One day in Oslo
Stopping by Oslo for a shorter stay before your next destination? You may want to experience some of Oslo's highlights, to get an idea of what the city has to offer. We will show you how to get the most out of a full day visiting Oslo, from sunrise to sundown.
09:00-09:55
The day starts at Oslo S, the central train station in Oslo. The city is waking up, but many attractions have still not opened. This is the ideal moment to explore the city centre in peace and quiet. Start by taking a mandatory selfie with the Tiger at Jernbanetorget.
Did you know that Oslo is dubbed "The Tiger City"? Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, the poet who wrote Norway's national anthem, thought Oslo was a terribly scary city full of dangers. That's why he called it "The Tiger City" in his poem "Last Song".
Continue into the main street Karl Johans gate, in direction of the Royal Palace. On the way, you will get to take a look at some important buildings such as Oslo Cathedral, The Parliament and The National Theatre.
Oslo Pass: your all-in-on ticket
If you're staying in Oslo for a whole day, it might be a good idea to purchase a 24-hour Oslo Pass. The Oslo Pass includes the ferry to Bygdøy (available between March and September), public transport in Ruter's zones 1, 2, 3, 4V and 4N, entrance to all museums and discounts on certain activities and in certain restaurants.
You may purchase the Oslo Pass in the app, on Google Play and in the App Store.
09:55-10:05
Walk over to the pier in front of City Hall, and hop on the Bygdøy Ferry. If you don't make it at 09:55, don't worry! The next departure is in only 20 minutes. Have a nice cup of coffee at Aker Brygge while you wait.
The ferry takes you over to what looks like the countryside in 20 minutes. Bygdøy is a peninsula offering everything from the most popular museums, to agriculture and wonderful beaches.
Get off the ferry at the first stop (Dronningen) if you wish to visit the The Museum of Norwegian Cultural History. Get off at the second stop (Bygdøynes) if you prefer a maritime experience at The Kon-Tiki Museum, The Fram Museum and The Maritime Museum.
10:05-12:30
In 2,5 hours, you will probably be able to visit two museums at Bygdøy. However, if you choose to visit the Museum of Cultural History (Folkemuseet), you might not have the time to visit anything else. It is a very large outdoor museum with several different houses and buildings to explore from the outside, and some from the inside. You will need to spend more time here in order to fully appreciate the experience and get the most out of your visit.
There are, as previously mentionned, three museums at Bygdøynes. There is also a more hidden and unknown museum further into the peninsula. By walking for 20 minutes from Bygdøynes, you will find the Holocaust Center. This is a research centre as well as a museum focusing and working on the Holocaust as well as other genocides. The Holocaust Centre is in a house called Villa Grande, which was Vidkun Quisling's residence during World War II. The exhibition about the Holocaust focuses on the story about the Norwegian jews' fate during the war. The centre also has an old bunker.
12:30-13:30
After two hours of museums, you are probably ready for some food! Get your energy levels up before going back to the city centre.
Fortunately, both the Maritime Museum and the Museum of Cultural History have cafés serving delicious food and drink. Try a traditional Norwegian waffle at Arkadia Kafé or a shrimp sandwich at Kafé FJORD.
If you have a little more time, we recommend that you try a hidden gem: Rodeløkken Kafé. It is hidden among the trees, overlooking the fjord. Here you can eat sandwiches, baguettes and more, right in between the fields of Bygdøy Royal Manor and the bay of Frognerkilen.
13:30-14:00
Time to say goodbye to the picturesque peninsula of Bygdøy. Catch the bus back to the city, but get off at Olav Kyrres plass to switch to a bus taking you to the Vigeland park.
1. Bus 30 Nydalen to Olav Kyrres Plass
2. From the same platform: Bus 20 Galgeberg to Vigelandsparken
To make your trip as seamless as possible, we recommend that you download the Ruter app (available in Google Play and the App Store). This will let you see departure times and buy tickets.
14:00-15:00
When you get off the bus at "Vigelandsparken", you will find yourself right outside the main gates of the park. You can't miss these monumental wrought iron gates. Take a walk in the park and admire the over 200 sculptures, all made by Gustav Vigeland! Did you know that it is believed to be the largest sculpture park by one single sculptor?
The most famous character in the park is without a boubt Sinnataggen (Angry Boy), a furious little boy who nevertheless is the star of many selfies and photographs.
At the end of the park, you will see a tall structure called the Monolith. This is a 17 meter tall granite column with innumerable human figures carved out of the rock. The platform on which it stands is a nice viewpoint from where you can see the entire park, and parts of the city.
15:00-16:00
Next stop, the VIKINGR exhibition at the Historical Museum!
Tram 12 to Majorstuen. The tram stops for a few minutes at Majorstuen, before continuing as tram 11. Get off the tram at Tullinløkka. There's a 2-3 minute walk to the Historical Museum.
VIKINGR at the Historical Museum is an exhibition filled with artifacts from the Viking Age! The famous Viking ship museum will unfortunately be closed for a few years due to renovations. Therefore we are lucky to still have the Historical museum to learn about the Vikings while we wait for a new and improved Viking Age Museum!
16:00-17:00
The Historical museum closes at 16:00. Fortunately, the Royal Palace Park is just across the street. Wander among trees, flower bushes and well-kept gardens. Take a selfie with a Royal Guard, walk in the Queen's Park, and admire the playful sculptures in The Princess Ingrid Alexandra Sculpture Park.
Did you know that the sculptures in the Princess Ingrid Alexandra Sculpture park are based on drawings sendt in by children from all over Norway? The Princess picked the winning contributions herself. The park opened in 2016, the same year as the 25-year wedding anniversary of the Princess's grandparents, the King and Queen.
17:00-19:00
Time to get a delicious meal by the waterfront. Walk from the Royal Palace Park to Aker Brygge. Hanami serves Asian food of the highest quality.
Being so close to the sea, you may prefer to have some sea food. You are definitely in the right place, because Lofoten Fiskerestaurant and Tjuvholmen Sjømagasin serve amazing fresh fish and other sea food.
In other words, you are spoiled for choice. Bon appétit!
19:00-20:00
After your meal, take a walk along the harbour promenade. The great Akershus Fortress is right above you! Maybe you will see a fisherman or two, or overhear a concert at SALT?
Eventually you will see the Opera in white marble, appearing to float in the shallows. Go up onto the roof of the Opera, and you will get a wonderful view of the Fjord. If you are really lucky, you might even get a spectacular sunset show!
20:00
Finish the evening with a delicious cocktail, or two. Two of the newest hotels in the city centre boast high-quality cocktail bars. Hub Bar at the Clarion Hotel The Hub and Pier 42 at Amerikalinjen serve amazing cocktails and mocktails in a tasteful decor. Enjoy your drink and a modern twist on the classic american cocktail bars.
Thank you for visiting Oslo! We hope that your day left you wanting more, and that we will see you again soon.