The List Of 21 Best Things To Do In Oslo, Norway

Don't let the National Museum's appearance deceive you into believing it isn't worth the trip. You'll find a glowing cache of millennia's worth of art and design. The permanent collection fills 86 chronologically organized rooms with more than 6500 artifacts and items.

The artwork of well-known Norwegian and foreign painters from 1500 to the present day may be seen in the collection's one floor up.

In addition to works by other well-known artists like Monet and van Gogh, there is a modest collection of Edvard Munch paintings, including a colorful rendition of The Scream. Ascending the steps to the top-floor Light Hall, keep an eye out for a fossil in the limestone floor.

The 766 square mile Oslo Fjord is a popular destination for both locals and tourists, particularly in the summer months. Many locations across the city, including well-known landmarks like the Oslo Opera House and Akershus Fortress, provide views of the water.

Although you may also choose to go out in a kayak or canoe, an Oslo Fjord cruise is the best way to explore the whole thing. Throughout the year, ferries, sailboats, yachts, and inflatable boats are all accessible for fishing and sightseeing trips.

Although RIB Oslo and Norway Yacht Charter are cruise lines that travelers recommend, a tour with Batservice Sightseeing is the most affordable and well-liked option to view the fjord.

Oslo's metropolitan center is surrounded by broad, easily accessible forests that are interspersed with hiking and skiing routes, making it one of the few capital cities that can boast of having a pristine environment inside its borders.

Nordmarka is a 166-square-mile woodland area north of the city center that takes less than 40 minutes to get to. Choose among the clearly indicated paths that wind through the pine, birch, and spruce woods after following T-bane line 1 to its terminus at Frognerseteren.

Alternative, artsy neighborhood Whether you're like '70s disco, '80s glam, or '90s grunge, Grunerlokka is the place to go if you want to get some unusual vintage clothing. It's crowded with pubs, restaurants, and stores.

There are several vintage and vintage-inspired shops along the parallel streets of Thorvald Meyers Gate and Markveien, and if you're prepared to dig, you're sure to discover a deal.

While Xaki Vintage is more roomy and features a carefully chosen assortment of goth and punk items, Velouria Vintage is packed floor to ceiling with jeans and vintage band T-shirts. Although Froken Dianas Salonger only has a small selection of truly vintage products, this opulent store is exquisitely furnished with its retro-inspired stock.

Before you see the floating saunas themselves, you'll likely notice the crowd of curious tourists. Inspired by Finnish sauna culture, these actual hot places are moored at various locations around the harborfront and have grown to be a well-liked method for both locals and tourists to relax and warm up.

The custom is straightforward, just sit on a bench in a room with wood paneling that has been heated to 80 to 95 degrees Celsius by a wood-burning stove. After you've perspired enough, plunge into the fjord for a thrilling, chilly dive, and then repeat the process as often as you'd like.

This 9-kilometer river, which rises from the Maridalsvannet reservoir north of the city center, is today a valued natural feature that is enhanced by picturesque bridges and parks beside the water.

However, during the textile boom of the 19th century, this once-polluted river drove Oslo's industries, and a stroll along at least a portion of its swift-moving path will provide you with a sense of the city's industrial past.

At Gronland, join the river and go against the current by following the riverbank route. There are rushing waterfalls, a former sail factory that is now the Oslo National Academy of the Arts, and factories that have been transformed into trendy offices, residences, and music venues along the route.

Munch, the new residence for Edvard Munch, Norway's most well-known artist, opened its doors in 2021 and towers above the Bjorvika coastline. The museum, which spans 13 levels, preserves and exhibits the collection of Munch's artwork that he left for the city four years before he died in 1944.

Recurring themes of illness, sorrow, and nature are examined in permanent displays of his paintings, prints, and drawings. This exhibit features three different versions of Skrik (The Scream): a sketch, a print, and a painting.

Only one piece is displayed at a time, though, in order to protect the delicate pieces; the screen is refreshed roughly every half hour.

The Deichman Bjorvijka is definitely not your regular library. This six-story, art-filled library was chosen as the Public Library of the Year in 2021 because it's a friendly place where you're as likely to witness local teenagers competing in breakdancing as you are to see someone engrossed in their new favorite book.

There is still a lot to see and do in Oslo, even though visitors are unlikely to be checking out books, scheduling a sewing machine, or utilizing a 3D printer, these are only a few of the free services accessible to library card holders.

Designed by architects Lundhagem and Atelier Oslo, the structure is a marvel of architecture. In order to optimize its footprint and blend in with its low-rise surroundings, its top levels are cantilevered and fan out.

Vigelandsparken, a free sculpture park with more than 200 expressive sculptures by the well-known and prolific Norwegian artist Gustav Vigeland, is a masterpiece that took almost 40 years to complete.

Part of the lush Frognerparken on Oslo's wealthy west side, the exquisitely designed outdoor art gallery features a sizable collection of sculptures made of granite, iron, and bronze.

The intricate variety of human emotions, from pleasure and playfulness to loss and wrath, served as inspiration for Vigeland's artwork. Perhaps his most well-known work is Sinnataggen (The Angry Boy), a youngster who throws tantrums.

The Oslo Opera House, the home of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet is the starting point for the city's development as a center of Nordic culture. Designed by award-winning Norwegian architect Snohetta to mimic a glacier elegantly emerging from the fjord, the white marble marvel has been shining on the waterfront in Bjorvika since 2008.

