Many of the best things to do in Oslo are free: the Opera House roof, Vigeland Park, Ekeberg Park and the fortress grounds. The paid museums cost NOK 120–220 for adults, and many close on Mondays in winter. These are the 40 places we send our own guests, checked in October 2026.
Two warnings first. The Viking Age Museum is closed until late 2027, and SALT on Langkaia has been closed since June 2026. Several big guides still recommend both.
Art and history in the centre
1. MUNCH
The Scream and Munch’s own collection fill this tall museum in Bjørvika. Adults pay NOK 220 and under-25s NOK 100. Entry is free on the first Wednesday of the month 18–21, except July to September.
2. The National Museum
Norway’s national art collection, from Munch to modern design. Until 23 December it opens Tuesday and Wednesday 10–20 and Thursday to Sunday 10–17.
3. Astrup Fearnley MuseetContemporary art at the tip of Tjuvholmen, with a beach and fjord view outside. Adults pay NOK 180, and under-20s get in free. It is closed on Mondays.
4. Nobel Peace Center
The exhibitions behind the Peace Prize, next to City Hall. Tickets are half price until 12 December, while two galleries are closed. Full adult price is NOK 180.
5. Historical Museum
This is where to see Viking finds while the ship museum is shut. Adults pay NOK 160, and under-18s are free. It stays open until 20 on Thursdays.
6. Akershus Fortress grounds
Walk the walls for free and look out over the harbour. The main gate is open 06–21, and the side gates 07–18.
7. Akershus Castle and the Resistance Museum
The castle opens on weekends 12–17 in autumn and winter. A combined ticket for the castle and two museums costs NOK 320. The Resistance Museum is the one we would not skip.
8. Oslo City Hall
The city’s landmark building on the harbour. It is open Monday to Saturday 09–16, with a security check. It is closed on several dates, including 5–11 December.
9. The Opera House roof
You can walk straight up the marble roof for free. The view covers the fjord and Bjørvika. It gets slippery in rain, so wear proper shoes.
10. Opera House guided tour
Tours in English run on weekends, last 50 minutes and cost NOK 180. Tickets are released on Tuesday the same week. Book early if you want a Saturday.
11. Deichman Bjørvika
The main public library is six floors of free, warm space next to the Opera. Locals use it as a living room.
Bygdøy, the museum peninsula
12. Norsk Folkemuseum
An open-air museum with a stave church and farmhouses from across Norway. In winter it opens Tuesday to Sunday 11–16. Adults pay NOK 200, and under-18s are free.
13. The Fram Museum
You can board the polar ship Fram itself. It is open daily 10–17 in winter. Adults pay NOK 180.
14. The Kon-Tiki Museum
Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon-Tiki raft, a short walk from Fram. It opens daily 10–17 from September to April. Adults pay NOK 180.
15. Norwegian Maritime Museum
Boats and the sea in Norwegian life, by the water. It opens Tuesday to Sunday 11–16 until March. Children get in free.
Money tip: A combined ticket for Fram, Kon-Tiki and the Maritime Museum costs NOK 485, against NOK 540 for three single tickets. It is sold only at the museums.
16. The Viking Age Museum: closed
The Viking ships are off limits until the new museum opens, planned for November 2027. Go to the Historical Museum (tip 5) instead. Don’t take the bus out for this one.
Parks and sculpture
17. Vigeland Park
Gustav Vigeland’s sculpture park, open day and night and free to enter. Take tram 12 or bus 20. Go early in the morning for empty paths.
18. The Vigeland Museum
The sculptor’s studio and home, next to the park. It opens Tuesday to Sunday 12–16 in winter. Adults pay NOK 120.
19. Oslo City Museum
City history in an old manor in Frogner Park. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, until 18 on Thursdays.
20. Ekeberg Park
A sculpture park in the woods above the city, free and always open. Take tram 13 or 19 to Ekebergparken. Come at sunset for the view over Bjørvika.
21. The Scream view on Valhallveien
This is close to where Munch found the setting for The Scream. It is a short walk from Ekeberg Park. Combine the two.
22. The Botanical Garden
Free and open daily 07–17 in winter. The Palm House and Victoria House are temporarily closed. It is still a good quiet walk.
