35 Best Sights in Oslo, Norway

This area was the site of a disused shipbuilding yard until redevelopment saw the addition of residential town houses and a commercial sector. Postmodern steel and glass buildings dominate the skyline now. The area has more than 60 shops and 35 restaurants, including upmarket fashion boutiques, pubs, cinemas, a theater, a comedy club, a shopping mall, galleries, and art installations. There is an open boulevard for strolling. Service facilities include banks, drugstores, and a large (and expensive) parking garage.

Dating from 1299, this stone medieval castle and royal residence was developed into a fortress armed with cannons by 1592. After that time, it withstood a number of sieges and then fell into decay. It was finally restored in 1899. Summer tours take you through its magnificent halls, the castle church, the royal mausoleum, reception rooms, and banquet halls. Explore Akershus Fortress and its resplendent green gardens on your own with the Fortress Trail Map, which you can pick up at the visitor center or download from the website.  The castle (or at least selected sections) may be closed to the public on short notice due to functions. Dates are always listed on the website.

Although he never gained the fame of his older brother Gustav, the creator of Vigeland Park, Emanuel is an artist of some notoriety. His alternately saucy, natural, and downright erotic frescoes make even the sexually liberated Norwegians blush. To get here, take the T-bane Line 1 from Nationaltheatret Station toward Frognerseteren and get off at Slemdal, one of Oslo’s hillside residential neighborhoods. Slightly off the beaten path near the neighborhood of Slemdal, this museum is a true wonder.

Plan ahead, as hours are limited.

The Fram was used by the legendary Polar explorer Roald Amundsen when he became the first man to reach the South Pole in December 1911. Once known as the strongest vessel in the world, this enormous Norwegian polar ship has advanced farther north and south than any other surface vessel. Built in 1892, the Fram made three voyages to the Arctic (they were conducted by Fridtjof Nansen and Otto Sverdrup, in addition to Amundsen). Climb on board and peer inside the captain's quarters, which has explorers' sealskin jackets and other relics on display. Surrounding the ship are many artifacts from expeditions. It boldly calls itself "the best museum in Norway," and it must be agreed that this is the quintessentially Norwegian fun-for-all museum.

This lookout is the most common place to begin or end a cross-country ski outing or the traditional Sunday hike. It's also the spot where every Oslo host will take his or her guests for a panoramic view of the fjords and city skyline. The lookout area has two restaurants in a building from 1891: the local favorite Kafe Seterstua, a self-service place with sandwiches and waffles, and the sit-down, special-occasion Restaurant Finstua, which specializes in Norwegian smoked and salted foods. Frognerseteren is made of rough-hewn logs and evokes the Norwegian mountain life that exists just minutes from urbane Oslo.

Edvard Munch, Norway's most famous artist, bequeathed his enormous collection of works (about 1,100 paintings, 3,000 drawings, and 18,000 graphic works) to the city when he died in 1944. This newly built museum—moved here from a rather dowdy location in a residential neighborhood to the brand new fjord district of Bjørvika—is a monument to his artistic genius, housing the largest collection of his works and also mounting changing exhibitions. Munch actually painted four different versions of The Scream, the image for which he's best known, and one of them is on display here. While most of the Munch legend focuses on the artist as a troubled, angst-ridden man, he moved away from that pessimistic and dark approach to more optimistic themes later in his career.

Fascinatingly, both the permanent and changing exhibitions cater to an expansive audience. Since its opening, the huge glass structure has seen Surrealist retrospectives, a mini--history museum on Munch's childhood, a sound installation collaboration with one of Norway's most revered black metal artists and new work from the likes of Tracey Emin and famed collectors---plus concerts and shows from global talent.

Then there's the view from the top. The exquisite architectural design makes for indoor and outdoor panoramic views of the fjord and new district that's risen from the waters. A buzzing bistro-style restaurant serving everything from oysters to lamb and a great cocktail bar impresses. On the ground floor, a very chic and airy café offers open-faced sandwiches, salads, and jacket potatoes to munch on as you browse the life of Munch.

Having reopened its doors in 2022, the newly constructed National Museum now stands as the largest art museum in the Nordic region. The eye-catching modern structure not far from the waterfront includes a rooftop hall longer than the Royal Palace and has views of Oslo City Hall, Akershus Fortress, and the Oslofjord. The Edvard Munch section holds such major paintings as The Dance of Life, one of two existing oil versions of The Scream, and several self-portraits. Classic landscapes by Hans Gude and Adolph Tidemand—including Bridal Voyage on the Hardangerfjord—share space with other works by major Norwegian artists. The museum also has works by Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, and Gauguin, as well as contemporary works by 20th-century Nordic artists. Enjoy the landscaped garden seating areas and special events throughout the year.

One of the largest open-air museums in Europe offers the perfect way to see Norway in a day. From the stoic stave church (built in 1200) to farmers' houses made of sod, the old buildings here span Norway's regions and most of its recorded history. Indoors, fascinating displays of richly embroidered, colorful bunader (national costumes) from every region includes one set at a Telemark country wedding. The museum also has stunning dragon-style wood carvings from 1550 and some beautiful rosemaling, or decorative painted floral patterns. The traditional costumes of the Sámi (Lapp) people of northern Norway are exhibited around one of their tents. If you're visiting in summer, ask about Norwegian Evening, a summer program of folk dancing, guided tours, and food tastings. Great for kids.

