Where to actually go in Oslo

Mathallen Oslo

Market · Vulkan (Grünerløkka)

An indoor food hall of Norwegian and international stalls by the river.

Best for: a varied lunch, trying Norwegian food

Best time: lunch

Vippa

Market · Vippetangen (harbour)

A casual street-food hall in an old harbour warehouse with tables on the fjord.

Best for: cheaper food with a view, groups

Best time: lunch or early evening

Tim Wendelboe

Cafe · Grünerløkka

A tiny, famous specialty coffee roaster run by a former world barista champion.

Best for: seriously good coffee

Best time: morning

Oslo Opera House roof

Viewpoint · Bjørvika

A white marble building you can walk straight up onto, with views over the fjord and the city.

Best for: a free view, sunset

Price: free

Best time: sunset

MUNCH

Museum · Bjørvika

The tall waterfront museum of Edvard Munch, with versions of The Scream and a top-floor view.

Best for: art, a rainy day

Price: $ — roughly $19

Best time: afternoon

National Museum

Museum · Aker Brygge

Norway's huge national art museum, including a famous painted version of The Scream.

Best for: the one paid museum budget guides say is worth it

Price: $ — roughly $17

Best time: afternoon

Vigeland Sculpture Park (Frogner Park)

Garden · Frogner

A big park filled with over 200 strange, very human bronze and granite sculptures by one artist.

Best for: a free afternoon, photos

Price: free

Best time: any time

Akershus Fortress

Sight · city centre waterfront

A medieval castle and fortress on the harbour, with free grounds and ramparts to walk.

Best for: a free walk with fjord views

Price: free to walk the grounds

Best time: late afternoon

Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen

Area · waterfront

A modern harbourfront of restaurants, bars and a little city beach by the Astrup Fearnley museum.

Best for: a waterfront walk, a drink by the fjord

Best time: evening

Oslo Badstuforening floating saunas

Activity · Bjørvika and other harbour spots

A community sauna club with wood-fired saunas floating in the harbour, between dips in the fjord.

Best for: the most Norwegian thing you can do in the city

Booking: Book a drop-in slot online.

Best time: evening

Island ferries in the inner fjord

Activity · from Aker Brygge pier

Ordinary public ferries to small islands like Hovedøya, with ruins, swimming rocks and picnic spots.

Best for: a cheap fjord trip

Price: $ — a normal public transport ticket

Best time: afternoon (summer)

Holmenkollen ski jump

Viewpoint · Holmenkollen

The famous ski jump on the hill above the city, reached by metro line 1, with a view down to the fjord.

Best for: a view, a forest walk, winter atmosphere

Best time: afternoon

Norway in a Nutshell (fjord tour)

Activity · by train from Oslo

A famous self-guided route by train, the steep Flåm Railway and a fjord boat through the western fjords.

Best for: seeing the fjords on a trip based in Oslo

Booking: Book ahead; summer departures sell out.

Best time: full day or overnight

Fram Museum

Museum · Bygdøy

A museum built around the polar ship Fram, which you can climb aboard.

Best for: polar exploration history

Best time: afternoon

Norwegian Museum of Cultural History (Folk Museum)

Museum · Bygdøy

An open-air museum of historic farmhouses and a medieval stave church.

Best for: seeing a stave church, a summer afternoon

Best time: morning

Oslo City Hall

Sight · Pipervika (harbour)

The twin-towered hall where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded, its walls covered in huge murals.

Best for: a free indoor stop

Price: free

Best time: any time

Sørenga seawater pool

Beach · Sørenga (Bjørvika)

A free harbour bathing area with a pool, diving tower and sunbathing decks on the fjord.

Best for: a free swim in summer

Price: free

Best time: afternoon (summer)

Huk beach

Beach · Bygdøy

Rocky and sandy beaches on the Bygdøy peninsula, a bus or ferry ride from the centre.

Best for: a summer beach afternoon

Best time: afternoon (summer)

Grünerløkka

Area · Grünerløkka

Oslo's young, creative neighbourhood of vintage shops, cafés and bars along the Akerselva river.

Best for: a night out with students and locals

Best time: evening

Blå

Live music · Akerselva (Grünerløkka)

A long-running riverside club for live jazz, indie and DJ nights.

Best for: live music, a club night

Best time: after 10 PM