10 Things to Do in Oslo

Oslo is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe thanks to its fusion of Viking architecture and modern buildings. It is famous for its cuisine, picturesque streets and activities around the fjord. Get ready to cycle and feel the adrenaline rush on the roof of the Oslo Opera House, or enjoy more relaxing alternatives such as cruises and tourist bus tours.

It is ideal for those who enjoy cities with cool climates, as its summers are mild and its winters are ideal for skiing and enjoying the sauna. Oslo has endless things to offer its visitors, and here are some of the things you cannot miss.

Oslo's historic centre is the ideal place to start your trip. Although many areas have been modernised, buildings from the Middle Ages and features of Viking architecture have been preserved here. Among its streets you will find the essential attractions, most of which are affordable or free to enter.

Some of the places I wouldn't miss if I were you are:

• Karl Johans Square: connected to the main street, it exudes a vibrant atmosphere with the best shops, restaurants and street art.
• Middelalderparken: it may look like just another park, but it is actually the focus of Oslo's medieval history and home to the ruins of the 12th-century St. Clement's Church.
• Akershus Fortress: an ancient medieval castle.

You can set your own itinerary according to your preferences or book a guided tour of Oslo. These experiences usually include several points of interest in the historic centre, either with a guide or an audio guide. They also explore more modern areas such as the Munch Museum and the Oslo Opera House.

Useful information

• Price: if you go on your own, you won't have to pay anything, unless you decide to go inside the monuments. If you book a guided tour, prices start at €35.
• Opening hours: you can visit the historic centre at any time, although I recommend starting early to avoid the crowds.
• How to get there: it is easy to get there on foot if you are staying in the centre, but there are several bus and train options from other parts of Oslo.

The capital of Norway combines medieval architecture with modern designs, which is why you can see wonders such as the Oslo Opera House. You will love its marble-clad façade, with a relief that emulates the icebergs that form in winter.

It is a pleasant surprise, and you can challenge your vertigo at the top, as its roof is a stone platform with undulations that wrap around the building. From here, you can enjoy unparalleled views of Oslo. The best part? It's completely free.

It also attracts many tourists for its cultural performances, which include ballet, classical music and opera in the main auditorium and other impressive halls. From La Traviata to Swan Lake, there is plenty to choose from. Outdoor concerts are also popular, especially in summer.

Useful information

• Price: Admission is free for both the opera and the walkway. To enjoy a ballet or opera performance, you must purchase tickets separately and in advance.
• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 11:00 to 22:00, Sundays from 12:00 to 22:00.
• How to get there: it is located in the Bjørvika neighbourhood and can be reached on foot from the city centre or by public transport.

Buying tickets for the tourist bus is a must if you have little time to visit the capital or if you are looking for a convenient way to get to know the city. You can choose between a 24-hour or 48-hour ticket so you can adapt the itinerary to your own pace. In any case, you can take the full 90-minute tour or take advantage of the 25 free stops.

On board, you will have an audio guide, and you should know that the buses run every 30 minutes. You're probably wondering which stops are not to be missed, so here are a few:

• Oslo Opera House.
• Oslo City Hall.
• Oslo Cathedral.
• Norwegian Parliament.
• The Royal Palace.
• The bohemian neighbourhood of Grünerløkka.

You can also book a hop-on hop-off bus tour that offers a tour of at least three hours of the city's most important sights.

Useful information

• Price: you can book the hop-on hop-off tourist bus from €45 per person. The non-stop bus tour costs around €52.
• Timetable: every day from 10:00 to 16:30.
• Duration: the entire tour lasts 90 minutes.

The Vikings originated in Norway, Sweden and Denmark, but their largest settlement was in Oslo during the Middle Ages. In fact, the Viking heritage is preserved in some alleys, museums and much of the historic centre. For many, The Planet Viking is the greatest exponent of this history and a treasure that allows you to experience it first-hand.

The journey begins aboard an ancient Viking ship that takes you on a journey to discover the authentic Viking way of life. To make sure you don't miss a thing, you'll be wearing augmented reality headsets. But be careful! There may be an ambush waiting for you on the other side, so you'll have to battle dragons, but there'll be no shortage of fun.

Among the most popular attractions at the exhibition are:

• VR games: enter a Viking battle and defend your own Viking family to the end.
• 4D film: travel back a thousand years to discover the most epic battles and Viking traditions.
• The hologram theatre: meet holograms of various Vikings from different social statuses to discover how they lived according to their role in society.
• The Viking window: discover how they built their ships, the mythology of Viking gods and other secrets of this ancient community.

Details of interest

• Price: from €23 per person.
• Opening hours: every day from 10:00 to 18:00.
• How to get there: on foot from the city centre or by public transport from the rest of Oslo.

If you plan to spend the summer in Oslo, don't miss a visit to the Royal Palace. It is the residence of the royal family and is open to the public from June to August. Every corner reveals the history of Norway and the secrets of the monarchy.

When its doors open, you can see the Throne Room, where most important ceremonies are held. However, the room that tourists tend to fall in love with is the Bird Room, notable for its neoclassical decoration and antique paintings. You could also spend hours admiring the gardens or delighting in the Ballroom and the Royal Chapel.

But you don't have to wait for the warm months to visit, as the exterior is impressive and there are tours of the streets of Oslo that explore its beauty and history. Alternatively, every day at 1:30 p.m . there is a changing of the guard, an impressive parade from Akershus Fortress to the palace.

