Top places to visit in Oslo

• Akershus Fortress

  castle · 4.5 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  A medieval castle and fortress guarding Oslo harbour since around 1300, with ramparts, a royal mausoleum and sweeping fjord views. Grounds are free to wander.

• MUNCH (Munch Museum)

  art museum · 4.5 rating · about 2 h · entry kr180 (≈ ₹1,800)

  A 13-storey waterfront museum in Bjørvika dedicated to Edvard Munch, holding the largest collection of his work including a version of The Scream.

• Oslo Opera House

  landmark · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The home of Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, its white marble roof sloping into the fjord so visitors can walk right to the top for free. An architectural icon of Bjørvika.

• Fram Museum

  maritime museum · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · entry kr160 (≈ ₹1,600)

  A Bygdøy museum built around the polar ship Fram — the strongest wooden ship ever built and the vessel that carried Nansen and Amundsen to the polar extremes.

• Karl Johans gate

  street · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Oslo's grand main boulevard running from the Central Station up to the Royal Palace, lined with the Parliament, the University, the National Theatre, cafés and shops.

• Kon-Tiki Museum

  expedition museum · 4.6 rating · about 1.3 h · entry kr160 (≈ ₹1,600)

  The original balsa raft Kon-Tiki and reed boat Ra from Thor Heyerdahl's expeditions across the Pacific and Atlantic, on Bygdøy's museum peninsula.

• Astrup Fearnley Museum

  contemporary art · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h · entry kr180 (≈ ₹1,800)

  A Renzo Piano-designed museum of contemporary art at the tip of Tjuvholmen, with a sculpture park and beach beside the fjord.

• Norwegian Museum of Cultural History

  open-air museum · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · entry kr200 (≈ ₹2,000)

  One of Europe's oldest open-air museums, with 160 historic buildings including the Gol stave church, showing Norwegian life from the 1500s to today on Bygdøy.

• Holmenkollen Ski Jump & Museum

  ski jump · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · entry kr200 (≈ ₹2,000)

  The iconic ski jump above Oslo with a viewing platform over the city and fjord, plus the world's oldest ski museum inside the structure. A zipline runs from the top in season.

• Vigeland Sculpture Park

  sculpture park · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The world's largest sculpture park by a single artist — over 200 bronze and granite figures by Gustav Vigeland, culminating in the Monolith. Free and open around the clock in Frognerparken.

• The Royal Palace

  palace · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The official residence of the Norwegian monarch at the top of Karl Johans gate, set in a public park. Watch the daily changing of the guard; state rooms open for guided tours in summer.

• The National Museum

  art museum · 4.6 rating · about 2.5 h · entry kr200 (≈ ₹2,000)

  The largest art museum in the Nordics, gathering Norway's national collection of art, architecture and design — including Munch's The Scream — in a landmark building near the waterfront.

Things to do

• Oslofjord Sightseeing Cruise Sightseeing · 2 h · from NOK 490 per person
• Oslo Old Town & Highlights Walking Tour Cultural · 2.5 h · from NOK 300 per person
• Holmenkollen Ski Jump Zipline Adventure · 0.5 h · from NOK 750 per person
• Oslofjord Kayaking Tour Water Sports · 3 h · from NOK 750 per person
• Vigeland Park Guided Tour Cultural · 1.5 h · from NOK 350 per person

Where to stay in Oslo

• Sentrum (Karl Johan) about NOK 2,000 per night

  The heart of Oslo along the Karl Johans gate axis — walkable to the Opera, museums, station and nightlife.

• Aker Brygge & Tjuvholmen about NOK 2,600 per night

  A smart waterfront district of restaurants, galleries and the Astrup Fearnley Museum, with fjord swimming.

• Grünerløkka about NOK 1,600 per night

  A hip, bohemian quarter of cafés, vintage shops and riverside parks north of the centre — great for younger travellers.

Hotels

• Grand Hotel Oslo 5-star · NOK 3,000 to NOK 7,000 per night
• Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz Oslo 4-star · NOK 1,600 to NOK 2,800 per night
• Citybox Oslo 3-star · NOK 900 to NOK 1,500 per night
• Amerikalinjen 4-star · NOK 2,200 to NOK 4,500 per night
• The Thief 5-star · NOK 4,500 to NOK 9,000 per night
• Anker Hostel 2-star · NOK 350 to NOK 1,200 per night

Where to eat

• Maaemo New Nordic, Norwegian · about NOK 3,800 per person
• Ekebergrestauranten Norwegian, European · about NOK 550 per person
• Fiskeriet Youngstorget Seafood, Norwegian · about NOK 320 per person
• Mathallen Oslo International, Food Hall · about NOK 250 per person
• Vippa Street Food, International · about NOK 200 per person
• Lorry Norwegian, Pub · about NOK 420 per person
• Illegal Burger Burgers, American · about NOK 220 per person
• Louise Restaurant & Bar Seafood, European · about NOK 520 per person

