What to Do in Oslo in 24 Hours

Aside from its raw beauty, what separates Oslo from other capitals is the city's compact nature, which makes walking and public transport quick and effortless.

The best way to get around Oslo and visit the city's exceptional museums is with an Oslo Pass, which costs roughly £38 per adult and £20 for a child. The pass gives you access to all public transport and entry to over 30 museums and attractions, so worth purchasing if you're planning on spending 24 hours in the capital.

Interested in adding Norway's capital to your next ski trip? Just let us know when you enquire online or speak to our team on 01273 224060, and we’ll create your perfect tailor-made Norway ski holiday.

The design of the Oslo Opera House is inspired by icebergs and has won a range of architectural prizes since it opened in 2008. Located next to Oslo Central Station, it’s an easy landmark to spot and visit. Even if you’re not there to watch the ballet, you can take in the city's scenery from the roof.

It's a straightforward walk up one of Oslo's main streets (Karl Johan) from the railway square, known as Jernbanetorget, to reach the Royal Palace. The short journey to the palace is a great way to visit other iconic buildings including the Parliament and the National Theatre along the way.

There's a lovely garden and park surrounding the palace grounds which are nice to stroll through with a coffee or hot drink warming your hands.

If you want to treat yourself to a bit of shopping, check out the boats or enjoy some authentic, fresh seafood, Aker Brygge is the place to go. Tjuvholmen is the newest part of the harbourfront (the wharf) which showcases interesting architecture and art at The Thief Hotel and Astrup Fernley Museum.

Additionally, this is where the magnificent Nobel Peace Centre is located. Here you can look around some fascinating exhibitions to learn about the history behind the globally recognised prize and its past winners.

Dating back to the 1290s, this is one of Oslo’s more historic landmarks. The fortress has played a significant role in Oslo and Norway’s history and is worth the gentle climb up for its lovely viewpoint looking over the city and fjord.

Norway has produced several famous, historic artists, and potentially the most popular is Edward Munch. His painting “The Scream” is known around the world, and is available to view along with many of his other paintings at the Munch Museum in Bjørkvika (next to the Opera House).

Munch fans should definitely add the Vestlia Resort in Geilo to their hotel list - the lobby is home to a number of original prints as part of an impressive art collection.

However, if you're more interested in modern and contemporary art, the Astrup Fernley Museum would be my recommendation.

Although most of Norway’s fjords are on the west coast, the Oslo Fjord is one of the most visited and important ones. There are plenty of viewpoints across the city, but to get a totally unique perspective, it's worth hopping on one of the ferries to see the capital city from sea level. As the fjord doesn’t freeze, the ferries from Aker Brygge run all through the winter. I'd suggest getting the ferry to Nesoddtangen and grabbing some lunch at Signalen Sjøbad!

Add more fjord exploration to your Norway ski holiday with a visit to Flåm, where you can take a ferry cruise or high-speed rib ride along the world-famous Aurlandsfjord.

Located by the Royal Palace, in front of the National Theatre, is an ice rink open to skate on, which completes any winter trip to Oslo  and is especially fun for families and romantic for couples. For the ones not skating, there are cafes nearby for you to stay warm, have a drink and watch.

One of Oslo's best-kept secrets is the world’s largest sculpture park by a single artist, Gustav Vigeland. The park has over 200 sculptures, and one in particular has become a symbol of Oslo; Angry Boy. The park opened in 1907 and many, including myself, adore walking around and admiring the vast array of sculptures. I would absolutely recommend taking the time to visit if you find yourself in the area.

The Vikings have a rich heritage and are the most commonly associated with Norwegian explorers. However, a great example of a Norwegian explorer from more recent times is Thor Heyerdahl. His journey from Peru to Polynesia on the raft named Kon Tiki, is incredibly interesting and the interactive museum in Bygdøy brings his story to life.

Norway is the home of skiing, be it cross-country or downhill. Several international cross-country competitions take place here every year, but the main attraction is the ski jump, which has become synonymous with Oslo.

The top of the ski jumps have unrivalled views across Oslo and they're a breeze to get to. I suggest jumping on the metro to Frognerseteren and grabbing a bite to eat at one of the restaurants boasting the best backdrop in Oslo. Whilst you're there, it's worth visiting the ski museum.

Oslo is home to plenty of great restaurants serving various cuisines. It was tough to narrow down my five favourite restaurants, but below are the ones which I recommend to my friends if they're visiting. If none of these appeal, there are so many more places to try around the city!

1. “The Food Hall” - a 20 minute walk from Oslo Station, the place to indulge in local delicacies or international dishes.
2. Signalen Sjøbad - for a lovely meal accompanied by a stunning view, get the Nesoddtangen ferry across the Oslo fjord to Signalen.
3. Eataly - if you enjoy Italian food this is a super spot. On the corner of “Bryggetorget” (The Wharf Square) is a relaxed restaurant to have a nice pizza or pasta.
4. Lulu - can’t decide what dish to try? No problem! The concept of LuLu is that you get to try several small, varied dishes, but there is no menu! All the dishes are the chef’s choice (they do cater to allergies and dietary requirements) based on local and seasonal ingredients. Because of its popularity, I’d recommend booking a table in advance.
5. Lofoten - Oslo provides a great variety of fresh, world-class seafood and there's no better place to sample it than Lofoten. Situated on the end of the Aker Brygge wharf. No availability? No problem. You’ve got several other amazing seafood restaurants here too.

Located next to the waterfront area, 5* The Thief is the perfect accommodation to base yourself in to head out and explore Norway's capital. Once you've returned from your day discovering the city, full of fresh fish and with plenty of pictures of Oslo's scenery, you can relax by soaking in the hot tub or with a treatment at the spa.

Oslo is available as a city add-on when visiting many of our Norwegian ski resorts. To receive a tailor-made itinerary for Norway including skiing and a city stay, request a quotation online or call 01273 224060 to speak to a Norway ski specialist. View our Norway Ski Safaris for our suggested itineraries.

If you've already seen Oslo or want to explore a different Norwegian city, Carina has also given her advice on what to do in Bergen in 24 hours.