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I’d never heard much hype about Oslo before I visited it. In fact, I hadn’t heard much about Oslo, full stop! That had me wondering one thing when I started to consider making the trip there: is Oslo worth visiting?
When I came across crazy-cheap flights to Oslo, I decided to spend two days in Oslo to find an answer to that question. Who could blame me?
I took a complete chance on Oslo, but I was blown away by this small city in the two days I spent there! In fact, it quickly rocketed into my top 5 favourite cities in Europe! So, if you’re also wondering whether Oslo is worth visiting or not, you’re in the right place.
In this post, I’ll cover all the reasons you definitely need to visit Oslo, as well as a few reasons it might not be for you. That way, you don’t just need to take my word for it – you can make your own decision.
Let’s go!
Top tip: The Norwegian currency is the Norwegian Kroner (NOK), but I have listed the prices in this post in Euros and NOK to keep everything simple.
Table of Contents
Reasons Oslo is Worth Visiting
1. Oslo Has Epic Museums
If you’re even slightly into museums, Oslo is worth a visit. Heck, even if you’re not into museums, the museums in Oslo are so varied, interactive and fascinating that you probably won’t be able to resist adding a few to your itinerary.
The museums here are what make the city so fun for tourists!
There are over 50 museums in Oslo, so it can be hard to know where to start. Here are my top picks:
Fram Museum
We can’t miss the Fram Museum, which was my favourite museum in Oslo. This huge museum documents the history of Arctic and Antarctic exploration, and I can guarantee you’ll learn a tonne here.
The star attraction of the museum is the huge ship you can board and explore, which teaches you about life for the sailors onboard these vessels. It also rocks to simulate the rough seas.
Viking Ship Museum
The Viking Ship Museum, an unmissable attraction in Oslo. It’s currently closed for renovations, but when it opens again, it’ll be even more incredible than it was when I visited!
Here, you’ll find three excavated Viking ships found near Oslo, as well as various treasures found with the boats.
It’s mind-blowing to see these ships that were built such a long time ago! The museum also does an excellent job of teaching you about Viking life and Viking exploration.
Norwegian Museum of Cultural History
Finally, we should talk about the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, where you can explore the outside and inside of Norwegian buildings from over the years, from wooden huts and churches from hundreds of years ago up to small village houses of the 1950s.
Other Great Oslo Museums
These are just three of the many brilliant museums in Oslo, but if you’re a museum buff like me there are plenty more to visit!
Check out the Kon Tiki Museum, the Munch Museum, the Norwegian Folk Museum and the Norwegian Resistance Museum, to name just a few.
2. The Oslo Pass Will Save You Money
When it comes to city attraction passes, I usually tell you they’re not worth it. However, I’m 100% on board with the Oslo Pass! The Oslo Pass is worth it, without a doubt.
You can get this tourist card for either 24, 48 or 72 hours and it costs just €42.50, €62 or €76. For this, you get unlimited free entry to loads of museums, including all the best ones, free use of public transport, and discounts at restaurants.
I actually crunched the numbers, and it was official: the Oslo Pass saved me money (€25, to be exact)! Pair that with the convenience of having all of your tickets sorted beforehand, and unlimited use of public transport, and I’m sold.
Click here to buy your Oslo Pass!
3. Oslo is Walkable, with Good Public Transport
Getting around Oslo is a breeze, especially if you have the Oslo Pass because you don’t need to worry about buying transport tickets!
Oslo is walkable and most of the city’s top attractions are all within walking distance. In summer, almost all of Oslo’s attractions are in walking distance if you don’t mind spending a while getting from A to B.
However, in winter, it can be a bit too chilly to walk all over the city, so the public transport system will be your new best friend. The museums on the Bygdøy Peninsula and the Vigeland Sculpture Park are a bit outside of the central area, so you’ll need to use public transport.
I used Google Maps to get me from A to B in the city and had no issues whatsoever.
Everything was on time and directions were easy to understand, so if you’re somebody like me who often feels flustered when trying to navigate public transport in a foreign country, Oslo is worth visiting for a stress-free trip.
