Oslo is Norway’s impressive capital, where history, modern architecture, and nature harmoniously meet. The city, embraced by fjords, is a must-visit if you’re traveling in Scandinavia!
Often called „the capital of the fjords”, Oslo is Norway’s cultural and economic center. Two-thirds of the city consists of protected forests, hills, and lakes. Its numerous parks and open spaces give it an airy and green appearance.
Table of Contents
Oslo attractions
Akershus Fortress
One of Norway’s most significant historical monuments that protected the capital for centuries.
The fortress, originally built in the 13th century, was erected by King Håkon IV to defend the city. It has been rebuilt and expanded countless times over the years, reaching its current form in the 17th-18th centuries. The fortress wasn’t just a military installation but also served as a royal residence during the Middle Ages.
Within the fortress walls is the Norwegian Resistance Museum, which presents the period of the Second World War, with special emphasis on the Norwegian resistance movement. Visitors can explore the old prison dungeons, royal halls, and bastions while enjoying an unparalleled view of the Oslo Fjord.
Royal Palace and Park
The official residence of the Norwegian royal family in the heart of Oslo, an impressive neoclassical style building.
The palace was built in the first half of the 19th century after Norway separated from Denmark. Today it serves as the official residence of King Harald V and Queen Sonja, and the royal family hosts important state events here.
During the summer months, several rooms of the palace can be visited with a guide, including the impressive Banquet Hall, the Council Chamber, and parts of the royal apartments. During the visit, we can gain insight into the life of the Norwegian royal family and the history of the monarchy.
The huge park surrounding the palace is freely accessible every day of the year. The carefully maintained gardens feature fountains, statues, and flower beds, while the changing of the guard ceremony attracts curious gazes daily. Oslo’s main street, Karl Johans Gate, starts from the palace.
City Hall (Oslo Rådhus)
Oslo’s iconic building serves as the political center of the Norwegian capital and also as the venue for the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.
The monumental brick building was built between 1931 and 1950, and its distinctive twin towers are defining elements of the city’s silhouette. The interior spaces are exceptionally richly decorated: the walls are covered with huge frescoes and paintings depicting Norway’s history, folk culture, and everyday life.
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in the main hall every year on December 10, which underlines the international significance of the building. The 49 bells in the city hall tower ring several times a day. The building can be visited with a guide. It’s worth going up the tower, which offers a breathtaking view of the city and the Oslo Fjord.
Karl Johans Gate
Oslo’s main street connects the city’s two most important points, the Royal Palace and Oslo Central Station.
The street was named after King Charles XIV John of Sweden and Norway, who played a significant role in shaping modern Oslo. They began developing it in the early 19th century, and it gradually became the city’s representative main street. Today, Oslo’s most important public buildings are located along the road, including the University, the Parliament (Storting) building, and the National Theatre.
Elegant shops, cafes, and restaurants line both sides of the street. The area is especially lively in summer.
Vigeland Sculpture Park
The world’s largest sculpture park created by a single artist, showcasing more than 200 works by Gustav Vigeland.
Located in Frogner Park, the sculpture park is one of Oslo’s most visited tourist attractions. Vigeland worked on the grandiose creation between 1924 and 1943, depicting different stages and relationships of human life. The central axis of the park is an 850-meter-long promenade, with bronze and granite sculptures symmetrically arranged.
The central element of the park is the 17-meter-high Monolith Column, carved from a single granite block, depicting 121 intertwined human figures. This impressive creation symbolizes the cycle of life from birth to death.
Perhaps the park’s most iconic sculpture is the Sinnataggen (Angry Boy), depicting a stomping child. The bridge leading from the main entrance of the park towards the central square is decorated with 58 bronze sculptures, showing a wide range of human relationships, from loving embraces to dramatic conflicts.
Ekebergparken Sculpture Park
The sculpture park on Ekeberg Hill opened to the public in 2013 and has since become one of the city’s most exciting cultural venues.
The 25-hectare park features works by internationally recognized artists, including Salvador Dalí, Louise Bourgeois, Marina Abramović, and James Turrell.
Ekebergparken is not only significant from an artistic point of view but also has historical value. Stone Age rock carvings can be found in the area, and part of the park is a nature reserve with rich flora and fauna. One of Oslo’s most beautiful panoramas opens from here.
