Things to do in Oslo
Oslo's city centre offers Expressionist paintings at the Munch Museum, enormous stone statues at the Vigeland Sculpture Park and Old Masters at the National Gallery. Explore the lively Aker Brygge waterfront or hop on a boat to see Viking ships on the Bygdøy Peninsula. You can gain a new perspective on the city on a boat trip out into the fjord. Museums generally open daily from 10am, often later on Sundays.
National Gallery
Norway's finest art collection
Oslo's city centre National Gallery is Norway's main museum of visual arts,
housing both Norwegian and international works. Highlights range from
Picassos and Venetian masters, to a version of Edvard Munch's famous The
Scream.
E-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening Hours
Tue, Wed, Fri 10am-6pm; Thu 10am-7pm; Sat & Sun 11am-5pm
Address
13, Universitetsgaten, Oslo 0130
Telephone
+47 21 98 20 00
Munch Museum
Expressionist Master
Oslo's central Munch Museum houses The Scream and Madonna among
other paintings by Norwegian Expressionist painter Edvard Munch (1863-1944).
Films, lectures and guided tours give deeper insight into the tormented
painter's motivations and style.
E-mail this item
Cost
NOK75; concessions NOK40; under 7s free
Opening Hours
Sep-May Tue-Fri 10am-4pm; Sat & Sun 11am-5pmJun-Aug daily 10am-6pm
Address
53, Tøyengate, Oslo 0578
Telephone
+47 23 49 35 00
The Artists' House
Contemporary art collection
In a stark 1920s building, the Artists' House (Kunstnernes Hus) in west Oslo
is dedicated to international modern art. There are regular exhibitions by
leading contemporary Norwegian artists and free guided tours on Thursdays
and Sundays.
E-mail this item
Cost
NOK50; concessions NOK25
Opening Hours
Tue & Wed 11am-4pm; Thu & Fri 11am-6pm; Sat & Sun 12pm-6pm
Address
17, Wergelandsveien, Oslo 0167
Telephone
+47 22 85 34 10
The Viking Ship Museum
Ancient boats
Norway's Viking heritage comes vividly to life on Bygdøy Peninsula at the
Viking Ship Museum. Star exhibits include three remarkably preserved ships,
Oseberg, Gokstad and Tune, found in royal burial mounds in the Oslo
area.
E-mail this item
Cost
NOK50; concessions NOK30-35
Opening Hours
Oct-Apr daily 10am-4pm; May-Sep daily 9am-6pm
Address
35, Huk Aveny, Oslo 0287
Telephone
+47 22 13 52 80
Kon-Tiki Museum
Heyerdahl's Polynesian finds
The Kon-Tiki Museum on Bygdøy Peninsula contains boats and artefacts from
Thor Heyerdahl's expeditions, from the original Kon-Tiki raft (1947) to a
30-foot whale shark and statues from Easter Island. There are also finds
from Galapagos and Peru.
E-mail this item
Cost
NOK60; concessions NOK40; children NOK25
Opening Hours
Nov-Feb daily 10.30am-3.30pm; Mar & Oct daily 10.30am-4pm; Apr-May & Sep daily 10am-5pm; Jun-Aug daily 9.30am-5.30pm
Address
36, Bygdøynesveien, Oslo 0286
Telephone
+47 23 08 67 67
Fram Museum
Polar ship
The Fram Museum on Bygdøy Peninsula houses the Fram, the strongest wooden
ship ever built. This Scottish-Norwegian-built ship of 1892 was used by
explorers including Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen and has been
immaculately preserved, both inside and out.
E-mail this item
Cost
NOK50; concessions NOK20
Opening Hours
Oct-Apr daily 10am-3pm; May & Sep daily 10am-5pm; Jun-Aug daily 9am-6pm
Address
36, Bygdøynesveien, Oslo 0286
Telephone
+47 23 28 29 50
Norwegian Folk Museum
Traditional Norwegian buildings
The open-air Norwegian Folk Museum exhibits traditional building styles from
around the country in a large park on Bygdøy Peninsula. Carefully relocated
and reconstructed, one of the highlights is a wooden stave church from the
13th century.
