NO
Oslo
A fjord-side capital of bold new architecture, Munch, Vigeland’s sculptures and forest on the doorstep
A fjord-side capital of bold new architecture, Munch, Vigeland’s sculptures and forest on the doorstep
The white marble-clad Opera House, opened in 2008, slopes down into the fjord; visitors can walk up its roof for views over the city and harbour.
Walking on the roof is free.
Photo: Nurtenge, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opened in 2021 next to the Opera, this tall museum holds a huge collection of Edvard Munch’s work. The National Museum, opened in 2022, also displays a version of The Scream.
Photo: Premeditated, CC BY-SA 4.0
Inside Frogner Park, more than 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland in bronze and granite lead up to the 14m-high Monolith. Entry is free.
Photo: Palickap, CC BY-SA 4.0
The medieval castle and fortress overlooks the harbour; its grounds are free to explore.
Photo: Thomas Dahlstrøm Nielsen, CC BY-SA 4.0
The ski jump on the hills above the city, reached by metro, has a ski museum and views over Oslo and the fjord.
Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0
Look for fresh seafood, cinnamon buns (kanelboller), brown cheese (brunost) and open sandwiches. Mathallen food hall and the Grünerløkka area have many cafés and restaurants.
Eating out is expensive; bakeries and supermarkets help keep costs down.
Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, is linked to the city by fast airport trains. Trains run to Bergen, Stockholm and Gothenburg, and ferries run to Denmark and Germany.
Trams, buses, the metro and city ferries share one ticket system. Ferries go to the Bygdøy peninsula museums in summer; the Viking ship collection is closed for rebuilding as the Museum of the Viking Age, due to reopen in 2027.
Norway uses the krone (NOK). Oslo is expensive.
Two days covers the main sights.
Walk the Opera House roof, visit MUNCH, then Akershus Fortress and Aker Brygge.
Visit Vigeland Park and the National Museum, then take the metro to Holmenkollen.
🛂 Entry rules: EES and ETIAS
Norway is in the Schengen area, which has two EU border systems for non-EU visitors.
EES (in force): since 10 April 2026 the EU’s Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors’ passport details, fingerprints and a photo the first time they enter the Schengen area, replacing passport stamps. Allow extra time at the border on your first trip; later crossings are quicker. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not registered.
ETIAS (not yet running): a €20 online travel authorisation for visitors who don’t need a visa, such as UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens. It hasn’t started and no start date has been confirmed, so nobody can apply yet; ignore websites that offer to “pre-register” you for a fee.
Visa-free visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, not per country.
Official information: EU: Travel to Europe (EES & ETIAS) · Reviewed September 2026
Covers transport and many museums.
City ferries use normal tickets.
Supermarkets save money.
Constitution Day parades fill the city.
Quick answers for planning time in Oslo.
Yes, the sloping roof is open to the public and free.
Versions are held at MUNCH and the National Museum.
No, it is closed for rebuilding as the Museum of the Viking Age, due to reopen in 2027.
Yes.
May to September, for long days and milder weather.
Planning a wider trip? Our Norway travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.