where you go.
If you stay more on the upper side of Løkka, you’ll find both Kiwi in Markveien and Extra in Thorvald Meyers gate. Both safe and reasonably cheap options. Meny at Ringnes Park shopping center has everything you need and then some, but the quality comes with a little heftier price tag. There is also a lot of convenience stores on the corners around.
Wine and alcohol
If you are planning for a feast at home (and if you didn’t stock up at duty-free upon arrival at Gardermoen Airport), Vinmonopolet should be the next stop on your list. Norway has a federal monopoly on the sales of wine and spirits, and you can only buy them at Vinmonopolet. Grünerløkkas branch is located in Nordre gate 16, which is where Markveien meets Nordregate.
The employees at Vinmonopolet are excellent sommeliers and you should definitely get something recommended by them. Let them know what you will have for dinner and what price range you are aiming for, and they will give you plenty of options. Vinmonopolet also has a good selection of microbrew beer with higher alcohol percentage (above 4.7%, which you can get in grocery stores 08:00–20:00 (18.00) but not on Sundays ).
Tip! During spring and summer, we locals usually like to enjoy a picnic in one of our many parks, such as at Sofienbergparken and Schous plass. In theory, it isn’t legal to drink in public, but frankly, this law is not enforced (as long as you behave and don’t get too wasted!)
Cash
Hardly anyone uses cash in Norway. Digital payments and cards are videly used, also for tipping. Some places it can be hard to pay with cash actually. If you still want some cash, use the ATM’s inside 7-Eleven and similar. The EuroNet cash machines that you find outside, are very expensive and has high fees for foreigners. We recomend to stay away from them.
Getting around
The public transport system is excellent, and the trams 11, 15, 18 that rund through central Løkka, and 17 in Trondheimsveien, will all take you downtown to the city centre (though it is so close by that you could easily walk there). All lines take you near Oslo S (the central station), where the train to the airport is, and also the underground “T-banen” which will takes you nearly everywhere in Oslo. If you want to visit the woods “Nordmarka” for instance, this is your best mode of transportation! To see departure times and routes, download the app and check for more info at Ruter.
You could also rent bikes via Oslo bysykkel, that you can pick-up and drop-off at any Oslo bysykkel-station in the city. Download the app to unlock the bikes, and to locate where to find available bikes.
The city has also rental electrical scooters. These scooters have different operators and different rental fees. When you find an available scooter all over the place, just follow the instructions on the bike and download the app. Remember to check the local rules and regulations, as they keep changing.
Taxi can also be expensive. The later years, the market has exploded with thousands of independent drivers, and they can charge a lot. Especially if you hail them on the street. We recommend using Oslo Taxi and their app – or by telephone 02323. Then you can be sure to be treated well and get fair prices – even if you hail them from the street. Remember that you can choose whoever you want to ride with, at the taxi-stops. You don’t have to take the first car in the line. They may protest, but this is a customer privilege.
Do as the locals
Eager to actually talk to someone local? Norwegians are often described as introverted people, but not so much in Grünerløkka. Your neighbours can easily be found out at the local pubs and cafés, where “everybody knows everybody”. You will find cafés and bakeries all over the place, together with pubs, winebars and eateries. Most places are dog-friendly at Grünerløkka.
Late night drinkers should find a spot in Thorvald Meyers gate, as they are open to around 3 AM. Elsewhere it mostly closes arounde 1 AM, and maybe a bit before in weekdays. For nightly snacks and good junk food, the lower part of Thorvald Meyers gate has plenty to offer for the hungry hero!
Check out our map over places to eat and drink.
Be sure to check out our different guides to the area as well:
- Grünerløkka – A Historical ViewErlend Øyan, a professional guide born and raised in Grünerløkka, takes you on a journey through the neighborhood’s rich history. In this guide, he highlights key stories and landmarks that history enthusiasts will find particularly…
- A practical guide for short-term renters in GrünerløkkaYou have rented an apartment in Grünerløkka for a few days, but are pretty clueless as what to do next? Need groceries, or a bottle of wine? Wondering what todo? Here’s everything you need to…
- A local’s guide to GrünerløkkaAs Oslo continues to attract record-breaking numbers of visitors, more and more of them realize that a trip to the Norwegian capital isn’t complete without experiencing Grünerløkka! Grünerløkka, or simply «Løkka» to the locals, is a…
- Akerselva – a river walk in the cityIf you’re planning a trip to Oslo this summer, make sure to add a walking tour along the Akerselva river in Grünerløkka to your itinerary. This picturesque river offers stunning views of the city’s industrial…
