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Best things to do in Oslo

A white woman looks at an artwork at the National Museum of Norway in Oslo. We see her from behind. She is looking at a painting. There are also statues and pale blue walls.

Whether you’re making the most of the midnight sun or deep in the dark depths of the northern winter, you’ll find plenty to do in Oslo, Norway’s capital city.

New openings in recent years – the Deichman Library, Munch and the National Museum – reflect the city’s commitment to preserving cultural heritage for centuries to come. And there’s plenty of artistic and literary creativity to celebrate here: Not only did local landscapes inspire artworks by painter Edvard Munch, Oslo was also home to Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen for the last 15 years of his life. If you’re planning to make the most of the city’s many museums, it’s worth buying the Oslo Pass that gives free admission to 30 different sights as well as use of the public transportation system.

The Viking Ship Museum (Vikingskipshuset) remains closed until 2026 while construction of a new state-of-the-art building is ongoing, but there are many other amazing things you can do in Oslo right now. Here are the very best.

Visit the city’s newest attraction, the world-class National Museum

With the largest collection of art and design in Norway, the brand-new National Museum is now the biggest museum in the Nordics. Don’t rush your visit – there are 6500 objects on display across 86 rooms. Follow the chronological route to explore the best art, design, architecture, crafts, and fashions from antiquity to the present day, seeing how they have shaped or reflected society.

There’s a small collection of Munch’s paintings, including The Scream, and you’ll also spot familiar names such as Vincent van Gogh and Georgia O’Keeffe. Learn about Norway’s folk tales and legends in the Fairy Tale Room and be sure to visit the third-floor Light Hall, an unusual gallery space with walls made of a glass-and-marble composite, currently exhibiting works by contemporary Norwegian artists.

A group of people use the KOK floating sauna on the fjord next to Oslo. One is swimming, another sunbathing on the roof, and others stood on the deck. The driver is wearing a black t-shirt.
KOK’s floating saunas can take guests to more tranquil parts of Oslofjord © KOK

Experience a fjord-side sauna

Finnish sauna culture has been adopted by Oslo over the last 10 years or so and has become a popular thing to do on the harborside. Dress in swimwear and take a seat on a bench in a paneled room that’s heated to 80–95°C (176-200°F) by a wood-burning stove. A towel is recommended to stop…

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