Top 51 attractions to explore in Oslo

A popular recreation area with a vibrant history. The river is eight kilometers long and passes waterfalls, swimming spots, fishing grounds, forested areas, and wildlife. This spectacular waterfall is located by the Beier Bridge. Other famous attractions linked to the river are Bjølsen Rolling Mill, Lilleborg Factories, Aamot Bridge, Hønse-Lovisa's House, and Nedre Foss.

Akershus Fortress is a medieval castle situated in Oslo city center. Throughout its history, it has had great strategic and symbolic value for Oslo and Norway. Akershus Fortress is still a military area. The castle was modernized under King Christian IV (1588-1648) and converted into a Renaissance castle and royal residence. Now it is open daily to the public.

Contemporary art museum with a swimming pool and great views of Oslo harbor.

A beautiful museum that has a large collection of modern and contemporary art counted among the most significant of its kind in Northern Europe. The museum complements works from the permanent collection by rotating exhibitions with internationally renowned artists. The building is designed by the renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano. It is made up of three pavilions that reside under one distinctive glass roof, which is shaped like a sail.

A beautiful island that was located in the heart of Oslo.  From the late 19th century a sanatorium for children suffering from scrofula was located on the island. A beautiful place to spend some leisure time.

Bogstadvannet is a lake on the border between Oslo and Bærum with beach areas on both sides. The lake has perch, whitefish and trout and is a popular fishing spot all year round. The lake and surroundings is a popular area for all types of outdoor recreation, and there are ski trails on the west side.

Bygdøy is a peninsula on the west side of the city center. Here you find several of Oslo’s most popular museums. The peninsula is mainly a residential area, but in addition to the museums, Bygdøy is also a popular recreational area during summer offering beaches and a beach volleyball court at Huk. There are also several beautiful trails both for cycling and walking.

The beautiful old sailing ship found at Akershusutstikkeren below Akershus Fortress when it is not out on the sea. Christian Radich is not open to the public but can be opened on request for small groups. The ship is available for charter tours and short cruises for schools and other groups in spring and autumn. In summer the ship participates in Tall Ships Races.

A beautiful park that combines its long history, beautiful nature, stunning views, and impressive sculptures in a unique way.  The artworks that are spread around the whole park are internationally renowned artists like Louise Bourgeois, James Turrell, Dan Graham, Sarah Lucas, Damien Hirst, and Roni Horn.  There are also traces of Oslo’s long and diverse history in the park, from rock carvings and ruins from the stone age to cemetery's that date back to 900-400 BC.

It contains the well-known Vigeland installation- a permanent sculpture installation created by Gustav Vigeland between 1924 and 1943. The sculpture park consists of sculptures as well as larger structures such as bridges and fountains.

An islet located south of central Oslo. A place where you can have picnics, kayak and swim.

The Museum of Cultural History is one of Norway's largest cultural history museums. It holds the country's largest prehistoric and medieval archaeological collections, including the Viking ships at Bygdøy, a substantial collection of medieval church objects, and a rune archive. The museum also has a comprehensive ethnographic collection that includes objects from every continent, as well as Norway's largest collection of historical coins.

The ski museum in Holmenkollen, located underneath the famous ski jump, is the oldest of its kind in the world. The museum presents more than 4,000 years of skiing history, Norwegian polar exploration artifacts, and an exhibition on snowboarding and modern skiing.  The observation deck on top of the jump tower offers panoramic views of Oslo. It has also hosted the 1952 Winter Olympics and the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in 1930, 1966, 1982 and 2011.

The ski museum in Holmenkollen, located underneath the famous ski jump, is the oldest of its kind in the world. The museum presents more than 4,000 years of skiing history, Norwegian polar exploration artifacts, and an exhibition on snowboarding and modern skiing.  The observation deck on top of the jump tower offers panoramic views of Oslo.

Hovedøya is one of several small islands off the coast of Oslo, Norway in the Oslofjord. The island is quite small, no more than 800 meters across in any direction, the total area is 0,4 square kilometres. It is well known for its lush and green nature, with a wide variety of trees, bushes, and flowers. For many, many years there was a military base on the island.

Beaches on the Bygdøy peninsula with big crowds on sunny summer days. Snack bar opens in summer. The area is used for outdoor recreation all year round and is a very popular place to go for a walk, a run, or a bicycle trip.

Hvervenbukta in Bunnefjorden is a very popular bathing spot in the southeast of Oslo, on the border with Oppegård municipality.  There are two fine sandy beaches, rocks and grassy slopes where you can enjoy the summer sun until late in the evening. It also has nice hiking trails along the sea.

