Small city, great attractions

1. The Opera House

The Oslo Opera House is one of very few buildings in the city where you’re not only allowed, but encouraged to walk across the marble-covered rooftop. The award-winning building was designed by the architectural firm Snøhetta and opened in 2008, rising out of the Oslofjord and offering a panoramic view of the city and its waterfront.

 

 

The opera is well worth a visit inside, too – both for the stunning interior design, dominated by oak, glass and artworks, and the musical treats that are served on a daily basis, ranging from opera and ballet to pop and rock music.

 

2. MUNCH

Norway’s greatest painter ever? That would be Edvard Munch (1863–1944). The expressionist master behind iconic works such as Madonna, The Sick Child and The Scream has finally got a museum worthy of his legacy in Bjørvika in 2021.

 

 

MUNCH dedicates 13 floors to art and cultural events, making it one of the world’s biggest single-artist museums. The striking tower-shaped building, clad in recycled and perforated aluminium panels, is equipped with a restaurant, a café, a rooftop cocktail bar with a fabulous view and a museum shop.

 

 

3. The islands

Island hopping in Oslo? A short ferry ride from the city centre gives you access to a number of idyllic islands in the Oslofjord – perfect spots for swimming, sunbathing and hiking.

Favourite islands among the locals include Hovedøya, Gressholmen and Langøyene. The two former islands both have summer restaurants, Revierhavnen Kro and Gressholmen Kro, while there’s a kiosk on Langøyene. Best of all: It won’t cost you more than a bus ticket to get there.

 

 

4. Park life

According to City Monitor, Oslo is the metropolis with the highest percentage of green spaces in the world – 68 percent, to be specific. In fact, a whopping 95 percent of Oslo's inhabitants have a park or an open green space within 300 meters of their home. And we know how to use them – for picnics, barbecues, chilling or other types of recreation.

 

 

The Botanical Garden (Botanisk hage) in the Tøyen neighbourhood holds a collection of more than 1800 different plants, making it a hotspot for flower power. The Frogner Park is Oslo’s largest park and Norway’s most visited tourist attraction, mainly due to the majestic Vigeland Sculpture Park located at its centre. But really, the possibilities for a break from the city’s hustle and bustle are endless.

 

 

5. The National Museum

In the summer of 2022, the largest art museum in the Nordic countries opened in Oslo. Dedicated to older and modern art, contemporary art, architecture and design, the National Museum has since become the most visited Scandinavian museum as well.

 

 

The permanent collection exhibition showcases more than 6500 works, ranging from imperial Chinese porcelain and contemporary Norwegian fashion to national and international masterpieces from the last 500 years or so. If you’re looking to lose yourself in art, this is the place to be.

 

 

6. The Vigeland Museum

The aforementioned Vigeland sculpture park may be more famous, but the Vigeland Museum located nearby is worth a visit in its own right. Dedicated to the work and life of Norway’s greatest sculptor, Gustav Vigeland (1869–1943), the collection consists of the master’s early work, monuments, portraits and plaster models of the sculptures in the park.

 

 

The museum is built around Vigeland’s studio and flat – the latter restored and available to visitors by appointment – and the building itself is a prime example of neoclassical architecture. In addition to the permanent exhibition, there’s a plethora of events, concerts and exhibitions featuring other artists happening here.

 

7. Oslobukta

A brand-new hotspot for food, shopping and culture has taken shape in the heart of the Bjørvika area over the last few years. Oslobukta (The Oslo Bay) is a great place to explore the freshest and yummiest tastes of Oslo, with restaurants such as the Michelin-recommended Betong, Mike’s Corner, Dapper Bistro, Holzweiler Platz, Vaaghals and Barcode Streetfood among the highlights – preferably rounded off by sinful donuts from Talormade.

 

 

For a fix of contemporary art, try the galleries Kösk and Kunsthall Oslo, and make sure you check out the unique architecture of the residential area Vannkunsten and the main library Deichman. Or follow the locals’ lead and jump into the fjord.

 

8. Ekeberg

If you want to experience Oslo from Edvard Munch’s perspective, pay the Ekeberg neighbourhood a visit. This is where he was inspired to paint The Scream, no less. Enjoy the view combined with lunch or dinner at Ekebergrestauranten.

 

 

Also worth exploring for a few hours is the Ekeberg Sculpture Park, where spectacular works by iconic artists such as Salvador Dalí, Auguste Rodin, Damien Hirst and Louise Bourgeois and many more are exhibited. For a mind-blowing experience of the area’s sunset or sunrise: Book a private group tour for the American artist James Turrell’s light installations. You won’t regret it.

 

9. Akerselva

One of Oslo’s most beloved spots for recreation – be it walking, running, bathing, fishing for salmon (remember your fishing licence!) or simply chilling with a tasty drink – is the Akerselva river, which runs for 10 kilometres and boasts 20 waterfalls along its way.

 

 

Akerselva has a long and rich industrial history – and has traditionally divided the city between east and west. Nowadays, however, the riverside is more about music, food, art and nightlife, with Blå, Ingensteds, Bortenfor and Vulkan being some of the hottest venues for cocktails and cultural fixes.

 

 

10. The Royal Palace

Norway loves its royal family, whose primary residence is situated on a rise at the end of Oslo’s main street, Karl Johans gate. The Royal Palace is where the children’s parade on 17th of May, Norway’s Constitution Day, concludes with the royals waving to hordes of excited children from their balcony.

 

 

The palace is guarded by stern, but friendly guards from His Majesty the King’s Guard and surrounded by the public Palace Park, which is one of the city’s largest. The palace, built in the neoclassical style, was completed in 1849.

 

11. Need a place to stay?

Yes, of course you do. Staying at a stylish, fun and unique place while you visit a city is half the fun, and thankfully, the list of brilliant accommodation opportunities in Oslo is long.

The classic alternative is Grand Hotel, located in the heart of the city centre, where artists and intellectuals such as Henrik Ibsen and Edvard Munch used to hang out in their glory days.

 

 

The modern hotels Amerikalinjen and Sommerro, which opened in 2018 and 2022, respectively, are both located in buildings steeped in city history and atmosphere.

 

 

For a chic boutique hotel experience, Att Kvadraturen – which boasts two great restaurants, a rooftop bar and a cinema(!) – is a great option.

 

Click here to see the video of Halfdan's review of Oslo.