3 Best Sights in Oslo, Norway

Background Illustration for Sights

Karl Johans Gate, starting at Oslo Sentralstasjon (Oslo Central Station, also called Oslo S or simply Jernbanetorget ("railway square" in Norwegian), and ending at the Royal Palace, forms the backbone of downtown Oslo. Many major museums and historic buildings lie between the parallel streets of Grensen and Rådhusgata. West of downtown are Frogner and Majorstuen, residential areas with fine restaurants, shopping, cafés, galleries, and the Vigeland sculpture park. Southwest is the Bygdøy Peninsula, with a castle and five interesting museums that honor aspects of Norway's taste for maritime exploration.

Northwest of town is Holmenkollen, with its stunning bird's-eye view of the city and the surrounding fjords, a world-famous ski jump and museum, and three historic restaurants. On the more multicultural east side, where a diverse immigrant population lives alongside native Norwegians, are the Munch Museum and the Botanisk Hage og Naturhistorisk Museum (Botanical Gardens and Museum of Natural History), where you can see Ida, the oldest primate fossil ever found, our 47-million-year old ancestor. The trendy neighborhood of Grünerløkka, with lots of cafés and shops, is northeast of the center.

Operahuset

Fodor's Choice

One of the crown jewels of Scandinavian architecture, the Oslo Opera House opened in 2008 as 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 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.

Galleri Schaeffers Gate 5

This performance and exhibition space is known for intimate readings, art installations, and concerts within an elegant 1890s-era tenement building.

Nationaltheatret

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. It's important to note that most performances are in Norwegian, but during December and the summer season, visitors can join an English-language guided tour of the interior (NKr 140, book in advance) to learn how the great writers of the past created this unique space.

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