Getting to Oslo

Airport: Oslo (OSL)

How visitors arrive in Oslo

• Fly into Oslo Gardermoen By air from Oslo Airport Gardermoen · common

  Gardermoen is described as the main international gateway to Norway and sits north-northeast of the city. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Train from Sweden By train from Gothenburg / Stockholm · common

  International trains arrive at Oslo Central Station from Gothenburg and Stockholm; Oslo S is the hub of Norway's rail network. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Ferry from Germany or Denmark By ferry from Kiel / Copenhagen · possible

  Car ferries link Oslo with Kiel, Copenhagen and Frederikshavn, and cruise ships dock in the city centre. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• International coach By road from Gothenburg / Copenhagen / Stockholm · possible

  Flixbus and Vy Bus4You coaches connect Oslo with Gothenburg, Copenhagen and Stockholm. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Flytoget airport express to Oslo S

  Airport express train from Gardermoen to Oslo Central Station; some services go on to Nationaltheatret, nearer the western centre. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Vy regional train to Oslo S

  Vy trains also link Gardermoen with central Oslo, running via Drammen. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Pre-booked taxi from Gardermoen

  Book a taxi ahead; unbooked cars may not wait outside the terminal. Uber and Bolt also pick up at the airport. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Torpekspressen bus from Torp airport

  Torp (Sandefjord) is far south of Oslo. Torp-Ekspressen coaches run to the Oslo central bus station; a shuttle bus also links the airport with Torp station for Vy trains towards Oslo. Source: torp.no

• Use only licensed taxis from a rank or a pre-booked app, and confirm there are no extra airport fees before getting in. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bus

  Buses fill the gaps in the network, including ring lines and Friday and Saturday night buses, and reach areas such as Frogner that the metro skips.

  Buy Ruter tickets

• Metro

  The T-bane shares a central tunnel before splitting into the suburbs; line 1 runs up to Frognerseteren in the northern hills near Holmenkollen.

  Buy Ruter tickets

• Tram useful for some trips

  Trams cover areas the metro does not, including Grünerløkka, and are also handy for sightseeing.

  Buy Ruter tickets

• Walking

Paying

• Flytoget accepts card at the gate, as well as paper and e-tickets. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Safety and scams to avoid

• Unofficial airport taxi overcharging

  Oslo Airport & central taxi ranks

  Taxis in Norway set their own fares, so an unmarked or "premium" cab at the rank can charge two or three times the normal rate for the same trip.

  How to avoid it: Use the Flytoget airport train or a booked app taxi (Oslo Taxi, Bolt); check the price sticker in the window before getting in.

• Dynamic currency conversion at card terminals

  Shops, restaurants and ATMs

  When you pay by card you may be offered to be charged in your home currency "for convenience" — the exchange rate is poor and adds a hidden markup.

  How to avoid it: Always choose to pay in Norwegian kroner (NOK); decline conversion to your home currency.

• Petition & friendship-bracelet distraction

  Karl Johans gate & tourist crowds

  A person asks you to sign a petition or ties a "free" bracelet on your wrist, then demands cash while an accomplice may target your bag.

  How to avoid it: Politely decline and keep walking; keep valuables zipped and in front of you in busy areas.

Best time to visit Oslo

• Jan 0°C
• Feb 1°C
• Mar 5°C
• Apr 11°C
• May 17°C
• Jun 20°C
• Jul 23°C
• Aug 21°C
• Sep 16°C
• Oct 10°C
• Nov 4°C
• Dec 1°C

More in Norway

• Bergen
• Tromsø
• Flåm
• Stavanger
• Trondheim
• Ålesund

Frequently asked questions about Oslo

What are the top-rated places to visit in Oslo?

The highest-rated places in our Oslo guide are Oslo Opera House, Fram Museum, Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, Vigeland Sculpture Park, Karl Johans gate.

Where should I stay in Oslo?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Oslo: Sentrum (Karl Johan), Aker Brygge & Tjuvholmen, Grünerløkka.

How do I get around Oslo?

Ways to get around Oslo covered in our guide: City bus, Metro, Tram, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Oslo?

Scams reported to us for Oslo include Unofficial airport taxi overcharging; Dynamic currency conversion at card terminals; Petition & friendship-bracelet distraction. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Oslo?

Average daytime highs in Oslo run from 0°C in Jan to 23°C in Jul.

Which airport is nearest to Oslo?

The nearest airport to Oslo has the code OSL.