Top 25 Must-Do Activities in Oslo, Norway

On the northern shore of the Oslofjord, Norway’s capital and the third-largest city in Scandinavia is a contemporary and sophisticated metropolis enriched by shipping and oil industries.

Integral to the quality of life, nature is omnipresent in Oslo, with the fjord located just beyond the city limits, ensuring that natural landscapes and walking trails amidst forests and mountains are never more than a short bus ride away.

Culture in Oslo invites you to engage with iconic works such as The Scream by Edvard Munch and the poignant sculptures by Gustav Vigeland in Frogner Park.

Innovative modern projects, including the Oslo Opera House, the anticipated Munch Museum, and the Aker Brygge district, have emerged beside the water, while long-standing museums recount tales of Viking history and the remarkable feats of polar explorers, such as Roald Amundsen.

Let’s explore the best things to do in Oslo:

1. Bygdøy Peninsula

Located on the western side of Oslo, the Bygdøy Peninsula is a recurring attraction for visitors.

In addition to the Bygdøy Royal Estate, the peninsula is home to five prominent national museums: The Viking Ship Museum, the Fram Museum, the Norwegian Folk Museum, the Kon-Tiki Museum, and the Norwegian Maritime Museum.

Each museum merits a visit, and while the weather permits, this serene residential locale also provides opportunities for enjoying nature or swimming during summer.

Walking and cycling paths weave through the countryside and along the coast, complemented by inviting, sheltered beaches at Huk.

This scenic area is easily accessible, just a 20-minute ride from Oslo’s central station and bus terminal via line 30 or by boat from Pier 3 near the City Hall.

2. Viking Ship Museum

Part of the University of Oslo’s Cultural History Museum, the Viking Ship Museum showcases extraordinary artifacts from four distinct Viking burial sites around the Oslo Fjord.

This museum, situated on the Bygdøy Peninsula, features the remarkable Oseberg Ship, an intact 9th-century burial vessel excavated in 1904-05, preserved in watertight and airtight mud for centuries.

Additionally, ships from Tune and Gokstad, along with an array of artifacts buried with them, such as beds, small boats, a complete cart, tent components, wood carvings, textiles, and other treasures, are also on display.

As visitors explore, the film “Vikings Alive” enhances the experience by being projected onto the walls and ceiling, providing context about Viking burial customs.

3. Frogner Park

Accessible year-round at no charge, Frogner Park, located in Oslo’s namesake borough, is a delightful setting featuring installations by 20th-century sculptor Gustav Vigeland.

With a total of 212 sculptures made from bronze and granite sourced from Iddefjord, Vigeland’s works are strikingly realistic and occasionally surreal, depicting scenes from a man wrestling with babies to a woman controlled by a child tugging at her braided hair.

Noteworthy pieces such as the Angry Boy (Sinnataggen) have become iconic representations of Oslo.

The Angry Boy is part of a 100-meter-long ensemble known as The Bridge, spanning between the eastern Main Gate and the Fountain.

A bit further along, visitors will discover the Monolith, a towering 14.12-meter totem composed of 121 human figures; its creation took an impressive 14 years, carved from a single massive piece of granite.

4. Vigeland Museum

After exploring the sculpture park, visitors may proceed to the Vigeland Museum located in a Neoclassical building on the southern edge of the park.

This elegant structure, built in the 1920s, originally served as both the atelier and residence of Gustav Vigeland after his agreement to donate his works to the city.

Following his death, the building transitioned into a museum in 1947, preserving his private apartment on the third floor, which is largely equipped with items he designed.

As a site of Vigeland’s artistic endeavors, the museum offers insight into the artist’s process by showcasing plaster models, preparatory sketches, casts, and earlier works.

The museum also hosts occasional contemporary art exhibitions.

5. Fram Museum

Situated on Bygdøy Peninsula, this museum pays homage to the audacious polar explorers of the early 20th century, notably Fridtjof Nansen, Otto Sverdrup, and Roald Amundsen.

The focal point of this attraction is the Fram, a wooden ship utilized by all three explorers during Arctic and Antarctic expeditions between 1893 and 1912, surpassing all previous vessels by reaching greater latitudes in both the North and South.

Designed to be unusually wide and shallow, the Fram’s innovative structure allowed it to float atop ice sheets seamlessly.

Inside the Fram, visitors can learn about the challenges faced by humans and their dogs while navigating some of the harshest conditions on Earth.

The museum also exhibits Gjøa, the ship that carried Roald Amundsen through the Northwest Passage over three years until 1906. Additionally, guests can enjoy a Northern Lights show and interactive exhibits, including a polar simulator.

6. Norwegian Folk Museum

Part of the same ensemble of exceptional museums located on Bygdøy Peninsula, the Norwegian Folk Museum functions as an open-air museum that has received visitors for more than 115 years.

