Oslo itinerary — 4 days

Inside lies the greatest treasure — the remains of Saint Olaf, presented to the church by Pope John II. There is also a copy of Raphael's "Sistine Madonna."

Built circa 1150, Oslo's oldest existing building is a medieval stone church with a baroque pulpit.

Akerselva, other

An oval park at the heart of Grünerløkka, Oslo's trendiest neighbourhood. A wooden bandstand stands in the middle, a flea market trades on summer weekends, and the city Christmas tree is raised here in winter. Around the park are late 19th-century brick and timber houses, cafés and vintage shops; Schous plass, the quarter's main promenade spot, lies just across the street.

This museum is home to items relating to different historical periods. Here you can see specimens of life and earth sciences numbering more than 80 million items, distributed across five collections: botany, entomology, mineralogy, paleontology and zoology. Specimens collected by Charles Darwin are also on display here.

Norway's oldest botanical garden, founded in 1814 around the Natural History Museum at Tøyen. It holds Arctic and alpine plant collections, a fragrant sensory garden and a Victoria greenhouse with giant water lilies. A peaceful spot for a slow walk, free to enter all year round; in summer the lawns fill with picnickers.

GRÅDI is a cozy and welcoming brunch place in Oslo, offering delicious and unpretentious food with a modern twist on traditional Swedish comfort dishes. The atmosphere is perfect for catching up with friends, and the staff is warm and friendly.

SALT is an innovative open-air cultural village situated along Oslo's Langkaia harbourfront, facing the Oslo Opera House. Inspired by traditional Arctic fish-drying racks (fiskehesjer), its monumental pyramidal timber structures house public wood-fired saunas, cold plunge pools, outdoor concert stages, and street food stalls, creating a unique social hub overlooking the fjord.

KOK Oslo Sauna, located at Langkaia, is a unique floating sauna experience established in 2017. The sauna offers two boats where visitors can relax while enjoying stunning views of the Opera House and the fjord. Guests have the option to take a refreshing dip in the icy fjord after their sauna session. While there are no private changing rooms or bathrooms on site, visitors can book shared saunas and enjoy meeting new people from around the world.

At Olaf Ryes Plass you can find another market, as well as plenty of restaurants, such as Villa Paradiso, one of Oslo's most popular Italian restaurants. It's also a popular spot for outdoor drinking, so if the weather is nice, take a seat on the open-air terrace of the Parkteatret concert venue and enjoy a cold beer in the sun. In the same area you'll also find Tim Wendelboe, a world-famous coffee shop and micro-roastery.

Towering above the waterfront in Oslo's Bjørvika district, MUNCH is an iconic 13-story museum designed by Estudio Herreros dedicated to Edvard Munch. The museum houses the world's largest collection of the expressionist master's works, including several versions of 'The Scream', 'Madonna', and 'The Dance of Life'. Interactive galleries span eleven exhibition floors, culminating in a top-floor observation bar overlooking the Oslofjord.

The revitalized port district Bjørvika is known for its striking contemporary architecture, including Oslo Opera House and the Barcode, a collection of futuristic office and residential buildings. The micro-neighborhood Sørenga includes Middelalderparken, with preserved church ruins, and Sørenga Seawater Pool, a popular swimming spot. Trendy restaurants offer contemporary Norwegian and Asian cuisine with fjord views.

Covering 25 hectares on a wooded hillside overlooking Oslo, Ekebergparken combines natural forest with world-class contemporary sculpture. Established in 2013, the park features over 40 artworks by masters including Auguste Rodin, Salvador Dalí, Louise Bourgeois, and Marina Abramović. Panorama viewpoints overlook the Oslofjord; this very slope is where Edvard Munch drew inspiration for his iconic 1893 painting The Scream.

Ekebergrestauranten perches on the wooded hillside of Ekeberg in Oslo, offering one of the finest vantage points in the capital with sweeping views across the Oslofjord, inner islands, and the Barcode skyline. Built in 1929 by architect Lars Backer, the crisp white building is celebrated as a landmark of Norwegian functionalist architecture. It borders the Ekebergparken sculpture park, near where Edvard Munch was inspired to paint The Scream.

A short tram ride from Oslo city centre is all it takes to reach impressive works of art and sculptures located in Ekeberg Sculpture Park (Ekebergparken). Open all year round and completely free to visit, a trip here will leave you in awe of works by renowned artists such as Louise Bourgeois, James Turrell and Dan Graham. Ekeberg Sculpture Park is situated on the Ekeberg hill and offers wonderful views of the Oslofjord, the city and Holmenkollen. It is located next to the Ekeberg restaurant and can be reached by tram or by car. Ekeberg can be reached in 10 minutes, depending on traffic.

