2 days in Oslo

Day by day

1. Day 1: Oslo Opera House and MUNCH

   Oslo Opera House, MUNCH, Deichman Bjørvika library and Fjord saunas at Langkaia and Sørenga, then Grünerløkka in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Oslo Opera House

      From the top you look over the Oslofjord islands, the MUNCH tower and the old fortress. Inside, the oak-clad foyer is free to enter, and guided backstage tours run on many days. The glass and steel sculpture 'She Lies' floats in the water beside it.

   2. Late morning

      MUNCH

      Several floors are given to Munch's large canvases and changing exhibitions that set his work against other artists, and the upper floors have fjord views through the tilted tower's glass.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Brown cheese

      Every supermarket and breakfast buffet; cheese counters at Mathallen Oslo let you compare styles.

   4. Afternoon

      Deichman Bjørvika library

      Large windows frame the fjord and the Opera roof. On the top floor, a quiet room holds the Future Library manuscripts, works by writers such as Margaret Atwood that will stay unread until 2114.

   5. Late afternoon

      Fjord saunas at Langkaia and Sørenga

      Most offer shared drop-in sessions bookable by the hour as well as private hire, and some boats sail out into the fjord. In summer, the free Sørenga seawater pool next door adds diving boards and a sandy area.

   6. Evening

      Grünerløkka

      Relaxed bars, craft-beer pubs and cocktail spots along Thorvald Meyers gate and Markveien, with a mostly local crowd.

2. Day 2: National Museum and Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen waterfront

   National Museum, Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen waterfront, Vigeland Park and Holmenkollen Ski Jump and Ski Museum, then Torggata and Youngstorget in the evening.

   1. Morning

      National Museum

      Highlights include Munch's 1893 painted version of The Scream and his Madonna, Romantic fjord landscapes by J.C. Dahl and a long design gallery of Norwegian furniture and silver. The top-floor Light Hall hosts big temporary shows, and the roof terrace looks over the harbour and Akershus Fortress.

   2. Late morning

      Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen waterfront

      At the tip, the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art sits under a sweeping glass roof designed by Renzo Piano, with an outdoor sculpture park and a small beach where people swim in summer. Ferries to the fjord islands and Nesodden leave from the piers along the way.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Norwegian waffles

      Cafés across the city and the cabin cafés in Nordmarka, such as those on the trails beyond Sognsvann and Frognerseteren.

   4. Afternoon

      Vigeland Park

      It is open to all and free, and the wider park has a large playground, lawns and a café.

   5. Late afternoon

      Holmenkollen Ski Jump and Ski Museum

      The Ski Museum at its base covers 4,000 years of skiing and polar expeditions, and a lift and stairs take you to a platform at the top of the jump with a view down over Oslo and the fjord. A zipline runs from the tower in season.

   6. Evening

      Torggata and Youngstorget

      A pedestrianised strip of bars, food halls and music venues just north of Karl Johans gate, busy on weekend nights.

Before you go

• MUNCH: Timed tickets bought online help on summer weekends and for popular temporary exhibitions.
• Fjord saunas at Langkaia and Sørenga: Shared sessions often sell out at weekends; reserve a slot a few days ahead.

If it rains

• Swap in Oslo City Hall (Sentrum): Combine it with the National Museum next door and the harbour promenade; it is a good free stop when it rains.
• Swap in Fram Museum (Bygdøy): Pair it with the Kon-Tiki Museum across the square; both are at Bygdøynes, the stop for the summer ferry.
• Swap in Kon-Tiki Museum (Bygdøy): Visit after the Fram Museum, which is a one-minute walk away.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 11–15 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 5.9 hours in December to 18.8 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Metro. Five T-bane lines share a tunnel through the centre and fan out to the suburbs; line 1 climbs to Holmenkollen and Frognerseteren, and line 5 ends at Sognsvann.

More or fewer days

• One day in Oslo
• 3 days in Oslo

Questions travellers ask