The collection’s foundation was established by King Oscar II in the early 1880s, highlighted by the remarkable Gol Stave Church, erected in the 12th century and relocated to the museum in 1884. This stunning structure is one of 155 historical buildings showcasing the diversity of Norway’s wooden architecture.

As you explore these beautiful historic structures, you may also delve into the indoor exhibits featuring traditional costumes, medical history, toys, handicrafts, Sami culture, tools, and weapons.

During the warmer months, visitors can engage with farm animals, enjoy carriage rides, observe traditional craft demonstrations, and learn to bake traditional lefse flatbread.

7. Norwegian National Gallery

Many visitors are drawn to this museum primarily to view Edvard Munch’s iconic painting, The Scream.

This pioneering Expressionist work is widely recognized, and visitors may be surprised to discover that it is painted on cardboard.

In addition to The Scream and another esteemed Munch piece, Madonna, the National Gallery boasts a comprehensive collection for art enthusiasts, featuring Renaissance and Baroque artworks by artists such as Lucas Cranach the Elder, El Greco, Orazio Gentileschi, Giovanni Battista Gaulli, and Jan van Goyen, alongside 19th and 20th-century masterpieces by Monet, Picasso, Renoir, and Paul Cézanne.

The gallery also showcases works by prominent Norwegian artists, including Harriet Backer, Adolph Tidemand, and Hans Gude.

8. Oslo Opera House

A captivating landmark situated right on the harbor, the Oslo Opera House, completed in 2007, is the home to the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet. Renowned for its resemblance to an iceberg, this angular structure features a façade made of white granite and Italian Carrara marble, with a main auditorium capable of accommodating 1,364 spectators.

A casual visit allows for free access to the roof, which provides magnificent views of the Oslofjord, especially glorious at sunset.

Inside, the warmth of oak surfaces counters the coolness of the exterior’s glass and stone.

In the lobby, visitors will find a wall panel designed by Olafur Eliasson, and on a platform in the fjord, there is a glass and stainless steel sculpture by Monica Bonvicini.

9. Kon-Tiki Museum

Dedicated to the expeditions of 20th-century anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl, the Kon-Tiki Museum derives its name from the balsa wood raft that Heyerdahl sailed from Peru to Polynesia in 1947. The aim of this daring voyage was to substantiate the theory that Polynesians emigrated from Central and South America to the Pacific Islands.

In another remarkable expedition, Heyerdahl sailed the papyrus reed boat Ra II from Morocco to Barbados to demonstrate the potential for ancient Egyptians to have crossed the Atlantic.

Visitors can view these two vessels, along with a replica of the Tigris, which Heyerdahl navigated from Iraq to Pakistan.

An Oscar-winning documentary about the Kon-Tiki expedition is screened daily at 12:00, complemented by artifacts, photographs, and accounts from all of Heyerdahl’s adventurous endeavors.

10. Holmenkollen Ski Museum & Tower

Offering a unique perspective on Norway’s sporting heritage and national identity, the Holmenkollbakken ski jump has hosted competitions since 1892. Notably, it was the site for the ski jumping events during the 1952 Winter Olympics and has been a venue for four FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.

The ski jump structure encompasses the Ski Museum, which traces the 4,000-year history of skiing in Norway.

Exhibits include artifacts from Norwegian polar expeditions, displaying cutting-edge skis and snowboards.

At the peak of the ski jump, visitors can access a panoramic observation deck, providing sweeping views over Oslo and its fjord.

11. Aker Brygge

Situated along the Inner Harbour, Aker Brygge represents a chic waterfront development ideal for shopping and dining.

This locale was a shipyard, Akers Mekaniske Verksted, operational for nearly 150 years until 1982, blending historic brick warehouses and factory buildings with modern constructions.

The area underwent revitalization until 2014, resulting in vibrant public spaces, upscale residences, and a wide variety of restaurants and shops focused on fashion and design.

During summer, over 2,500 outdoor seating options are available at waterfront eateries, making it a lively spot for enjoying the atmosphere while overlooking maritime activities at Pier 3 and the marina.

12. Akershus Fortress

Constructed by Haakon V of Norway in the late 13th century, this fortress, perched on a headland by the fjord, has successfully withstood numerous sieges throughout the years.

Most of these assaults were executed by Swedish forces, including Duke Eric of Södermanland in the early 14th century and King Charles XII in 1716. The fortress’s existing design dates back to the reign of King Christian IV, who relocated Oslo just north of the fortress following a fire in 1624 and modernized its defenses, incorporating an Italian Renaissance-style palace at its core.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the fortress functioned as a prison, housing infamous criminals such as Gjest Baardsen, a notorious outlaw and memoirist.

