Whether you’re making the most of the midnight sun or deep in the dark depths of the northern winter, you’ll find plenty to do in Oslo, Norway’s capital city.
New openings in recent years – the Deichman Library, Munch and the National Museum – reflect the city’s commitment to preserving cultural heritage for centuries to come. And there’s plenty of artistic and literary creativity to celebrate here: Not only did local landscapes inspire artworks by painter Edvard Munch, Oslo was also home to Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen for the last 15 years of his life. If you’re planning to make the most of the city’s many museums, it’s worth buying the Oslo Pass that gives free admission to 30 different sights as well as use of the public transportation system.
The Viking Ship Museum (Vikingskipshuset) remains closed until 2026 while construction of a new state-of-the-art building is ongoing, but there are many other amazing things you can do in Oslo right now. Here are the very best.
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There’s a small collection of Munch’s paintings, including The Scream, and you’ll also spot familiar names such as Vincent van Gogh and Georgia O’Keeffe. Learn about Norway’s folk tales and legends in the Fairy Tale Room and be sure to visit the third-floor Light Hall, an unusual gallery space with walls made of a glass-and-marble composite, currently exhibiting works by contemporary Norwegian artists.
From private saunas to huge group events with comedy, DJs and theater entertainment, cultural hub SALT has a sauna that holds up to 80 people. With a maximum capacity of 10, KOK’s floating saunas are found at Aker Brygge and Bjørvika. If a slow-cook near the harbor isn’t private enough for you, book yourself on a KOK cruise. The whole unit is a boat that can dock at a more secluded part of the fjord. Be sure to jump in, either from the roof or straight from the deck – it’s cold but exhilarating.
Here you’ll see everything from a classic Greek-style fountain made up of muscular men weighed down by a dish, to family-like groups including mid-tantrum children with sulky expressions, and the distinctive bronze Little Hot-head, a child in a rage. The remarkable centerpiece is the 17m-tall (56ft) Monolith, a single piece of granite carved to form a huddle of 121 separate human figures. Nearby, the Vigeland Museum, housed in a Neoclassical building, offers a more in-depth look at the artist’s work.
Want to learn how to make clothes? There’s a whole section of sewing machines for you to reserve. Interested in how 3D-printing works? You can give it a go. There are music rooms where you can borrow and practice instruments, games to play, a stage overlooking the fjord, and even cinemas, all free for public use. For those preferring a more conventional library experience, don’t worry: The shelves hold 450,000 books with plenty of quiet seating areas dotted around the building.
For a shorter and cheaper fjord trip, head out on the commuter routes that are included in the Oslo Pass. Route B2 departs from Aker Brygge to nearby Hovedøya, Gressholmen and Langøyene, and B10 heads for Nesoddtangen, which takes around 20 minutes. If you’re looking for something a little more active, Mad Goats rents out kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and offers guided kayak tours of the fjord.
Enjoy wonderful fjord views from the higher levels of this glass-and-steel building, with fine dining in 12th-floor Bistro Tolvte and an elegant 13th-floor cocktail bar. Don’t miss The Mother by Tracey Emin. The curves of the new bronze sculpture contrast with all those harborside angles, sitting fjord-facing on the pier outside the museum.
A hands-on exhibit explores the legacy of the Peace Prize, giving visitors the chance to see what kind of peacemaker they might be. If you’re nearby at midday on a Friday (April to October) listen out for the “good news” announcement, where something positive that has happened in the world is recognized. A dove is symbolically released from a window of the museum to send the good news out into the world.
Claire traveled to Oslo by invitation from Visit Oslo.