Oslo
Municipality · Oslo
About Oslo
The capital, with the Opera House, the Munch museum, Vigeland Park, Holmenkollen and the forests of Nordmarka at the end of the metro line.
What to do and where to stay in Oslo
Places to stay are run locally, with no hotel or campsite chain behind them.
1Vigeland Park (Vigelandsparken)Sight
Inside Frognerparken, more than 200 bronze, granite and cast-iron works by Gustav Vigeland, among them the Monolith and the Angry Boy; free entry.
Frognerparken, Frogner, west Oslo · 1–2 h · All year
2Oslo Opera House roofViewpoint
The sloping roof, clad in white Carrara marble and granite, can be walked onto from the waterfront at any hour for free; the foyer is also free by day.
Kirsten Flagstads plass 1, Bjørvika · 30–60 min · All year (roof can be slippery in ice)
3HovedøyaSwim
The nearest fjord island, about 8 minutes by boat, with ruins of a 1100s Cistercian monastery, 1800s cannon batteries and two swimming beaches in a nature reserve.
Inner Oslofjord, boat B1 from Aker brygge · 2–4 h · May–September (boat runs all year, beaches in summer)
4Akershus Fortress and CastleHistory & culture
A medieval castle from around 1300 on the harbour, with a castle church and the royal mausoleum open to visitors; the fortress grounds are open daily 06–21.
Akershus festning, city centre waterfront · 1–2 h · Grounds all year; castle interior in summer (2 Jul–31 Aug per Forsvarsbygg)
5MUNCHHistory & culture
The museum of Edvard Munch's art on the Bjørvika waterfront; a version of The Scream is always on display, and it stays open to 21:00 Wednesday to Saturday.
Edvard Munchs plass 1, Bjørvika · 2–3 h · All year
6SognsvannHike
Lake at the end of metro line 5 with a 3.3 km lit gravel loop, sand and rock bathing spots with three piers, and ski tracks into Nordmarka in winter.
Sognsvann, end of metro line 5 · 1 h (3.3 km loop) · All year (swim June–August, ski in winter)
7Fram MuseumHistory & culture
You can go aboard the polar ship Fram, used by Nansen, Sverdrup and Amundsen, and see Gjøa, the first ship through the Northwest Passage (1903–06).
Bygdøynesveien 39, Bygdøy · 1.5–2 h · All year
8Akerselva river walkHike
An 8 km riverside path from Maridalsvannet down to the fjord, past Nedre Foss, the waterfall by Beierbrua and old factory buildings such as Lilleborg.
Maridalsvannet to Vaterland, through Grünerløkka · 2–3 h (8 km one way) · All year
9Emanuel Vigeland Mausoleum (Tomba Emmanuelle)Local oddity
A dark, barrel-vaulted room covered in the 800 m² fresco Vita, with the artist's urn above the door and striking acoustics; open Sundays only.
Grimelundsveien 8, Slemdal · 30–45 min · All year, Sundays 11:30–16:00
10Korketrekkeren toboggan runActivity
A 2.7 km sledding run from Frognerseteren down to Midtstuen with about 255 m of drop, where you ride the metro back up; sleds can be rented at the top.
Frognerseteren to Midtstuen, metro line 1 · 2–3 h (several runs) · Winter, about mid-December to mid-March, snow permitting