Shopping · Oslo · Norway
Shopping in Oslo
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Pierre Blaché, CC0
Quick answer
Oslo is a city for Scandinavian design, outdoor gear, knitwear and vintage rather than bargains. Shops typically close on Sundays apart from some in the centre and convenience stores. Best souvenirs: Norwegian knitwear, Brunost and a cheese slicer and Scandinavian design homeware.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Norwegian knitwear
Where to shop
Karl Johans gate
The main pedestrian street, with Norwegian and international chains and the Steen & Strøm department store nearby on Kongens gate.
Bogstadveien and Hegdehaugsveien
A long shopping street from Majorstuen towards the centre, with fashion, outdoor and homeware stores.
Grünerløkka
Vintage clothing, record shops, independent designers and secondhand furniture along Markveien and Thorvald Meyers gate.
Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen
Upscale fashion and design shops beside the waterfront.
Markets
Birkelunden flea market
A Sunday flea market in Grünerløkka's Birkelunden park, mainly in the warmer months, with vintage clothes, ceramics and records.
Vestkanttorget flea market
A Saturday flea market on Amaldus Nielsens plass in the west end, known for silver, glass and old Norwegian homeware.
Mathallen Oslo
Food hall at Vulkan with Norwegian cheese, cured meats and fish that can be packed to take home.
What to buy
Norwegian knitwear
Patterned wool sweaters, hats and mittens from Norwegian brands, sold in central department stores and specialist shops.
Brunost and a cheese slicer
A block of brown cheese and an ostehøvel, the cheese plane invented in Norway, travel well.
Scandinavian design homeware
Glassware, textiles and wooden objects from Nordic designers in shops around Grünerløkka and the centre.
Freia chocolate
Bars of Freia Melkesjokolade, from the Oslo chocolate maker founded in 1889, are sold in every supermarket.
Aquavit
Linie and other aquavits are sold at Vinmonopolet or in the airport duty-free shop.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Grünerløkka
Mathallen Oslo
This food hall in a former industrial building at Vulkan, beside the Akerselva river, gathers Norwegian cheesemongers, fishmongers, charcuterie and bakery stalls with small restaurants and bars.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Brown cheese, Norwegian waffles, School bun and Aquavit. Every supermarket and breakfast buffet; cheese counters at Mathallen Oslo let you compare styles. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Sentrum and Karl Johans gate | $$$ | The main pedestrian street from Oslo Central Station to the Royal Palace, with Parliament and the National Theatre |
| Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen | $$$$ | Former shipyard turned glassy waterfront of restaurants, galleries and fjord ferries |
| Grünerløkka | $$ | Old workers' district by the Akerselva river with cafés, vintage shops and bars around Olaf Ryes plass |
| Frogner and Majorstuen | $$$$ | Elegant west-end apartment streets, Vigeland Park and the Bogstadveien shopping street |
| Grønland and Tøyen | $ | Multicultural streets east of the station with grocers, kebab shops and the Botanical Garden |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in NOK. Service is included and wages are high, so tipping is not expected. Rounding up or adding around 5–10% for good table service is a kind gesture, not an obligation.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January; the busiest months are July.
- March: Holmenkollen Ski Festival — World Cup ski jumping and cross-country races (usually early March)
- June: Piknik i Parken music festival in Sofienberg Park (usually June)
- August: Øya Festival — large music festival in Tøyen Park (usually August)
- August: Oslo Jazz Festival (usually August)
- November: Christmas in Winterland market at Spikersuppa, beside Karl Johans gate (usually from mid/late November)
- December: Christmas market at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History (usually early December weekends)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and families
Sentrum and Karl Johans gate
The main pedestrian street from Oslo Central Station to the Royal Palace, with Parliament and the National Theatre
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Oslo?
Norwegian knitwear, Brunost and a cheese slicer, Scandinavian design homeware and Freia chocolate.
+Where is the best shopping in Oslo?
Karl Johans gate: The main pedestrian street, with Norwegian and international chains and the Steen & Strøm department store nearby on Kongens gate.
+What are the best markets in Oslo?
Birkelunden flea market, Vestkanttorget flea market and Mathallen Oslo.