For many, the Norwegian capital of Oslo is the insight into the world we all need.
Its elementary embodiment of Scandi-Cool can be seen in every place and thing within the city’s borders.
Get ready to be refreshed again and again by timeless inventions. So simple, yet so unimagined. You will leave your trip questioning why the rest of the world is stuck in 2022 when places like Oslo exist.
“Wow, I never thought about it like that!”.
Oslo is an artistic city, rich and prideful in its culture. Everywhere you visit can be treated as an opportunity to learn about the world, but also as a space to look inwards and learn about ourselves as individuals.
And you are never too far from nature.
Here are our top 17 things you must take home from Oslo…
Oslo Opera House
We bet you won’t be able to resist snapping a pic of one of the city’s newer installments, the Oslo Opera House.
See for yourself the photogenic structure that symbolized Oslo’s architectural shift in their brushed-off contemporary cool attitude. Supposedly it resembles an iceberg floating on Oslofjord, but you can judge that for yourself.
Being right out the doors of Central Station, you really cannot give this one a miss. We highly suggest scaling its slopes to reach the roof in time for sunset, remarkable against the water.
And, obviously, don’t miss a chance to marvel at the interior (maybe even catch a show), which is predictable as bananas as the outside.
Oslo Fjord
There is a mountain of ways to appreciate the nature that surrounds the city center.
As you will notice during the summer months, the banks of Oslofjord fill up with locals everywhere who can’t get enough of nature on their doorstep.
Join them for a swim, or head to the kayak shop for a rental or unforgettable guided tour.
Cruises run regularly, providing a selection of opportunities to make memories on the water.
If your visit is brief, we strongly recommend a sightseeing boat trip, with spots of interest being close to the water’s edge. Trips are available to the surrounding islands too, or for an extra breath of relaxation, the Evening Dinner Cruise will provide your fill.
Deichman Library
Anyone who said libraries are boring clearly had not heard of the new Deichman Library. Redefining the meaning of the word puts all other libraries to shame.
Although its countless open-plan floors and impeccably designed spaces will make anyone leap for a book, there is so much more to do than just read.
6 riveting floors offer endless activities. There are movie rooms; a phenomenally cool children’s section that even the biggest of kids will love and even design spaces rigged with professional equipment. Not to mention the generous exhibition areas.
With a cafe, terrifically calculated natural lighting, and exemplary views of the city and fjord, there really is no reason to want to leave.
Holmenkollen Ski Jump
Are you up to braving the fate of the oldest ski jump tower in the world?
We aren’t forcing you into the abyss any time soon unless you think you have what it takes! But Holmenkollen Ski Jump is still something on everyone’s Oslo ‘to do’ list.
Other ways down include a simulation of the ski jump or take the zip wire head first if you dare.
You could just skip ahead to the panoramic views, which are open for debate about being the best in the city if you want to be a bore…
Tear a leaf out of this admirable part of Norwegian culture at the Ski Museum. Here you can marvel at millennia-old equipment from noteworthy snow expeditions and watch the documentary on the Northern Lights.
All that peering down from great heights is hungry work, so make sure you refill at the restaurant.
And if you wish, you can visit this snowy vicinity every day of the year – yes, that does include Christmas!
Vigeland Sculpture Park
It does not come as a surprise that the world’s largest sculpture park, made by a single artist, is based in Oslo’s very own Frogner Park. Join the millions of people that flock to see portraits of human emotion crafted in iron, bronze, and stone.
Completely free to enter, Vigeland Sculpture Park is something the whole family can relate to. All the while you will be pursuing two of the city’s passions – nature and art.
If you like Gustav Vigeland’s work, you will love taking a detour to Ekeberg Sculpture Park. While smaller in number, pieces from huge names like Salvador Dali and Damien Hirst are featured throughout this forest.
Though the real star of the show is the lookout which inspired no other than Edvard Munch’s notorious painting of ‘The Scream’. Here you can recreate your very own ‘Scream’ using the metal picture frame.
Food
You will find an important part of Scandinavian life is the food and the bonding that is created around it. That is why you must treat yourself to a meal out in Oslo.
Whilst you’re bound to fall in love with the gallons of coffee shops strutting their Scandi-Cool, we highly recommend trying the food courts…
If you want to see where the locals go, Vippa is the name on everybody’s lips. The local obsession has sea views and a mixture of quirky international stalls to make your mouth water.
Meanwhile, you can pulverize all the traditional Norwegian dishes if you rock up to the Mathallen Foodhall. Another industrial renovation: the venue is huge, but the atmosphere is bigger!
Get your hands on Pølse, which is never hard to sniff out. The Norwegian’s favorite sausage is unique for its beef broth and potato flatbread accompaniment.
Grünerløkka
Grünerløkka is the hipster town in Oslo. Get swept up by its unparalleled flair and admire the effortless cool of the locals.
There are trendy boutiques just waiting to be thrifted for your own collection of Scandi-vintage and designer.
Pioneering alfresco cafés offer a selection of small sharing plates that you can and should indulge in. Dine amongst the street art and cyclists that are the pinnacle of the neighborhood.
And you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to visit one of the numerous independent art galleries.
Sundays in the neighborhood are always a thrill when the flea market takes over Birkelunden Park. Whether or not you plan on bringing home a 1940s silver spoon, it is never unenticing to spend a few hours navigating the stalls.
Akerselva River
Following lunch in Grünerløkka, you should stroll off all the meatballs by the Akerselva River that distinctively drifts downtown.
It isn’t a long walk, about 8km (5 miles) or so, but it leads you all along the scenic route of many of the capital’s popular boroughs and parks. Oslo looks extra impressive when accentuated by its appreciation for nature.
