Sentrum
First-timersAround the station, the opera and Karl Johans gate.
Oslo city guide
Things To Do In Oslo
A capital at the head of a fjord, with an opera house you can walk on, harbour saunas, forest at the end of the metro line and some of the best museums in Scandinavia. Expensive, and easier on the budget than you would think.
5
Hostels in the city
8.9
Average, from 2,692 reviews
2022
The National Museum opens
200+
Sculptures in Vigeland Park
20 min
To the forest by metro
A capital between fjord and forest
Oslo sits at the head of the Oslofjord, with islands in front of it and the Oslomarka forest behind. In twenty minutes on the metro you can go from the waterfront to lakes and hiking trails, and in summer the islands in the fjord are reached on ordinary city ferries.
The waterfront has been rebuilt in the last twenty years: the white marble opera house slopes into the water so you can walk up onto the roof, the new Munch Museum towers over the harbour, and floating saunas are moored along the quays.
Oslo is expensive, but much of what is best is free: the opera roof, Vigeland Park, the fortress, the fjord swimming and the forest. Two or three days is right before heading west to the fjords.
Where to stay
The centre is compact. Stay near the station or in Grünerløkka for the bars.
Grünerløkka
NightlifeBars, cafés and the river.
Bjørvika
The waterfrontThe Opera House and the Munch Museum.
Frogner
A calmer stayNear Vigeland Park.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 4 top-rated hostels. Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Oslo
Walk up the sloping roof of the Opera House for the view over the fjord; it is free and open at all hours. Next to it, the Munch Museum holds the largest collection of Edvard Munch's work, including versions of The Scream.
The National Museum, opened in 2022, is the largest art museum in the Nordic countries. Vigeland Park has more than 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland and is free.
Take the ferry to the Bygdøy peninsula for the Fram Museum, with the polar ship inside, the Kon-Tiki Museum and the open-air Norwegian Folk Museum. The Viking Ship Museum is closed while it is rebuilt as the Museum of the Viking Age, due in 2027.
In summer, swim in the harbour and warm up in one of the floating saunas on the waterfront. Take the metro to Holmenkollen for the ski jump and the view, or to Sognsvann for a forest lake.
Free things
Free things to do in Oslo
The Opera House roof, Vigeland Park and the grounds of Akershus Fortress are free.
Harbour swimming at Sørenga and the island ferries in the fjord cost only a normal transport ticket.
The forest, lakes and trails of the Oslomarka are free and reachable by metro.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Oslo
Eating out in Oslo is expensive: a restaurant main is €30 to €45. Mathallen, a food hall in a former factory by the river, is the best place for good food at more manageable prices.
Supermarkets — Rema 1000, Kiwi and Coop — are what most travellers use, and a packed lunch is what Norwegians eat too.
Worth paying for once: a fish soup or shrimp on the waterfront, and a cinnamon bun, kanelbolle, from a bakery.
Nightlife
Going out in Oslo
Grünerløkka, a former working-class district along the Akerselva river, has the best bars in the city. The waterfront at Aker Brygge is pricier and more polished.
A beer in a bar is €10 to €13. Norwegians pre-drink at home and go out late, and supermarkets stop selling beer in the evening, so plan ahead.
Getting around
Getting around Oslo
The centre is walkable, and Ruter's metro, trams, buses and ferries cover the rest on one ticket. A 24-hour ticket is good value, and the island ferries are included.
From Gardermoen Airport, the Flytoget express reaches the centre in about twenty minutes; regular Vy trains take a little longer and cost less.
Trains reach Bergen in about seven hours, one of the great rail journeys, and Trondheim in about six and a half.
Costs
What Oslo costs
Oslo is expensive. Dorms start around €38, a restaurant main is €30 to €45, and a beer €10 to €13. A careful day is €70 to €90.
Much of the best is free, and supermarkets keep food costs down.
The currency is the Norwegian krone, and Norway is close to cashless: cards work everywhere. Prices here are euro equivalents.
More on costs in Oslo
Safety
Staying safe in Oslo
Oslo is very safe.
Pickpockets work around the central station and Karl Johans gate. In winter, pavements are icy.
Emergency numbers are 112 for police, 113 for ambulance and 110 for fire.
Day trips from Oslo
Islands, forest and the start of the fjord routes.
Oslofjord islands
Hovedøya and the other islands, with beaches and ruins.
Holmenkollen
The ski jump and a view over the city.
Day trips from Oslo
What's on
What is on while you are there
Constitution Day on 17 May fills the streets with parades.
Staff pick
7 November
Oslo Film Festival
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Staff pick
26 November
The Sheepdogs
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2 October
Blomst
You can experience a unique and lively punk rock garage show with Blomst as they celebrate 15 years plus life itself. The event promises…
2 October
Home Free
The American vocal group Home Free brings their unique blend of country, pop, and a cappella to Oslo Spektrum. Expect a night filled with…
3 October
Brenn.
brenn. brings a distinctive blend of Norwegian rock and pop with a dynamic live presence. Their self-titled fourth album marks a new chapter, produced…
5 October
Sooshi Mango
Australia's biggest comedy trio, Sooshi Mango, brings their hugely successful HOME MADE show to Europe in 2026. The trio, known for their viral videos…
8 October
Yard Act
You can experience Yard Act live at Rockefeller in Oslo, where the Leeds quartet brings their dynamic indie rock and post-punk sound. The band…
9 October
Laibach
The legendary avant-garde band Laibach is returning to Oslo. On October 9, 2026, they will perform at Rockefeller, featuring new material as well as…
Hostels
Where to stay in Oslo
The top-rated places to stay in Oslo right now, live from Hostelworld.
When to go
May to September is best. 17 May is the biggest day of the year.
Jan
Cold and dark
Feb
Skiing
Mar
Holmenkollen
Apr
Spring
May
17 May
Jun
Long evenings
Jul
Summer
Aug
Øya
Sep
Good
Oct
Autumn
Nov
Dark
Dec
Christmas
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. Winters are cold and dark.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in kroner locally; these are euro equivalents.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Oslo travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Oslo worth visiting?
Yes. The opera house, the Munch and National museums, Vigeland Park and the fjord make two or three days very worthwhile.
Is Oslo expensive?
Yes, but much of the best is free, and supermarkets keep food affordable.
Is the Viking Ship Museum open?
No. It is closed while it is rebuilt as the Museum of the Viking Age, due in 2027.
How do I get from the airport?
Flytoget takes about twenty minutes; regular Vy trains are cheaper.
Can you swim in Oslo?
Yes, in the harbour in summer, with floating saunas nearby.
How far is Bergen?
About seven hours by train, one of Europe's great rail journeys.
When is the best time to visit?
May to September.
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