This Oslo travel guide covers everything you need to know—from the best neighborhoods to stay in and how to get around to money-saving tips and must-try restaurants. It’s loaded with insider tips to help you have an unforgettable trip!
We’ll be honest—Oslo took us by surprise in the best way.
With its seamless blend of modern architecture, rich history, and easy access to nature, Norway’s capital quickly won us over.
Whether you’re here for a quick stop or planning a deeper dive, this Oslo travel guide will help you uncover the city’s coolest spots, hidden gems, and money-saving tips—so you can make the most of your time in this underrated Scandinavian capital.
Oslo Travel Guide
- Best time to visit
- Top things to do
- Perfect Oslo itinerary
- Oslo Map
- Getting around
- How to get to Oslo from the airport
- Tips for visiting
- Oslo Pass: Is it worth it?
- Where to eat
- Where to stay
Best time to visit Oslo
The best time to visit Oslo depends on what kind of experience you’re after.
Summer (June–August) brings long daylight hours (midnight sun anyone?), mild temperatures, and a packed calendar of festivals—perfect for sightseeing and outdoor adventures.
Winter (December–February) transforms the city into a snowy wonderland, ideal for cozy cafés, Christmas markets, and nearby skiing.
For fewer crowds and lower prices, consider the shoulder seasons of spring and fall, when the city is calm, colorful, and still full of charm.
We visited Oslo in September and though we had rain and cloudy skies the whole time, we found it to be very enjoyable. Temperatures were cool, with highs in the 60s (F) and even cooler nights.
Top things to do in Oslo
Oslo may be small for a capital city, but it’s packed with unique experiences that blend nature, culture, and a touch of quirk. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Oslo that show off the city’s creative spirit and natural charm.
Our favorite things to do in Oslo
(in no particular order)
- Visit the open-air Norsk Folkmuseum
- Rent a GreenKayak for free and paddle around the fjord
- Walk on the roof of the Oslo Opera House
- Take a riverwalk to a cute cafe for traditional waffles
- Stroll Vigeland Statue Park
- Take the ferry to Gressholmen
- Stroll the walking streets downtown and pop into cute cafes
- Try reindeer stew
We have an entire article dedicated to the top things to do in Oslo where we share details and tips for first-time visitors.
Perfect Oslo itinerary
Wondering how to fit all these great recommendations into just 2 days? We did the legwork for you and came up with what we think is the perfect 2-day Oslo itinerary.
Custom Oslo map
Click on the map and enter your email to gain access to our interactive Oslo Itinerary map. It’s filled with our custom pins of all our favorite activities, plus where to eat, where to stay and more!
How to get around Oslo
Oslo is really well-connected with public transportation, including the subway, buses, and trams.
Outside of Oslo, we recommend renting a car (or campervan), but while you’re in the city, there’s no need for a vehicle since you can get everywhere you need to via public transportation.
You can purchase public transportation passes on the Ruter App. Depending on how many buses, trams, and subways you use, it can save money. In addition to potentially saving money, it is so much more convenient to have a pass instead of having to purchase an individual ticket each time you get on public transport.
- 24-hour ticket: NOK 127 ($12)
- Single ride ticket: NOK 42 ($4)
The only other options are 7-day, 1-month, and year-long passes.
Rule of thumb: After doing the math, it makes sense to purchase a 24-hour ticket if you plan to ride any form of public transportation 3 times or more. Technically, if you only ride 3 times, the total cost will be NOK 126, which is roughly 10 cents less than the cost of a 24-hour pass. In that case, we personally think the convenience of not having to purchase individual tickets is worth 10 cents!
Our personal experience: We purchased two 24-hour passes to cover our time in Oslo.
Alternatively: If you plan to purchase the Oslo Pass (more on that above!), you don’t need to purchase a public transport pass since it is included.
How to get to Oslo from the airport
There are a few ways to get from Oslo Airport to the city. Our recommendation is to take the Flytoget Airport Express Train, which leaves every 10-20 minutes (depending on the time of day) and takes only about 20 minutes to reach Oslo Central Station. A single adult ticket is NOK 240 one-way ($22).
Alternatively, taking a bus or a local train would be a cheaper option. However, you may need to wait longer as they don’t depart as often, and the journey itself could also take longer.