23. Natural History Museum
Dinosaurs and minerals at Tøyen, next to the garden. It opens Tuesday to Sunday 10–17.
24. Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology
The best rainy-day museum for children. Adults pay NOK 205 and children NOK 135. It is closed on Mondays.
Walks and neighbourhoods
25. The Harbour Promenade
Almost 9 km of path along the fjord through the centre. Walk a section from Aker Brygge to Bjørvika. It is flat and easy.
26. The Akerselva river walk
An 8 km path from Maridalsvannet to Vaterland, past waterfalls and old factories. Walk it downhill. Stop at Grünerløkka for coffee.
27. Birkelunden Sunday flea market
A flea market runs here every Sunday, all year. It is the best people-watching in Grünerløkka.
28. Damstredet and Telthusbakken
Two short streets of old wooden houses near the centre. Few visitors find them. Allow 30 minutes.
Food and the fjord
29. Mathallen
An indoor food hall at Vulkan. It is open Tuesday to Saturday 10–20 and Sunday 11–18, closed Mondays. Good for a long lunch.
30. Vippa
A food hall on Vippetangen with a fjord view. It opens Thursday to Saturday 12–22 and Sunday 12–21. It is closed Monday to Wednesday.
31. A floating sauna
KOK runs shared floating saunas of 1.5 hours, with a maximum of eight people. Oslo Badstuforening has saunas at Langkaia and Sukkerbiten.
32. Ferry B1 to Hovedøya
The island ferry takes a normal Ruter ticket. A winter timetable runs from 19 October 2026. Hovedøya is a short crossing from the centre.
33. Ferry B10 to Nesodden
The commuter boat from Aker Brygge doubles as a fjord trip on a Ruter ticket. Ride it out and back for the view.
Hills, forest and snow
34. Holmenkollen Ski Museum and Jump Tower
The ski jump tower and the ski museum share one ticket. Adults pay NOK 200, and under-30s NOK 150. Take metro line 1 and walk ten steep minutes.
35. Frognerseteren
A timber restaurant near the end of metro line 1, with a view over the city. The café opens until 22 on weekdays and 21 on Sundays.
36. Sledging down Korketrekkeren
Rent a sledge for NOK 130 per adult per day, helmet included. Ride down and take the metro back up. Rental only opens when conditions are safe.
37. Hike to Vettakollen
A 1.2 km walk with 180 metres of climbing from metro line 1. You get a view over the city and fjord. It is the shortest proper hike in Oslo.
38. Walk around Sognsvann
A 3.2 km lit path around a forest lake on the edge of the city. Families walk it all year. Bring spikes when it is icy.
39. Grefsenkollen
A 3.1 km walk up to a viewpoint and restaurant in the east. On Sundays in Advent it holds a Christmas market.
40. Skating in Spikersuppa
A free outdoor rink in the city centre, opening on 28 November 2026 at 17:00. You can rent skates on site. See our Oslo Christmas markets guide.
Practical tips for this winter
- Metro closure: The metro does not run through the city centre on 19–22 November 2026. Lines 4 and 5 close completely. Plan walking days or use bus 30 to Bygdøy.
- Tickets: A single Ruter zone 1 ticket costs NOK 46, or NOK 20 more on board. It works on the metro, trams, buses and island ferries.
- Bygdøy: Bus 30 runs every ten minutes all year. The Bygdøy ferry costs NOK 70 one way and does not take Ruter tickets.
- Oslo Pass: Adults pay NOK 580, 845 or 995 for 24, 48 or 72 hours. It covers public transport too, so it can pay off on a day with three paid museums. Do the sums first.
- From the airport: Flytoget costs NOK 276 for adults to Oslo Central Station.
Our verdict
- Bygdøy: Pick two museums, not four.
- Centre: MUNCH and the Opera roof are worth it. The National Museum needs half a day.
- Free: Vigeland, Ekeberg and the fortress beat most paid sights.
- Winter: Take metro line 1 up the hill on a clear day.
Our Oslo hub has more city guides, and our best places to visit in Norway covers the rest of the country. Norwegian readers can use our version for Norwegians.
A single Ruter ticket costs NOK 46 and works on the metro, trams, buses and island ferries, but not on the Bygdøy ferry.