Visit trendy Oslo

Oslo - a unique capital

Oslo’s location gives the city natural qualities you may not expect from a capital – within the city limits you can go skiing, swimming and kayaking as well as make excursions to picturesque islands.
You can go swimming in the middle of the centre – at Tjuvholmen pedestrian area, as well as the Sørenga, at the far end of the waterfront.
In winter it is a common sight to see people carrying skis on the tube and the trams, on their way to the skiing trails.

Oslo Opera House

The beautiful Oslo Opera House, designed by the well-known Norwegian architects Snøhetta, opened in 2008. The building is as much landscape as architecture.
The Opera House is beautifully located at the Bjørvika waterfront of Oslo, a short walk from Oslo Central Station. You can walk on the roof, offering a scenic view of the Oslofjord.
Read more about the Opera House

Astrup Fearnley Museum

The spectacular wooden structure of the Astrup Fearnley Museum of contemporary art, designed by the world-renowned architect Renzo Piano, opened in 2012.
The museum consists of two separate buildings, linked together with bridges connecting the roofs, with a beautiful canal in between. There is a tiny beach as well, and a tiny sculpture park.
The museum is located at the far end of the Aker Brygge – Tjuvholmen waterfront – a vibrant and popular pedestrian area.

Oslo City Hall

The two-tower City Hall is a well known landmark in Oslo, facing the main waterfront with the Rådhusplassen square, inaugurated in 1950. The exterior as well as the interior is decorated by various artists.

Nobel Peace Prize ceremony:
On December 10 each year, Oslo City Hall hosts the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.

Edvard Munch in the City Hall: You will find a large painting by Edvard Munch in the so-called Munch Room, accessible during the regular opening hours of the City Hall.

Edvard Munch

– the most famous Norwegian painter. His best known work “The Scream” has become one of the iconic images of world art!

Wall paintings in the University Aula: a major work in Norwegian monumental painting includes 11 Edvard Munch’s paintings – “The Sun, History and Alma Mater”. The University Aula is located in the old University building at Karl Johans gate main street.

Edvard Munch Museum:
The old museum at Tøyen closed its doors in 2020, and a brand new museum opened 22 October 2021 in  Bjørvika.

The new Edvard Munch Museum

Lambda is tailor-made for the worlds largest collection of art by Edvard Munch – it will be the number one destination for experiencing Edvard Munch’s life and art.

The museum is located in the Bjørvika waterfront area – with modern buildings, restaurants & easy access to the seashore. It is located a short walk from Oslo Central train Station.

The new museum has 11 galleries consisting of more than 200 of Edvard Munch´s works. The museum offers you an insight to Edvard Munch´s art and life, as well as work by other Modernist and contemporary artists in dialogue with Munch.

Oslo’s waterfront

You will find an extensive waterfront in Oslo; a 10-km walk along Oslo’s new harbour promenade offers highlights such as the Aker Brygge & Tjuvholmen pedestrian waterfront, the Rådhusplassen square in front of the City Hall & modern Bjørvika with the Opera House.

An urban adventure unlike any other: The beautiful Oslofjord on one hand, with world-class architecture, culture and food on the other.

The picturesque Christiania Torv is located a couple of minutes walk from the Rådhusplassen square.

More attractions in Oslo

Oslo offers more interesting attractions, such as the amazing Vigeland Sculpture Park – exhibiting art works by the Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland.
The tiny “Angry Boy” is the most known of the sculptures in the park, although it is one of the tiniest.

The Viking Ship Museum (closed for renovation until 2025/2026), the Fram Polar Ship Museum & the Kon-Tiki Museum are located on the beautiful Bygdøy peninsula, offering scenic waterfront trails.
The museums & the peninsula is easily accessible by public boat service during the summer season, and public bus the rest of the year.

The Holmenkollen ski jump with a marvellous view of Oslo, the tiny Ski Museum & the picturesque, wooden Holmenkollen Chapel.

You can visit the main attractions of Oslo on a scheduled sightseeing trip.

Oslo's green lungs

You will find several centrally located green lungs & recreational areas in Oslo:
The Frogner Park with the Vigeland sculpture area, easily accessible a short tram trip from the city centre (tram #12 to Majorstua).

Akerselva river Park – an amazing 8 km eco-park, with walking trails along the scenic river as well as cascading waterfalls. You can easily walk from the city centre to the city end of the river, in the trendy Grünerløkka area.

Off the beaten path in Oslo

Grünerløkka – a former working class neighbourhood on the east side of the city, offering tiny shops, restaurants & cafés, as well as the Akerselva river.

Mathallen food market at Vulkan is located in a former factory building at Grünerløkka, offering local produce & international food as well as restaurants & cafés, well worth a visit.

You can see authentic, tiny wooden houses & picturesque, narrow streets at Fredensborg – a former working class area located between the city centre and Grünerløkka.

Frogner area on the west side of the city – traditionally a “posh” neighbourhood, with elegant apartments, the authentic Gimle Movie Theatre (showing movies in original language with Norwegian subtitles), nice restaurants & coffee shops. The elegant Bygdøy Allé shopping street is located in Frogner area, within walking distance from the city centre.

Nordmarka hills and woodlands

– Popular recreational areas named “Marka” among Norwegians.
Taking a Sunday walk in “Marka” is a typical, Norwegian feature!
In winter, there is a vast number of cross-country skiing trails, as well as down-hill slopes at Tryvann.
An easy way of getting to Nordmarka is taking the tube to Sognsvann, then hike around the Sognsvann lake – a 3-km, easy walk.
• What makes Oslo unique
• See our Oslo picture gallery

Public transport in Oslo

Oslo is an eco-friendly capital with an excellent public transportation system, with tube lines, the iconic blue trams, buses as well as boat services to the islands.

You can travel by the public transportation system around the city, to the Nordmarka forests as well as to the scenic islands in the Oslofjord.

Oslo in winter

Oslo may experience periods of quite cold temperatures during the winter months, as well as snow. The mean temperature is between 0 and minus 5 degrees Celsius in winter.

If you would like to visit Oslo in winter, you can combine the stay with a Northern Lights trip to Arctic Norway.
About winter in Norway

In summer you can combine your Oslo visit with a trip to the amazing Norwegian fjords, on a Fjord round trip.