What to see in Oslo: Oslo, the capital of Norway, offers breathtaking beauty and an incredible cultural atmosphere, making it a must-see for any travel connoisseur. Despite being smaller than the world-famous cities, it has so much to offer a tourist that it can make any holiday worth remembering. Travelling around Oslo in one day you can see from historical museums and beautiful galleries to places that offer great views, there are dozens of places to visit in Oslo, Norway. If, on the other hand, you have two days to visit Oslo then you will need a more dense itinerary.
- What to see in Oslo
- National Gallery
- What to see in Oslo: Naturhistorisk museum
- What to see in Oslo: Norwegian Opera and Ballet Theater
- Holmenkollen Ski Museum
- Read also:
- Vigeland Sculpture Park
- Tusenfryd amusement park
- Royal Palace
What to see in Oslo
Let’s start with a small itinerary of Oslo if you only have one day at your disposal, let’s assume that you have just arrived and that you already have to leave tomorrow:
What to see in Oslo in one day
- National Gallery
- Natural History Museum
- Norwegian Opera and Ballet Theater
- Holmenkollen Ski Museum
Four attractions might seem like a lot to visit in one day in Oslo but we guarantee that depending on your average travel pace they could be the right compromise.
National Gallery
What to see in Oslo: One of the best places to visit in the city of Oslo, the national gallery offers all the creative things, from drawings to sculptures, an art lover would want. It has the largest art collection in Norway and was founded in 1837.
You can find works of art by renowned Norwegian artists along with some selected pieces from famous artists from all over the world. Highlights include Madonna, The Dance of life, Tidemand and so on. One of the highlights that make it a must on any Oslo sightseeing list is a fairytale room that depicts mythical characters from famous fairy tales.
What to see in Oslo: Naturhistorisk museum
What to see in Oslo: The Natural History Museum is definitely a “hot” destination if you have to visit Oslo in one day. If you’re wondering what to see on your Oslo tour, the Natural History Museum should definitely be on your itinerary.
It is Norway’s largest and oldest natural history museum located near Toyen in Oslo. The botanical gardens were established in 1814. The other gardens: zoology, geology, botany were added about a hundred years later.
Although the geological garden is closed to the public, the other two contribute to increasing the number of tourists in the museum. The botanical garden boasts around 7,000 species with more than 35,000 plants.
What to see in Oslo: Norwegian Opera and Ballet Theater
The third thing to see in Oslo in one day is the Norwegian Opera and Ballet Theater, certainly one of the most Instagrammed places in the whole city.
In addition to being a beautiful location to take some shots, it is the largest artistic and musical institution in Norway, the Norwegian Opera House is the first among the tourist attractions of Oslo was founded in 1957 and is located near the harbour which offers a wonderful view to its visitors.
The angled exteriors of the Opera House seem to emerge from the water. You will see performances related to Norwegian culture and artistic performances by other famous artists.
The opera has around 60 quality dancers who can win hearts with their performance. About 100 musicians and 50 professional singers contribute to the beauty of the house and entertain visitors. There is another section dedicated to children and teenagers, which is also very famous.
Holmenkollen Ski Museum
Fourth and last thing to see in Oslo in one day is the Holmenkollen Ski Museum. Clearly we have included it last because it is a very, very niche type of destination but it remains, architecturally, a beautiful building to see.
Another very famous museum in Norway, the oldest ski museum in the world, is located under the famous ski jump and was founded in 1923 and is a must-visit place in Oslo.
It is promoted by Oslo tourism as it describes 4,000 years of skiing history starting from the stone age and also the skies of the Viking age. The museum is owned and monitored by Skiforeningen. It also includes snowboarding.
Read also:
Vigeland Sculpture Park
When you list the points of interest in Oslo, Norway, Vigeland Sculpture Park will certainly be mentioned. It is the creation of a single artist and the largest sculpture park of its kind in the world, completed over a span of 10 years from 1939 to 1949.
The Sculpture Park contains the architecture of Gustav Vigeland who invested his work there of a lifetime. There are more than 200 sculptures in the park made of bronze, granite and wrought iron. It is one of the most visited places by visitors in Norway.
Tusenfryd amusement park
Norway’s largest amusement park is located south of Oslo in Vinterbro, which was officially opened in June 1988 and took 18 months to complete.
This is often part of the Oslo tours of various tour operators. There are various fun things to do in the park such as games which consist of different types of rides such as water rides, roller coasters, kids rides and so on.
You should definitely consider going to this amusement park if you are looking for the most beautiful places to visit in Oslo in the summer!
Royal Palace
One of the places to visit in Oslo, Norway is the Royal Palace, located at the northwest end of Karl Johansgate. This palace built in 1825 is an imposing presence in the urban landscape.
The public is not allowed to visit this huge 173-room building, but you can enjoy its beautiful gardens and witness the regular changing of the guard. Near the building is also the Norwegian Nobel Institute, where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded.
[…] What to see in Oslo […]