The Intercultural Museum in Oslo, Norway, was founded in 1990 by Bente Guro Møller. It is a migration museum, and is primarily concerned with the collection, preservation and dissemination of Norwegian immigration history. The museum is open daily (except Mondays), and offers free entry to the main exhibits and the gallery of contemporary art. It also offers guided tours around Grønland, the historical "transit area" in downtown Oslo and one of the most obviously multicultural districts in th

Karl Johans gate is the main street of the city of Oslo, Norway. The street was named in honor of King Charles III John, who was also King of Sweden as Charles XIV John. This is a composite of several older streets that used to be separate thoroughfares. The eastern section was part of Christian IV's original city near the ramparts surrounding the city. When the ramparts were removed to make way for Oslo Cathedral, three separate sections eventually became Østre Gade.kut.

A great place to experience original vessels and up-to-date exhibits on Heyerdahl’s expeditions, including Kon-Tiki, Ra, Tigris, Easter Island, Fatu-Hiva, Tùcume, Galapagos, a 30-meter cave tour, an underwater exhibit with a 10-meter model of a whale shark, Thor Heyerdahl’s library, Thor Heyerdahl the person, and Tiki pop culture.

Lindøya is a small island located in the Oslofjord, just south of central Oslo. Administratively it belongs to the borough of Gamle Oslo. The island is connected to Oslo by means of two boat routes: line 92 which dock on the western side of the island, and line 93 which dock on the eastern side. Service is year-round although very limited during the winter season.

Ruins after the Margareta Church in the Maridalen valley, one of few remains in Oslo from the Middle Ages. It was built around the year 1250, was a small, single-nave church with choir, dedicated to St. Margareta. The medieval church was partly excavated and restored in 1934, and is beautifully situated at Kirkeby in the north end of the lake Maridalsvannet.

The eastern side of Maridalsvannet, Oslo’s largest lake, is a beautiful area with great views overlooking the thick forest and the water, and a vast amount of trails to explore. Taking the tram from downtown will provide easy access to the trail and to the rest of the Nordmarka forest.

The Munch Museum's collection, left to the city of Oslo by the artist, consists of paintings, graphical prints and drawings. By constantly changing the exhibitions, the museum presents the variety in his production. Edvard Munch has a unique position among Nordic painters and is considered a pioneer in expressionism.

Nakholmen is an uninhabited island in the inner part of Oslofjord, in the municipality of Oslo. It is located west of Lindøya and southeast of Bygdøy. The island has more than 180-weekend cottages. The first element is nakke - the last element is the finite form of holme. The name is referring to a rock formation on the islet.

The National Museum holds, conserves, exhibits, and promotes public knowledge about Norway’s largest collections of art, architecture, and design. The museum presents permanent exhibitions of objects from its collection and temporary exhibitions of loaned and own material.  It is one of ht finest exhibitions in this area.

Located in the old Western Railway Station near Oslo city hall and the harbor. At the Nobel Peace Center, you can experience and learn about the remarkable Nobel Peace Prize laureates, the history of the Peace Prize, and Alfred Nobel.   The installation The Peace Prize Laureates is filled with information, photos, texts, videos, and animations about the laureates’ lives and work.

The Norwegian Maritime Museum is situated near several other museums, including the Fram Museum; the Kon-Tiki Museum; the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History; and the Viking Ship Museum. The Norwegian Maritime Museum is operated in conjunction with the Norwegian Folk Museum. Its exhibits including shipbuilding, boat models, fishing, marine archeology, and shipping. he museum also displays a collection of more than 40 maritime paintings by notable artists.

A beautiful lake that was densely surrounded by nature and has a lot of recreational activities around. Daily a lot of people visit this place every day. it was one of the main drinking water resources of Oslo.

Old Aker Church is Oslo's oldest remaining building and the only remaining church from the Middle Ages. It is assumed that it was built around the year 1150. It is a stone church, built as a three-naved Roman-style basilica.  The church has been pillaged and ravaged by fire several times. The oldest part of the surrounding churchyard dates back to the 12th century. The church has a baroque pulpit and baptismal font from 1715. The tower was built in 1861.

The summer palace of Oscarshall is located on the peninsula of Bygdøy in Oslo. The palace was commissioned by King Oscar I and Queen Joséphine and was completed in 1852. Today it is the property of the state and is placed at the disposal of the King. This is one of the iconic buildings in this area and The palace is open to the public every summer.

A huge and beautiful church which was located in the heart of Norway. The parish church for downtown Oslo was first consecrated in 1697, and in 1950 it was restored back to its original baroque interior. Oslo Cathedral is the main church for the Church of Norway Diocese of Oslo and is used for weddings and funerals by the Norwegian Royal Family and the Norwegian Government. it is one of the main pilgrimage centres in this area and a lot of people visits this place every day.

The Oslo City Museum is situated at Frogner Manor in the Vigeland park. It is a museum of cultural history with one of the largest collections of paintings in Norway. The history of Oslo is illustrated by thematic exhibitions showing, among other things, the development of Oslo and the city's cultural and commercial activities.