We wouldn’t recommend taxis or Uber for most people because they are very expensive.
Tips for visiting Oslo
Here are our top tips for visiting Oslo to make the most out of your stay.
- Take advantage of free activities – Oslo is notoriously expensive, but there are plenty of free experiences, like walking on the Opera House roof, strolling through Vigeland Park, hiking in the surrounding forest (Nordmarka), or exploring the harbor promenade.
- Use GreenKayak – Paddle the Oslofjord for free by booking a GreenKayak—you just agree to collect any trash you find along the way. It’s fun, eco-friendly, and budget-friendly!
- Get an Oslo Pass (maybe) – If you plan to visit multiple museums or use public transport often, the Oslo Pass can save you money with free entry to attractions, unlimited public transport, and discounts on tours and restaurants.
- See more below to see if the Oslo Pass is worth it for your trip.
- Pack a reusable water bottle – Tap water in Norway is clean and delicious, so skip bottled water and fill up from any sink or public fountain.
- Eat like a local (and save!) – Instead of pricey sit-down meals, grab a fresh pastry from a bakery, a hot dog from a corner stand, or visit a grocery store deli counter for budget-friendly bites.
- Download the Router app – Oslo’s metro, trams, buses, and ferries are clean, safe, and easy to use. Download the Ruter app to plan routes and buy tickets on public transportation.
- Visit in the shoulder season – Spring and fall offer fewer crowds, lower hotel prices, and beautiful weather—making it an ideal time to explore the city on a budget.
Oslo Pass: Is it worth it?
As you’re researching your trip to Oslo, you’ll likely come across the Oslo Pass and find yourself wondering what exactly it includes and whether it is worth it for your trip.
We’ve answered both questions for you:
What does the Oslo Pass include?
In short, this pass gives you free admission to 30 museums and attractions (emphasis on the museums!). It also gives you unlimited free public transportation.
Here is a list of all of the included attractions.
Oslo Pass prices 2024
Adult
- 24-hour pass: NOK 520 ($49)
- 48-hour pass: NOK 760 ($72)
- 72-hour pass: NOK 895 ($85)
Child (6-17 years old)
- 24-hour pass: NOK 260 ($25)
- 48-hour pass: NOK 380 ($36)
- 72-hour pass: NOK 450 ($43)
Senior (67 years+)
- 24-hour pass: NOK 415 ($39)
- 48-hour pass: NOK 605 ($57)
- 72-hour pass: NOK 720 ($68)
Note: Conversions are estimated at the time of publishing. Pass prices may change from year to year. See this website for current pricing and how to purchase the Oslo Pass.
Is the Oslo Pass worth it?
We personally did not purchase the pass because we chose to only visit one museum during our 48 hours in Oslo. There were just too many other things we wanted to see and do!
That said, if you are interested in visiting several museums, it can make a lot of sense.
Where to eat in Oslo
With only 2 days in Oslo, you’ll just be able to scratch the surface of the city’s foodie scene.
We’ve included our suggestions for places that are worth visiting in this itinerary.
- Bonita Cafe: cozy breakfast spot with healthy smoothie bowls and omelets
- Mathallen: large indoor market with a variety of international cuisines to choose from
- Hønse-Lovisas House: fairytale cafe above a waterfall with waffles and other treats
- Latter: unique dinner venue with live comedy and excellent food
- Pust: great coffee and pastries
- SALT: buzzy venue with live music and food carts
- Oslo Street Food: open market with 16 stalls offering a variety of international fare
- Frognerseteren: scenic restaurant overlooking the city
However, if you find yourself in the city longer than 48 hours, or you want some more options to choose from, here’s our list of restaurants we personally have saved to our own list that look great!
More ideas for places to eat
- Nedre Foss Gård: refurbished 19th century farm building that is now an atmospheric restaurant with a menu that changes with the seasons. This was recommended to us as a good lunch/brunch spot.
- Haralds Vaffel: hidden gem serving traditional Norwegian waffles
- Mamma Pizza: Italian restaurant that receives great reviews for food and service
- San Francisco Bread Bowl: hearty bread bowls with your choice of filling. They also offer beer flights.
