Like any major city, Oslo offers a wide range of options, so there should be something to suit everyone.

The Norwegian capital is ideal for combining outdoor excursions – which are easily accessible by metro – with sports (particularly skiing) and museum visits.

Compare flight prices to Oslo

Modern architecture and sights

You won’t find many world-famous historical monuments in Oslo, but the city will appeal to lovers of modern architecture.

The city skyline is currently dominated by theBjørvikadistrict near the main railway station, with its many modern buildings.

And it is in this district that you’ll come across Norway’s most famous building – the new Norwegian OperaHouse, built in 2008.

Right next to it stands the Munch Museum, which, in addition to its valuable collections, boasts one of the most striking modern buildings in Oslo.

You’ll also discover gems of modern architecture in the form of the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art on the island of Tjuvholmen, the new National Museum building, the Holmenkollen ski jump and the iconic red-brick City Hall dating from 1950.

Oslo’s main cathedral is a prime example of the city’s historical monuments.

Museum tour

Oslo stands out for its extraordinary concentration of superb museums, which are well worth travelling to from across Europe, at the very least.

Most of the museums are located on the Bygdøy peninsula. Here you can visit the popular open-air museum linked to the folklore museum, the centre for Holocaust studies, or the four museums dedicated to the sea and maritime expeditions.

The most famous attraction on the Bygdøy peninsula is undoubtedly the Fram Museum, home to the original large expedition shipFram, on which famous Norwegian explorers set out to discover the Arctic at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Other famous museums are mainly located in the centre of Oslo:

• The Munch Museum
• The National Museum
• Nobel Peace Centre
• Astrup Fearnley Museum
• Ski Museum
• 👉 Our tip: find out whether the Oslo Pass discount card is worth it for you

Island tour

If the weather’s on your side, take a trip around the enchanting Oslo Fjord and stop off at a few of the small islands, which are ideal for walks and even a dip in the sea.

Several private companies operate cruises on the Oslo Fjord, but we definitely recommend using the regular scheduled ferries, which stop at all the islands and operate on the standard Ruter fare system.

Compare hotels in Oslo from the cheapest

Which islands should you visit?

We’d recommend visiting these little islands, some of which we describe in detail in the ‘Places’ section:

• Hovedøya– ideal for walks in the park, enjoying the views or visiting the monastery ruins
• Lindøya – get a taste of local life and stroll amongst the picturesque, colourful houses
• Gressholmen – a great place for walks through the woods, stunning views from several hills and a visit to the historic lighthouse
• Langøyene– an island popular for its beautiful beach

Ruter ferry services

To get to the islands, you can use the ferry services that form part of the public transport network. All routes depart from Aker Brygge.

Standard fares apply, including day tickets and long-term travel passes.

Detailed information on travelling by boat is provided in the Transport section.

Sightseeing cruises

Cruises on the Oslofjord are also popular with tourists, but they do not stop at the islands.

Prices for a 1.5-hour cruise are around 410 nok, which is almost 10 times as much as a standard Ruter ticket for a regular ferry service.

Sightseeing cruises are operated by the following companies, for example:

• Oslofjord
• Norway Yacht Charter

Hiking

Oslo enjoys a superb location between the fjord and the mountains, with endless, dense forests.

The combination of the natural surroundings and Oslo’s relatively small size creates excellent opportunities for hiking. You could easily spend a week here enjoying walks through the woods, along the coast or by the rivers.

The most popular areas for walking right in the city are onthe Bygdøy peninsulaor along the 8 km-long park that follows the course of the River Akerselva.

There is a much wider choice of walking routes on the northern outskirts, where you can easily reach the forest by metro – literally right at the edge of the woods.

• Metro line 5 to the Sognsvann terminus by Lake Sognsvann
• Metro Line 1 to the Holmenkollen area

You can view the marked walking routes clearly on the mapy.cz website, for example.

Skiing and adrenaline

Skiing enthusiasts will appreciate the opportunity to enjoy the slopes and hundreds of kilometres of cross-country trails right in Oslo or in the immediate vicinity.

Cross-country skiing

There are tens to hundreds of kilometres of marked and groomed trails in the Oslo area. After all, cross-country skiing is Norway’s national sport.

The most popular areas for cross-country skiing, much like the walking routes, are around LakeSognsvannand theHolmenkollen ski resort. You can find descriptions of the most popular trails, for example, on Oslo’s official tourism website:visitoslo.com/cross-country-skiing.

You can reach both places by metro, on which you can transport your skis free of charge.

And where can you hire cross-country skis in Oslo if you don’t want to bring your own equipment from home?

The largest and best-known hire shop is called Bull Ski and is located in the Holmenkollen area, near the biathlon shooting range. Prices for a one-day hire start at 499 nok, and you can find detailed information on thebullsuperski.no website.

Downhill skiing

On the northern outskirts of Oslo, you can make use of the smaller Tryvann-Wyller ski centre, which is run by Skimore Oslo.

The ski resort offers a total of9 kmof slopes, 3 chairlifts and 4 T-bar lifts.

Detailed information on prices and snow depths can be found on the official website:oslo.skimore.no/en.

There is also a ski hire shop on site, with prices starting from 500 nok per day.

You can get directly to the cable car station in the Wyller area by taking bus route 41(Wyllerløypa stop). The bus runs to Røa metro station, which is served by metro line 2.

Bus 48 runs to the Tryvann ski resort from the Voksenkollen metro station, which is served by metro line 1.

Zip Line

For fans of adrenaline sports, there is the chance to experience a thrilling zip-line ride at the famous Holmenkollen ski jump; larger groups can also abseil down the ski jump.

For more information on adrenaline-fuelled experiences at Holmenkollen, visit the websitekollensvevet.no.

Visit the ski races

Oslo is a mecca for biathlon, ski jumping and cross-country skiing.

Every March, theHolmenkollenresort hosts the World Cup in cross-country skiing, ski jumping and biathlon, complemented by various other events and competitions throughout the season.

Tickets for individual events are always available for advance purchase around 3–4 months in advance via the organiser’s official website:holmenkollenskifestival.no.

Enjoy the sauna

Although saunas originate in Norway’s neighbour to the far north, Finland, they also have a long tradition in Norway.

Visit one of Oslo’s many public saunas and, after your sauna session, enjoy a dip in the cool waters of the Oslofjord with stunning views of the Opera House or the Aker Brygge promenade.

There are essentially three types of sauna to choose from:

• Shared sauna for up to 8 people – prices from 195 nok
• Private sauna – prices from 1 300 nok
• Floating sauna – a 2-hour boat trip with a sauna, prices from 350 nok

Oslo Badstuforening offers the lowest prices, with locations in many parts of the city.

We recommend that you always book online at least 5–7 days in advance atoslobadstuforening.no.