Home of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, and the national opera theatre in Norway. The angled exterior surfaces of the building are covered with marble from Carrara, Italy and white granite and make it appear to rise from the water.

A cemetery dating back to 1808, known primarily for Æreslunden, Norway's main honorary burial ground.  famous Norwegians such as Edvard Munch, Henrik Ibsen, Henrik Wergeland, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, Richard Nordrak, Christian Krogh and Alf Prøysen are buried here. The surroundings are beautifully maintained and is very famous among the peoples.

A park with amazing views of Oslo and thought-provoking sculptures.

The biggest park in the Grünerløkka area is a popular recreational area for the locals, especially the younger generations. The park has table tennis tables and a fun playground for the kids. In the middle of the park lies Sofienberg church. The park was originally a cemetery, inaugurated in 1858, but many people were critical to having a cemetery in a central and densely populated area.

A beautiful lake located in the heart of Oslo. It is famous for its recreation area with great places for picnics, swimming, fishing, walking, running, and cross-country skiing.  The two-mile walking/running path around the lake is lit and wheelchair-friendly.

St Olav Domkirke is the principal Catholic place of worship in Oslo. It was the first Catholic church to be built in Norway following the Lutheran Reformation.  Highlights of the church’s interior include an altarpiece depicting Raphael’s Madonna, an Italian marble tabernacle donated by Pope Pius, and a throne used by Pope John Paul II in 1989. It is one of the key attractions in this area and a famous pilgrimage center.

Gol Stave Church (Norwegian: Gol stavkyrkje) is a stave church originally from Gol in the traditional region of Hallingdal in Buskerud county, Norway. The reconstructed church is now a museum and is now located in the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History at Bygdøy in Oslo, Norway

The Storting building is the seat of the Storting, the parliament of Norway. The building is located at 22 Karl Johans gate in central Oslo. It is a combination of several styles, including inspirations from France and Italy. Parliament also meets in several other offices in the surrounding area, since the building is too small to hold the current staff of the legislature. The building was designed by the Swedish architect Emil Victor Langlet and is built in yellow brick with details and a basem

Svenska Margaretakyrkan is a church at Hammersborg in Oslo that belongs to the Swedish national church, Svenska kyrkan . The church was completed in 1925 and has the address Hammersborg torg 8. It was one of the famous pilgrimage centers in this area and a lot of people visits this place every day.

Large Botanical garden at Tøyen with ample botanical variety and diversity. Most of the area is designed as an Arboretum, with approximately 1800 different plants. The garden holds a large and varied collection of trees and shrubs planted in a systematic fashion after plant family. It is one of the beautiful places in this area and a lot of people visit this place every day.

At the Fram Museum you can come on board the ship and see how the crew and their dogs managed to survive in the coldest and most dangerous places on earth - the Arctic and the Antarctic. This Museum also has a polar simulator where you can experience the cold and the dangers of polar expeditions more than 100 years ago.

Norsk Folkemuseum, at Bygdøy, Oslo, Norway, is a museum of cultural history with extensive collections of artifacts from all social groups and all regions of the country. It also incorporates a large open-air museum with more than 150 buildings, relocated from towns and rural districts.

The Queen Sonja Art Stable shows art and artefacts from The Royal Art Collection in the old stables behind The Royal Palace. Changing exhibitions present both Norwegian contemporary art and older works from the collection.

The Royal Palace is one of the country’s most important buildings and a concrete symbol of the course of Norwegian history since 1814. It is owned by the state and placed at the disposal of the head of state. It is where the daily work of the monarchy is conducted and where the King and Queen live.  It was one of the architectural wonders in the area and daily a lot of people visits this area every day.

Sculpture museum located in the studio and home of sculptor Gustav Vigeland. This building is regarded as one of the finest examples of neo-classical architecture in Norway.  The museum's collection comprises Vigeland's early works, his portraits, and monuments, as well as plaster models for the sculptures in Vigeland Park. The artist's working process is well-documented in the museum, which also shows changing contemporary art exhibitions.

Tjuvholmen skulpturpark is a sculpture park in the Tjuvholmen neighborhood of Frogner borough in Oslo, Norway. It is close to Aker Brygge. The art museum was designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano, who also designed the sculpture park. The park's concept was developed in conjunction with the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art.

Tøyen Park is a park in Oslo, Norway. It is located behind the Munch Museum and includes the University of Oslo Botanical Gardens. The Botanical Gardens is home to both the Geological and Zoological museums. There is also a water park that features a swimming hall and several open-air pools along with a waterslide and sauna. It is a popular recreation area and it attracts a lot of birdwatchers.

This is a great museum where the world's best-preserved Viking ships and finds from Viking tombs around the Oslo Fjord. It exhibits the Gokstad, Oseberg, and Tune ships, plus small boats, sledges, a beautiful cart, tools, textiles, and household utensils. It is one of the key attractions in Oslo.