In Oslo, Norway for a short period of time and wondering how best to spend it? Check out my 1 day itinerary of how I spent a full day in Norway’s capital city, Oslo.
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Intro
Oslo is the lively capital of Norway that offers a ton of cultural experiences with stunning natural beauty surrounding it. If you only have 1 day to explore Oslo, here’s an itinerary that will give you a taste of the city’s most iconic attractions. This itinerary will visit cultural landmarks and museums, and includes breathtaking views on the Oslofjord. Note that this itinerary is jam-packed with activities to see as much as you can in a short amount of time. So feel free to tailor this itinerary to fit your own interests, pace, and/or schedule.
Recommended Oslo City Tour
If you want to experience all the stops on this day with a live tour guide who also provides transportation, then book it here, or in the widget below. I highly recommend booking a tour so you can have a driver, guide AND you can learn as much as you can about the Oslo landmarks, history, and culture. This tour includes entry to all the stops, as well as the Oslofjord cruise in the late afternoon. Can’t get any more convenient than that 🙂
OSLO 1 DAY ITINERARY
If you decide to not take a tour and self-guide yourself around Oslo, then to make all the stops on this Oslo itinerary, you will need to limit your time at each location so that you can get a taste of each location in just 1 day. I suggest starting the day early, and booking the Oslofjord cruise at a late afternoon time. Either 4 PM, or 6 PM in June through August. Once you have your cruise time, then back-calculate how much time to allocate at each stop before needing to head to the cruise. I also provide the times I allocated each location with a scheduled 4 PM fjord cruise, but of course you can alter the allocated times to your preferences.
The above map shows all the points of interest mentioned in this Oslo itinerary.
HOW TO USE THE ABOVE OSLO MAP:
| Action | Description / Step-by-Step Instructions |
|---|---|
| Click a Colored Star Point of Interest | Shows additional information and details of the selected Point of Interest |
| Click the STAR ☆ right of the “Oslo, Norway“ | Adds the Map to your personal Google Maps account for viewing* |
| Click the Four-cornered Square at the Top Right | Opens the map in a Larger Map view in your personal Google Maps account |
| *To view the Map in your Google Maps Account (computer) | In your Google Maps, Click the “hamburger” Menu at top left → Click “Saved” → Click “Maps” → Locate “Oslo, Norway” → Click it to open the Map |
| *To view the Map in your Google Maps Account (phone) | In your Google Maps app, Click “Saved” on the bottom bar → Scroll to the bottom → Click “Maps” → Locate “Oslo, Norway” → Click it to open the Map |
Morning
10-11:30 AM: Holmenkollbakken Ski Jump
Start your day in Oslo by stopping at Holmenkollbakken, one of the world’s most famous ski jumps. The Holmenkollbakken ski jump is located on a hill overlooking the city. So if you go atop the ski jump tower, then you’ll get amazing panoramic views of Oslo and the Oslofjord. Unfortunately during my visit I did not go to the top because there was some suuuper thick cloud fog. So thick that we couldn’t even see the ski jump itself! Apparently, thick fog doesn’t happen often, but something to keep in mind in case you visit on a super cloudy day.
You are able to purchase tickets to the top of the ski jump tower (which also includes access to the Ski Museum) during your visit. There are a few more thrilling activities you can participate in too. You can experience ski jumping in the ski simulator, ziplining as if you were jumping off the ski jump, and abseiling/rappelling down from the ski jump tower. You can purchase the ski simulator experience during your visit. However the zipline and abseiling/rappelling need to be booked in advance via their website.
Additionally, the Ski Museum, which was recently renovated and reopened to the public at the end of 2023, is included in your ski jump tower ticket as well. The Ski Museum provides info on Norway’s ski history and culture. Don’t forget to stop by the shop for some souvenirs as well. Not only do they have souvenir trinkets they also sell warm clothing in case you didn’t pack warmly enough.
Holmenkollbakken Ski Jump covered in thick fog • photos by Jeanie A
12-1:00 PM: Vigeland Sculpture Park
Next, head to Vigeland Park, the world’s largest sculpture park! There are more than 200 sculptures here all sculpted by a single person: Gustav Vigeland. All the sculptures in the park depict the human experience in all forms: male and female, and from young and old ages. These are found throughout the park in various poses and expressions. Interestingly, all the sculptures are also nude as this makes them timeless and agnostic to a specific time period.
Take your time to wander the park and admire the artwork. An unexpected cool piece of art that I really liked was a floor mosaic where the pattern is a labyrinth! You can actually enter through an “opening” and walk along the white mosaic tiles and go through a wall-less maze.
Don’t forget to look out for the “angry baby” sculpture! To find the baby, it is on the side of the stone bridge railing, about halfway across. The “angry baby” sculpture is famous where people will visit the park to touch the baby’s hand. People do this because they believe touching the hand will bring good luck. This part of the hand is visibly more shiny because of the constant touching of it.
