Month guide · Oslo · Norway
Oslo in March
What March is really like in Oslo: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Grzegorz Wysocki, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
March is a good-value shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 4°C (39°F), lows of -3°C (27°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 11.6 hours of daylight. Bright, crisp days with snow still on the hills; a good month for skiing in the morning and museums in the afternoon.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 4°C (39°F) / -3°C (27°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 11.6 hours
- Sea temperature
- 3°C (37°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in March
March is the 8th-warmest month in Oslo: days average 4°C (39°F) against a yearly average high of 10°C (50°F), and nights fall to about -3°C (27°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with February (0°C (32°F)), March is warmer; by April highs climb to around 10°C (50°F).
- Sunrise (15 March)
- About 06:34
- Sunset (15 March)
- About 18:19
- Daylight
- About 11.6 hours
- Sea
- 3°C (37°F)
Spring (March–May). Snow lingers on the hills into March, then the thaw brings bright, cool days; Constitution Day on 17 May is the high point.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, March rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in June). That makes March one of the better-value months to book.
Events in March
- Holmenkollen Ski Festival — World Cup ski jumping and cross-country races (usually early March)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in March
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Landmark · Holmenkollen
Holmenkollen Ski Jump and Ski Museum
Ride metro line 1 to Holmenkollen station and walk about 15 minutes uphill; in winter, continue by metro to Frognerseteren for sledging and cross-country trails.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Active
- History
Castle · Sentrum
Akershus Fortress
Begun around 1300 under King Haakon V, this fortress on a headland above the harbour was rebuilt as a Renaissance castle by Christian IV.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Views
- Outdoors
Palace · Sentrum
Royal Palace and Palace Park
Stand by the palace front just before 1:30pm for the guard change, then walk downhill along Karl Johans gate.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Kids
- Outdoors
Museum · Bygdøy
Norwegian Museum of Cultural History
Norsk Folkemuseum is an open-air museum of more than 150 buildings moved from across Norway, including the Gol stave church from around 1200, turf-roofed farmsteads and an 'Old Town' of Oslo apartments furnished from different decades.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Architecture
What to pack
For highs near 4°C, lows near -3°C and 8 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is March a good time to visit Oslo?
A good-value shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Oslo in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is March a good time to visit Oslo?
It is a good-value shoulder-season month. Bright, crisp days with snow still on the hills; a good month for skiing in the morning and museums in the afternoon.
+How warm is Oslo in March?
Average highs are around 4°C (39°F) and lows around -3°C (27°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Oslo in March?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.