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Stories from Oslo, Norway

Every story, long read and guide in the ULTIMATE Oslo City Guide, in one place.

Areas

Oslo by area

From Karl Johan to the hills, each part of Oslo has its own guide: the royal street and Kvadraturen, the Opera’s Bjørvika, the art of Tjuvholmen, elegant Frogner, Grünerløkka by the river, medieval Gamle Oslo, the museums of Bygdøy and Holmenkollen above the city.

Karl Johans gate, Oslo’s main street, in summerArea guideSentrum & Karl JohanThe royal streetThe Opera House and the Bjørvika skyline from the waterArea guideBjørvikaOpera, MUNCH and the harbourThe waterfront promenade of Aker Brygge, with the City Hall in the distanceArea guideAker Brygge & TjuvholmenArt on the waterVigeland Sculpture Park, with the granite Monolith beyond the sculpturesArea guideFrogner & VigelandThe elegant westThe Akerselva river and its banks in summerArea guideGrünerløkkaBy the river

By T-bane

Oslo’s centre is small enough to walk; the T-bane climbs to Holmenkollen in minutes, and bus 30 runs every 10 minutes to the museums of Bygdøy.

  1. Area guideGamle Oslo & EkebergWhere Oslo began
  2. Area guideBygdøyThe museum peninsula
  3. Area guideHolmenkollenAbove the city

Practical

Plan your trip

The practical things to know before you go: the Airport Express and the Oslo Pass, the T-bane, trams and boats, and itineraries for a first visit.

Karl Johans gate, Oslo’s main street, in summerBefore you goOslo essentialsEntry, money, seasons and emergenciesOslo’s blue trams passing the Nationaltheatret and the Studenterlunden parkGetting aroundBy train, tram and boatFlytoget, Ruter and the Bergen LineThe Oslo Opera House rising white from the harbour in Bjørvika, with the city behindItineraryThree days in OsloThe classic first visitSommerro’s rooftop terrace and round glass restaurant at dusk, with the fjord beyondLuxury guideLUX LivingThe finest addressesHotel Continental and Theatercaféen on Stortingsgata, with a tram passingItineraryThe Gold weekendThe Continental and Theatercaféen
  1. ItineraryThe Platinum weekendThe Thief, Maaemo and a spa

Our advice

Walk the Opera roof at sunset

The Opera House roof is open to walkers all year round: climb it as the light goes, then follow the harbour promenade past Akershus Fortress to Aker Brygge. The Opera House

Day trips

Beyond Oslo

The islands of the fjord, Fredrikstad’s fortified town, Drøbak and its Christmas house, Lillehammer and the Bergen Railway, all within reach of Oslo.

Hovedøya and the islands of the inner Oslofjord from the airBeyond OsloThe Oslofjord islandsIslands on a city ticketWooden houses and cobbled streets in Fredrikstad’s fortified Old TownBeyond OsloFredrikstadThe fortified townThe harbour of Drøbak on the OslofjordBeyond OsloDrøbak & OscarsborgFather Christmas’s townThe Lysgårdsbakken ski jumps at LillehammerBeyond OsloLillehammerMaihaugen and the slopesA Vy train crossing the snowy mountain plateau of the Bergen Line near FinseBeyond OsloThe Bergen Railway & FlåmOver the mountains

Our advice

Take a sauna and swim in the fjord

Book a sauna session in Bjørvika and plunge into the fjord between rounds, in summer or in snow: it is the most Oslo thing you can do. Oslo Badstuforening

In depth

In depth: Oslo, the fjord capital

Norwegian cuisine, the fjord capital, Munch, Ibsen and Vigeland, eating, the grand hotels, film, the trains and where to buy: the stories behind the city.

Pinnekjøtt, salted and dried lamb ribs, served for ChristmasChristmas & New YearChristmas in OsloJul i Vinterland and a Norwegian ChristmasThe lake of Skjærsjøen in Nordmarka, with a red cabin and spruce forestIn depth: nature & wildlifeWild OsloMoose, beavers and the MarkaNorwegian brown goat’s cheese with an old silver cheese slicerEatNorwegian CuisineStockfish, brown cheese, waffles and aquavit

In season

The Museum of the Viking Age plans to open in November 2027; until then, see the Viking treasures at the Historical Museum in the city centre.

  1. FeatureOslo, the classic and the newGrand hotels, the new waterfront and the fjord
  2. FeatureOslo on filmJoachim Trier’s Oslo
  3. Musica-ha: Oslo’s bandFrom a cabin near Oslo to True North
  4. The back storyMunch, Ibsen and VigelandOslo’s great Norwegians
  5. The back storyEating in OsloFrom Maaemo to Theatercaféen
  6. The back storyThe grand hotelsFrom the Grand to The Thief

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