The city was founded around 1048 and is currently the cultural, scientific, economic and governmental centre of Norway with a population of around 550 000 people (1.4 million in the metropolitan area). Being a small capital, Oslo still boasts a vibrant musical scene and several institutions involved in NIME development and performance.
Travel to Oslo
Oslo can be easily reached by a number of transportation methods: planes, buses, trains, boats, etc. (see VisitOslo for details). There are three airports (one large and two small):
- Oslo airport Gardermoen (OSL): the largest airport, where most airlines fly to. Approximately 20 minutes from the city centre (with the airport train which costs NOK170), or 45 minutes on the bus (NOK130). Be aware that taking a taxi from the airport can be very expensive, especially with evening/night rates, and will also take much longer than the airport train.
- Sandefjord airport Torp: located on the west side of the city. Approximately 1,5 hours on the bus.
- Moss airport Rygge: located on the east side of the city. Approximately 1,5 hours on the bus.
Travel in Oslo
Oslo has an extensive public transport system, with busses, trams, metro, boats, trains and city bikes. The easiest and most efficient way to get around is probably to use the metro system, since both the University and Music Academy are located next to metro stations:
- University: use the stop Blindern
- Music academy: use the stop Majorstuen
Planning: Use Trafikanten to plan your travel. There are also mobile phone apps available.
Tickets: Remember to buy a ticket in advance of your travel. You can buy single tickets, a day pass, or a week pass. The best for NIME participants may be to buy a flexi-card (NOK 170), which can be used for 8 travels. Just remember to stamp your ticket in the yellow validation machines on the metro station or on the bus/tram.
Venues
Most NIME 2011 activities will be located at the University of Oslo and the Norwegian Academy of Music:
- The scientific program will be in the University library in the centre of the University of Oslo campus. Building name: Georg Sverdrups hus. Street address: Moltke Moes vei 39.
- Evening concerts will be performed at the Norwegian Academy of Music. Street address: Slemdalsveien 11.
- Club concerts will be at the student house Chateau Neuf, right next to the music academy. Street address: Slemdalsveien 15.
There will also be additional workshops and excursions at some other locations, see the map below.
Accomodation
There is no conference hotel, as we found that the deals we would get could not compete with using any of the large hotel booking web sites.
All conference activities will happen slightly outside the city centre (see venues). There are no hotels in that area, so the best option is to choose a hotel in the city centre, and take the metro up to the campus (see travel in Oslo). VisitOslo can be a starting point for locating different hotels. Here are some suggestions for cheap(er) accomodation:
- Thon Hotel Munch (~700 NOK). Budget hotel in the city centre. Closest metro: Nationaltheatret
- Comfort Hotel Xpress (~680 NOK). Trendy budget hotel in the city centre. Closest metro: Stortinget
- Perminalen (~600 NOK). Budget hotel in the city centre. Closest metro: Stortinget
- Cochs pensjonat (~400-600 NOK) is a guest house next to the Royal palace, 15min to walk from the Music academy. Closest metro: Nationaltheatret
- Anker hostel (~280-750 NOK) is a youth hostel but also offers private twin rooms. Closest metro: Jernbanetorget / Oslo Central Station
- Haraldsheim (~250-500 NOK) is a youth hostel but also offers single/double rooms. It is located outside of the city centre, but with easy access to the metro at Sinsen.