Oslo’s Grønland Neighbourhood: Self-Guided Walking Tour
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.
I love how different Grønland feels compared to the rest of Oslo. But – as a history nerd – I love the history of Grønland. Grønland grew up as a peasants neighbourhood on the main access road to historic Christiania. Many of its old buildings still remain, and we can see them on this walk.
So – I recommend doing this walk. You’ll see the diversity of Grønland, the history of the neighbourhood, and pass some very unique buildings in Oslo’s city centre.
In this article...
Downloadable Version of This Guide
We offer downloadable versions of our self-guided walks on our online store.
Online Guide
- Information about points of interest
- Images of each point of interest
- Historic overview of the neighbourhood
- Directions between points
- Historic photos
Downloadable Guide
- Information about points of interest
- Images of each point of interest
- Historic overview of the neighbourhood
- Directions between points
- Historic photos
Grønland Self-Guided Walking Tour
This walk begins at Vaterlandsparken.
Vaterland
Vaterlandsparken is located behind the Radisson Blu Hotel and Oslo Bus Terminal.
Vaterland is a very old and interesting neighbhourhood. 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.
Vaterland Bridge
The bridge that you are crossing was originally built in 1654, though it was rebuilt in the 1830s. The bridge was first painted in 1685, when this area was a richly populated area with a lot of businesses operating. In 1868, there were 11 pubs here. Here is a painting of the bridge from 1685. We are looking down the Akers River out to the Oslofjord, so you will be crossing the bridge from right to left in this picture.
Apotek Hjorten & Workers Housing
This beautiful building was built as a pharmacy in 1857 and was the fifth pharmacy to be built in Christiania. Today the building is used by the restaurant Dattera til Hagen but the interior of the pharmacy has been preserved over at the Folkemuseum in Oslo. Number 12, the brick building next to it, was built by the Company for the Construction of Workers Housing and is Oslo’s oldest preserved workers dwellings.
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.
Across the street, you’ll notice some older buildings including some wooden ones.
Asylet
Asylet is across the street from the square and has a cultural heritage blue plaque on it.
The building was built for a merchant around 1730 but was expanded in 1798. The house became a childrens asylum between 1839 and 1865. ‘Asylum’ means something different in Norway; it operated very similar to an orphange. Children could get a basic education here and be sponsored by the more well-off in town. The building was a so-called ‘rescue institution for abandoned, neglected and morally depraved children of both sexes’.
Intercultural Museum
The Intercultural Museum is a fitting museum for this neighbourhood. The goal is to promote intercultural understanding and respect. The building used to be a police station, which also draws interesting connections. The permanent exhibition documenting the history of immigration in Norway and the cultural changes from the last few decades is very interesting. There are rotating exhibitions of artwork from people with different nationalities that are housed inside the old prison cells. The Intercultural Museum won the prize for the best Norwegian museum in 2006.
Grønlandsleiret
The name of the road we are walking on now changes to Grønlandsleiret. Grønlandsleiret is the old road that connects Christiania with Gamle Oslo. The road was paved in the 19th century with the remains of Hallvards Cathedral, a medieval cathedral that was damaged by fire and abandoned when the city was moved.
There are some lovely historic buildings along Grønlandsleiret.
Tøyengata
Tøyengata is a well-preserved street with many buildings from the 1800s.
The homes were renovated in 1982. Before then the homes were uninsulated and it was common for water to freeze in the pipes in the winter. Rats were also often seen on the street, and you had to turn off the heating to have enough electricity to cook.Now many of them are small businesses but it gives a nice look at what houses here used to look like.
If you want to walk down, there are some interesting houses.
Number 10 was considered a ‘rural house’ when it was built around 1827. In 1865, it was documented that 27 people were living in the house. It was owned by labourer Johan Jensen who lived there with his wife and four children plus a ship’s stoker, a widow who sold beer, a shoemaker, a sailor, and other various craftsmen.
The stateliest house on the street is number 24, which was built in 1825 for the sailor Rasmus Hansen and ship carpenter Ole Abrahamsen. The building was expanded to have a second floor in 1857 and in 1865 it was documented that 37 people lived in the house.
Olympen Restaurant
Known as ‘Lompa’ by the locals, Olympen is a well-preserved historic beer hall that has been in operation since 1892. The building itself is a little older; in 1872 it was a warehouse that was fitted with a bowling alley. Schous Brewery bought the building in 1892 and since then it has operated as a beer hall. Restaurant operations began in 1912. It is highly recommended to go here for a drink or for a meal. Just look at the interior – it is so well preserved!
Norwegian Fire Museum
The building that today houses the Oslo Fire Museum is the old Grønland Fire Station. The Grønland Fire Station opened in 1866, though it has been rebuilt several times. The building has also been changed when they transitioned from using horses to using vehicles. Stables are still inside the building, though. The fire station closed in 1978. There are several vintage fire trucks parked in the window.
Inside the complex are also two organisations called ‘the Substance Abuse Agency’ and ‘Uteseksjonen’, both of which aim to prevent drug abuse.
Grønland Church
Next to the fire museum is Grønland Church. The church was built in 1869 out of brick in the neo-Romanesque style. It has 800 seats, making it one of the larger churches in Norway. It is the largest church in Oslo. However, it has one of Oslo’s lowest membership numbers. After all, it is a Lutheran church in a mostly Muslim neighbourhood.
The church is often nicknamed ‘the cathedral of the east end’.
Oslo Prison
Oslo Prison is one of the largest prisons in the country with approximately 250 inmates. The building itself is historic; it was built in the 1840s and opened as a prison in 1851. It used the Philadelphia system, which meant that prisons were kept in isolation in solitary cells. The idea was that it would make them repent their sins and they wouldn’t be negatively influenced by other prisoners.
The oldest building, Division A, closed in 2017, while Division B and C still operate. Division C is for inmates with substance abuse problems who want to use their sentence to change their habits.
Oslo Police House
Oslo Prison is one of the largest prisons in the country with approximately 250 inmates. The building itself is historic; it was built in the 1840s and opened as a prison in 1851. It used the Philadelphia system, which meant that prisons were kept in isolation in solitary cells. The idea was that it would make them repent their sins and they wouldn’t be negatively influenced by other prisoners.
The oldest building, Division A, closed in 2017, while Division B and C still operate. Division C is for inmates with substance abuse problems who want to use their sentence to change their habits.
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.
The walls of the building are decorated with tiles from Iran and Spain, and the tiling was mostly done by Iranian craftsmen. The caligraphy is from the Koran and is a central motif both on the facade and on the wall in front of the main hall.
This is one of Norway’s largest Muslim congregations with 5000 members.
Thanks for coming!
I hope you enjoyed this walk around Grønland. Be sure to check out one of the eateries before leaving – this is where you find the good, spicy and cheap meals!