4. Oslo is a Super Peaceful City
Wondering “what is Oslo like”? To me, Oslo felt so relaxed and peaceful – I couldn’t believe that I was in a capital city!
It makes sense though, as this city is home to only 635,000 people. When I compare that to the 10 million that live in my hometown of London it makes sense that it felt small!
To embrace the peaceful nature of Oslo, be sure to bag a bench near the Akershus Fortress, overlooking the Oslo Fjord, for sunset. Everything is so calm and I can confirm: Oslo is beautiful!
Oslo is good to visit if you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle but still want to have plenty of things to do, since it’s so peaceful.
5. Oslo Is Not Actually That Expensive
If you’re considering visiting Oslo, you’re probably wondering “is Oslo expensive to visit?”. After all, Oslo, and Norway, has a reputation for being super, super expensive. But I promise, you really can visit Oslo on a budget!
I managed to spend two days in Oslo for just €185 – including flights! You can find out how I managed to do that in this blog post.
It’s worth mentioning, though, that I live in London, which is notoriously expensive. For this reason, I’m used to paying a lot for, well, pretty much everything. If you come from a cheaper city or country, Oslo may feel more expensive to you than it did to me.
I did everything I wanted to do and found that, as long as you make a couple of adjustments, you definitely can visit Oslo on a budget. The Oslo Pass will save you money, as will buying breakfast or snacks from the supermarket, and staying in this fabulous budget hotel. You’re welcome 😉
6. Norwegian Meatballs Are Incredible
Swedish meatballs get so much hype, but Norwegian Meatballs are where it’s at!
Okay, okay, I actually don’t know what the difference between the two is (if there even is one) but Norwegian Meatballs are delicious anyway and you absolutely have to eat them in Oslo!
I first tried Norwegian meatballs at Kaffistova restaurant, and I loved them so much that I returned the next day! They’re not super cheap, coming in at €15.50 per plate, but God they’re worth it!
For €15.50 you’ll get three big meatballs, with gravy, huge boiled potatoes, mushy peas and lingonberry sauce. Yum!
7. Everybody In Oslo Speaks English
You won’t struggle with a language barrier in Oslo, as pretty much everybody you’ll come across as a tourist will speak excellent English!
I learnt no Norwegian whatsoever for this trip, and I had no issues. In fact, everybody’s English was so good that it would probably have been a waste of time for me to learn any.
For this reason, if you want a city break where you can relax and not worry about language problems, head to Oslo!
8. There Are Lots of Flights to Oslo
Oslo Gardermoen is a big airline hub and has flights all over the world. Both budget and major airlines fly here, and the competition is fierce, so flight prices are low.
Other cities in Norway, like Bergen and Tromso, are far more expensive to fly to, and there are fewer direct flights. For this reason, Oslo is the perfect place to get a taste of Norway without spending hundreds of Euros on flights.
Plus, if you’re flying to Norway from somewhere outside of Europe, you’ll almost definitely land in Oslo, so take advantage of this and spend a couple of days in the city before moving on to somewhere else in Norway.
9. There’s No Best Time to Visit Oslo
Unlike many destinations in Europe that are very seasonal, there is no best time to visit Oslo. It’s the perfect year-round destination.
If you’re visiting Oslo in winter, you’ll get to enjoy cosy cafes, snow, and the glorious Oslo Fjord sparkling under the winter sun. In summer, you’ll get to hit the beaches of the Oslo Fjord and even do some island hopping. Oslo is beautiful!
You’ll have an awesome time in Oslo no matter what time of year you visit. Therefore, Oslo is worth visiting in winter and summer.
10. The Oslo Fjord Is So Pretty!
The Oslo Fjord starts in the Baltic sea and flows right into the city. You can get knockout views of it from the top of the Oslo Opera House, but the best way to explore the Oslo Fjord is to take a short sightseeing cruise. It’s one of the best things to do in Oslo by far!
Booking your spot is easy, and on the sightseeing cruise you’ll get to check out the highlights of this beautiful area in 2 hours. It’s the perfect way to explore the many islands and coves of the Fjord.
