Bargains can be found
in the less specialised shops, particularly for general goods such
as clothing. Star buys include knitted knitwear, pewter,
ceramics and glassware, traditional knitwear and handmade
reindeer skin boots.
The main shopping districts are in Frogner, which
is a great place for antiques, art galleries and food shops. Bogstadveien
which runs between the Royal Palace and Karl
Johans gate in the centre, boasts shops, market stalls
and department stores of every conceivable description.
Aker Brygge,
across the water from the Tourist Office at Vestbanen, is Olso’s
first big shopping centre.
The biggest shopping mall is Oslo
City, on Stenersgata, near Oslo S station, while Paleet,
Karl Johans gate 39-41, with its marble-lined atrium, is the most
ostentatious.
Good shops for crafts are Husfliden,
Lille Grensen 7, with its huge selection of handmade goods, including
knitwear, pewter, ceramics and national costume.
Norway
Designs, Stortingsgate 28, which has the largest selection of
work from Norwegian folk artists. The Oslo Sweater Shop,
SAS Hotel at Tullins gate 5, has one of the best selections of sweaters
in Oslo, while William Schmidt, Karl Johans Gate
41, has been specialising in sweaters and souvenirs since 1853.
There is an open-air market, Stortorvet, in the
square of the same name, every day between 1000-1600 hrs, selling
general goods, such as clothing, souvenirs and flowers, and an indoor
market offering antiques, handcrafts, jewellery and the like in
Basarhallene, close to the cathedral.
Shopping Hours
Monday-Wednesday and Friday 0900-1700 hrs.
Thursday is late opening, until 1900 hrs.
Early closing is generally at 1500 hrs on Saturday.
Shopping centres are open until 2000
hrs on weekdays and 1800 hrs on Saturday.
Tax-free
shopping is available at some 3,000 shops, although a minimum
purchase of NOK310 is necessary to qualify.
Partial VAT refunds can be claimed at the airport on departure.
In Norway, the VAT (locally known as MVA) stands at 24 per cent.
Further information can be obtained at the Global
Refund. |
