Oslo

Marisa Cannon wanders the Norwegian capital, taking in stunning architecture, historic hotels and sculpture strewn parks

1 OSLO OPERA HOUSE

Perched on the edge of Oslo’s waterfront, the opera house is one of the city’s most striking landmarks, and a good place to start a tour of the Norwegian capital. A fortress of gleaming white Carrara marble and polished glass, its harsh angles and geometric shape pay homage to the country’s landscape, resembling a craggy, snow-capped mountain or an iceberg floating on the Oslo Fjord.

Built in 2008 by local architectural firm Snohetta, a number of the building’s features were designed to encourage public interest in the arts, such as the floor-to-ceiling windows along its flanks, inviting you to peer in and watch set and costume production unfold. If you have time to spare, sign up to one of the 50-minute guided tours (kr 100/£9.60), or take a packed lunch to the rooftop for views across the water and surrounding islands. Kirsten Flagstads Plass 1; operaen.no/en

2 GRAND HOTEL OSLO

A 15-minute walk westward will take you to the Grand hotel, the annual host of the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize banquet, which has recently undergone a major renovation. Opened in 1874, the property was a regular haunt of playwright Henrik Ibsen, who was known to dine in its Grand Café every lunch and dinnertime.