There are a few different sightseeing cruise providers, but this is the most popular and affordable! The cruise operates year-round, so even if you’re visiting Oslo in winter you’ll get to check out the fjord.
Click here to book your place!
11. Oslo is Safe for Tourists
Oslo is one of the safest cities in Europe, inside one of the safest countries in the world – Norway! For this reason, you’ll have no worries travelling to Oslo.
Oslo is safe for tourists, and it’s a great destination for first-time solo travellers dipping their toes into the solo travel water.
I visited Oslo as a solo female traveller and I didn’t once feel unsafe or even concerned – and I wandered around the city in the dark by myself.
Since I visited Oslo in winter, it got dark at around 4pm, so it was essential to me that I felt safe in the dark in Oslo.
Reasons Oslo isn’t Worth Visiting
I’ve now spent some time hyping up Oslo to you, but I understand that it won’t be for everybody. After all, life would be boring if we all liked the same things!
So, to help you work out if Oslo is the right destination for you, here are some reasons why you might not think that Oslo is worth a visit.
12. Oslo isn’t a Hiking Destination
Norway is famous for its incredible hikes, but unfortunately you won’t find any famous ones in Oslo. Oslo is a city, so if you’re heading to Norway to check out some hiking trails then Oslo isn’t the right destination for your trip.
That said, you could fly into Oslo and spend a couple of days there before catching a train or onward flight to a more hiking-focussed destination like Stavanger.
It totally depends on what you want to get out of your trip!
13. Oslo is Still Pretty Expensive…
I did mention before that Oslo is less expensive than you’d think, and it’s possible to visit Oslo on a budget, but it’s not like the prices in Oslo are low like they are in Budapest or Poland. It’s still expensive.
If you’re looking to relax without having to even think about your budget, Oslo is not the right destination for you.
Like I said, I managed to visit Oslo on a budget, and it’s absolutely possible, but it does require constantly keeping an eye on costs, sacrificing on a few things, and making sure you don’t eat out at restaurants very often.
If you’re a foodie and want to eat out often, love a drink or two, or want to stay in boutique accommodation, you’ll struggle to do this on a budget.
14. Alcohol in Oslo is Super Expensive
Following on from my previous point, there’s a reason you never really see bachelor or bachelorette parties, or groups of young friends, heading to Oslo.
Drinking here is very expensive, and you’ll break your budget quickly if you’re having anything more than one or two drinks per day.
It’s not unheard of to pay €9 for a beer at a bar, and if you’re even trying to visit Oslo on any kind of budget cocktails are out of the question!
Because of this, if you’re looking to have a few drinks on your trip (and there’s nothing wrong with that!) Oslo might not be the right place to visit.
I was very glad I visited Oslo on a solo trip because I didn’t feel like visiting a bar by myself, but I know that if I had visited with my boyfriend I know we would have spent quite a lot just on a few drinks!
15. Oslo is a Small City
As we covered earlier in the post, Oslo is a small city. Because of this, Oslo is good to visit as a weekend trip, for two or three days. With this trip length, I think you’ll manage to see the sights on your bucket list and you’ll have a brilliant time!
However, if you’re planning to stay for longer, you’ll definitely start running out of things to do.
Of course, if you’re visiting Oslo in summer you can definitely fill your time by lounging in parks and visiting the beaches of the Oslo Fjord, but in terms of activities and attractions in Oslo, there’s only enough to do here for a few days in my opinion.
If you’re visiting on a longer trip, it’d be better to catch the train to somewhere else in Norway after a few days in Oslo.
Is Oslo Worth Visiting on a Cruise?
Oslo is one of the best cities to visit on a cruise! Its compact size means that it’s easy to explore in just a day or two, there’s plenty of fun things to do, and staying on the cruise ship means you save on pricey Oslo accommodation.
I don’t typically recommend taking a cruise, but if ever there would be a place where it’s worth it, it’s Oslo.
Is Oslo a Good Place to Visit?
As you can see, I’m a big fan of Oslo and think Oslo is nice to visit!
However, what works for me may not work for you, so it’s worth considering all the points in this post to decide whether or not you should add Oslo to your Europe itinerary.
Have an amazing trip!