E-mail this item
Cost
NOK70 (May-Sep NOK95); children free-NOK25
Opening Hours
Sep-May Mon-Fri 11am-3pm, Sat & Sun 11am-4pm; May-Sep daily 10am-6pm
Address
10, Museumsveien, Oslo 0287
Telephone
+47 22 12 37 00
Norwegian Resistance Museum
Remembering wartime patriots
The Norwegian Resistance Museum at Akershus Festning houses a poignant
collection of items used in Norway's fight against the 1940-45 Nazi
occupation. Exhibits include photos from the notorious Grini concentration
camp, and images of the Gestapo torture chamber in Oslo.
E-mail this item
Cost
NOK30; concessions NOK15
Opening Hours
Sep-May Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat & Sun 11am-4pm; Jun-Aug Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-5pm
Address
21, Bygning, Akershus Festning, Oslo 0015
Telephone
+47 23 09 31 38
Narvisen Ice Rink
Ice cool
The flood-lit Narvisen Ice Rink in the heart of Oslo plays music while
skaters glide. Skates are available for hire and admission is free. Those
watching from the side-lines can fill up on hot dogs, popcorn or hot drinks
on sale.
E-mail this item
Cost
Skate rental NOK45, children NOK30
Opening Hours
30 Nov-1 Mar: daily 11am-9pm
Address
Spikersuppa, Karl Johan, Oslo 0162
Transport
Stortinget T-Bane
The Royal Palace
Norwegian king's home
The stately Royal Palace, in the city centre, was built in 1848. Families
flock to see the daily changing of the guard or to explore the surrounding
park year-round. The palace itself holds special exhibitions and guided
tours in summer.
E-mail this item
Cost
Summer guided tours NOK95; concessions NOK85; free entry to park
Opening Hours
Grounds open daily. Guided tours Jul-Aug only
Address
1, Henrik Ibsens gate, Oslo 0010
Telephone
+47 22 04 87 00
Nobel Peace Center
Peace museum
The Nobel Peace Center, which opened close to Aker Brygge in June 2005, is
devoted to the famous peace prize. Exhibitions tell the story of Alfred
Nobel and past prize winners, with displays on worldwide war, peace and
conflict resolution.
E-mail this item
Cost
NOK80; concessions NOK55
Opening Hours
Sep-May Tue-Sun 10am-6pm; Jun-Aug daily 10am-6pm
Address
1, Brynjulf Bulls Plass, Oslo 0250
Telephone
+47 48 30 10 00
Akershus Fortress
Medieval castle
Originally built in 1299, the imposing Akershus Fortress at Aker Brygge was
transformed into a Renaissance castle in the 17th century. It boasts
majestic halls, a church and the Royal Mausoleum. Changing of the guard
takes place daily at 1.30pm.
E-mail this item
Cost
NOK65; concessions NOK45
Opening Hours
Daily 6am-9pm
Address
Akershus Kommandantskap, Oslo 0150
Telephone
+47 23 09 35 53
Vigeland Museum & Park
Sculpture park
Gustav Vigeland (1869-1943), one of Norway's most accomplished sculptors,
left a collection of giant statues to the nation - over 200 of which now
stand in the Vigeland Park in west Oslo. The adjacent Vigeland Museum houses
models of almost all his works.
E-mail this item
Cost
Park free all year; museum free Nov-Mar (Apr-Oct NOK50; children NOK25)
Opening Hours
Park 24 hours daily; museum Jun-Aug Tue-Sun 11am-5pm; Sep-May Tue-Sun 12pm-4pm
Address
Frognerparken, Oslo 0268
Telephone
+47 23 49 37 00
Botanical Garden
Exotic blooms
The Botanical Garden is an oasis in east Oslo, home to exotic plants such as
cacti, orchids and palms, and indigenous species, including Norwegian wild
flowers. Thousands of mountain plants flourish in the rock garden, cut
through by waterfalls.
E-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening Hours
Oct-Mar daily 7am-5pm (from 10am Sat & Sun); Apr-Sep daily 7am-9pm (from 10am Sat & Sun)
Address
1, Sars'gate, Oslo 0562
Telephone
+47 22 85 17 00
Fjord sightseeing boat trips
Oslo from the water
A two-hour guided boat trip provides a unique perspective on Oslo city
centre, the busy harbour, and the fjord with its islands and inlets. Cruises
run throughout the summer, with additional seasonal trips at Christmas and
other times of year.
E-mail this item
Cost
NOK230
Opening Hours
Daily; three or four departures from 10.30am
Address
3, Rådhusbrygge, Oslo 0116
Telephone
+47 23 25 68 90
