Things to Do in Oslo, Norway
Written by Amanda Kendle
The city of Oslo is sometimes overshadowed by the popularity of travelling through the countryside of beautiful Norway, or cruising along the fjords, but visiting the Norwegian capital is very much worthwhile, too. It is home to a number of interesting museums as well as being close to some stunning scenery. Our ideas on what to do in Oslo gives some tips for some of the most interesting landmarks, museums and outdoor experiences in the city.
Oslo by ed and eddie
Landmarks of Oslo
The Oslo Radhus (Oslo City Hall) is located on the waterfront, overlooking the fjord, and is only about sixty years old. It’s famous as being the location where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded each year and the main hall is impressive, with enormous murals covering the walls.
Oslo Radhus by cebete
The Royal Palace is a 173-room building close to the city centre, and it has housed the Norwegian royal family since the early nineteenth century. During the summer season it is possible to take a tour through the inside of the palace although be aware you probably need to buy a ticket in advance (they’re available at the post office!).
Royal Palace by Pal Nordseth
The new, architectural prize-winning Opera House is worth a look, even if you don’t get a ticket to see any Norwegian Opera & Ballet performances. It is shaped like a ship and during the summer you can climb up the slopes of the building to get a great view over Oslo.
Oslo’s Opera House by VisitOslo
Museums in Oslo
The National Gallery (Nasjonalgalleriet) has both a good international art collection (artists like Gauguin, Picasso and Cezanne feature), but the main attraction is the collection of works by Norwegian artists. Munch’s famous “The Scream” is on display here, rather than at the Munch Museum. One bonus of the National Gallery is that entrance is free, as some other Oslo museums are a little pricey.
National Gallery by sprklg
If you are an Edvard Munch fan and want to see more than “The Scream”, then you should head to the Munch Museum. As you’d imagine, it is full of Munch paintings – in fact, now more than half of his entire collection of paintings are housed here, as well as at least one copy of each of his prints.
Munch Museum by ed and eddie
And if literature is more your thing, then a visit to the Ibsen Museum is a must. It is housed in the house where Henrik Ibsen lived from 1895 until he died in 1906 and it has been recently restored to be a very accurate replica of how the house looked when Ibsen and his wife Suzannah lived there. Check the pavement at the front for some famous Ibsen qotes.
Ibsen Museum by Anne-Sophie Ofrim
Slightly less famous, but a museum I remember very well from my first visit to Oslo as a child, is the Kon-Tiki Museum, located on the harbour. It includes Tor Heyerdahl’s balsa raft Kon-Tiki along with other artifacts from Easter Island.
Kon-Tiki Museum by jimg944
Things to Do Outdoors in Oslo
Although swimming might not be the first thing on your mind when you think of Oslo (in my imagination it’s cold all year round!), the Frognerbadet is a very popular open-air swimming complex. It has three pools, several diving towers and a water slide and if you’re in Oslo in summer you’ll find it’s a very popular place.
Frognerbadet by dvflick
Next door is the impressive Frogner Park. It’s a large area of beautifully landscaped greenery and it also contains the Vigeland Sculpture Park. Within this you can find over two hundred full-sized sculptures by Gustav Vigeland.
Vigeland Sculpture Park by nenyaki
Unfortunately no cute wooden houses are allowed within the city centre of Oslo these days, but if you take a bus out to the suburbs, you can find some great collections of old wooden town houses. Areas that are popular including Kampen, Vålerenga, Rodeløkka and Telthusbakken.
Wooden house by uitdragerij
For water lovers (and anyone who loves great scenery) you can take a cruise along the fjord next to Oslo and explore the islands of the area. If you’re keen you can also try some of the beaches, including Hvervenbukta and Ingierstrand.
An island in Oslofjord by roger4336
If you’re visiting Norway, there’s also a Europe city guide with tips on what to do in Bergen on Europe a la Carte.
