The Hidden North
North European travel guide
self-guided walks
Oslo City Centre
Explore the best of Oslo with this self-guided walking tour.Â
What you get
Historic overview of Oslo (with photos of what the city used to look like)
Printable map with the route and major landmarks highlighted
Link to a Google Map that can be loaded into your phone for easier navigation
Clear directions with English & Norwegian names of places, addresses, and step-by-step guides
Photos of each point of interest
This guide is 15 pages and comes in a PDF format.Â
Explore the Highlights of Oslo!
This guided walk around Oslo will take you past the city’s major attractions, including the Opera House, Cathedral and City Hall. Oslo city centre was built up after a major fire in 1624, but practically every historic building is from the 19th century, when, under the Swedish union, Oslo emerged as the capital of Norway and largest city in the country. In recent years, a major redevelopment of the fjord area has resulted in a number of prestigious new buildings, highlighting Oslo as a modern capital.
Trip Highlights
- Visit the iconic Oslo Tiger and learn the meaning behind the monument
- Explore Karl Johans Gate from a historic perspective
- See Oslo's prominent 19th century buildings and trace the growth of the city
Distance
2.6km (1.6 miles)
Activity Level
Level 1 – flat path, few stairs (near City Hall), paved.Â
Start Location
Oslo Opera House
End Location
Aker Brygge Wharf
Itinerary
This is a summarised itinerary. More stops are included in the walk.Â
Oslo Opera House
Completed in 2008, the Oslo Opera House is part of the urban renewal project along Oslo’s shoreline. The building was designed by the Norwegian architectural firm called Snøhetta and is covered in marble from Carrara, Italy
Oslo Central Station
See Oslo’s major transportation and get tips on what to do inside the station.Â
Karl Johan Gate
Karl Johan gate is the main boulevard that links Central Station with the Royal Palace. It is named after the French General Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, who took the Swedish name Karl Johan during the Napoleonic Wars. He became the Crown Prince of Sweden in 1810 and then was the King of Sweden and Norway between 1818 and 1848.
Oslo Cathedral
Oslo Cathedral is the main church for Oslo.
Egertorget
Youngstorget is a well-known square in Oslo as you’ll often find street food, flea markets and concerts here. The square was established in 1846 to be a market for trade as Stortorvet was getting to be too crowded.
National Parliament of Norway
Norway’s Parliament building is from 1866 and almost seems to counter the Royal Palace at the other end of Karl Johans gate, and that is deliberate. Learn about the historic meaning of the Norwegian word for parliament.Â
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo is the first university building in Norway, dating from 1854. The paving of the square dates from 1931.
National Theatre
The theatre we see today had its first performance in 1899. The theatre was a private institution until 1929, when the government started providing it with financial support.
Oslo City Hall
Oslo City Hall was completed in 1950 and houses the city’s political administration. The building is constructed in red brick with two towers that are 63 metres and 66 metres respectively. This is where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded.
Aker Brygge
The row of warehouses used to be storage buildings, but they are now very nice restaurants, cafes, and shops.
Example of what the guide looks like.Â
Watch the walk on Youtube
I recorded this walk of Oslo back in winter 2023. This walk roughly follows the route in this guide.Â
