It’s completely strange,” says Jo Nesbø, the creator of the Netflix series Detective Hole and the author of the bestselling books it’s based on. But he’s not referring to the difficult life of his main character, or the show’s mysterious plot. He’s talking about the large number of tourists visiting Oslo to find locations from the books or series.
Oslo’s tourism website has a dedicated section (visitoslo.com/en/articles/harry-hole) to guide visitors to locations featured in Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole novels. Here are a few places Nesbø himself recommends.
Harry’s house
Sofies gate 5
Nesbø readily admits he set his novels in familiar territory, explaining, “I simply wrote about places near where I live.” Though he still owns a home in Oslo’s historic Bislett neighborhood, he’d prefer attention be given to the fictional address of his detective, Harry Hole. He points out that visiting the homes of authors doesn’t necessarily illuminate their work – he found no new understanding of James Joyce’s complex novel Finnegans Wake by visiting Joyce’s house in Dublin. Instead, fans can find a touch of cleverness at Sofies gate 5, where someone has programmed ‘HARRY HOLE’ into the building’s intercom system.
Watering Hole
Restaurant Schrøder
Schrøder’s (Waldemar Thranes gate 8; restaurant-schrøder.no) isn’t just a place Harry Hole visits – it’s central to the entire story, appearing in every book and the TV series as well. You might not immediately understand Hole’s fondness for it – it’s a simple, unpretentious bar and restaurant that hasn’t changed much since 1956 – but you’ll quickly see why it appeals to the world-weary detective: the drinks are affordable, and they serve breakfast until 3pm. The only nod to its recent popularity is a small plaque on one table, which simply states, “This is the table Harry Hole prefers to sit at.”
Where does Jo Nesbø like to go? He has favorite bars in the area, but he’s hesitant to share them, worried that publicity would change the atmosphere and ruin them for the locals.
Eerie outdoor arthouse
Vigeland Sculpture Park
Jo Nesbø isn’t concerned about revealing this location: ‘Vigeland Park is well-known and popular, but it’s a stunning spot, and definitely worth a visit when you’re in Oslo.’
Vigeland Sculpture Park, created by local artist Gustav Vigeland, might not sound exciting, but it’s surprisingly eerie when it gets dark – it’s open all day and night. The park features around 200 nude sculptures, including impressive, and sometimes intimidating, granite figures of babies, and a unique tower called The Monolith, covered in twisting human forms. There’s also an indoor museum (vigeland.museum.no/en) to explore, and the park is beautifully set within the larger, green space of Frogner Park, offering a peaceful escape.
Making a splash
Frognerbadet Public Bath
Harry Hole, the detective, isn’t exactly known for relaxing fun, but the Frognerbadet open-air pool appears in both the Netflix series and several of the books, making it a popular spot for fans to visit. Unfortunately, the pool is currently closed for renovations and won’t reopen until next year—though it will have a new waterslide when it does!
This place is only open during the summer months, but there’s still plenty to do nearby. The Oslo Museum is just a five-minute walk, and you’re close to Torshovdalen, a part of the city particularly enjoyed by author Jo Nesbø.
Drink in the culture
National Theatre
The show features Harry at Oslo’s stunning National Theatre. He’s not there to watch a play, however – he’s investigating the missing wife of the director. You don’t even need to be interested in the current production, “poetic and painful” Gi Meg Hånden (“Give Me Your Hand”), to enjoy a visit. Hour-long English tours take you behind the scenes of the theatre’s two beautiful performance spaces and share its history, including stories about Norway’s famous writer, Henrik Ibsen, and the lesser-known, but still important, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. Or, you could simply visit the theatre’s new cocktail bar – it’s what Harry would do.
Authors
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2026-04-20 20:01