The first time I visited Oslo, it was for 6 hours before we caught our flight to Stavanger and the western fjords. Norway’s capital doesn’t usually top those “must-see European cities” lists, and I was interested in seeing it, but not planning on loving it. And that is exactly what happned. I was unimpressed and thought that it wasn’t worth revisiting.

Then I went back for an entire week, just to Oslo, and I realized how wrong I was. Oslo is a city that isn’t showy but as you experience it a bit at a time, you realize that there is a ton going on. For one thing, you can take a tram or train almost anywhere in the city and beyond. Its super easy to get around. You can see world-class museums in the morning and be swimming in a fjord that afternoon. It’s a city that takes a bit to get to know, but it is so worth it!

Here’s everything I learned about exploring Oslo, along with the practical stuff I wish someone had told me before I went.

The Museums Are Actually Amazing

Look, I’m not a museum person, I like to run in and run out in 30 minutes, but Oslo’s are genuinely worth your time.

The Viking Ship Museum is one to take your kids to. These aren’t replicas or fragments—they’re three beautifully preserved Viking ships from the 9th century that were pulled from burial mounds around the Oslo Fjord. The museum has been dealing with renovations, so definitely check if it’s open before you make the trek out there.

The Munch Museum moved to a brand new building in 2021 and it’s impressive. Thirteen stories dedicated to Edvard Munch, Norway’s most famous artist. Yes, they have “The Scream”(actually multiple versions of it) but what surprised me was how much other incredible work Munch did that nobody talks about

The Fram Museum is all about polar exploration, and they’ve built it around the actual ship Fram that Norwegian explorers used for Arctic expeditions.

The Kon-Tiki Museum has Thor Heyerdahl’s famous balsa wood raft, which is wild to see in person when you think about him sailing across the Pacific on that thing.

The Architecture is Striking

The Oslo Opera House is the city’s pride and joy and a strangley fun spot to visit. It’s this white marble structure that looks like it’s rising out of the fjord, designed so that anyone can walk right up onto the roof. And you should! The roof is angled and accessible, and walking up there gives you amazing views of the harbor and city.

The Oslo Library is another strange but beautiful places to visit. Architects  Lund Hagem Architects and Atelier Oslo, created this spectacular spot in 2009 right next door to the Oslo Opera House. Even if you aren’t interested in reading, this is a stop worth visiting for the library itself. Open and airy and wonderfully beautiful.

Surrounded by Nature

This is where Oslo really sets itself apart from other capitals. The city is surrounded by nature and it is all easily accessible on public transportation.

Holmenkollen Ski Jump and Ski Museum is a great trip on public transportation outside of the city. The museum is all about skiing in Norway, but you will love takingan elevator to the top and look straight down that terrifyingly steep 126-meter slope. The view up here is fabulous and the museum is free with the Oslo Pass. Don’t forget to try out a ski simulator if you want to experience the sensation of flying through the air (without the broken bones).

The Oslo Fjord islands are a must do if you visit in the summer. Ferries leave from the harbor constantly throughout the day, and your public transport pass covers them. My husband and I spent a day island-hopping and enjoying walking through picturesque small towns.  People bring picnics, swim, sunbathe and just enjoy the sunny weather. No cars on any of the islands, just peaceful nature minutes from downtown.

Vigeland Sculpture Park is probably Oslo’s most visited spot, and it’s completely free. Gustav Vigeland filled this massive park with over 200 sculptures of human figures in bronze and granite. The centerpiece is this 14-meter column called the Monolith with 121 intertwined figures carved from one piece of granite. Some of the sculptures are beautiful, some are kind of disturbing, all of them make you feel something. Great place to wander for an hour or two.

Neighborhoods Worth Exploring

Grünerløkka is a hip neighborhood with vintage shops, coffee shops and tons of shopping. On Sundays there’s a flea market at Birkelunden Park that’s fun to browse. Lots of locals hanging out and it seemed during our summer trip that everyone was relaxed and enjoying the sun.

Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen are the newer waterfront developments—former shipyards turned into upscale shopping and dining. It’s definitely pricier, but nice for an evening stroll along the boardwalk. In summer the outdoor restaurant scene is hopping.

Karl Johans Gate is the main street connecting the Royal Palace to Central Station. It’s touristy but you’ll probably end up walking it anyway since it passes Parliament, National Theatre, and a bunch of other landmarks. The pedestrian section has street performers and outdoor cafés.

My kids loved this area because there were rental scooters all over, and they spent an hour or two zipping around on them.

Food: Expensive But Worth It

Yes, food in Oslo is expensive. A casual dinner can easily run $40-50 per person, and lunch is rarely less that $20 per person. However, you can your budget stretch by booking hotels with free breakfasts.

Most hotel breakfasts are elaborate affairs with dozens and dozens of options from eggs, yogurts, pastries, cheeses, bread, salmon, and more. If you can fuel up at breakfast you can grab a snack for lunch and be ok to splurge a bit on dinner.

We found that the sushi in Oslo was among the best we have ever had. We tried it everywhere, as it was less expensive than we usually find it in the US. We did conveyer belt sushi in the train station, sushi in Aker Brygge, sushi in Grünerløkka, and it all was excellent quality at about $25-30 per person.

If you can splurge on one nice meal, Oslo’s restaurant scene is doing really interesting things with Nordic cuisine. But honestly, even casual spots serve good food. Try traditional dishes like fårikål (lamb and cabbage stew) or raspeballer (potato dumplings). And you have to try brown cheese—it’s sweet and caramelly and nothing like any cheese you’ve had before. Norwegians put it on everything.

 

What I Wish I’d Known Before Going

Timing Your Visit:My family and I have visited Oslo a number of times, but the perfect time, as far as I am concerned, is late August.  It is still warm enough for outdoor stuff, way fewer tourists than summer, and prices were slightly better. Winter is great if you’re into skiing and Christmas markets, though it gets dark early and cold.

Price: Oslo is expensive, no way around it. We dealt with the price by staying at a Scandic Hotel which fit our family of five,  shopping at Rema 1000 and Kiwi grocery stores for snacks and lunch, and taking advantage of free stuff like Vigeland Park. The Oslo Pass includes most museums and unlimited public transport—it might save you money if you’re planning to hit a lot of museums.

Getting Around: The public transportation is fantastic. Metro, trams, buses, ferries—all integrated and easy to use.  Don’t try to drive a car around in Oslo, it is so much easier to ride public transportation and its very clean and nice.

Download the Ruter app for tickets. The metro is the coolest because it goes straight into the mountains and forests. I also walked a ton because Oslo is pretty compact and walkable.

Language: Everyone speaks English.  I tried to use Norwegian phrases but people usually just responded in perfect English. Still, they appreciate the effort, so learn “takk” (thanks) and “hei” (hello).

Weather: Pack layers, even in summer. We have been lucky to get great weather most of the times we have visited, but it did rain. Waterproof jacket and good walking shoes are essential.

Nature Rules: Norway has this thing called “allemannsretten” which basically means you can roam freely in nature, even on private land, as long as you respect it. Pack out your trash, don’t bother wildlife, leave no trace. Norwegians take this seriously.

Final Thoughts

Oslo surprised me in the best way. It is beautiful in a different way from Paris or Rome. It’s more subtle, more understated—very Scandinavian in that way. But once you start exploring, you realize it’s this incredible blend of culture and nature, history and modernity, that somehow exists in perfect balance.

Is it expensive? Yes. Is it worth it? Also yes. Just plan ahead, budget accordingly, and embrace the Norwegian approach to life—get outside, enjoy the scenery and appreciate quality over quantity. Oslo might not be the loudest city in Europe, but it’s definitely one of the most memorable.