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Oslo is the best place in the country for buying anything Norwegian. Popular souvenirs include knitwear, wood and ceramic trolls, cheese slicers, boxes with rosemaling, gold and silver jewelry, items made from pewter, smoked salmon, caviar, akvavit, chocolate, and geitost, the sweet brown goat cheese that can be found in just about every Norwegian kitchen. Norway is famous for its colorful hand-knit wool sweaters, and even mass-produced (machine-knit) models are of top quality. Prices are regulated, and they are always lower than buying a Norwegian sweater abroad.
Prices in Norway, as in all of Scandinavia, are generally much higher than in other European countries. Prices of handmade articles, such as knitwear, are controlled, making comparison shopping pointless. Otherwise, shops have both sales and specials—look for the words salg and tilbud. Almost all shops are closed Sunday (by law, only shops 100 square meter or smaller can be open).
A waterside pedestrian paradise with more than 30 high-end boutiques and an equal number of upscale bars and restaurants, this renovated shipyard is where Oslo hangs out, especially for after-work beers in summer.
Hidden behind a red-and-white awning, this cluttered secondhand store is mostly filled with goods from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. You'll spot plenty of gems here among the stacks of knickknacks.
Antiquarian manuscripts, books, and maps are available from this bookstore, which first opened in 1843.
Here you'll find handpicked fashions, jewelry, accessories, and shoes from the last century or so.
Norway’s oldest perfumery has been family-run since 1939. Known for being incredibly selective about what they stock, you'll find only high-quality, long-lasting products—completely free from harmful ingredients—on their shelves.
Opposite the cathedral, the chic GlasMagasinet is filled with stores selling handcrafted items made of glass, silver, and pewter, as well as other high-end materials.
There’s a reason this family business is still going strong more than 200 years after opening in 1822! Here you’ll find gloves, bags, and wallets from a range of quality brands—and the knowledgeable staff are always ready to help you out.
One of the country's finest stores for handmade goods—known locally as just Husfliden—has a large selection of beautifully made pewter, ceramics, textiles, and clothing. There's also bunad, the national costume. Items like felt boots and slippers make great souvenirs.
This popular Swedish chain sells colorful clothing and accessories for women, as well as small pieces of furniture and household items.
As chic as they come, this family-run business creates timeless, one-of-a-kind pieces with precious metals and rare gemstones. It also sells brands like Shamballa Jewels and Roberto Coin.
Behind the Royal Palace and close to Kunstnernes Hus, the House of Literature has a café, a restaurant, a bar, and a good bookstore. You'll likely find young writers diligently working here over coffee.
This contemporary Norwegian brand is inspired by top-quality Japanese fabrics. They offer free repairs on their jeans, and if you need help, their staff are known for always going the extra mile for their customers. Livid is also the first Norwegian brand to offer full transparency of its manufacturing, which means you can see exactly where every part of your new jeans or dress comes from—even down to the buttons—on the website. There are additional locations in Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger, and Løkka.
Iranian-Norwegian jewelry designer and artist Maral Jafarian sells earrings, rings, necklaces, and paintings you won’t find anywhere else. She specializes in creating custom jewelry and is always up for a challenge.
This Norwegian women's fashion brand has an ultrafeminine style and an emphasis on sustainable practices. Products are designed to be both stylish and durable.
If you love Scandinavian design, this venerable retailer stocks art glass, ceramics, silver, and plenty of household items.
The bright, urban contemporary art that fills this gallery is handpicked by owner and artist Line Marsdal. There’s always something here with a playful twist and a sense of humor.
On the edge of Sentrum, this shop, workshop, and gallery focuses on Norwegian design and craftsmanship. Many of the pieces in the relaxed showroom are one of a kind.
A bookstore like no other, Tronsmo’s carefully curated selection of political and contemporary books, comics, and more has earned it a spot on the Financial Times’s list of “the most brilliant bookshops in the world.” There's also a great selection of English titles.
On one of Oslo's main shopping streets, this shop's gently used clothing for men, women, and children benefits humanitarian causes.
Started in the 1980s, this department store of sorts offers two floors of clothes and souvenirs that highlight Norwegian culture and nature including those classic, and ubiquitous, troll figurines. You can even snap selfies with trolls and life-sized Norwegian forest animals while you’re here. There are eight other locations around the country.
The elegant Paleet on Karl Johans Gate opens up into a grand, marbled atrium and has many high-end clothing, accessories, and food stores—and there are good restaurants in the basement.
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