I opted to not touch the baby’s hand to not further contribute to its discoloration, but to also not collect unnecessary germs and bacteria heh. But to each their own!
Vigeland Sculpture Park • photos by Jeanie A
Afternoon
1:15-2:30 PM: Fram Museum
The next stop is the Fram Museum which contains the world’s strongest ship, the Fram! The original Fram ship is on display here and it is massive!! and it is clearly built to withstand the toughest ice sheet. The ship is surrounded by exhibits where you can learn about its polar expeditions in the Arctic North Pole and the Antarctic South Pole. Also, there is a café right outside it where you can have a light lunch before heading into the Fram.
I recommend watching the short movie first which provides more information about the ship, its voyages, and the brave explorers who sailed it. Starting with this first will give you background and perspective on what you will see when you explore the museum. It also summarizes some of the surrounding exhibits so that you don’t have to spend tooo much time here so that you have time for the next museum before the cruise.
But after we watched the movie, we boarded the Fram ship via the top deck and walked through the interior. This was a really cool way to immerse myself as an early explorer aboard the ship. We got a look at how life was like and peek at living quarters and kitchen areas.
Fram Museum and the Fram Ship • photos by Jeanie A
2:40-3:20 PM: Norsk Folkemuseum
Not far from the Fram Museum is the Norsk Folkemuseum, or The Norwegian Museum of Cultural History. This is an open-air museum that provides an immersive experience to Norway’s cultural history. We saw traditional Norwegian architecture including an intricately constructed stave church from the 13th century. Not only that but we walked through reconstructed historical villages where we saw how Norwegians lived in the Middle Ages into the 20th century.
However depending on which Fjord Cruise you booked tickets for, plan to leave this museum 40 min before your Fjords Cruise departure time to make it on time.
Stave Church and Traditional Norwegian Structures • photos by Jeanie A
Late Afternoon
4-5:30 PM: Cruise of Oslofjord
When in Oslo, you must add a fjord cruise of the Oslofjord to your 1 day itinerary! The cruise is 1.5 hours long and will take you along Oslo’s waterfront and through the surrounding islands. You’ll see Oslo waterfronts, unique lighthouses, and colorful houses. The stunning scenery will add another memorable experience to your Oslo itinerary, and also provides a different perspective of the natural beauty of this city.
I also recommend downloading the “Voice of Norway” app before the cruise. Then once you’re on the boat, play the Oslofjord audio guide and put on your earbuds. The app will detect your location as the boat goes through “checkpoints” and will automatically play and provide interesting information of the area and landmarks as you pass them.
If it’s not too cold outside, I recommend being on the outdoor deck facing forward. I more or less stayed on this front outdoor deck so that I can see ahead of the boat and admire the panoramic views. It also maximized what I was looking at while listening to the audio guide too. Also, I wore a jacket and I was still pretty cold, so I recommend bringing layers to keep warm if you plan to be on an exterior deck the whole time like I was!
I saw so many neat things on this Oslofjord cruise! There were contemporary buildings such as the Oslo Opera House and Fram Museum, lonely lighthouses, and traditional vibrant-colors houses. Well, and not to mention the natural beauty of the Oslofjord. Riding the cruise in the late afternoon as the sun was lowering also made the scenery look more dramatic and pretty!
Views on the Oslofjord • photos by Jeanie A
Evening
5:30+ PM: Watch the Sunset at the Oslo Opera House
The fjord cruise ends right across from the Opera House, the last stop of your day. On the way to the Opera House, there are a couple waterfront saunas where I saw participating people exit their saunas and jump right into the cold fjord waters! I can’t imagine how cold the waters were, but apparently hot sauna-ing and cold-water-jumping is great for your body! I opted to not do this, but if this interests you, go for it!!
As I approached the iconic Opera House, I immediately admired its striking contemporary design with a full glass face and sharp corners. Its design allows visitors to walk along the sides which lead right up to the roof. It’s a great spot to watch the sunset and enjoy the surrounding views of the city and the fjord.
While here, I really admired the reflection of the sky and sunset against the glass face of the opera house too. It made for some really cool photos. If you have time and if there’s an event, see if you can catch an evening performance at the Opera House.
Oslo Opera House During Sunset • photos by Jeanie A
Dinner near the City Center
Find a nearby restaurant for dinner to enjoy some Nordic cuisine. If you’re not pooped out yet, then have some drinks to end your jampacked day in Oslo. I was actually so tired from the day, I decided to eat at the restaurant at my hotel, Thon Hotel Opera, and went up to my room to prep for the next day. The Thon Hotel Opera is only a short walk from the Oslo Opera House, and right next to the Oslo Central Train Station where my next day began.
Final Words
This 1 day itinerary in Oslo covers its main highlights by visiting cultural attractions and admiring its natural beauty from the water. I hope this 1 day itinerary helps you plan your visit to the beautiful city of Oslo. Bon Voyage!
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Have you been to Oslo, Norway? What was your experience like – I’d love to hear your thoughts!
