Best things to do in Oslo
Urbane and vivacious, Oslo is one of the world’s most prettily-sited capitals, with a flourishing café scene and a clutch of outstanding museums.
Viewpoints and panoramas
The best districts
Grünerløkka: Formerly a run-down working-class district, Grünerløkka has recently been reinvigorated in a boho sort of way, its regeneration turning it into one of the most fashionable parts of the city.
Vulkan: A revived neighbourhood, it takes its name from the iron foundry that once hogged the riverbank here. The redevelopment now complete, Vulkan holds a platoon of bright apartment blocks and a capacious food hall – the Mathallen.
Museums
Nasjonalmuseet, Oslo: Boasting Norway’s widest and most impressive collection of fine and applied art, the National Museum has a bit of everything, from Dahl to Kittelsen and tapestries to drinking horns. And of course, there’s Munch.
Nasjonalmuseet, Oslo: The life and work of Norway's most famous artist, Edvard Munch, is explored in depth at this world-class museum.
Ibsenmuseet: See exactly where Norway’s greatest dramatist, the illustrious and notably grumpy Henrik Ibsen, spent his last years and breathed his last breath.
Parks and gardens
Vigelandsparken, Oslo: Before his death in 1943, Gustav Vigeland populated Oslo’s favourite park with his fantastical, phantasmagorical bronze and granite sculptures.
Ekebergparken: Occupying the wooded heights just to the southeast of the city centre, locals have been coming up to Ekeberg Park to admire the harbour view for decades, where there's also a delightful open-air sculpture park, whose 30 or so pieces are spread out through the woods.
Historical monuments
Rådhus: Opened in 1950 to celebrate the city’s 900th anniversary, the grand City Hall is a firmly Modernist, twin-towered building of dark-brown brick and very much a grandiose statement of civic pride.
Akershus Fortress: Perched on a rocky ridge high above the zigzag fortifications, the castle is approached through two narrow tunnel gateways, which lead to a cobbled courtyard at the heart of the fortress.
Den Norske Operahuset: One of the city’s proudest buildings, the Opera House is a fantastical, glassy, cuboid structure with exterior ramps that look like extended ski slopes, designed by the Norwegian company, Snøhetta.
Day trips in the area
Oslofjord: The islands of the Oslofjord are great for swimming, sunbathing and walking – and they are just a short ferry ride from Oslo city centre.
Bygdøy Peninsula: As well as holding the peninsula’s world-famous Viking Ship Museum, the Bygdøy lines up a trio of excellent museums featuring everything from Norwegian folk art to the derring-do voyages of Thor Heyerdahl.
Fredrikstad: An ideal day trip from the capital, this modest little town of 82,000 people fills out a thumb of land just across the river from a superbly preserved 17th-century fortress, now known as Gamlebyen (Old Town).
Activities for families in Oslo
There’s a galaxy of things to do with young (especially pre-teen) children in Oslo.
Interactive museums: One of the most popular museums for children in Oslo is the Norsk Teknisk Museum; an interactive museum par excellence, it’s equipped with working models and numerous things to push and touch, as well as a café and picnic area.
Festivals: The engaging two-week Mela Festival, down at the Rådhusbrygge in August, is a family-orientated celebration, featuring dance, theatre, arts and food stalls.
Outdoor activities: Get the family swimming, walking through woods or just lazing on the beach while exploring this charming Oslofjord island, just a short ferry ride from the city centre.
Free things to do in Oslo
Expensive it may be, but Oslo holidays don’t have to cost a fortune - there are many ways you can enjoy the city without having to dig deep into the wallet.
Free museums: Discounts for children are commonplace, and almost all sites and attractions let babies and toddlers in for free and charge half of the adult tariff for children between 4 and 16 years of age.
Beaches: If the weather is good, the beaches of the Oslofjord islands offer a free hit, albeit you’ll be sharing the space with the locals.
Ice skating: Every winter, from November to March, a floodlit skating rink, Narvisen, is created in front of the Stortinget, beside Karl Johans gate. Admission is free and you can rent skates on the spot at reasonable rates.
Nature and outdoor activities in Oslo
Surrounded by forest and fjord, Oslo is very much an adventure playground, offering a wide range of sports and outdoor pursuits.
Hiking: In summer, locals take to the hills to hike the network of trails that lattice the forests and lakes of the Nordmarka; it is easily accessible by metro.
Skiing and snowboarding: Oslo’s largest and best downhill ski area is Oslo Vinterpark, where there are 18 ski slopes and 11 ski lifts. Its facilities include a ski school and ski equipment rental and, snow permitting, the park is open from December to April.
Kayaking: The sheltered waters of the Oslofjord are ideal for kayaking excursions and the excellent and extremely efficient Oslo Kayak Tours offers several good choices, including two- and three-hour trips.
Cycling and mountain biking: Oslo’s cycle-friendly infrastructure includes urban routes and forest trails; there’s a municipal bike rental scheme in which bikes are released like supermarket trolleys from racks all over the city. The trails around the Tryvann area are popular with mountain bikers.
