The Hidden North
North European travel guide
Population 709,000 / 59.5 degrees north
Oslo, Norway
Oslo is Norway’s capital. It is also one of the most exciting capitals in Norway. It’s a vibrant, self-confident city with bustling cafes, restaurants, and trendy museums. While not as ‘Norwegian’ as other cities in Norway, there’s no doubt Oslo is a fantastic place to visit.
Fun Facts About Oslo
Latitude: 59.5 degrees north
Population: 709,000
Hottest month: July
Coldest month: January
Wettest month: August
Windiest month: May
Annual precipitation: 701mm
Oslo Municipality
In this Travel Guide...
Map of Oslo
Things to See & Do
Here’s an overview of some of the best things to see and do in Oslo
Viking Ship Museum
The Viking Museum is the top museum in Oslo but is unfortunately closed until 2026. Still, we have a guide so you can see what it looks like inside.
Resistance Museum
The Resistance Museum is the most important World War II museum in Norway and provides a comprehensive overview of what happened in the country during the war years.
Historical Museum
The Historical Museum displays the country’s largest collection of archaeological and ethnographic finds from the Stone Age onwards. On the ground floor you’ll find a collection of art and objects from Norway’s stave churches. On the top floor, you’ll see the Vikingr exhibition, which has well-preserved artefacts from the Viking times. The highlight is a 10th century Viking helmet – the only complete one ever found.
Ibsen Museum
Visit the home of Norway’s most famous playwright, Henrik Ibsen. At this museum, you join a guided tour to the apartment and learn about his life here. There’s also a downstairs museum.
The Royal Palace
Completed in 1849, the Palace was built as a residence for the Swedish-Norwegian royal family whenever they came to visit Norway. The palace has 173 rooms, making it one of the smallest palaces in Norway. It is possible to join a guided tour in the summer months, or you can watch the Changing of the Guard at 1:30pm.
Viking Planet
Viking Planet is the world’s first digital museum dedicated to the Viking era. This virtual exhibition takes you to Norway 1000 years ago and shows you Viking Age characters. “The Ambush” is a 12 minute VR movie that makes you feel like you’re on a longboat during a Viking raid.
Munch Museum
Opened in 2021, the Munch Museum is a huge museum dedicated to the work of Edvard Munch. There are around 26,000 artworks housed inside the museum, which contains different exhibitions based on Munch’s many subjects and themes. There are three versions of The Scream here, but if you want to see the ‘famous’ one, it’s at the National Museum.
National Museum
Opened in 2022, the National Museum is the best place to see art in Norway. Here you can see the famous ‘The Scream’ painting by Edvard Munch, and I recommend exploring the historical Norwegian artworks.
Viking Planet
Viking Planet is the world’s first digital museum dedicated to the Viking era. This virtual exhibition takes you to Norway 1000 years ago and shows you Viking Age characters. “The Ambush” is a 12 minute VR movie that makes you feel like you’re on a longboat during a Viking raid.
Hikes, Day Trips & Experiences
Looking to go for a hike or take part in a unique experience? Here are our recommendations!
Ekeberg Sculpture PArk
Located a short tram ride out of the city centre, Ekeberg is an outdoor sculpture park for modern artwork.
The Ekeberg woods is also a nice place for a walk.
Oslo Opera House Guided Tour
One of my top recommendations for Oslo is to join a guided tour of the Oslo Opera House. Go behind the scenes and learn about the process that goes into making all of the costumes and stages. It’s fascinating!
Holmenkollen Ski Jump
The ski jump offers a panoramic view over Oslo. Be sure to come and visit the Ski Festival that takes place here in March – it’s a lot of fun!
At the site you’ll find a ski museum as well as a ski simulator. You can also take an elevator to the top of the ski jump tower.
Frognerseteren & Nordmarka
Located behind Holmenkollen Ski Jump is Nordmarka, a huge forest with many hiking, cycling and ski trails. One of the most popular spots for a nice walk is the Sognvann lake.
Island Hopping
In summer the islands in the Oslofjord become a popular place for swimming. The most popular island is Hovedoya, which si where you’ll find walking trails and a 12th century Cistercian monastery ruin. There’s also places to go swimming here.
Swimming
In the city, one of the most popular spots for swimming is Tjuvholmen beach.
Road-Trips
Follow our road-trip guides for scenic trips around Oslo
The E6 from Oslo to Trondheim
The E6 is the main highway that runs the entire length of Norway. The section from Oslo to Trondheim is the busiest, passing through the Gudbrandsdalen valley before crossing the mountains towards central Norway. Along the way are many historic sites and points of interest, making it an interesting drive to take.
