Karl Johans Gate, Oslo (must see)

Karl Johans Gate, or simply "Karl Johan" (as the locals colloquially refer to it), is named after King Karl III Johan and is considered the main street in Oslo. Popular with tourists, it gets particularly vibrant on Norway's Constitution Day, May 17, with parades and royal appearances. Street performers, including jugglers and musicians, add to the lively atmosphere from May to October, making it a cultural hub in the city.

Karl Johans Gate stretches 1,415 meters from Oslo Central Station to the Royal Palace. A section between the station and the Storting building is fully pedestrian. Lining the street are a number of landmarks such as the Oslo Cathedral, the Bazaars, the Fire Brigade, the National Theater, the Hotel Continental, and the University of Oslo.

Palace Park (Slottsparken) at the east end of Karl Johans Gate is home to the Royal Palace (Slottet). Originally built for King Karl III Johan, the palace continues to function as a residence for the present King of Norway, Harald V.

The street is made up of two distinct sections with unique histories. The eastern section, between Egertorget to Jernbanetorget squares, was originally part of King Christian IV's old city, near the ramparts. It wasn't fully developed until the 1690s when the Oslo Cathedral was built. The western section was developed in the late 1830s, as part of an urban expansion. Designed as a parade route, it was named Karl Johans Gate in 1852 after King Karl Johan’s death. The distinctively wide western and narrow eastern sections were merged in 1860.

In 2005, to mark the centenary of the dissolution of the Union between Sweden and Norway, the western part of Karl Johans Gate was narrowed and the pavements extended, aligning with the midpoint of the Royal Palace’s facade. New lampposts (modeled after 1920s designs) were installed, and the street was repaved with large stones. Also, to honor the 100th anniversary of Henrik Ibsen’s death in 2006, quotes from his works were embedded in the pavement between Frederiks Gate and the Grand Hotel, replicating the famous writer's daily route from the 1890s.