Summer visits offer guided tours of the palace and fortifications, enriching the historical experience.

13. Royal Palace

The official residence of King Harald V and Queen Sonja, the Royal Palace is a Neoclassical structure commissioned by French-born King Charles III, completed in 1849, five years posthumously.

Charles was never able to occupy the palace; the first resident was Oscar I with his wife Josephine.

Upon the dissolution of the union between Sweden and Norway, Haakon VII became the first reigning monarch to reside here.

The opulent stucco-clad palace is surrounded by the Royal Palace Park, and during summer, guided tours of the elegantly furnished state rooms are available for exploration.

If simply observing the splendid architecture is your intent, be sure to witness the changing of the guard at 13:30.

14. Oslo City Hall

Overlooking the Oslo Fjord, the City Hall is a monumental Functionalist structure inaugurated in 1950. Construction commenced nearly two decades earlier, though progress was impeded by the Second World War.

The City Hall is recognizable by its distinctive red brick façade and twin towers, standing 63 and 66 meters tall respectively.

These bricks were specially fired for this building, being larger than contemporary bricks, reminiscent of Medieval constructions.

Both the interior and exterior are adorned with interpretations of notable Norwegian historical figures created by prominent mid-20th-century artists.

Among them is Anne Grimdalen’s statue of Harald Hardrada on horseback, while the front features St. Hallvard, Oslo’s patron saint, sculpted by Nic Schiøll.

The marble-clad Main Hall is beautifully decorated with frescoes by Henrik Sørensen and Alf Rolfsen, illustrating the city’s growth and pivotal historical moments.

15. Munch Museum

The Scream and Madonna at the National Gallery may have sparked your curiosity about Norway’s most celebrated painter.

For those intrigued, a visit to the Munch Museum in Tøyen is essential.

This museum boasts a collection of over 1,200 of Munch’s paintings, constituting more than half of his body of work.

As of 2018, a selection of these pieces is on display, along with his graphic art and drawings.

This is accompanied by a rotating exhibition of contemporary Norwegian art from artists such as Per Inge Bjørlo and Lena Cronquist. At the time of this writing, while the museum was operational, preparations for the unveiling of the new Munch Museum adjacent to the Oslo Opera House were ongoing.

This new venue is anticipated to open in 2019, enabling a broader selection of this vast collection to be accessible simultaneously.

16. Ibsen Museum

Located in the residence where Henrik Ibsen spent his final eleven years, the Ibsen Museum offers an intimate insight into the life of one of Norway’s cultural icons.

After Ibsen’s passing in 1906 and that of his wife Suzannah eight years later, the interiors of this refined tenement house were dismantled and divided among Ibsen’s family and a number of museums.

Established in 1990, the museum underwent a meticulous sixteen-year restoration to recreate the building to its early 20th-century appearance.

The attention to detail is extraordinary; even textiles like curtains and tablecloths have been replicated to match the originals precisely.

Most notably, Ibsen’s study, the very space where he composed his last two plays, John Gabriel Borkman (1896) and When We Dead Awaken (1899), remains intact.

17. Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology

A short distance from Oslo, to the north, this exceptional science museum can still be accessed with relative ease via bus (23), train (L3), or tram (12).

Visitors can explore around 25 temporary and permanent exhibitions at any given time, while children can engage with over 80 interactive stations.

A highlight for young visitors is the Teknoteket, a digital workshop that encourages creativity, with high-tech tools available for constructing racing cars or inventing electronic devices.

Static exhibits showcase groundbreaking technological advancements, including the Birkeland-Eyde arc furnace displayed prominently in front, and the Tesla BS 242 Electron Microscope from 1958. The museum also features the National Museum of Medicine, exhibiting historical instruments and insights into how diseases like cholera were treated in the 19th century.

18. Norway’s Resistance Museum

One of three museums located within the Akershus Fortress, this exhibit chronicles the Norwegian Resistance during the Nazi occupation from 1940-1945. The venue is housed within the historical “Double Battery” building, completed in 1692. The museum employs a variety of materials including posters, newspaper clippings, improvised weapons, recordings, documents, and photographs to discuss significant events such as the Invasion of Norway in April 1940, the rise of a totalitarian regime, and the detention and deportation of 40,000 Norwegians.

Visitors can learn about the various groups involved in civil and military resistance, as well as their activities, which included operating clandestine radio transmitters and executing sabotage operations.

Adjacent to the museum is a memorial dedicated to Norwegian resistance members who were executed during the conflict.

19. Tjuvholmen Sculpture Park

Wandering along Aker Brygge, the exploration continues beyond the end of the wharf.

Crossing a couple of bridges, visitors will arrive at a sculpture park designed by Renzo Piano.