Opera House
One of Oslo’s boldest and most modern architectural masterpieces, and among the world’s leading contemporary opera houses.
The building, opened in 2008, was designed by Snøhetta architecture firm and immediately gained international recognition for its special design reminiscent of an iceberg. The Opera House’s roof, covered with white Carrara marble, is actually a spacious public area that visitors can walk on, offering a wonderful view of the Oslo Fjord.
The interior spaces are just as impressive as the exterior. The main hall is lined with carved oak panels, providing exceptional acoustics. The Opera House is home to the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet and offers high-quality performances throughout the year.
Aker Brygge
One of Oslo’s most attractive waterfront districts is a blend of historical industrial past and modern urban life.
The area, once operating as a shipyard, was transformed into a diverse, multifunctional urban district in the 1980s. Today it’s one of the liveliest parts of the city, housing shops, offices, apartments, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
Boat services to the islands of the Oslo Fjord depart from the harbor, and the Tjuvholmen art district is also located here. It’s especially full of life on summer evenings when locals and tourists enjoy the long, bright nights and vibrant atmosphere.
Oslo Botanical Garden
The garden is home to more than 5,500 plant species and is an important research and conservation site for Norwegian biodiversity.
It was founded in 1814 and is now part of the Natural History Museum of the University of Oslo. The 43-hectare area is divided into various thematic gardens showcasing the flora of different regions of the world, with special emphasis on northern flora. A specialty of the garden is the Arctic-Alpine Botanical Garden, which presents rare plants from the Arctic Circle and high mountains.
One of its most important parts is the Victoria House, where tropical aquatic plants, including the giant Victoria water lily, can be seen. The garden also features the Scent Garden, specifically designed for the visually impaired, where plants can be discovered through scents and touch.
The garden is open to visitors all year round and shows a different face in every season: blooming bulbous plants in spring, the rose garden in summer, colorful foliage in autumn, and snowy landscape in winter. The café in the garden offers food and drinks made from local ingredients, often flavored with herbs and spices grown in the garden.
Holmenkollen Ski Jump and Museum
An international symbol of winter sports with more than 100 years of history.
The ski jump located on Holmenkollen Hill is an iconic element of Oslo’s panorama. The first jump was built in 1892, and it has been rebuilt and modernized countless times since then. The current futuristic design jump was built for the 2011 Ski World Championships, and with its 134-meter critical point, it is one of the world’s most modern such facilities. The steel and concrete structure of the jump is a bold architectural solution.
The world’s oldest ski museum is located in the tower of the ski jump, which also showcases more than 4,000-year-old ski remains. Its interactive exhibitions present the history of skiing and ski sports, as well as the story of Norwegian expeditions and polar explorers, including Roald Amundsen. The jump’s lookout offers a breathtaking 360-degree panorama of Oslo and the Oslo Fjord.
Visitors can try out what it might feel like to ski down the steep jump on a ski simulator and experience the excitement of ski jumping through virtual reality. Cross-country ski tracks and hiking trails are built in the area, attracting nature lovers in both winter and summer. Holmenkollen hosts a Ski Jumping World Cup round every year, which is one of Norway’s biggest sporting events.
All information can be found here!
National Museum
Norway’s largest art museum presents a comprehensive collection of Norwegian and international art from ancient times to the present day.
The new building, opened in 2022, is located in the center of Oslo, close to the City Hall and the Aker Brygge district. The monumental, modern building is a remarkable architectural creation in itself. The museum unites the collections of the former National Gallery, Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, and Architecture Museum, creating Norway’s treasure trove of culture.
The museum’s most famous treasure is Edvard Munch’s painting „The Scream” which is among the world’s most iconic artworks. In addition, visitors can view works by painters of Norwegian National Romanticism (J.C. Dahl, Adolph Tidemand, Hans Gude), as well as international masters such as Picasso, Matisse, Van Gogh, and Monet. A special part is the Light Hall, a huge, light-filled gallery on the top of the building that hosts temporary exhibitions.
All information can be found here!
Viking Ship Museum
One of the most unique museums commemorates the Vikings’ impressive seafaring abilities and rich culture.
