Best 7 Things to do in Oslo, Norway

So you’ve made it to Oslo, but what should you actually do here? I’ve rounded up 7 of the best experiences to help you make the most of your visit to Oslo, Norway.

Table of Contents

• Intro
• Recommended Oslo City Tour
• Oslo Attractions Map
• 7 Things to Do in Oslo
  • Art & Views
    • 1. Oslofjord Cruise
    • 2. Oslo Opera House
    • 3. Vigeland Sculpture Park
  • Culture & History
    • 4. Holmenkollbakken Ski Jump
    • 5. Kon-Tiki Museum
    • 6. Fram Musem
    • 7. Norsk Folkemuseum
• Where To Stay in Oslo
• Norway Travel Guides
• Final Words
• Travel Resources

Intro

Oslo, Norway has a mix of culture, history, and nature. You can visit an iconic ski jump, immerse yourself in Norwegian history, and take a cruise through the Oslofjord. There’s just so much to see and do but I’ve gathered the 7 best things to do while in Oslo.

Recommended Oslo City Tour

If you want to experience all the things on this list 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 Attractions Map

The above map shows all the points of interest mentioned in this Oslo post.

HOW TO USE THE ABOVE OSLO, NORWAY MAP:

1. Oslofjord Cruise

When in Oslo, you must add a fjord cruise of the Oslofjord to your 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 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.

Views on the Oslofjord • photos by Jeanie A

2. Oslo Opera House

The iconic Opera House has a 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. 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 • photos by Jeanie A

3. Vigeland Sculpture Park

Vigeland Park is 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.

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 because they believe touching the hand will bring good luck.

Vigeland Sculpture Park • photos by Jeanie A

4. Holmenkollbakken Ski Jump

Holmenkollbakken is 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. The Ski Museum was recently renovated and reopened to the public at the end of 2023, and is included in your ski jump tower ticket as well. The Ski Museum provides info on Norway’s ski history and culture.

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.

Holmenkollbakken Ski Jump covered in thick fog • photos by Jeanie A

5. Kon-Tiki Museum

The Kon-Tiki Museum holds artifacts of Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon-Tiki expeditions and his interests in indigenous people and culture. You can browse the museum and get a good look at the boats and rafts used on Thor’s voyages to Easter Island and the Galapagos Islands.

6. Fram Musem

The Fram Museum 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.

Here you can board the Fram ship via the top deck and walk through the ship’s interior. This is a really cool way to immerse yourself as an early explorer, where you can get a look at how life was like and peek at living quarters and kitchen areas on the ship

Fram Museum and the Fram Ship • photos by Jeanie A

7. Norsk Folkemuseum

The Norsk Folkemuseum, or The Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, is an open-air museum that provides an immersive experience to Norway’s cultural history. You can see traditional Norwegian architecture including an intricately constructed stave church from the 13th century. Not only that but you can walk through reconstructed historical villages and see how Norwegians lived in the Middle Ages into the 20th century.

Stave Church and Traditional Norwegian Structures • photos by Jeanie A

Where To Stay in Oslo

In Oslo, I stayed at the Thon Hotel Opera, which was centrally located and within walking distance to both the Oslo Opera House and the Oslo Central Train Station. Book your stay by clicking here , or check availability for your dates below and click “Search”:

Final Words

With its mix of culture, history, and nature, Oslo offers a ton of things to see and do. Plan ahead, pace yourself, and you’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for Norway’s capital and a long list of reasons to return.

Have you been to Oslo, Norway?
What was your experience like – Let me know in the comments below!