Oslo! The capital of Norway… the great country of adventurers! This budget-friendly itinerary has everything you need to see in Norway on one list! Every attraction on this list is free and worth seeing! Check off all the best things in Oslo in one day with my itinerary!
I’ve traveled all over the world, and I will say that Oslo was probably one of my least favorite cities I’ve visited. Obviously that is just my personal opinion; the city is okay in itself, but it feels dirtier and sketchier than other places I’ve been. All that to say, you don’t need much time here.
On that happy note, if you DO end up in Oslo, here’s the best things to do!
One extra tip that is bound to help you out: download the app Ruter before you come if you plan on using public transportation. The tram is super easy to use, but you can’t buy tickets onboard. With Ruter, you can find where you’re going, the times, the stations, and buy it all in one place!
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Where I Stayed
If you’re looking for a mid-price hotel in a great location, Hotel Thon Opera is a really great spot. It’s literally a 10 second walk from the train station and is a safe, clean spot. It’s also right next to the water and has a lovely view of the city and harbor!
- Click here to book!
Start out at Anne-Cath. Vestlys plass
This is your starting point for your Oslo itinerary! There’s a bakery right under Hotel Thon Opera where you can grab a pastry for breakfast.
Opera Museum
Right next to this plaza, you’ll see the Opera Museum. Head over to it and walk along the water! Then you can walk up the roof of the building to stroll along the top and see the incredible views of the harbor!
Karl Johans Gate street
After the Opera Museum, head toward Karl Johans gate street. This is the main street in Oslo, and there are often festivals, parades, and decorations up and down the area! There are also a lot of fun shops and cafes along the street.
- If you’re feeling hungry, stop at Cafe Cathedral. It’s definitely not a budget cafe, but its beautiful and has a lovely view of the street!
Oslo Domkirk
Right past Cafe Cathedral, you’ll find Oslo Domkirk.
- “Kirk” is a Scottish and Northern English word for “church”!
Head inside the church for free! It’s one of the coolest churches I’ve ever been in; it’s full of incredible and colorful paintings and art inside.
Norwegian Parliament
Continue down Karl Johans street and you’ll get to the Norwegian Parliament building! The front of the building is beautiful, and there’s flowers and a little park out in front of the building! It’s a beautiful spot to take pictures.
National Theater
Keep heading down the street and you’ll see the National Theater! It’s another beautiful spot for a picture.
City Hall
Turn left at the Theater and you’ll see the City Hall! Again, a cool place to photograph.
- Sadly it was under construction while I was there, so I didn’t get a picture!
Royal Palace of Oslo
Come back to the National Theater and keep going straight down the same street. You’ll find the Royal Palace of Oslo with its fields of green grass, flowers, and trees! It’s breathtaking, and it’s a nice place to rest and chill in the sun!
Frogner Park + Vigeland Sculpture Park
This is one of the coolest (and weirdest) things in Oslo. It’s basically a giant park with lots of interesting statues and fountains. It’s for sure worth a visit! From the Royal Palace, you can take the tram or a bus to the park!
- Travel tip: use Google Maps to see what tram or metro to take. It’ll tell you where to get on and what time.
Spend some time walking around! There’s bathrooms (for 2 euros or USD or 20 krones), a cafe, and a restaurant in the park!
- Just get a snack since you’ll be eating lunch on your next stop!
Aker Brygge
After the park, catch a tram or bus to Aker Brygge. This area is next to the water and the marina, and there’s tons of restaurants and shopping! While not budget-friendly, this is a great place for lunch and a drink, and there are also dessert stands with cupcakes and ice cream by the water!
Akershus Fortress
Whenever you finish up with food and shopping, walk about 10 minutes to Akershus Fortress! It’s free to enter, and it’s really neat. Start out heading to the Visitor’s Center to read a little about the history of the fortress and its past as a prison. Then head out, walk through the archways, and explore the castle and fortress and the gorgeous view of the Oslo fjords!
Oslo Cathedral
You’re killing it! Way to go! If you’re wanting one more neat piece of architecture, head to the Oslo Cathedral! It was under construction while I was there, so I didn’t get to go inside; however, even the view from the outside is impressive.
HIMKOK
This speak easy / bar is currently ranked at the 10th best bar in the WORLD! It’s a really neat part of Oslo that you just can’t miss. Obviously, like everything else in Oslo, its PRICEY, but I think the experience makes it worth it.
It is pretty hard to find though, so listen up. It’s in kind of a ~not so cute~ part of town, and it’s only identified with a H (with a snake through it) next to the door. You would never know it was there unless you were looking for it.
The staff is really attentive and kind, and the drinks are incredible. Check out the Instagram account beforehand so you can see the outfits that describe the drinks.
Oslo Street Food
For dinner, you have a ton of options. However, Oslo Street Food is a neat place to go. They also have live music on certain nights of the week! That’s my recommendation for dinner!
With Extra Time…
If you have any extra time, you definitely need to check out the fjords with a boat cruise! You can find decently priced cruises with dinner, sailboat tours, and fjord adventures! Honestly, you could even cut out some things above to go on a boat tour! Seeing the fjords from the water is seriously so fun and gorgeous and a necessary Oslo experience!
Here are some suggestions!
Best seller sailboat fjord tour!
