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30 Secrets & Things to do in Oslo, Norway

30 Secrets & Things to do in Oslo, Norway

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These are my carefully selected 30 things to do & best places to visit in Oslo which I visited during a warm summer weekend and includes gems like Frogner Park, Viking Ship Museum, Whale Sushi, Stratos rooftop, eating black licorice ice cream and tips for the vibrant Oslo nightlife.

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Tips & Advice
  • What: Oslo, capital of Norway
  • Why: Most laid-back city in Scandinavia with tons of attractions!
  • Discount: Be smart and buy the OSLO PASS to save lots of money on attractions and transportion, only $50 USD!
  • Tips: Visit in July & August for excellent warm weather.
  • Related: Tips for the Oslo Nightlife and my Oslo Snacks Review video.

tastes of Norway meat dish at Rorbua restaurant in Oslo in Oslo, Norway spectacular view of Oslo from the Akerhus Fortress in Oslo, Norway meeting the locals at Kulturhuset in Oslo, Norway in Oslo, Norway traditional Norwegian dance at the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo, Norway

I did not have high expectations for Oslo but during this warm summer weekend the city offers many outdoor attractions, a great place to start is Aker Brygge to try the local delicacy Polse, a fancy hot dog rolled in bacon and injected with cheese than from Aker Brygge walk to the other popular attractions like the Royal Palace, Karl Johans Gate shopping street, Vippa, the Opera House or Sorenga outdoor beach deck.

Places

  • Aker Brygge

    1. Aker Brygge

    Upscale harbor front of Oslo with gorgeous views of Oslofjord.

  • Pølse Hot Dog

    2. Pølse Hot Dog

    Most famous Norwegian hot dog wrapped in bacon and injected with cheese.

  • Whale Sushi

    3. Whale Sushi

    Try raw whale sushi at Det Nye Fisketorget at Aker Brygge.

  • Black Licorice Soft Ice

    4. Black Licorice Soft Ice

    Hennig Oslen at Aker Brygge sells bizarre soft ice with black licorice sprinkles.

  • Salted Licorice Ice Cream

    5. Salted Licorice Ice Cream

    Paradis Gelateria is unique for its Sal Ammoniac Ice Cream.

  • Oslo Radhus

    6. Oslo Radhus

    Oslo's city counsel including impressive murals on the walls.

  • Frogner Park

    7. Frogner Park

    Collection of 200 bizarre sculptures by Gustav Vigeland and a unique attraction in Oslo.

  • Royal Palace

    8. Royal Palace

    Norway is a kingdom with its Royal family residing at the slottet downtown Oslo.

  • Karl Johans Gate

    9. Karl Johans Gate

    Located next to the royal palace, Karl Johans Gate is the main shopping street of Oslo.

  • Studenterlunden Park

    10. Studenterlunden Park

    Gorgeous downtown park and great to stroll around on a sunny day and admire its large fountains.

  • Norwegian Museum of Cultural History

    11. Norwegian Museum of Cultural History

    My favorite museum in Oslo with a stave church dating from 1200 completely built out of wood.

  • Viking Ship Museum

    12. Viking Ship Museum

    Photos don't do this place justice, I did not know viking ships were this large.

  • Fram Museum

    13. Fram Museum

    Norwegian polar exploration mission vessel built in 1891.

  • Norwegian Maritime Museum

    14. Norwegian Maritime Museum

    Learn more about the massive ship building industry of Norway including popular cruise liners.

  • Kon-Tiki Museum

    15. Kon-Tiki Museum

    During a 3 month journey in 1947, Thor Heyerdahl proved the South Pacific islands to be colonized by South Americans.

  • Fiskeriet Youngstorget

    16. Fiskeriet Youngstorget

    Indulge on fresh Norwegian fish including raw salmon cuts and fried cod.

  • Vippa

    17. Vippa

    Hipster food hall at the harbor front of Oslo, great for an afternoon lunch.