You will get plenty of opportunities to stop for a drink with a view, as well as a fair helping of Oslo’s culture.
This is a place where graffiti and sculpture artists have let their imaginations run freely, so keep a beady eye out for the playful art that is scattered around.
SALT
We all want to fit the part in this trendy Scandinavian city. At the newly-installed SALT, you just might be able to blend in!
Like many of Oslo’s attractions, the hangout defies all boundaries of what is expected and does things their own way.
All will be left questioning whether the “village” is a spa, a concert venue, or a restaurant.
The sauna house with its own pool will make you gasp at the possibilities. If that wasn’t enough, daily entertainment from comedians, musicians, yoga coaches – you name it, anything goes out and in the saunas. And the sauna bars will never let you go thirsty.
Have you ever attended a live TED Talk in a sauna? At SALT you can!
HIMKOK
How about a bar that distills its own spirits, home grows the ingredients in the garden and has some of the most expert staff around?
Oh, and did we mention they are one of the top 50 bars in the world?
HIMKOK is a hush-hush speakeasy in downtown Oslo which in reality is Norway’s worst kept secret!
Here you can sip Avant-guard cocktails made with ingredients that rebel against the norm – the classic Scandi way.
Surprisingly, the prices aren’t steep by Oslo’s standards like you would expect. Doors are “secretly” open till 3.30 am every single day.
National Museum of Oslo
It is only right that this cultivated capital provides a museum like no other you have visited before.
The National Museum has all things art, architecture, and design for you to set your sights on.
Composed of 4 venues, with close to 50,000 items on show and more to come in June 2022, you could easily spend a few days vanishing between them all.
Enormous projects from the likes of Frida Kahlo and local legend Edvard Munch will keep you entertained. See everything from Munch’s ‘The Scream’ to an entire house to free roam by one of the most impactful Norwegian architects to have walked the earth.
Jewelry and clothes, to housing design, woodwork, and paintings you cannot conceive aren’t photographs. This museum is no ordinary place.
Nordmarka
One of the most enthralling of Oslo’s qualities is the vast nature that lies in the back garden of its city center. Nordmarka takes the cookie on this one.
For anyone in search of some outdoor fun, the capital’s favorite woodland provides countless year-round opportunities for sledding, skiing, hiking, and fishing.
With nothing but the echo of nature, there are trails to indulge every desire.
Bring a tent and plenty of layers to encounter magnificent views of the stars. Or, for coziness, call for a room and a bite to eat at one of the lodges.
We guarantee you forget you are less than a half-hour from the bustling center.
Oslo Cathedral
If you are a fan of visiting cathedrals wherever you go, the one in Oslo is not to be missed. And even if you think cathedrals are dreary, hands down this will change your mind. In short, everyone must go to take a look at Oslo Cathedral!
It will almost certainly be the most artistic cathedral you visit in your lifetime. Just take its grand royal pulpit and breathtaking ceiling art for reference.
For the full experience attend a Saturday organ recital during summer, or mass which occurs every Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday.
It is no surprise the cathedral is the monarchs’ and government’s pick.
Akershus Fortress
Step into a segment of royal history at the efficiently central Akershus Fortress.
Its renaissance gardens are free to roam and particularly enchanting for picnics on summer days. Or be your own tour guide and see the medieval castle walls.
It is the perfect opportunity to grow your understanding of what life was like in 13th century Oslo. For a small fee, you can explore the castle’s interior which gives an insight into medieval royal life.
History fanatics should swing by the museums on-site to learn about Norway during the past centuries.
Vikings
While in Norway it is only right to dedicate some time doing something Viking-related!
The previous rulers of the country left insightful artifacts in burial grounds around the area that can be seen at Oslo museums.
Unfortunately, the main Viking Ship Museum is temporarily closed for renovation until 2026; you can still learn about the local Norsemen here.
The Museum of Cultural History has an exhibit devoted to Viking discoveries, including the only known Viking helmet.
You won’t get closer to a Viking than at The Viking Planet. The one-of-a-kind interactive exhibition invites you with holograms, a cinema, and even pic opportunities with a Viking!
Prepare for battle, as their VR exhibit is soon to be reopened.
Nobel Peace Center
With interactive exhibits, the Nobel Peace Center is the one and only place to learn about the Nobel Peace Prize and each of its laureates. Many travels to Oslo just to find out about the company behind the Nobel Peace Award.
Complete the Alfred Nobel Mystery, similar to an escape room, whilst learning about the founder of the company.
Every Friday at noon during the summer months, you can watch as they release the peace dove. There is also a mobile app that leads you around the city, teaching you about the Oslo origins of the prize.
Oslo Christmas Markets
Oslo provides the supreme Christmas. With so much to see and do, if you land your trip in November/December you are in luck.
You can rest assured you will have a white Christmas, setting the backdrop to a T for a winter wonderland of themed markets and fairs.
Have a magical Christmastime fuelled with sizzling julepølse sausages, hot gløgg, and Norwegian doughnuts.
Spikersuppa takes over the city center with wooden huts that don’t look at all out of place near the year-round ice rink. They brandish a Ferris wheel, a chance to visit Santa’s grotto and scrumptious food stalls.
Meanwhile SALT throws its own version of the bash where you can purchase gifts with an edge and sweat off the Juleøl in their inviting sauna.
Most people turn to The Folk Museum for a traditional take. The center puts on a heartwarming journey through Christmas in a range of eras. Here you can indulge in all the Norwegian classics, including hands-on woodwork and fireplace baking!
