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Capital and most populous city of Norway
Photo: Sean Hayford O'Leary, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Oslo is Norway's capital and largest city, with 700,000 citizens in the city proper and about 1.5 million inhabitants in greater Oslo. It is in the East of the country in the Oslofjorden fjord, extending over an inlet of the Skagerrak strait. It is spaciously laid out and surrounded by green hills and mountains and includes 40 islands and 343 lakes. Oslo offers ski slopes for alpine skiing and ski trails for cross-country skiing in the winter. In the summer, the temperature in Oslo may make it comfortable to swim. There are several well-visited beach resorts. Oslo is one of the world's northernmost capitals and so gets only 6 hours of sunlight in the winter. In high summer, sunlight hours soar to 18, making its climate markedly different between seasons, with cold yet relatively dry winters.
Downtown Oslo with main sights, restaurants and hotels, and the harbor (Oslo City Hall to the Opera House).
Several major museums, Bygdøy, the Vigeland sculpture park, high end shopping and dining.
Just north of downtown you will find several parks, eateries, industrial heritage and the main campus of the university.
The more bohemian part of Oslo is the place to go for alternative culture and international dining. East of the Akerselva river.
The northernmost part of the city is largely forest. If visiting the city and you want to see some nature as well, this is the place to go.
Comprising the east bank of the Oslo fjord and the islands, also the southern outskirts of the city is for outdoor fans. In the summer, the beaches here are really popular.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Museum featuring the Tune, Oseberg and Gokstad Viking ships, found in burial mounds.
Closed until 2027 for renovations.
In the beginning of August every year, Oslo is housing the Øyafestivalen in Tøyenparken, an event which over the years has become a great festival for all kinds of people of all ages who enjoy rock and pop music.
Rock festival taking place in various venues downtown Oslo, mid-February. The lineup consists of mostly Norwegian (or Nordic) underground or rising artists along with some more established names.
EDM festival at Bislet Stadion every August
Inferno is a metal festival taking place in various venues downtown Oslo, late March. Dating back to the mid-1980s and the forming of bands like Mayhem, Norwegian Black Metal has established itself on the international stage. Where better to experience the sheer evil energy than in the dark and cold world capital of Black Metal; Oslo?
Taking place mid-August in various venues, downtown.
Founded by renowned violinist Arve Tellefsen in 1989. The programme usually spans from medieval to contemporary music. Over the years artists (in no particular order) like Barbara Hendricks, Jan Garbarek, the Hilliard Ensemble, Trio Mediæval, Solveig Kringlebotn, Elisabeth Norberg-Schulz and many others have performed.
Free, mostly outdoors, music festival established in Oslo in 1992, as a spinoff from Fête de la Musique. Always taking place first Saturday in June.
By train
Oslo Central Station (Oslo Sentralstasjon/Oslo S, T-bane, tram, bus: Jernbanetorget) is at the eastern fringe of the city centre, by the end of the main pedestrian street Karl Johans gate.
By boat
Oslo is connected to Denmark and Germany by car ferry. Color Line runs services to Kiel (Germany) daily.
By bus
Oslo is well served by bus from most of Europe. The biggest operators of international buses are Flixbus and Vy Bus4You.
By car
International highways E6 (from Malmö and Gothenburg) and E18 (from Saint Petersburg, Helsinki and Stockholm) meet in Oslo. Driving a car to the city of Oslo is expensive and inconvenient.
By motorcycle
Oslo is Norway's largest city, and many roads have much traffic, especially during rush hours. The traffic increases the closer you reach the city center.
Fares
There are three ways to pay for a public transport journey in Oslo:
By metro
Oslo has a fairly large metro system (subway) consisting of 5 lines. It is known as the Tunnelbane or mainly just T-bane in Norwegian.
By tram
Trams complement the metro network, and use the same tickets. They cover most of the city, and run from approx. 05:00 to 00:00, some lines up to 01:00.
By bus
Buses cover the rest of the city, as well as several ring lines. Nearly all central bus lines converge at Jernbanetorget.
By train
Trains (Vy lines L1, L2, L3, L12, L13, L14, L21, L22) cover certain areas of the city (zone 1), and run out to the neighbouring municipalities and towns.
By ferry
A system of local ferries runs from Aker Brygge near the city hall.
By taxi
Taxis can be expensive with short central hops costing around 200 kr, so if public transport still runs, use it.
By car
The major roads entering Oslo is also used for travel inside the city. In the eastern suburbs, road E6 is the main north-south corridor.
By bicycle
Oslo has a public bike service which operates from approx. March to November (closed when it's snowing).
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Oslo (Gardermoen) · International · OSL
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