- Seaport Restaurant – Sørenga/Bjørvika: waterfront dining with a focus on seafood
- The Salmon: sushi and other seafood options with indoor and outdoor seating on the waterfront
- Rorbua Aker Brygge: traditional Norwegian dishes next to the harbor
- Barcode Street Food: food court with a variety of options ranging in price
- Fiskeriet Youngstorget: highly-rated fresh seafood restaurant and fishmonger
- Indian Street Food & Co: beautifully-presented Indian dishes; the food here gets rave reviews
- Olivia Aker Brygge: upscale Italian restaurant on the waterfront
- Vippa: casual waterfront food court
Money-saving Tip: Our personal motto on eating in Norway was to do a bit of research before choosing a restaurant because it ain’t cheap to eat out in this country! When you’re paying $20 for a casual meal from a food truck or $30-40 for an entree in a casual restaurant, you want to make sure it’s going to be worth your money. We hope that all the time we put into researching where to eat in Oslo will be helpful to you!
Where to stay in Oslo
There are lots of great places to stay in Oslo. We’re sharing our top recommendations, as well as one hotel we would avoid…
Luxury Apartment with a great location (our top Airbnb pick)
- 2-bedroom Airbnb
- great for a family
- great location in the city center (near Munch museum and Opera House)
- 2-night minimum
- rave reviews
Modern Condo in city center
- 2-bedroom Airbnb
- great for a family
- great location, walking distance to popular sights
- 2-night minimum
- highly rated
Sleek hotel with excellent breakfast
- great location
- free breakfast with rave reviews
- no minimum stay
Good value hotel in city center (basic budget option)
- self-serve check-in & check-out
- close to Oslo Central Station
- no minimum stay
Splurge-worthy B&B
- stunning baroque decor
- excellent breakfast included
- no minimum stay
- rave reviews
Hotel to avoid…
We had a pretty bad experience with the accommodation we booked in Oslo, so we’re sharing the property here so you don’t make the same mistake!
This listing shows beautiful photos, but when we arrived, it was a totally different unit.
It was a similar layout, but the bed and bedroom were much smaller (and not nearly as nice). The shower was significantly smaller and the kitchen was not the newly renovated one in the photos. Additionally, there were amenities listed, like shampoo and body wash, that were not provided. I’m not sure why the other reviewers did not mention this.
To be clear, we DO NOT recommend this property. We’re simply sharing it here so you don’t get tricked by the pretty pictures like we did.
Plan your trip to Norway
Dreaming of fjords and cozy saunas and epic mountain views? We’ve got everything you need to plan the perfect trip—from city guides to campervan tips, packing hacks, and must-do experiences! Start with our Norway homepage or read some of our favorite articles below…
- Read up on all the top things to do in Oslo (including unique and free activities!)
- Only have a short stop? Follow our 2-day Oslo itinerary to hit the highlights without feeling rushed.
- Headed west? This Bergen travel guide will help you fall in love with Norway’s most charming city.
- If time is tight, here’s exactly how to spend 24 hours in Bergen.
- Be sure to save this list of bucket list Norway hikes you’ve probably never heard of!
- Not sure what to pack? Our Norway packing guide has you covered for every season (and surprise weather!).
Want the perfect Norway road trip planned for you?
We spent two unforgettable weeks road tripping through Norway—hiking to epic viewpoints, cruising through fjords, soaking in saunas, and camping in jaw-dropping landscapes.
After that trip, we took everything we learned (plus hours of additional research!) and crafted the ultimate 2-week Norway itinerary that hits the must-see spots and lots of lesser-known hidden gems.
It’s completely done-for-you and includes scenic drives, epic hikes, unique stays, and practical tips—plus access to our custom Norway map and helpful resources to make planning easy.
If you want a stress-free way to see the best of Norway, this is it.
Don’t miss your chance to grab our Norway packing list!
Be sure to download our complete packing list for Norway! It’s packed with good suggestions and insider tips to help plan your Norway trip. And it’s completely FREE, so why not!?
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We want to hear from you!
We hope this Oslo travel guide was helpful in planning your trip to Oslo, Norway. If you have any more questions, leave your comment below and we’ll do our best to get back to you with the answers you’re looking for!