3 days in Oslo

Day by day

1. Day 1: Oslo Opera House and MUNCH

   Oslo Opera House, MUNCH and Deichman Bjørvika library, then Grünerløkka in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Oslo Opera House

      Snøhetta's opera house, opened in 2008, rises out of the fjord as a white slope of Italian Carrara marble that anyone can walk up to the roof.

   2. Late morning

      MUNCH

      Check which version of The Scream is on display when you arrive, and finish with the view from the top floors.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Brown cheese

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

   4. Afternoon

      Deichman Bjørvika library

      Oslo's main public library opened in 2020 opposite the Opera House, with several floors of reading spaces, a cinema, recording studios and maker workshops, all free to use.

   5. 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 and Vigeland Park, then Torggata and Youngstorget in the evening.

   1. Morning

      National Museum

      Find the Munch room early in the day before it fills, then work through the design collection.

   2. Late morning

      Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen waterfront

      The promenade from City Hall Square west past Aker Brygge's restaurants to Tjuvholmen is Oslo's busiest waterfront walk.

   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

      Come early on a summer morning or in soft evening light, when the bridge statues are free of tour groups.

   5. Evening

      Torggata and Youngstorget

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

3. Day 3: Holmenkollen Ski Jump and Ski Museum and Akershus Fortress

   Holmenkollen Ski Jump and Ski Museum, Akershus Fortress and Royal Palace and Palace Park, then Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Holmenkollen Ski Jump and Ski Museum

      The steel ski jump, rebuilt for the 2011 Nordic World Ski Championships, stands on the ridge above the city at the end of metro line 1.

   2. Late morning

      Akershus Fortress

      Walk the ramparts on the harbour side at sunset, then drop down to the waterfront promenade towards Aker Brygge.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Fish soup

      Seafood restaurants around Aker Brygge and the fish counters at Mathallen Oslo.

   4. Afternoon

      Royal Palace and Palace Park

      The neoclassical Royal Palace, completed in 1849, closes the western end of Karl Johans gate and is still the monarch's official residence.

   5. Evening

      Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen

      Waterfront terraces and smarter cocktail bars with a well-dressed after-work crowd.

Before you go

• MUNCH: Timed tickets bought online help on summer weekends and for popular temporary exhibitions.
• Royal Palace and Palace Park: Summer interior tours have limited places; buy tickets ahead if you want to go inside.

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

With 3 nights, Sentrum and Karl Johans gate keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Bjørvika and Sørenga ($$$) suits first-timers, culture and couples. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 11–16 hours of visiting over 3 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.

More or fewer days

• One day in Oslo
• 2 days in Oslo

Questions travellers ask