Oslo packs a surprising amount into a compact city. Free sculpture parks, a fjord you can kayak straight from downtown, ski slopes 30 minutes by metro, and a food scene that has quietly become one of Scandinavia’s best. Whether you have two days or five, here is where to spend your time, and what is genuinely worth the detour. Not sure when to come? The guide to the best time to visit Oslo breaks down each season – weather, crowds, costs, and what opens and closes.
Good to know before you explore
• Oslo is very walkable – the city centre covers most of the main sights on foot
• Metro line 1 reaches Holmenkollen, Oslo Winter Park, and Frognerseteren in 30–40 min
• Ferry from Aker Brygge to Bygdøy museums (seasonal) or bus 30
• Oslo Pass (24/48/72 hours) covers all public transport + 36 museums – worth buying for 2+ days
• Oslo Pass price approx. $40 for 24 hours adult (2025)
Free things to do in Oslo
Oslo is an expensive city, but a good number of its best experiences cost nothing at all.
Vigelandsparken
Vigelandsparken is the world’s largest sculpture park made by a single artist. Vigelandsparken contains over 212 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland – bronze, granite, and cast iron – including the famous obelisk, the Wheel of Life, and Sinnataggen: a baby boy stamping his foot in fury. This statue has become one of Oslo’s true icons. The park sits inside Frognerparken and is open year-round with free entry.
Oslo Opera House
Oslo Opera House – the building’s roof angles all the way to ground level, creating a large marble plaza that invites you to walk straight up onto it. The views of the Oslofjord and the Barcode neighbourhood are excellent. The lobby has free entry; I recommend going inside to see the classic, minimalistic Scandinavian interior. Combining this with a walk along the Bjørvika waterfront and the new Deichman library next door makes for a good morning.
Main street Karl Johan
Karl Johan – Oslo’s main street runs from the Central Station to the Royal Palace. Walk its full length and you pass Parliament, the University of Oslo, and the National Theatre, with cafes and shops along the way. In summer the street fills with people; in winter the Christmas lights make it worth the cold.
The Royal Palace and Palace Park
The palace at the top of Karl Johan is surrounded by Slottsparken, which is free to enter and open year-round. The Changing of the Guard takes place daily at 13:00 and is worth watching at least once. It takes appx. 20 minutes.
In summer the park is well-maintained and good for a slow walk; there is also a viewpoint looking back down Karl Johan.
Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress is a medieval castle on a promontory overlooking the Oslofjord. The grounds are free to enter and the views across to Aker Brygge and the inner fjord are among the best in the city. Inside the grounds, the Norwegian Resistance Museum covers Norway’s occupation during World War II and is worth the entrance fee.
Oslo City Hall
Oslo City Hall (Rådhuset) is best known as the venue for the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. The interior is decorated with large murals and frescos depicting Norwegian history and working life. Entry is free all year. Free guided tours run in summer (June–August) – worth booking in advance. The building sits on the waterfront, a short walk from Aker Brygge.
West Oslo neighvorhoods
West Oslo neighbourhoods, Uranienborg, Majorstuen, Frogner and Bygdøy are each worth an afternoon of slow walking. Uranienborg and Frogner have some of the city’s finest residential streets and well-stocked cafés. Majorstuen is the commercial hub of the west side. Bygdøy is a peninsula with several major museums and two swimming beaches – in summer, combine a museum visit with a stop at Huk or Paradisbukta.
Ekebergparken
Ekebergparken is a sculpture park on a wooded hill with sweeping views over Oslo and the fjord. Open every day, free. Take tram 18 or 19. On a winter evening the city views from here are stunning, though it gets very cold due to the wind.
Kampen
Kampen is one of Oslo’s most characterful neighbourhoods – a hillside cluster of painted wooden houses in the eastern part of the city, within easy walking distance of Grønland. The views from the top of the hill take in the city skyline and the fjord. It is quieter and more residential than the tourist circuit, and largely undiscovered by visitors. Combine it with a walk along the Akerselva river below.
Walk along Akerselva
Akerselva river walk – Oslo’s “green lung” runs from Grønland to Maridalsvannet, the city’s largest lake. Old factory buildings have been converted into galleries and studios along the banks. Walk the whole stretch or just the Grünerløkka section for a very local Oslo experience.
Top museums in Oslo
Oslo has a remarkable concentration of world-class museums. If you only have time for a few, the National Museum and the Viking Ship Museum are the priorities.
The National Museum
The National Museum is Norway’s largest public collection of art, design, and architecture opened after a long renovation in 2022. This is the museum that has Edvard Munch’s The Scream and Madonna. If you only have time for one museum in Oslo, this is it. Located centrally at Aker Brygge. During summer, have refreshments on the rooftop with views of Akershus Fortress, the City Hall, and the fjord.