It has modern concert halls and practice spaces, as you might imagine, and you can visit these on one of the great guided tours.

However, from the exterior, the entire structure is essentially an extension of the public space along the port, allowing people to go up to the sloping roof for expansive views of the city and harbor. Indeed, it's among the most well-liked activities in Oslo.

The Bygdoy peninsula in the Oslo Fjord, which is accessible by boat from Radhuskaien, appears to be a haven for summer beachcombers and commuters. Sometimes it may be, but more often than not, it serves as a haven for tourists who come to view its unique museums that showcase Norway's cultural past.

The Viking Ship Museum is the primary attraction, however, it will be closed for renovations until 2025-2026. The Kon-Tiki Museum is a must-see instead.

Here, the emphasis is on the travels of Norwegian Captain Nemo and adventurer Thor Heyerdahl, whose wild adventures included piloting a papyrus boat from Morocco to Barbados and across the Pacific on a paper-thin raft.

Locals refer to this living plant museum as Botanisk Hage, where huge trees and species of Norwegian mountain flora coexist with tropical palm homes filled with cocoa trees and orchids.

Between all the cultures on display elsewhere, this flowery backdrop and a herbarium with some 1.7 million plants provide a contemplative environment for strolls, picnics, and breaths of fresh air.

Numerous towns have botanical gardens, but very few have a Viking garden, where plants and herbs historically utilized by Norwegian mariners are kept in a grounded longboat.

There's plenty to appreciate in this ancient shipyard turned shopping, business, and dining complex, but most people come to Aker Brygge as a starting point for viewing the Nobel Prize Center or Akershus Festning a little farther away.

There are plenty of seafood eateries, burger shops, and bistros, and in the summer, food trucks park along the seafront, and galleries appear in between cafes. It's a spot to observe people, and naturally, on bright days, it gets crowded.

Because ski jumping and other winter heroics are ingrained in the national psyche, this is where you can truly experience the Nordic character of the capital. The main reason to visit is to see the nation's most well-known ski jump tower and to imagine how insane Norwegians must be to leap from the 60-meter runway in the first place.

In addition to the ramp, there is a cross-country route system to explore and a museum with 2,500 pairs of vintage skis. Attend the yearly Holmenkollen Ski Festival in March to witness the Norwegians' intense passion for the sport.

The most well-known roadway in Norway is Karl Johans Gate, which is flanked by the Royal Palace and Oslo Central Station. With a promenade of stores featuring the finest in Norwegian fashion and design, it is about a mile long and serves as a link between well-known locations like the National Parliament Stortinget and Nationaltheatret.

It is a great area to wander even if you are not interested in buying. It is best enjoyed slowly, ideally while the free ice rink Spikersuppa is open.

It is hardly surprising that the city has a museum devoted to its most well-known exploratory vessel given Norway's history of exploring the North and South Poles.

Roald Amundsen became the first person to place a flag on the South Pole in 1911 while leading the Fram, which was utilized for three arctic expeditions.

The schooner takes pride in place, but there is also enough to pique curiosity, such as freeze-frame photographs, arctic adventurer pictures, and expedition gear.

This outdoor installation honors the attack and liberation of Norway at the close of World War II and is located at Holmenkollen, about 20 minutes north of Oslo. Stiftelsen Roseslottet is the name in Norwegian.

Therefore, going to the attraction as late in the day as feasible is strongly advised. It glows and exudes a sense of refinement and gravity that is best enjoyed at night. However, please be aware that the entry to this stunning memorial requires a ticket.

Built in 1825, the Norwegian Royal Palace (Slottet) towers over the metropolis from its location high up on the northwest end of Karl Johansgate. During the summer, the public may take guided tours of the remarkable 173-room structure, with English-language guides available four times a day.

The White Parlour, the Mirror Hall, the Great Hall, the Banquet Hall, the Cabinet Parlour and Cloakroom, and other important palace rooms are all included in the tours.

Throughout the year, guests are also welcome to explore the gardens and grounds or see the frequent changing of the guard. The Norwegian Nobel Institute, where the Nobel Peace Prize is given, is located directly south of the palace.

Despite its 1697 consecration, Oslo Cathedral has undergone several reconstructions and renovations. Its interior was renovated shortly after World War II ended, and its tower was constructed in 1850.

Notable highlights include the Baroque pulpit and altar (1699), the stained glass by Emanuel Vigeland, the main gateway with its ornate bronze doors, and the ceiling paintings by H. L. Mohr.

Also, be sure to stop by the Oslo Bazaar, which is located inside the medieval cathedral walls. These intriguing rooms, which date back to 1841, are currently used by antique merchants, galleries, and cafes.

This national historic park and sculpture park is located not far from Oslo's downtown. Therefore, you should definitely have a look around if you enjoy both art and the outdoors. Nevertheless, the main reason you should visit is to take in the expansive aerial view of the fjord and Oslo.

We thus strongly advise you to visit there around sunset since the light turns the region into a photographer's paradise and it is stunning to see the city and the sea come to life.

Tucked away next to the capital's inner harbor is Oslo City Hall, a striking structure constructed in 1950 out of maroon brick that serves as both the mayor's office and a significant center for architecture and the arts.

The largest carillon in the Nordic area is located in the City Hall tower. Every hour from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m., you can hear it playing across the city, and you can even marry in the Munch Room of the building.

To get insight into Norway's history, values, and customs, take a guided tour. The municipal hall is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm, and in order to enter, you must be ready for a security check.