The museum, located on the Bygdøy Peninsula, features 9th-century Viking ships excavated from burial sites around the Oslo Fjord. The most remarkable of these is the Oseberg ship, built in 834 and used as a burial ship for a noble Viking woman. The perfectly preserved hull and the rich grave goods found inside, including carved sleds, beds, clothes, and everyday items, provide insight into the rituals of life and death in the Viking Age.
The museum also displays the Gokstad ship, which was the largest naval warship of the era, and the remains of the Tune ship. The exhibition is complemented by interactive elements showing the shipbuilding techniques, navigation methods, and trade routes of the Vikings.
A special feature of the museum is the 360-degree panoramic film that virtually revives the Viking Age and guides visitors through the dangerous and exciting journeys of Viking sailors on the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
All information can be found here!
Munch Museum
The museum dedicated to the world-famous Norwegian expressionist painter Edvard Munch houses the largest collection of the artist’s legacy.
The new Munch Museum opened its doors in 2021 in the Bjørvika district, not far from the Opera House. The 13-story building with bold lines was designed by Spanish architect Juan Herreros and is recognizable from a distance by its slanted roof section.
The collection contains more than 26,000 works, including paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, and sculptures that Munch left to the city. Visitors can follow the artist’s development, see his iconic works such as „Madonna”, „The Sick Child” and several versions of „The Scream”.
All information can be found here!
Fram Museum
This unique museum commemorates the history of Norwegian polar expeditions, centered around the world’s strongest polar research vessel, the legendary Fram.
The main attraction of the museum located on the Bygdøy Peninsula is the Fram ship, built in 1892 specifically for navigation among polar ice. The ship participated in three famous expeditions: Fridtjof Nansen’s Arctic journey between 1893-1896, Otto Sverdrup’s West Greenland expedition between 1898-1902, and Roald Amundsen’s South Pole expedition between 1910-1912, during which they were the first to reach the South Pole.
The uniqueness of the museum is that visitors can not only admire the ship from the outside but also step onto the deck and explore the narrow cabins, the captain’s cabin, the engine room, and the dining room where the brave polar explorers lived during their long expeditions.
Its interactive exhibitions present the difficulties of polar exploration, extreme climatic conditions, and techniques necessary for survival. The Gjøa Hall displays the first ship to navigate the Northwest Passage, further enriching the collection presenting the history of Norwegian polar expeditions.
All information can be found here!
Oslo weather: when is the best time to travel here?
Oslo has a four-season continental climate that includes warm summers and cold, snowy winters.
Spring (March-May):
Spring gradually warms up, and the days get longer. The average temperature ranges between 3-15°C, and the amount of precipitation is moderate. Trees start to turn green and plants begin to bloom from the end of April, making the city’s parks particularly beautiful. Pleasant weather can be expected from mid-May, and the number of tourists also gradually increases.
Summer (June-August):
Summer in Oslo is pleasant and mild, rarely too hot. The average temperature ranges between 15-25°C, although heat waves above 30°C can occur. During the summer months, the days are extremely long; in June and July, it barely gets dark, allowing sightseeing 24 hours a day. The „white nights” give the city a special atmosphere.
Autumn (September-November):
Autumn is gorgeous in Oslo as the foliage in the city’s parks and surrounding forests turns red, yellow, and gold. The average temperature gradually decreases, ranging between 0-15°C. Pleasant, summery weather is still common in early September, while by the end of November, winter cold may set in.
The amount of precipitation increases in autumn, so it’s worth packing an umbrella and waterproof footwear. From the end of October, the days noticeably shorten; it gets dark around 4-5 p.m.
Winter (December-February):
Winter in Oslo is cold and snowy, with average temperatures between -5 and 0°C, but periods of frost below -15°C can occur. Snowfall is regular, and the snow cover usually remains from December to March. Days in winter are extremely short; the light period is only 6 hours in December and January.
Best time to travel
The most ideal period for visiting Oslo is the summer months from late May to mid-August, when the weather is pleasant, the days are long, and the city shines in its full splendor. As an alternative, mid-September is also an excellent choice, when the weather is still pleasant, the autumn colors are beautiful, and there are fewer tourists. The winter months are primarily attractive for fans of winter sports and those hunting for the Northern Lights.