Discover the top museums of the Norwegian capital Oslo and enjoy the cozy café culture, excellent restaurants and the beautiful location on the water.
Friday
Oslo Opera House
This centerpiece of a massive waterfront redevelopment project is fast becoming one of Scandinavia’s iconic modern buildings. Before you go inside, take a stroll on the roof of the opera house and enjoy the view over the Oslo Fjord. You can enter the foyer for free; but to explore the whole building you will need to book a tour.
Aker Bridge
For dinner, head to this old shipyard in Oslo’s largest port. It has been converted into a trendy shopping center with dozens of waterfront cafes and restaurants where locals love to grab a bite to eat. If the weather is good, buy unshelled prawns from the fishing boat, which are popular to enjoy with a sandwich, mayonnaise and a little lemon.
Jazz at Blå
The jazz club Blå is on an international list of 100 good jazz clubs by the American jazz magazine DownBeat. It is an intimate club on the Akerselva River where both well-known and unknown international artists play. Many performances are free and if there is no live music, there is a DJ.
Saturday
Astrup Fearnley Museet
This museum with all kinds of crazy art is the artistic highlight of the city. The waterfront building, designed by Renzo Piano and completed in 2012, is quite impressive in itself. The museum balances on piers and rafts and has roofs that resemble sails.
Akershus Festning & Slott
The Festning (fortress) and the Slott (castle) of Oslo are two of the city’s architectural highlights. They are strategically located on the east side of the harbour. Based in the extensive complex are several museum, dungeons and a chapel. The Slott looks medieval from the outside, but inside it was renovated into a Renaissance palace in the 17th century.
Bygdøy Peninsula
A stone’s throw from the harbor is the Bygdøy peninsula with some of Oslo’s top attractions that will keep you entertained for at least half a day. Take the 15 minute ferry from Rådhusbrygge wharf near the Festning. Highlights include the Vikingskipshuset (Viking Museum) with the best-preserved Viking boats in the world and the Polar Ship Museum Fram. The museum is currently closed for renovations and will reopen in 2026.
Sunday
Vigland Park
Head west on the number 12 tram to this park with 212 granite and bronze works by Norway’s most beloved sculptor, Gustav Vigeland. There are images of entwined lovers, silent elderly couples and scorned beggars. His most famous work, Sinnataggen, depicts a particularly grumpy child stamping his foot (free).
Nasjonal Gallery
The National Gallery houses the largest collection of Norwegian art. The exhibition features some of Edvard Munch’s most famous works, including the original copy of The Scream. There is also a lot of European art, such as works by Gauguin, Picasso and El Greco and impressionists such as Manet, Degas, Renoir, Matisse, Cézanne and Monet.
Mathallen Oslo
Before heading home, grab lunch at this very hip, post-industrial food market, which offers international dishes alongside the best of Norwegian cuisine. There are numerous delicatessens, cafes and restaurants in both this building and the neighboring buildings, and it’s bustling all day long. In general, prices are low and quality is high.
Opener image: william87/iStock