Insider's Guide To Oslo: Local-approved Tips & Must-know Facts

Oslo-Gardermoen is the main airport serving Oslo, located about 40 km north of the city, and is the easiest way to travel to Oslo from abroad.

Oslo Bussterminal is located right next to the central station, where long-distance buses from abroad and all around Norway arrive.

Vigelandsparken is a well-known attraction featuring statues and monuments by Gustav Vigeland, with locals often referring to it as Frognerparken.

The Munch Museum, opened in 2021 and located in Bjørvika, showcases many of Edvard Munch's most famous pieces of art, including versions of "The Scream."

The National Museum is a general art museum and the largest of its kind in Norway, exhibiting Norwegian and international art, including a dedicated room for Edvard Munch's paintings.

The Fram Museum, located at Bygdøynes, features the ship Fram used by Roald Amundsen to reach the South Pole, allowing visitors to board and learn about the expedition.

The Kon-Tiki Museum, located at Bygdøynes, displays the Kon-Tiki raft and the Papyrus Boat Ra 2, built by Thor Heyerdahl to demonstrate early human ocean crossings.

The Folkemuseum is an open-air museum located on Bygdøy, featuring a collection of old buildings from all around Norway, grouped by region, with highlights including the stave church of Gol.

Akershus Fortress, located in the center on the shore, dates back to the late 13th century and contains the military and resistance museums, offering a view towards the fjord.

Karl Johan Gate is the main street of Oslo, running from the main train station to the Royal Castle, featuring shops and landmarks like the Stortinget and the Grand Hotel.

The Grand Hotel is located along Karl Johans Gate, where the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize waves to the crowd.

The Royal Castle is located at the end of Karl Johan Gate, with no gate around it, and visitors can observe the changing of the guard, and visit the inside during the summer.

Aker Brygge, a modern quarter in Oslo, was formerly a shipyard until 1982 and now features converted buildings with business areas, apartments, and restaurants.

Tjuvholmen is located at the end of Aker Brygge and features the Astrup-Fearnley Museum.

The Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, designed by Renzo Piano, is located at Tjuvholmen and showcases modern art by artists like Jeff Koons and Cindy Sherman.

Holmenkollen, known for its famous ski jump tower, offers a ski museum and a view platform at the top of the jump tower with views of Oslo.

Frognerseteren features a restaurant in a log house from the 19th century, located near Holmenkollen.

The Opera is located next to the train station in the fjord, with a marble-covered building accessible via ramps and stairs, offering views of the fjord.

Grünerløkka, located east of Akerselva, is known for its small shops, bars, restaurants, parks, and a hip atmosphere.

Deichmann Bibliothek, the public library of Oslo, is located between the opera and the main station, offering free entry and a cafe.

The Public Transport Museum is located in Majorstuen, where you can see old trams, metros and buses from Oslo and the surrounding region, which tell the history of public transport.

Akerselva is a river that flows through Oslo, with a path along the river from Grønland to Maridalsvannet, featuring parks and restaurants along the waterfront.

Ekebergparken, located southeast of the city center, is a sculpture park inaugurated in 2013, featuring around 30 sculptures and installations.

Bogstadveien is a street in the western part of Oslo with higher-end shops, running from Majorstuen eastwards.

Mathallen, located on the border of Grünnerløkka, is a converted industrial zone housing food shops and restaurants.

The Norwegian Maritime Museum, located in Bygdøy, focuses on the history of seafaring in Norway, featuring old ships, models, and paintings.

Gamlebyen is the old town of Oslo, where Oslo used to be in the Middle Ages, with some ruins and guided tours available during the summer.

Rose slottet, the Rose Castle, is an art installation at Frognerseteren featuring paintings and sculptures about Norway during the Second World War.

Sognsvann is a small lake north of Oslo, easily accessible by public transport, serving as a popular recreational area and a starting point for hikes in Nordmarka.

Sørenga is a new quarter built on the old container terminal, located in front of the opera and the Munch Museum, offering a floating bridge and restaurants.

Nordmarka is a large forest area north of Oslo, offering hiking paths and destinations like Kopperhaugen and Kikut.

Oslofjord, approximately 120 km long, is an economically important waterway and a recreational area with islands like Hovedøya and boat lines from Aker Brygge.

Tryvann features Oslo’s largest ski resort with ski lifts and slopes, plus a climbing park during the summer.