After several attempts at this trip over the last few years, we finally spent the weekend in Oslo last winter and I can’t help but wish we had done it earlier! We have driven past Oslo a number of times during trips to Norway (road trips to Bergen, hiking The Besseggen Ridge, and when flying to the Lofoten Islands but had never spent time in the city itself. Oslo really amazed me, with its very underrated Christmas markets, abundance of art and culture, lovely restaurants and of course, all the saunas on the fjord. While winter isn’t always the best time to travel, it was definitely a great time to visit Oslo. If you are happy to layer up and spend time in museums then this is the perfect city break for you!
Make sure to check out my 2-3 day Oslo itinerary for the perfect weekend trip! If you are planning on spending more time in Norway you can find all my Norway travel guides here.
Disclaimer: I was a hosted guest of Revier but all thoughts and opinions in this post are genuine. Please note that this post contains affiliate links meaning that if you make a purchase through the link, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I make sure to only ever promote products and brands I have used and like, and that all links are to trusted websites. However, I bear no responsibility for any third party products, services or websites.
How to get to Oslo
We are currently living in Gothenburg, the biggest city on the West Coast of Sweden. Traveling to Oslo from Gothenburg, we found the easiest way to get there by bus. The trip is only 3.5 hours from Gothenburg so doesn’t take any longer than if you were to drive. The bus leaves from Nils Ericson Terminal in Gothenburg and arrives at Oslo bus terminal, right in the centre of the city! We took a Flixbus which I would recommend as they travel the route quite regularly.
What you need to know about visiting Oslo in the Winter
Language: Norwegian
Currency: Norwegian Krone (NOK)
The weather in Oslo in winter
The weather can be unpredictable during winter in Oslo, especially as the season is so long. We took this trip to Oslo in December, just before Christmas, and had temperatures of around -7 every day. This was ok to be walking around in, but I recommend packing a few extra layers if you are not used to the cold. I recommend wearing thermals, a good wool jumper and a proper winter coat and then bring hat scarf and gloves. The plus side to visiting Oslo in winter is that most of the things to do are inside so you won’t end up spending too long out in the cold weather. That being said, if you are visiting Oslo in December and plan to spend time at the Christmas markets, definitely wear a few more layers!
The Oslo Pass
If I could make one recommendation for visiting Oslo, especially in the winter, it would be to get the Oslo Pass for the duration of your trip! We were given the Oslo Pass in collaboration with Visit Oslo and I truthfully didn’t think we would use it that much… Turns out I was very wrong!
Basically every activity we went to was included in the Oslo Pass – The Munch Museum, the Norwegian Folk Museum, Akershus Castle, all public transport… The list goes on forever!
So is the Oslo Pass worth it? Definitely a yes. I also recommend buying it in advance so you can start exploring as soon as you arrive in the city!
You can find the Oslo card here!
How long to spend in Oslo
Oslo is not a massive city and I think 2 to 3 days is enough time to see and do most things – especially in the winter when you don’t want to spend days out exploring the archipelago.
Where to stay in Oslo
We stayed at the Revier while we were in Oslo and I couldn’t recommend it any more! It is really centrally located, close to the Oslo Opera House, the central station and Akershus Castle, so exploring the city was really easy. When you are visiting Oslo in winter it can get really cold so it was nice to be able to pop back in the middle of the day and warm up.
Something else I loved is their focus on experience – there’s the option to enjoy the atmosphere in the bar or go through the guest entrance and be left alone to relax in your room. Breakfast is served all morning and it is a la carte so there is no rush to get down for a buffet. Check in is all done virtually through an app, and instead of a key, all you need is the code on your phone to go in and out.
My favourite part though has to be their amazing restaurants though. On the ground floor you will find Null Null, a cosy pasta and wine restaurant, and Savage, a fine dining restaurant known for their exquisite flavours and long tasting menu.
We were lucky enough to have dinner at Null Null where we had pasta and dessert and it was phenomenal. If it’s still on the menu, I recommend the spaghetti with smoked butter – It was the best pasta I have possibly ever had!
You can book Revier here!
Things to do in Oslo in winter
Oslo is well known for its art, culture, and museums which fortunately means that there is an abundance of things to do in Oslo during the winter months. Most things in this list are actually included in the Oslo Pass so there is no need to book ahead.
Visit one of the many great museums
The Munch Museum
The Munch Museum is home to the art of the Norwegian painter Edvard Munch. Here you can see his most famous works, including three different versions of the Scream being among them. The museum is open every day and is included in the Oslo Pass. The Munch Museum generally takes around 1.5 to 2 hours to walk around! I recommend visiting after dark if you are there on one of the days it is open until 9pm. It is much less busy at this time of day and a lovely way to spend the evening.
The museum is an artwork in itself, a 12 level glass skyscraper on the edge of the harbour. If you head up to the 12th floor you will find the cocktail bar Kranen, and restaurant Bistro Tolvte, both of which give amazing views over the harbour.
Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress is one of the oldest parts of Oslo, a fortress dating back to the 14th century. Over the years it has had many uses which is reflected in the various museums across the grounds. I recommend going in the Visitors Center if you want to learn a bit more about the original owner of the castle, King Håkan V.
Next, head to Akershus Castle and wander around the old castle walls. Here you get an insight into how it was for royalty when they lived in the castle in the medieval eras. This area of the fortress was also used as a prison for several decades, remains of which can still be seen throughout the rooms.
Finally, make sure to visit the Norwegian Resistance Museum. This was actually my favourite museum we visited during our trip to Oslo. All about Norway’s involvement in the Second World War, the exhibits are made up of big interactive displays and models of different war scenes.