Interesting details

• Price: you can visit it from €19 per person. Alternatively, you can take advantage of a guided tour of the city's most important sights, stopping off to discover its history, from €35.
• Opening hours: the palace is open to the public from June to August and the gardens from May to October. The changing of the guard takes place all year round.
• How to get there: depending on where you are, you can take the bus, metro or tram in Oslo.

The fjord hides the best landscapes of Oslo, and aboard a cruise ship, you can see different places in a short time. There are different options, the most popular being summer cruises and electric boats. However, if you want to discover the city by water and land, you could consider a combined experience and book a bus tour with a cruise on the fjord.

From the boat, you can see the colourful fishermen's houses that line the city, as well as nearby islands and other iconic buildings. If you combine it with the bus tour, you can make stops and visit Vigeland Park.

You could even take advantage of a ski simulator in summer or a real ski slope in winter. In addition, a Norwegian tradition is to combine a visit to the fjord with a sauna. In fact, it is possible to rent boats in the city that have this service included.

If you are an adventurer, I would take the opportunity to book a kayak tour on the Akerselva River. It is an exciting experience that connects to Lake Maridalsvannet. It even takes you through a 500-metre-long tunnel that leads to the fjord. It is the perfect fusion of Oslo's urban landscape and natural surroundings.

Details of interest

• Price: cruises can be booked from €55 per person, although there are more exclusive experiences and combined tours with a bus ride from €123. Kayak trips on the Akerselva River cost around €98.
• Timetable: may vary depending on the season and the service chosen.

Norwegian cuisine is known for its freshness and emphasis on local ingredients such as elk meat, cod, fermented trout and brown cheese. I would recommend starting at the famous Mathallen Market, where you can experience a variety of flavours in one place.

But if you want to discover all that Oslo has to offer in terms of cuisine, I suggest booking a food tour. During the experience, you'll visit different restaurants and street stalls and discover the secrets behind their recipes. I promise your taste buds will be delighted by typical dishes such as Rakfisk (fermented fish) and milder offerings such as Kjøttkaker (Norwegian meatballs).

Enjoy craft beers in the Vulkan neighbourhood or the most exquisite food in the Grünerløkka neighbourhood.

Details of interest

• Price: depending on what you choose to try at the market, you can spend between €15 and €30. Guided gastronomic experiences in Oslo are also available, taking you to the best selection of restaurants and street food options from €71, but this does not usually include the cost of meals.
• Market hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00, Sundays from 10:00 to 18:00.
• How to get there: you can reach the market via metro lines 1 and 2, although the food tours are conducted on foot.

Oslo is known for its museums and spaces that combine entertainment with learning. It is home to around 50 museums that explore its history, Viking heritage and folkloric features. Here are the ones you can't miss:

Paradox Museum

Buying tickets for the Paradox Museum gives you access to an unforgettable experience with exhibitions that explore human mysteries. From the Big Bang to the human brain, discover how the planets were created and the motivations of the human mind. You can defy gravity and walk upside down or explore rooms of optical illusions.

Fran Museum

Booking tickets for the Fran Museum takes you on a fictional journey to the North Pole. The Fran was a Norwegian ship that made some of the most dangerous sea voyages in history. In this museum, you can immerse yourself in interactive exhibits that recreate the interior of the expedition, as well as the conditions to which the crew were subjected.

You can see recovered objects, photographs, found treasures and the original cabins.

Kon-Tiki Museum

Buying tickets for the Kon-Tiki Museum allows you to see a replica of the Kon-Tiki raft. On board this expedition, Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl managed to sail across the Pacific Ocean. He also reached different places, and there is evidence of this in the form of photographs and documents.

This explorer also used the Ra II raft to reach the Atlantic, and you can see it in this museum. Immerse yourself in a multicultural journey through the cultures of different islands or learn about the ruins of Túcume located in Peru.

A bike ride can be a relaxing way to explore the city. Oslo is famous for its parks, trails and colourful houses that adorn the Aker Brygge harbour area. By bike, you can explore at your own pace and take advantage of the cycle lanes that allow you to plan different types of routes.

If you plan to do it on your own, take advantage of the more than 100 bike rental stations scattered throughout the city. It's easy to get around because most of the roads are one-way, which makes for a more enjoyable ride.

Although you can always book a bike tour of Oslo that takes you to the best of the capital. These types of experiences offer itineraries that include historical gems, Viking sites and modern areas. You'll cycle while learning about the history of Karl Johans Gate, the city's most famous street.

Details of interest

• Price: the average price for bike hire per day ranges from €10 to €20, and a guided tour can cost around €45 per person.
• Opening hours: Bike stations are open 24 hours a day, while tours are generally offered in the morning and afternoon.

Oslo is an extraordinary city with many hidden gems, such as the Nobel Peace Prize Centre. Here you can learn about human rights and the work of world leaders such as Nelson Mandela.

When you buy tickets for the Nobel Peace Centre, you can learn all about the prizes and understand how the nomination and final selection process works. You can see the medals up close, enjoy interactive exhibits, and even purchase books inspired by the laureates.

Details of interest

• Price: around £12 per person.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00, but opening hours may vary depending on the season.
• How to get there: you can use the train, tram or bus from Oslo.

• Currency: it is advisable to take Norwegian kroner. Although the euro is accepted, some places may prefer the local currency. Card payments are widely accepted.
• Climate: temperatures vary, and it is advisable to always have a jumper to hand, as even in summer it can get quite cold.
• Public transport: local transport is efficient and you can get around by bus, train, metro or tram.