OSL to Oslo City Centre (Karl Johans gate)

The main pedestrian street in central Oslo, connecting the Royal Palace to Oslo Central Station.

Karl Johans gate is Oslo's grand main street, stretching 1 kilometer from Oslo Central Station to the Royal Palace. This vibrant boulevard is the ceremonial heart of Norway, hosting the Constitution Day parade on May 17th when thousands march in traditional bunad costumes. The street is lined with a mix of historic and modern architecture, shops, restaurants, and cultural institutions.

The upper stretch near the Royal Palace is flanked by the National Theatre, the University of Oslo's neoclassical campus, and elegant 19th-century buildings. The Royal Palace itself sits atop a gentle hill surrounded by the public Slottsparken, where Norwegians picnic in summer and cross-country ski in winter — a reflection of Norway's egalitarian culture where even the royal grounds are open to all.

The lower half of Karl Johans gate near Oslo S is more commercial, with the Glasmagasinet department store and numerous international brands. The Parliament building (Stortinget) marks the midpoint, with the charming Studenterlunden park alongside. Side streets branching off lead to hidden gems — the intimate Kvadraturen district with its fortress-era buildings, and the increasingly hip Grønland neighborhood with its multicultural food scene.