  • Opera House Oslo

    18. Opera House Oslo

    Most impressive building of Oslo, modeled after flat iceberg shapes with inclines,

  • SALT

    19. SALT

    Cool harbor front spot across the Opera House, a nomadic art lounge with bars and coffee shops.

  • Sørenga Sjøbad

    20. Sørenga Sjøbad

    Luxurious neighborhood with fantastic outdoor deck where you can swim and socialize with the local.

  • Ekebergparken

    21. Ekebergparken

    Bizarre sculpture park and great views of Oslo from the Ekeberg Restaurant.

  • Akershus Fortress

    22. Akershus Fortress

    Fantastic views of Oslo and watch massive cruise liners dock at the harbor front.

  • Resistance Museum of Norway

    23. Resistance Museum of Norway

    Education experience about occupied Norway by the Nazis during World War II.

  • Rorbua

    24. Rorbua

    Incredible restaurant serving local Norwegian dishes, try the Tastes of Norway meat stick.

  • Brown Cheese Ice Cream

    25. Brown Cheese Ice Cream

    Unique traditional Norwegian dessert: caramelized cheese ice cream at Louise restaurant.

  • Mathallen Oslo

    26. Mathallen Oslo

    Brand new food hall with unique restaurants and shops located in the student district Grünerløkka.

  • Magic Ice Bar

    27. Magic Ice Bar

    Cheers on ice wine at enjoy the ice version of the famous SCREAM painting.

  • Stratos

    28. Stratos

    Enjoy cocktails at the amazing rooftop lounge Stratos with a remarkable patio.

  • The Thief Rooftop

    29. The Thief Rooftop

    Upscale rooftop lounge at one of the most prestige hotels of Norway.

  • 30. Oslo Nightlife

    One thing that was beyond all my expectations; the nightlife. Oslo has many incredible bars & nightclubs, watch my full review.

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Royal Palace of Norway in Oslo in Oslo, Norway Vippa food hall, a modernized food venue with a hipster vibe in Oslo, Norway breathtaking Opera House of Oslo on a sunny day in Oslo, Norway upscale neighborhood Sorenga in Oslo in Oslo, Norway

Oslo is the capital of Norway and its metropolitan area has a population of 1.5 million including their royal family since Norway is a kingdom and is the only country in the world with territories in both the Arctic and Antarctica.

gorgeous view of the Royal Palace from the Karl Johans Gate in Oslo, Norway gorgeous view of the Royal Palace from the Karl Johans Gate

One important thing you must keep in mind; Oslo is extremely expensive and is rated one of the most expensive city in the world by Forbes Magazine, to give you an example, a simple hot dog will set you back $6 US dollars and that is considered on the cheap side.

Radhuset in Oslo with views of the harbor front in Oslo, Norway Fram Museum in Oslo in Oslo, Norway Frogner Park on a sunny day showcasing 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland in Oslo, Norway The Thief hotel in Oslo in Oslo, Norway delicious fish platter at Fiskeriet Youngstorget in Oslo in Oslo, Norway eating Norwegian fish with my Norway T-shirt in Oslo, Norway self serving my ketchup on my Polse hot dog in Oslo in Oslo, Norway traditional Norwegian polse hot doy in Oslo in Oslo, Norway

In return for being an expensive city you get a very safe and easy going Scandinavian city experience. Public transit is easy to use and many signs and menus at restaurants are in English. The most bizarre dish I've had must have been the Brown Cheese Ice Cream for which you'll have to watch my Oslo snacks review video.

brown cheese ice cream at Louise restaurant in Oslo in Oslo, Norway brown cheese ice cream at Louise restaurant in Oslo

The Frogner Park must have been the most unique sculpture park I've ever been to, it is world's largest sculpture park by a single artist. Created by Gustav Vigeland between 1924 and 1943 with incredible sculptures like the angry boy and consist out of 200 works.