The E16 from Oslo to Bergen
Follow this self-guided trip between Oslo and Bergen on the E16, one of the major highways in the country. The road is built close to where the historic postal road from the 17th century went, and parts of the old road are still visible and today a hiking trail. That’s why along the way you’ll see stave churches and runestones. There’s also some charming towns and local markets to stop at, turning a long drive into an exciting one!
The E18 from Ørje to Kristiansand
The E18 is the main highway from Oslo down south to Kristiansand. Along the way are several important towns and villages that feature in Norway’s early history.
The E134 from Oslo/Drøbak to Haugesund
The E134 follows one of the historic routes between east and west Norway. It provides a nice alternative to taking the E16 (the main highway) between Bergen and Oslo. On this drive you pass a number of historic churches, most notably Heddal Stave Church, as well as the UNESCO World Heritage region of Notodden-Rjukan. As you approach the mountains, you can see some of the original roads that the earliest travellers used – and even drive on them in the summer! This drive ends at Haugesund, a known Viking settlement located halfway between Bergen and Stavanger.
Self-Guided Walks
Kvadraturen, Oslo's Old Town
In 1624, Oslo suffered a devastating fire that destroyed the town. King Christian IV, fed up with all the fires, decided to move Oslo west and rebuild the town by the fortress. He had Oslo rebuilt in a Renaissance grid-style of architecture (Kvadraturen) and renamed the city after himself (Christiania). This part of the city still has buildings from this town.
Akerselva River
The Akerselva (Aker River) is a 8.2km (5.1 mi) long river that flows through the middle of Oslo. The river can be credited with the development of Oslo. In the 19th century, it became the centre of the new industries coming to the city, as factories were able to utilise the power of the river. Today the river has been cleaned up and is known as ‘Oslo’s green lung’. Along the banks of the river are park areas, with the factories being converted into offices, schools, bars, cafes and restaurants. I honestly believe no trip to Oslo is complete without a visit to the river. While much of the city centre of Oslo feels like “Anywhere, Europe”, Akerselva has a distinctive personality that makes Oslo stand out from other Norwegian cities.
Akershus Fortress
In 1299, the King Håkon V moved the capital from Bergen to Oslo and built himself a large palace by the harbour, naming it Akershus. When Norway came under Danish rule, it was modernised as a palace and fortress under King Christian IV. Explore the palace grounds today with this walking tour.
Oslo City Centre
Looking for a walking tour that covers the highlights of Oslo? This self-guided walk starts at the palace and continues along the main street, passing the theatre, university, parliament and city hall before ending at the harbour.
Grønland
Located to the east of Oslo Central Station, Grønland is a neighbourhood that historically was the old highway in and out of the city. Today the neighbourhood has a reputation for its high immigrant population, cheap (and delicious) restaurants, and art scene.
Gamle Oslo Ruins
Located to the east of Oslo Central Station, Grønland is a neighbourhood that historically was the old highway in and out of the city. Today the neighbourhood has a reputation for its high immigrant population, cheap (and delicious) restaurants, and art scene.
Oslo on YouTube
Watch our YouTube videos featuring Oslo
Oslo City Centre Walking Tour
Follow me around Oslo city centre during the sunset. This walk passes the most popular attractions in Oslo.
Akerselva River Walk
The Akerselva River is one of the most beautiful places in Oslo to go for a walk. Join me from the top of the river down to the city centre.
Uniquely Oslo
Here are some things that you must do and try in Oslo
BygDØY museums
Oslo is home to Norway’s major museums, and they are conveniently located on a peninsula called Bygdøy.
Vigeland Sculpture Park
The most visited place in Norway, the Vigeland Sculpture Park is a free park containing the works of Gustav Vigeland.
Akerselva River
Akerselva is hands down my favourite place in Oslo. Don’t miss out on a lovely walk down the river!
Oslo Opera House
The Oslo Opera House was designed by local architecture firm Snøhetta and is made up of around 36,000 blocks of white Carrara marble from Italy. The opera house has 1,100 rooms and officially opened in 2008. There’s a full program of performances across the three stages. I highly recommend booking the guided tour that takes you behind the scenes.
Take a sauna!
