Recommendations on places to stay, (near the train station) where to eat (vegan/vegetarian) and how best to navigate around. Planning to see the Munch museum, Viking Ship Museum and Nato center.
Can't help you with vegan, although if you eat fish, there's no shortage of options. At least for the people watching, try one of the restaurants along Stranden (harbor boardwalk). I stayed at Hotel Continental, which is right across the street from the national theater, and around the corner from the Rådhus. Business class hotel, but it can be much cheaper in the summer or over a weekend. From the city center, you can walk to boats to the museum island. For the Munch museum (and Frogner Park), take the Tbane.
Just one warning ... people in Scandinavia often think that fish qualifies as a vegetable. If you are vegetarian, make sure to let them know that you do not eat fish. Are you familiar with the website happycow.net? It lists vegetarian and veg-friendly restaurants around the world. You might try there.
Hello Linda. In Oslo, hotels and restaurants are expensive. I think the Cochs Pensjonat is a good value. It has 88 rooms. When I was there, in the year 2007, most of the rooms were old and plain, 20 of the rooms for two persons had been remodeled. It is located in back of the royal palace, and within walking distance of the National Theatre railway station (it is underground). www.cochspensjonat.no And that hotel is within walking distance of the vegetarian buffet : Vegeta Vertshus, located at Munkedamsveien 3B (90 feet from the beginning of Stortingsgata). Telephone 22834232. When I was there, in May of 2007, one large plate of food cost 110 Norwegian kroner. In Oslo, that is a good value, as food is extremely expensive in Oslo.
That eatery is on the way to the ferry boat docks for a boat ride to Bygdoy peninsula (location of the Viking Ships Museum). I do not know if Vegeta Vertshus is still there.