bizarre sculptures by Gustav Vigeland at Frogner Park in Oslo in Oslo, Norway Frogner Park on a sunny day showcasing 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland in Oslo, Norway Frogner Park on a sunny day showcasing 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland in Oslo, Norway Frogner Park on a sunny day showcasing 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland in Oslo, Norway Norwegian Museum of Cultural History in Oslo, Norway Norwegian Museum of Cultural History in Oslo, Norway Norwegian Museum of Cultural History in Oslo, Norway Norwegian Museum of Cultural History in Oslo, Norway

My favorite museum in Oslo is the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History for having a lot of great performances, historic foods and snacks to try and the overall feeling like you got transported back to the Viking ages.

my American friends met me in Oslo after their trip in Svalbard in Oslo, Norway my American friends met me in Oslo after their trip in Svalbard

Out of the blue I received a Facebook message from my American buddy Andrew who was coincidentally stopping by Oslo on his way home from the Arctic Norwegian island Svalbard to the United States. I met up with him and his girlfriend at the famous fish restaurant Fiskeriet Youngtorget for the freshest Norwegian salmon I've ever tasted.

together with my American friends in Oslo, Norway in Oslo, Norway exploring the resistance museum with my buddy Andrew in Oslo in Oslo, Norway Resistance Museum of Norway in Oslo, Norway Resistance Museum of Norway in Oslo, Norway get black licorice soft ice at Hennig Olsen in Oslo in Oslo, Norway black licorice soft ice in Oslo in Oslo, Norway admiring a giant cruise liner in Oslo in Oslo, Norway beautiful views of Oslofjord in Norway in Oslo, Norway

After lunch I took my friends to the Akershus Fortress for the best view of Oslo and a little historic tour through Norway's Resistance Museum which teaches about the Nazi occupation of Norway during WW2.

meeting the staff of Rorbua Aker Brygge after an incredible dinner in Oslo in Oslo, Norway meeting the staff of Rorbua Aker Brygge after an incredible dinner in Oslo

For dinner I wanted to try true Norwegian cuisine and luckily Rorbua on Aker Brygge is known for having some of the best dishes in town. I ordered the Tastes of Norway meat stick with meats; Whale, Deer, Beef & Reindeer. An incredible dish with as winner: Reindeer for being extremely juicy, this dish cost me around $45 US dollars and don't forget to add the typical Norwegian beer Hansa.

delicious 'Tastes of Norway' at Rorbua in Oslo in Oslo, Norway tastes of Norway on a metal stick in Oslo, Norway stave church from 1200 in Oslo in Oslo, Norway viking ship museum includes a detailed map of the conquests in Oslo, Norway viking ship museum in Oslo, Norway reformatt at the viking ship museum in Oslo, Norway enjoying my time in Oslo at the Radhuset, city hall in Oslo, Norway inside the city hall of Oslo in Oslo, Norway

Before the night falls, grab a few cocktails at either the Magic Ice Bar for some Norwegian Ice Wine or on top of the Thief Rooftop patio for the most upscale cocktail bar in town.

enjoy ice sculptures at the Magic Ice Bar in Oslo in Oslo, Norway enjoy ice sculptures at the Magic Ice Bar in Oslo

In conclusion, Oslo is a great 2 to 3-day stop over during the summer to enjoy a few outdoor activities, learn about the history of Norway and make many new friends, especially during the weekend nightlife of Oslo but for that you'll have to read my next article. 

Magic Ice Bar in Oslo in Oslo, Norway breakfast at the Scandic Vulkan Hotel in Oslo, Norway Scandic Vulkan Hotel in Oslo in Oslo, Norway downtown Oslo in Oslo, Norway Sorenga upscal neighborhood with a cruise liner DFDS seaways in Oslo, Norway people tanning at sorenga district in Oslo in Oslo, Norway bizarre and creepy sculptures at Ekebergparken in Oslo in Oslo, Norway please do not kipnap me lady in Oslo, Norway