Ever since COVID, sauna’s have been popping up all over Norway. In Oslo, it’s become popular to take a sauna before jumping into the Oslofjord. Here are the different companies you can book through:
KOK: Book two hour private or shared sessions at Langkaia or Aker Brygge, or take a sauna cruise out on the fjord
Oslo Badstuforening
Range of options at Langkaia or Sukkerbiten
SALT: 100-year-old aquavit barrel sauna or join a session with DJs spinning a sauna soundtrack.
History of Oslo
We have a special section dedicated to the history of Oslo. You can find it below.
Oslo Today
Oslo is the economic and governmental centre of Norway. It is also a hub of Norwegian trade, banking, industry and shipping. The city is home to many companies within the maritime sector, some of which are among the world’s largest shipping companies.
Travel Information
Getting Here
Oslo is the major hub of Norway, so there are connections in every form.
Getting Around
The name of the Oslo public transportation company is Ruter. I recommend downloading the app for your visit – it’s easy to buy tickets and check the schedule. Google Maps is also reliable for checking public transport schedules.
That said, Oslo is a very walkable city and you can get around without using public transport.
Shops
On Sunday’s it’s worth visiting one of the markets, such as the Birkelunden Market or the Ingensteds Sunday Market.
Places to Eat
Cafes & Bakeries
Tim Wendelboe is one of the most famous cafes in Oslo. It can be found close to Akerselva in the neighbourhood Grunerlokka.
The Vandelay is becoming a popular spot for breakfast and brunch in Oslo, and the menu changes frequently.
Quick Bites
Rice Bowl – popular Thai restaurant in Kvadraturen
Freddy Fuego – popular burritos
Nordvegan – Vegan cakes, freshly made salads and plant-based mains. Canteen style.
Barcode Street Food – wide range of food from all over the world
Syverkiosken is the famous hot dog stand of Oslo. The location is a little tricky to get to, but it’s worth it. It’s famous amongst the locals thanks to its high quality sausages.
Reasonable Restaurants
Lofoten Fiskerestaurant – One of the best seafood restaurants in town
Sjømagasinet is a modern restaurant specialsing in grilled seafood dishess.
High End & Unique Eats
Hitchhiker – East Asian streetfood dishes
Arakataka – a set menu with small plates showcasing Nordic seasonal fare in a relaxed dining room setting.
Vaaghals – Seasonal Norwegian dishes
Maaemo – Norway’s only three-Michelin-star restaurant
Statholdergaarden – grand and upscale gourmet restaurant known for its fancy dishes and tasting menu. The restaurant got a Michelin star in 1998.
Places to Stay
We have a special section for where to stay in Oslo, which you can find below.
Sunrise/Sunset & Weather Averages
January
Sunrise: 9:04am
Sunset: 3:48pm
Average Temperature: -2.3 (28F)
February
Sunrise: 7:55am
Sunset: 5:07pm
Average Temperature: -1.9C (29F)
March
Sunrise: 6:34am
Sunset: 6:18pm
Average Temperature: 1.3C (34.3F)
April
Sunrise: 6:01am
Sunset: 8:34pn
Average Temperature: 6.2C (43.2F)
May
Sunrise: 4:40am
Sunset: 9:47pm
Average Temperature: 11.4C (52.5F)
June
Sunrise: 3:54am
Sunset: 10:40pm
Average Temperature: 15.3C (59F)
July
Sunrise: 4:20am
Sunset: 10:23pm
Average Temperature: 17C (64F)
August
Sunrise: 5:30am
Sunset: 9:10pm
Average Temperature: 16.4C (61.5F)
September
Sunrise: 6:44am
Sunset: 7:39pm
Average Temperature: 12.1C (53F)
October
Sunrise: 7:55am
Sunset: 6:09pm
Average Temperature: 6.5C (43.7F)
November
Sunrise: 8:13am
Sunset: 3:48pm
Average Temperature: 2.1C (35.8F)
December
Sunrise: 9:12am
Sunset: 3:10pm
Average Temperature: -1.4C (29.5F)
All Posts About Oslo
Visiting the Resistance Museum in Oslo
Be sure to visit the Resistance Museum when you are in Oslo! Here’s my guide to visiting the museum.
Drive it Yourself: Oslo to Kristiansand on the E18
This drive goes from Oslo to Kristiansand in the south of Norway, following the E18.
Oslo’s Historic City Centre: The Ruins of Gamle Oslo
Here you can find the ruins from the first settlement of Oslo, 800 years ago.
Drive it Yourself: Oslo to Bergen on the E16
View our guide to the scenic drive between Bergen and Oslo.
Where to Stay in Oslo (From a Tour Leaders Perspective)
Here’s our list of recommendations for where to stay in Oslo.