Situated on manicured lawns and a sandy beach by the fjord, the park features seven sculptures by renowned modern and contemporary artists, including Louise Bourgeois, Antony Gormley, Ugo Rondinone, Anish Kapoor, Ellsworth Kelly, Franz West, and Peter Fischli & David Weiss.

This park provides a stunning view of the fjord, offering perspectives towards Akershus Fortress and back towards Aker Brygge.

20. Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art

Adjacent to the sculpture park stands this striking art museum, also designed by Renzo Piano and opened in 2012. The museum encompasses three pavilions beneath a swirling, silvery glass canopy.

The museum’s collection features an impressive array of modern and contemporary artworks from renowned artists such as Francis Bacon, Sigmar Polke, Andy Warhol, Janine Antoni, Jeff Koons, Sherrie Levine, Damien Hirst, Bruce Naumann, and Olafur Eliasson.

These works are arranged in curated exhibitions and are often accompanied by temporary displays focused on specific themes or artists. At the time of writing, the temporary exhibition highlighted “Effects of Good Government in the Pit” by Norwegian artist and writer Matias Faldbakken.

21. Mathallen Food Hall

A critical hub of Oslo’s culinary scene for over five years, the Mathallen is a substantial industrial brick structure housing more than 30 restaurants, bars, street food vendors, and specialty food shops.

The building was constructed in 1908 as an iron forge within the burgeoning Vulkan industrial district.

Its cast iron beams and exposed brick walls create an evocative atmosphere perfect for international dining, culinary festivals, movie nights, quiz nights, and food-related experiences such as cooking classes and demonstrations.

During lunch hours, the dining selection reflects global influences, featuring Basque pintxos, artisanal pizza, modern Nordic cuisine, and street food from around the world.

22. University Botanical Garden

Norway’s oldest botanical garden features an impressive array of 7,500 individual species, established in 1814 in the Tøyen neighborhood.

Initially belonging to the Medieval Nonneseter Abbey, the land was later donated to the University of Christiania in 1812 by Frederick VI of Denmark. A substantial part of the garden consists of an arboretum with 1,800 different species organized scientifically.

The garden is dotted with woven sculptures by artist Tom Hare and features two greenhouses: the Palm House built in 1868 and the Victoria House established in 1876, known for its stunning Victoria water lilies.

The Scent Garden, designed specifically for visually impaired and disabled visitors, is open to everyone.

23. Tusenfryd

The largest amusement park in Norway, Tusenfryd offers an unforgettable experience for younger visitors.

Located approximately 20 kilometers south of Oslo, Tusenfryd operates from April to October and features over 30 rides and attractions.

Among these are six roller coasters, including Loopen, a steel classic for 30 years, and the high-speed Super Splash, which generates splashes up to five meters high upon landing.

Additionally, the park offers traditional games and attractions, as well as gentler rides like bumper cars, teacups, merry-go-rounds, and the recent addition of Thor’s Hammer, an exciting motion-based 3D ride.

Since 2000, the water park, BadeFryd, has also been a popular feature, featuring four slides and a pool for summertime enjoyment.

24. Oslofjord Trips

Standing on the wharfs in Oslo, one finds themselves at the northern edge of an expansive body of water that stretches southward, eventually leading into the Skagerrak strait, which is bordered by Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.

Within the fjord lie numerous kilometers of narrow channels, wooded islands adorned with holiday homes, secluded coves, and serene bays.

The simplest method to explore the fjord is to embark on a boat from Pier 3 adjacent to the City Hall.

Companies like Båtservice Sightseeing and Fjordtours offer a range of excursions, whether one seeks to enjoy iconic views from the water, such as the Oslo Opera House, the Dyna Lighthouse, the Bygdøy Peninsula, and the historic vessels moored near the Maritime Museum.

Alternatively, visitors may opt for nature tours, fishing trips, or day cruises lasting up to seven hours, with some trips even venturing to the Swedish or Danish coastline aboard a 600-horsepower RIB.

25. Pølse

Essentially, these sausages are hot dogs crafted from a blend of beef and pork, with a quintessentially Norwegian preparation method involving cooking them in beef stock. Traditionally, a pølse is served wrapped in lompe, a flatbread made from potatoes, milk, and flour.

Accompaniments often include ketchup, mustard, and additional toppings such as dried onions, remoulade, and pickles.

These sausages are commonly found at convenience stores like Narvesen, Deli de Luca, and 7-Eleven throughout Oslo, and they are a staple at barbecues and significant national celebrations, such as Norway’s National Day on May 17th. It’s noted that the average Norwegian consumes three sausages on this single occasion.

To accentuate the popularity of pølse, approximately 46,000 tons of these sausages are consumed nationwide each year, equating to over 100 kilograms for every person.