Munch Museum
Munch Museum is dedicated entirely to Edvard Munch, considered one of the pioneers of expressionism. The museum at Bjørvika opened in 2021 and holds over 28,000 works. Note: no large luggage or bags allowed inside the museum during your visit.
Viking ship Museum
Viking Ship Museum (Vikingskipshuset) consist of three preserved Viking ships from the 9th century, along with the grave goods discovered around the Oslofjord. Located at Bygdøy – set aside a few hours for this peninsula, as the Fram Museum, Kon-Tiki Museum, and Folkemuseum are all nearby.
Fram museum
The Fram is the world’s most famous wooden polar vessel, and you can climb aboard and tour the whole ship. An extraordinary object. Also at Bygdøy.
Outdoor activities in Oslo
Oslo is surrounded by the Oslofjord to the south and Marka – a vast forest – to the north, east, and west. It has 343 km of marked hiking trails and 200 km of ski trails, all accessible by public transport.
Kayaking on the Oslofjord – it is a 3-hour tour, and you do not need any previous kayaking experience. A local guide takes you out to the small islands around Oslo, where you can swim and picnic. You get exercise, the views of Oslo from the water, and a completely different perspective on the city.
Korketrekkeren toboggan run – a 2,000-metre run with an elevation drop of 255 metres. The ride takes 8–10 minutes. You can hire sledges at Akeforeningen at the bottom of the run, take metro line 1 back up to Frognerseteren, and go again. Free to use when snow conditions allow – check before heading up.
Oslo Winter Park and Holmenkollen – Take metro line 1 to the ski slopes at Voksenkollen, or continue to Holmenkollen for the famous ski jump arena and ski museum. In summer, the zip line at Holmenkollen – 360 metres over the jump – is one of Oslo’s most memorable (and expensive) experiences, at around €75 including museum entry. Are you an adrenaline junkie? This is for you.
Island hopping on the fjord – Ferries leave from the piers before the City Hall to Hovedøya (with 12th-century monastery ruins) and several smaller islands. Covered by the Oslo Pass. In summer, locals use these islands for swimming, picnicking, and camping. For destinations further out, the guide to day trips from Oslo covers twelve options within two hours of the city – fjord towns, fortress islands, and ironworks villages.
Things to do in Oslo in summer
Summer is when Oslo shows what it can really do. A few things that are specifically excellent in summer: walking on the Opera House roof, taking the ferry to the fjord islands, sailing on Christian Radich (Oslo’s historic tall ship – check their website as summer tours sell out quickly), and the 17th of May parade if your dates overlap. The Royal Palace is open for guided tours in summer only.
Oslo City Hall offers free public tours in summer – approximately 1 June to 16 July at 10 am, noon, and 2 pm. No booking needed. The building’s murals and architecture tell the story of Norwegian history in a way that is genuinely worth an hour of your time.
Things to do in Oslo in winter
January and February are among the most rewarding months to be here. Oslo Winter Park has downhill slopes; the Nordmarka cross-country trails start at Frognerseteren, the end of metro line 1. Ice skating at Spikersuppa on Karl Johan is free.
The Christmas market on Karl Johan in December is one of the better ones in Scandinavia, with traditional Norwegian food including ribbe, rakfisk, and pepperkaker. The guide to where to stay in Oslo covers hotels by neighbourhood – useful whether you want to be near the slopes or the Christmas market.
In winter, Oslo’s museums have the shortest queues of the year. If you want the Viking Ship Museum, the National Museum, and the Munch Museum without waiting, come in January or February.
Frequently asked questions about things to do in Oslo
Oslo is known for its Viking heritage (Viking Ship Museum), Edvard Munch and The Scream (National Museum), world-class winter sports at Holmenkollen, the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony each December, and its remarkable location between fjord and forest.
Vigelandsparken, the Oslo Opera House roof and lobby, walking Karl Johan, Ekebergparken, the Akerselva river walk, the Akershus Fortress grounds, Grünerløkka, and Sørenga by the fjord are all free. The fjord islands in summer are reached by ferry (covered by the Oslo Pass or small separate fee).
For most visitors staying two or more days, yes. A 48-hour adult pass costs approximately €65 and covers unlimited public transport and free entry to 36 museums and attractions. Given that individual museum tickets cost €15–20 each, the pass pays for itself quickly. Buy online, at the Visitor Centre, or at selected museums.
By ferry from Aker Brygge in summer (seasonal service, covered by Oslo Pass), or bus 30 year-round from the National Theatre stop. The ferry is the more enjoyable option when it runs — it takes about 10 minutes and gives you a view of the fjord.
Yes — several excellent ones. Drøbak by fjord boat is 80 minutes from Aker Brygge. Fredrikstad’s medieval old town is 90 minutes by train. Bærums Verk is 30 minutes by car. See our full guide to day trips from Oslo.
