Oslo

Scandinavia’s modern capital in nature’s embrace

Oslo presents a compact urban environment where modern life connects with natural surroundings. The city features waterfront areas along the Oslofjord, offering views of surrounding mountains and calm waters. Public spaces include parks such as Vigeland Park, home to thousands of sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. Museums like the Viking Ship Museum display historical artifacts from Norway’s past. Walking paths run through neighborhoods that combine historic buildings with contemporary architecture. Outdoor activities are accessible year-round due to nearby forests and fjords.

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City in Norway

$$$+

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 9.1

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	9
Accessibility:	9
Tap water:	10

Read details

5/5

Most Norwegians speak fluent English, making it very easy for tourists to communicate. Signs, menus, and public transport information are usually available in English.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Oslo Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

Strong in museums and outdoor city life. Visit waterfront museums, relax in modern harborside districts, explore parks and take boat trips through the fjord.

Place score

8.1

Best at:

Guided tours

Spotless

Luxury shopping

Large cities

Walkable

Personal score

Suited for

👶 9

Families

🧓 8

Seniors

🌈 10

LGBTQ+

🛡️ 9

Travel Beginners

Norway – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Norwegian Krone (NOK) £1 ≈ NOK 12.33
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Norway is a highly cashless society. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, and many places even prefer card payments over cash. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not obligatory in Norway, though it is appreciated. In restaurants, rounding up the bill or leaving 5-10% is common. Taxi drivers expect small tips, and hotel staff appreciate small gratuities.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in Norway in some areas, such as designated outdoor events. However, it is prohibited in public places like parks and streets in many cities.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited indoors in all public places, including restaurants and public transport. Designated outdoor smoking areas are available in most public spaces.

Norwegian Constitution Day (May)	A national holiday with celebrations, especially in Oslo, expect crowded areas and festivities.
Christmas (December)	Christmas celebrations are widespread, with Christmas markets and festive events, but expect crowded cities and higher accommodation prices.
Midsummer (June)	Midsummer celebrations take place with outdoor events, festivals, and celebrations.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Bolt
Other:	Norway is a beautiful country with extensive natural landscapes. Be prepared for variable weather and pack accordingly, especially if you plan to explore the outdoors.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Oslo, Norway

❄️

Jan

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Feb

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Mar

🌥️

Apr

🌤️

May

🌤️

Jun

🌤️

Jul

🌤️

Aug

🌥️

Sep

☁️

Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	June - Aug.
Shoulder season:	Feb., May, Sep.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Daylight varies from about 6 hours in December to nearly 19 hours in June

Many museums and sights are closed on Mondays, some have reduced hours October to April

Ski season in Oslo's Nordmarka forest, December to March, reached by metro

Don't miss

🗿 Visit the magnificent Vigeland Sculpture Park in Frogner
⛵ Explore the Viking Ship Museum and its ancient vessels
🎭 Stroll along the Oslo Opera House rooftop for views
🚤 Cruise the Oslofjord and enjoy coastal scenery
🖼️ Admire artworks at the National Gallery, including Munch’s "The Scream"
🍽️ Relax at Aker Brygge and dine by the waterfront

You've been here?

Why travel to Oslo?

Oslo’s mix of urban and natural beauty makes it stand out. You can explore the Royal Palace, visit Viking ships and then go skiing or kayaking – all on the same day. The city is clean, safe and has a great quality of life, but be prepared: Norway is expensive. Still, the stunning scenery and unique culture make it worth every krone.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Oslo Opera House
A striking glass and granite structure on Oslo’s waterfront, the opera house offers panoramic city views from its sloping roof. It hosts world‑class performances and serves as a public gathering space.
2 Akershus Fortress
This historic fortress in Akerhus stands as a powerful symbol of Norway's medieval defense system, featuring imposing stone walls and strategic towers that overlook the Oslofjord, offering visitors a glimpse into centuries of military history and architectural grandeur.
3 The Norwegian Museum of Cultural History
This museum explores Norway's rich heritage through interactive exhibits and artifacts. Located in Oslo, it offers insights into cultural history, archaeology and traditions within a modern setting for visitors to enjoy.
4 Nobel Peace Center
5 Fram Museum
6 Viking Ship Museum
7 Gamle Munch
8 Astrup Fearnley Museum

