Oslo Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Oslo tours, Oslofjord sightseeing cruises, city walks, the Vigeland and Viking ship museums, food tours, and the gateway to Norway’s fjords via the Flåm Railway. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Oslo itinerary.
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Explore Oslo by interest
Whatever brings you to Oslo — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Oslofjord cruises
Islands, skerries and sailing ships.
ExploreCity highlights
Opera House, fortress and palace.
ExploreMuseums & Vigeland
Sculptures, Vikings and “The Scream”.
ExploreFood tours
Salmon, brown cheese and Mathallen.
ExploreFjords & Flåm
Norway’s legendary fjord scenery.
ExploreOpera House
Walk up the marble roof.
ExploreHolmenkollen
The famous ski jump and views.
ExploreDay trips
Fjords, forests and Bergen.
ExploreTop attractions in Oslo
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Oslofjord
Cruises among islands and skerries.
Opera House
Walk up the marble roof.
Vigeland Park
The world’s largest sculpture park.
Viking & Fram museums
Norway’s seafaring heritage.
Akershus Fortress
The medieval waterfront castle.
Food & Mathallen
Salmon, brown cheese and more.
Fjords & Flåm
Norway’s legendary scenery.
Holmenkollen
The ski jump and city views.
Oslo in 1 day
- 1Opera House & waterfront
- 2Vigeland Park
- 3Akershus Fortress
- 4Oslofjord cruise
Oslo in 2 days
- 1Day 1: city & fjord cruise
- 2Vigeland Park
- 3Day 2: Bygdøy museums
- 4Holmenkollen views
Oslo in 3 days
- 1Day 1: city & fjord
- 2Day 2: museums & Holmenkollen
- 3Day 3: Flåm fjord trip
- 4Nordic evenings
Full day awayFlåm & Nærøyfjord
The Flåm Railway and a fjord cruise.
1 hr awayOslofjord islands
Island-hopping by ferry.
30 min awayHolmenkollen
The famous ski jump and views.
1 hr awayDrøbak
A pretty fjordside town and fortress.
30 min awayNordmarka forest
Lakes, trails and skiing in winter.
Full day awayBergen
The fjord city by scenic railway.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Oslo visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Late spring to early autumn (May–September) brings the mildest weather, long days and fjord cruises in full swing — the best time to visit.
Spring (Apr–May)
Fresh, bright days as the city wakes up, with cool but pleasant weather.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Long, light days (near-midnight sun) perfect for the fjord, islands and outdoor life — the peak season.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Crisp, golden days with thinner crowds — a lovely, atmospheric time.
Winter (Nov–Mar)
Cold, dark and snowy, with skiing, festive lights and the chance of the northern lights further north.
Midsummer light
In June and July, Oslo enjoys very long daylight hours, ideal for late-evening fjord cruises and walks.
One day
Enough for the city, Vigeland Park and an Oslofjord cruise.
Two days
Add the Bygdøy museums and Holmenkollen.
Three days
The sweet spot: the city, and a great fjord and Flåm Railway journey.
Four to five days
Add more fjords, Bergen and the Norwegian countryside.
A week or more
Use Oslo as a base or the start of a wider Norway trip.
Travelling with kids
Mix a fjord cruise, the museums and Vigeland Park at a gentle pace.
On foot
The centre — the waterfront, Opera House, fortress and Karl Johans Gate — is compact and walkable.
Metro, tram & bus
An efficient metro (T-bane), trams and buses cover the city; one Ruter ticket works across all transport and ferries.
Ferries
Public ferries cross to Bygdøy’s museums and the Oslofjord islands — a scenic, cheap way to travel.
To Holmenkollen
The metro climbs to the Holmenkollen ski jump and the forested hills above the city for views and trails.
Day-trip & fjord transport
Trains and tours reach Flåm and the fjords; the Bergen Railway is a scenic journey in itself.
From the airport
Oslo Airport links to the centre by the fast Flytoget airport train in about 20 minutes.
Book fjord trips ahead
Popular Oslofjord cruises and the Flåm Railway fjord journeys fill up in summer — book ahead.
Free icons
Vigeland Park and the Opera House roof are free; budget mainly for museums, cruises and food.
Currency
Norway uses the krone (not the euro) and is largely cashless — cards work everywhere, even for small purchases.
Oslo Pass
The Oslo Pass includes transport, many museums and some cruises — excellent value for a busy itinerary.
Oslo is pricey
Norway is expensive, so budget accordingly; supermarket lunches, free parks and the Oslo Pass help keep costs down.
Dress for the weather
Even summer can be cool by the fjord, and winters are cold and dark — pack warm, waterproof layers.
Oslofjord cruises
Popular sightseeing and dinner cruises fill up — book ahead.
Flåm fjord trips
The Flåm Railway and fjord journeys sell out in summer — reserve early.
Food tours
Small-group food tours fill up — book ahead.
Museum tours
Guided Bygdøy and Vigeland tours have limited places — reserve ahead.
Holmenkollen
Pre-book the ski jump and simulator at busy times.
Summer peak
Peak summer fills hotels and tours — plan early.
Oslofjord cruises
Around €30–55 for a sightseeing cruise, more for dinner cruises.
City & bike tours
About €25–50 for a guided city walking or bike tour.
Museums
Roughly €15–20 per museum; the Oslo Pass bundles many.
Food tours
Around €90–130 for a guided food tour with several tastings.
Flåm fjord trips
About €180–250 for a full-day Flåm Railway and fjord cruise journey.
How to save
Use the Oslo Pass, enjoy free Vigeland Park, take public ferries, and shop for lunch at supermarkets.
Oslo through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Fresh, bright days as the city wakes up.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cool but lovely; the fjord opens up by May.
- Best for
- Long, light days for fjord and islands.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- The peak season; book cruises and fjord trips ahead.
- Best for
- Crisp, golden, atmospheric days.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- A lovely, quieter time for the city.
- Best for
- Snowy days with skiing and festive lights.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cold and dark — wrap up warm and embrace it.