Svanen Cocktailbar, located in Karl Johans gate, is a charming and creatively designed bar that has been around since 1896 and is now considered a cultural heritage site. The cocktail menu reflects the bar's history as an apothecary, with its former counter now serving as the bar and cabinets filled with jars. Despite its vintage charm, Svanen is a modern gem that offers an exceptional experience.

The primary church of the Church of Norway in Oslo, consecrated in 1697 and the traditional setting for royal weddings and national services. The cathedral features an ornate baroque altar and carved pulpit from 1699, alongside vivid stained-glass windows by Emanuel Vigeland. Its ceiling is adorned with extensive twentieth-century murals by Hugo Lous Mohr, all bordered by the charming nineteenth-century Bazaar halls.

This popular walking tour through central Oslo typically begins by the bronze tiger at Jernbanetorget. In about two hours, engaging local guides trace Norway's rich story from the medieval Akershus Fortress to the futuristic Opera House. The stroll takes in landmark sights along Karl Johans gate, including the Parliament and Royal Palace.

Norway's main railway station and the country's largest transport hub. The historic 19th-century east-station building was merged with the western one into a single Oslo S after a tunnel was cut in the 1980s. Regional and long-distance trains, services from Sweden and the Flytoget express to Gardermoen airport, about 20 minutes away, all depart from here. Inside is a mall with cafes, shops and luggage lockers.

Comfort Hotel Grand Central is uniquely housed within Oslo's original 1854 central railway station building, integrated directly into the vibrant Østbanehallen dining hub. The hotel's bold design blends preserved heritage features — such as original timber beams, decorative cornices, and high arched ceilings — with striking contemporary street art and bespoke furniture. Guests enjoy immediate access to high-speed trains and the harbor.

Oslo's flagship central library opened in 2020 on the waterfront in Bjørvika, next to the Opera House. Designed by Lundhagem and Atelier Oslo, the striking building was named World's Best Public Library in 2021. Across six light-filled floors featuring a dramatic cantilevered upper level, visitors find reading lounges with fjord views, 3D-printing workshops, podcast studios, a cinema, and cafes, all open freely to the public.

An architectural masterpiece designed by Snøhetta, the Oslo Opera House opened in 2008 on the waters of the Oslofjord in Bjørvika. Clad in gleaming white Italian Carrara marble and granite, the structure resembles an iceberg rising from the fjord. Its signature feature is an angled, pedestrian-accessible roof sloping down to the water, allowing visitors to walk freely onto the rooftop for panoramic vistas of downtown Oslo and the harbor.

An architectural icon designed by Snøhetta, rising like a pristine white iceberg directly from the waters of the Oslofjord in Bjorvika. Clad in Italian Carrara marble and gleaming glass, the opera house features a gently sloping roof that functions as a public plaza. Visitors can walk straight from the waterfront up onto the rooftop for sweeping panoramas across the fjord islands and the modern Barcode skyline.

Situated in the sleek Barcode district of Oslo's waterfront Bjørvika, Vaaghals celebrates modern Norwegian gastronomy with deep respect for culinary heritage. Co-founded by renowned chef Arne Brimi, the restaurant emphasizes seasonal Arctic ingredients and shared dining. Guests enjoy the traditional 'skifte' dining concept, featuring multi-course sharing platters that bring fresh interpretations to classic Norwegian flavors.

Located in Oslo's sleek Barcode district, this vibrant food hall brings together over a dozen street food kitchens from across the globe. Beneath high industrial ceilings, vendors serve everything from Caribbean treats and Mexican tacos to ramen and pizza. Communal wooden tables, craft beer bars, and evening DJ sets draw a lively crowd.

Chic, fine dining restaurant for seasonal, Norwegian menu with wine pairings, in minimalist setting.

A legendary neighborhood bar in Oslo's Grønland district, housed in a charming nineteenth-century red-brick mechanical workshop. The interior feels like an eclectic vintage living room, complete with worn Chesterfield sofas, antique rugs, retro floor lamps, board games, and roaring fireplaces in winter. It offers an impressive selection of Norwegian craft beers, ciders, and natural wines, with a lush ivy-covered courtyard for summer.