The National Museum
The National Museum is the largest museum in Scandinavia with over 6000 artifacts from art, craft and design. It is a relatively new museum, opened in 2022 and is one of those places you could walk around for days! With everything from contemporary art and craft to classic paintings, there is something for everyone here.
The Norwegian Museum of Cultural History
The Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, or the Norwegian Folk Museum, is an open-air museum just outside of the city centre. If you don’t know much about traditions and culture in Norway then you should definitely head here! They have 160 buildings brought from all over Norway, including Gol Stave Church, a wooden church built in around 1200.
In December, they hold an amazing Christmas market which I definitely recommend visiting if it’s on while you are in Oslo.
Oslo Christmas Markets
As I have already mentioned, they have some lovely Christmas markets in and around Oslo! Some of them are held throughout the whole months of November and December, whilst others are held only for a few days. The beginning of December is usually the best time to visit for Christmas Markets as this is when most are on!
My favourite of the markets was definitely the Norwegian Folk Museum, but I also recommend taking a visit to SALT and Spikersuppa.
Hike in the Oslo Forest
Believe it or not there is actually a lot of beautiful nature very close to Oslo city centre! During our trip, we took a walk with Oslo Hiking out to the Lysaker River. It was quite an easy walk through the forest but the views of the river and waterfalls covered in snow were amazing! This is definitely something I recommend doing while visiting Oslo in winter.
They offer hikes every day along the river and to a beautiful view of the Oslo Fjord. The best thing about Oslo hiking is that you are taken out by a local guide so it’s a great opportunity to get to know a local and learn a bit more about life in the city.
You can find their hiking schedule here!
Oslo Opera House
The Oslo Opera House is an amazing piece of architecture right by the edge of the water. Made of glass and white granite, the building is made up of sharp angles, with a roof that dips right down to the river. You can actually walk along the roof and around the building which gives amazing views over the fjord! Be careful when walking over the roof in the winter though as it can get really slippery.
The Oslo Opera House is home to the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet so another great thing to do while visiting Oslo in the winter is watch a show. They have something on every day but it can get quite busy so I recommend buying tickets in advance!
The Deichman Main Library
The Deichman Main Library is a new library right opposite the opera house. It is a really interactive and fun space and the perfect place to head if you like taking artsy photos. Make sure to look out for little inlets with wooden seating areas and books hanging from the ceiling by strings! While you probably won’t want to spend much time in here, it is a nice refuge from the Oslo winter cold and nice to just walk around a few levels and see what the building has to offer.
Rådhuset (Oslo City Hall)
Rådhuset, or Oslo City Hall, is an impressive building open to the public all year round. While the outside looks almost industrial, the inside is beautifully decorated with motifs of Norwegian history and culture. It really is beautiful and definitely a visit during your time in Oslo.
If you happen to be visiting Oslo in December, make sure to look out for the Nobel Peace Prize award which takes place in the City Hall. While it is closed on this day, there is an amazing torch parade that runs down Karl Johans Gata towards the city hall.
Sauna in Oslo Fjord
This is a must when you are visiting Oslo in the winter! Down by the edge of the water you will find so many fun public and private saunas to test out. This is really popular in Oslo for locals and tourists so I recommend booking at least a day in advance – even more so if you know for sure that this is something you want to do.
A few of the most popular saunas are those at SALT, the Oslo Badstuforening, and the private saunas by KOK Oslo.
Stroll around Grünerløkka
Grünerløkka is a district of Oslo known for its charming streets and cosy cafes. There are some really cool vintage stores to explore here, along with the Mathallen food hall and the Sunday markets at Blå. The markets are on every Sunday from 12-17 and have everything from ecological foods to locally designed crafts and vintage antiques!
SALT
SALT is a home of culture, good food and sauna by the water in Oslo harbour. Every day they have some sort of event in, whether it’s a concert, theatre, or a show inside their 80 person sauna. They have several bars and street food outlets which make great food. The lunch from BBQ Cajun is really worth a try!
They have six different saunas at SALT along with a bar, a cold pool, showers and changing rooms. You can either go as a walk-in and join a public sauna or book one all to yourself. It is the perfect way to heat up after walking around in the cold Oslo winter weather.
SALT is a really fun place with so much going on and I definitely recommend a stop here on your way past!
The Royal Palace
The Royal Palace is the home to the King and Queen of Norway, situated at the top of Karl Johans Gata. Unlike most Royal palaces, you can walk right up close and wander around the front courtyard. Every day at 1.30pm, there is a changing of the guards which is worth a look. Unfortunately, the palace is not open for visitors during the winter as the royal family are in residence at this time of year.
Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen
Aker Brygge is a newer area of Oslo, a harbour strip lined with restaurants, shops and cosy alleyways. This is the place to go if you want to try out a new restaurant or take a walk around the newer buildings. If you continue down Aker Brygge, away from the National Museum, you will cross over to Tjuvholmen, and eventually arrive at the Astrid Fearnley Museum and The Thief Spa.
We took a walk along here one evening which was a lovely way to end the day. While there is not much going on, it was nice to see this more residential area of the city.
The Harbour Promenade
If you are lucky to get a sunny day and fancy a walk around Oslo, make sure to check out the Harbour Promenade. This is a 10km walk around Oslo’s harbour that gives you an insight into how the city’s shipyards have been transformed in recent years. Along the walk you will find a few places worth a stop including Vippa Food Court, The Munch Museum, and the harbour side area of Sørenga. The walk actually begins here in Sørenga, but it is also possible to start at any point along the harbour. Just look out for the tall orange towers that mark out the route.
Oslo in the winter: An Overview
Oslo is the perfect city to visit in the winter, with so many indoor museums and galleries to visit, and an abundance of saunas to warm up in. If you want more tips – make sure to read my weekend itinerary for 48 hours in Oslo!