🎡Places for activities

1 Holmenkollen National Ski Arena
The Holmenkollen Ski Arena is one of Europe's most historic venues, featuring a legendary ski jump and a cozy restaurant overlooking the Oslo valley. It hosts major international competitions and offers breathtaking views of the city below.
2 Tøyenbadet
3 Korketrekkeren

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Frogner Park
Sprawling green space in Oslo's city center, Frogner Park offers walking paths, sculptures and a historic palace. It hosts cultural events, gardens and the iconic Vigeland sculpture collection for visitors.
2 Folkepark / Ekeberg Public Park
3 Oslofjord Tunnel
4 Hovedøya
5 Gressholmen

🛍️Shopping

1 Mathallen
2 Aker brygge
3 Glasmagasinet
4 Oslo City
5 Karl Johans gate
6 Bogstadveien

🎈Events

Oslo Jazz Festival (August)
Øya Music Festival (August)
Oslo Pride (June)
Holmenkollen Ski Festival (March)
Christmas Markets (December)
Mela Festival (August)
Nordic Light Festival (January)
Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony (December)
Fårikål Feast (September)
Oslo Marathon (September)

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Weather is changeable; pack layers and a windproof, waterproof jacket.
Oslo is very walkable, but efficient trams, buses and metro help reach museums, lakes and forest trailheads quickly.
Food and alcohol are expensive; consider supermarket picnics, lunch deals and refillable water bottles to keep daily costs reasonable.
Base near the harbor or Grünerløkka to enjoy waterfront promenades, river walks, lively cafés and easy access to fjord islands by boat.

How to travel to Oslo

Oslo is well-connected via Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL), about 45 minutes from the city center. The Flytoget airport train is the fastest option. International train routes connect to Sweden and ferries link Oslo to Denmark and Germany.

Access summary

From Oslo Gardermoen (OSL): Flytoget express train to Oslo S, about 20 minutes.
From Stockholm: Direct SJ trains to Oslo, usually around 5.5–6.5 hours.
From Copenhagen: Overnight DFDS ferry to Oslo, crossing about 17–18 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Oslo

Accommodation in Oslo is generally pricey, but you’ll find everything from luxury hotels to budget-friendly hostels. The city center is the best base, but Grünerløkka offers a hip and artsy alternative.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Oslo

Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel Oslo

8.6

Revier

8.9

Radisson RED Oslo City Centre, A Verified Net Zero Hotel

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Oslo

Oslo has excellent public transport, including trams, buses, ferries and metro lines. The Ruter app is useful for planning trips. Walking and cycling are also popular and ferries to nearby islands make for great short trips.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+55 %

Daily expenses in Oslo are around 55% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot more on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

+2 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to NOK) is 2% worse than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£93	£228	£641
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£38	£105	£263
🍝 Food per day	£42	£109	£334
🚕 Transportation per day	£14	£14	£44

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£45
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£18
🍟 Fast food combo	£12
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£14
☕ Cappuccino	£4.20
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£9

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£3.40
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£25
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.70

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£14
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£47
🤧 Cold medication	£7
💇 Basic haircut	£31

Safety information overview

General safety

Oslo is one of the safest cities in the world. Petty crime like pickpocketing is rare but can occur in crowded areas. Public transport is safe even at night.

Health & Medical

Norway has excellent healthcare, but medical services are expensive for non-EU visitors without insurance. Pharmacies are well-stocked and tap water is safe to drink.

Accessibility

Oslo is highly accessible, with well-maintained sidewalks, ramps and public transport adapted for wheelchairs. Some historic sites may have limited access.

Tap water

Oslo’s tap water is among the best in the world. It's clean, fresh and available everywhere. No need for bottled water.