One of the crown jewels of Scandinavian architecture, the Oslo Opera House is a stunning addition to the city's waterfront. When it first opened its doors, the gala ceremony attracted Denmark's royal family, the leaders of several countries, and a host of celebrities. Designed by the renowned Norwegian architect firm Snøhetta, the white marble and glass building slopes downward toward the water's edge, giving visitors spectacular views of the fjord, the surrounding mountains, and the city skyline. And it doesn't just look good: the acoustics inside the 1,364-seat auditorium are excellent, as are those in the two smaller performance spaces. The space is the permanent home of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet and also hosts a full calendar of music, theater, and dance. The Oslo Biennale will be staging performances on the rooftop through 2023. The bistro restaurant, though typically Norwegian in pricey-ness, is gorgeous and offers seafood and wines you don't want to miss on this memorable visit.

A feat of world-class engineering, this beloved ski jump was first constructed in 1892 and has been rebuilt numerous times, remaining a distinctive part of Oslo's skyline. The cool, futuristic-looking jump you see today still hosts international competitions. The ski-jump simulator puts you in the skis of real jumpers, and the world's oldest ski museum presents 4,000 years of ski history. Guided tours of the museum are available.

A favorite hangout for locals, Vigeland Sculpture Park has 212 bronze, granite, and wrought-iron sculptures by Gustav Vigeland (1869–1943). The 56-foot-high granite Monolith is a column of 121 upward-striving nudes surrounded by 36 groups on circular stairs. The Angry Boy, a bronze of an enraged cherubic child stamping his foot, draws legions of visitors and has been filmed, parodied, painted red, and even stolen. Kids love to climb on the statues. There's an on-site museum for those wishing to delve deeper into the artist's work.

The museum celebrates Norway's most famous 20th-century explorer. Thor Heyerdahl made a voyage in 1947 from Peru to Polynesia on the Kon-Tiki, a balsa raft, to lend weight to his theory that the first Polynesians came from the Americas. His second craft, the Ra II, was used to test his theory that a reed boat could have reached the West Indies before Columbus. The museum also has a film room and artifacts from Peru, Polynesia, and Easter Island. Open 10--6.

In front of this Neoclassical theater, built in 1899, are statues of Norway's great playwrights Henrik Ibsen and Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, who also composed the national anthem. Most performances are in Norwegian. An English-language guided tour of the interior, which costs NKr 90, can be booked in advance, details how the great writers of years gone by created this space.

Every year the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo. At this high-tech attraction by the harbor, you can learn about past and present laureates and their work through an original installation featuring 1,000 fiber-optic lights; read about Alfred Nobel's inventions and travels in a huge interactive book; and see a documentary on the current laureate in the Passage of Honor room. There are wonderful activities for young would-be peace activists, and changing exhibitions throughout the year, including humanitarian aid spotlights on work from Fridtjof Nansen to Amal Clooney. 

This small country palace was built in eccentric English Gothic style for King Oscar I in the middle of the 19th century. There’s a park, pavilion, fountain, and stage on the grounds. The original interior has works by Norwegian artists Adolph Tidemand and Hans Gude. Check website to fluctuating opening times in summer.

Consecrated in 1697 as Oslo's third cathedral, this dark-brown brick structure has since been Oslo's main church. The original pulpit, altarpiece, and organ front with acanthus carvings still stand. Take a look at the ceiling murals painted between 1936 and 1950 by artist Hugo Louis Mohr, and stained-glass windows by Emanuel Vigeland. In the 19th century, the fire department operated a lookout from the bell tower, which you can visit. Book tours in advance.

This atmospheric art deco–style movie house (built in 1907) has been converted into a funky bar, café, and restaurant. Live music gigs, literary evenings, films, and theater are held in the converted cinema room inside, which has seating for 250. To get a sense of the laid-back Grünerløkka lifestyle, chill out here with a cocktail. Free jazz is sometimes held on weekends in the front bar.

The French coffee, homemade pastries, and ice cream are the big draws at Pascal, a trendy, Parisian-style patisserie inside an old-fashioned Norwegian konditori (café). It's also a place to see and be seen. There are three other locations in Oslo, but the store in Tollbugata 11 is the original.

This boxy brick building is best known today for the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize, which takes place here every December 10. Inside, many museum-quality masterpieces grace the walls. After viewing the frescoes in the Main Hall, walk upstairs to the Banquet Hall to see the royal portraits. In June and July, free 45-minute guided tours are available and meet in the main hall. To visit the City Hall Gallery, enter harborside. Special exhibits are hung throughout the year. On festive occasions, the Central Hall is illuminated from outside by 60 large spotlights.

Tucked away in Frogner Stadium, this is Norway’s only museum devoted to ice skates and ice-skaters. Gleaming trophies, Olympic medals, and plenty of skates serve to celebrate the sport. Photographs of skating legends such as Johann Olav Koss, Hjalmar Andersen, and Oscar Mathisen line the walls. Take a look at ways that skates have evolved—compare the bone skates from 2000 BC to the wooden skates that came later.