I need to be in Oslo at the start of January and skiing is out of the question at the moment. What should I do, I love a good museum, gallery and a spa?

Accom near public transport.

On my to do list this spring.
https://frammuseum.no/

Thank you, do you find the oslo pass worth it?

This will be my first time in Oslo.

We had the Oslo pass when we went one early March, many years ago before we took the train to Bergen. Yes it was useful to us, not least because it gives discounts at some restaurants. We had a great meal at a Pakistani restaurant thanks to the discount, and the joy of the chef that we like really spicy food.
Free public transport was good, given the weather, though Oslo is not that huge and many places can be visited by foot easily enough.
The sculptures in Vigeland Park are worth a visit.
Sadly the Viking Ship museum is closed until 2027 or I would have recommended that.
The Visit Oslo website is very good.
Can't suggest a hotel, I don't remember the name of ours but I do remember it was in a bit of a dodgy area, though we never felt threatened. It did have a nice view of the Opera House though.

Thanks Heti. All this to spend a couple of days with Kiwi family members.

The Norway Resistance Museum is very good if you like WWII history. In an old mansion, I had the entire place to myself.

Thank you

The new Public Library is interesting for its architecture and as a public space:


Near-by is the Munch museum:


The National Museum incorporates its former decorative arts museum:

Bilboburgler:
I wrote a Scandinavian trip report this past summer that included our 3-day stay in Oslo. Skip to Posts #59-#70. To cut to the chase though...

• Even though I describe a lot of frustrations with our hotel, the newer Clarion Hotel Oslo, anyone not booking our specific room type and booking it in COOLER months would find it to be perfectly situated and very nice. It was right by the Opera House and The Munch, on a great tram line, and was a spit from the rail station.
• Because we are old as dirt, the Oslo Pass senior rate (a rate that you must buy in person at the tourist office in the rail station), was a bargain. The pass covered most of our museum entrances (maybe all of them--I can't remember), and its transport options meant we could mindlessly jump on trams and buses--and even a ferry. The pass length of time is timed by HOUR, not by day, and that alone increases its value.

As to what to see--The roof of the Opera House and The Munch are no-brainer musts, but we also found City Hall, the National Museum, the Kon-Tiki Museum, and The National Resistance Museum to be gems in their own ways. I have so many things I want to go back to see--namely some neighborhoods featured in my beloved Scandinavian crime fiction books--and my husband would be just happy "hanging around" in Oslo. Ergo, I have trip envy right now!
AZ

In Oslo we especially enjoyed

-Fram museum (for the artic and antiartic exploration displays)
-National art museum (the app with audio guide is great)
-Historical museum (not very large, but centrally located and very good viking artifacts) https://www.historiskmuseum.no/english/

Enjoy the planning!

Thanks everyone. I love a good plan and this is so helpful.

I really like Oslo which is saying something for a non city trip person.
Enjoy your time there with your Kiwis.

I can add that the Holmenkollen ski jump and museum were interesting to me. I was there in the summer when there wasn’t any skiing, but enjoyed the museum. The views over Oslo from the top of the tower were breathtaking.
https://www.visitnorway.com/listings...26-tower/7798/

I have been told that if your dinner date states she would like a something small but expensive, take her to Oslo for a coffee and a sandwich.

We thoroughly enjoyed the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History. We also enjoyed walking through Vigeland Park a lot.

We also enjoyed Vigeland Park a lot.

In the depth of winter?

Highly recommend Kon-tiki museum: https://www.kon-tiki.no/en/home

The Opera house, the ski jump, good food, great, easy train from airport to city center, kind people.

Recently stayed at Thon Hotel Astoria. Good price, location, easy check in. Less than 10 minute walk
to central train station.

Perhaps train trip to Bergen if time permits

This is a bit out of date but might still be useful: https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com/2015/09/17/ending-scandinavia-in-oslo/