In this complete Oslo’s visitors Guide you will find a 4 day itinerary to explore this beautiful city in the winter. Oslo is a magical city to visit during any season. Winter in this part of Norway is relatively mild with temperatures hovering around freezing. We have created the perfect four day itinerary for winter in Oslo as many of the walking segments of the plan can be supplemented by a bus or trolley ride, as public transportation is included as part of the Oslo Pass.
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Travel Video of things to do in Oslo during Winter
You can of course follow this itinerary during the spring or summer months, just make sure to take advantage of the beautiful walking weather and ferry to the the peninsula of Bygdøy.
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Walking Map to Oslo’s Visitors Guide
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What to do in Oslo in the winter Itenerary:
Day 1: A day at the museum
Oslo offers a wide range of museums from Norwegian culture, art and history. Walk a total of three miles for the loop from point A to G. Approximately one hour walk. If you visit all the museums in this list it can easily take all day to explore each one in depth, so plan accordingly.
Damstredet & Telthusbakken
Walk along the historic cobblestone streets of Damstredet and Telthusbakken to photograph the cute little wooden houses dating back to the the late 1700s and 1800s. (30 minutes taking photos and videos)
DogA
The DogA is perfect for architect lovers and a great way to get a crash course in Norwegian design, trends and innovation. For most visitors this is a short, but interesting stop.
Olaf Ryes Plass
Walk around the Olaf Ryes square in the cool Grünerløkka neighborhood. Make sure to walk several blocks in every direction as the neighborhood’s style is stunning.
Popsenteret
It is important to note that the Popsenteret museum is about Norwegian pop music, not pop music in general. However, the modern and interactive museum is a great way to get an in depth look at the modern musical culture. We finished in less than an hour but it can take longer.
University’s Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden features a large green area with many different sections, ranging from climates across the globe and thousands of species.
Our favorite sections of the botanical garden are The Viking Garden and willow sculptures. Depending on the weather you can spend anywhere from 3o minutes to two hours.
Munch Museum
One of the most important museums in Oslo is the Munch Museum. The museum highlights the life and works of Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, including the infamous Scream painting.
The museum is open daily from 10AM to 4PM.
Jewish Museum in Oslo
Finish off your day at the Jewish Museum in Oslo. The museum not only features the history of Jews in Norway and the impact of the Holocaust, but it also gives a great overview of Jewish holidays and life cycle events.
If you are interested in visiting this museum, make sure to plan accordingly as it is only open Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday.
Day 2: The center of culture and government
Walk through the historic center of Oslo and make your way through many important structures related to culture and government. Today is a total walking distance of 1 mile from place A to D, an approximately 30 minutes walk in total.
Oslo Cathedral
While visiting Oslo it is impossible not to walk passed the Oslo Cathedral. While you can simply stop for a quick photograph of this 17th century building, it is also open daily to all visitors.
Parliament Building
Enjoy an exterior view of the beautiful Parliament Building. If you are in Oslo over the weekend, you can take a guided tour of the building every Saturday at 10AM and 11:30 AM.
Nationaltheatret
If you have the chance to see a show in Olso, look no further than the National Theatre. The shows are in Norwegian, but make for a once in a lifetime experience. Otherwise, just enjoy the bold architecture of this amazing building.
Royal Palace
See the home of HM King Harald V and HM Queen Sonja. While you cannot enter the Royal Palace, it does make for a beautiful backdrop to your photographs.
Guided tours are only available during the summer, which makes for a great reason to head back to Oslo and explore it during a different season.
Day 3: Along the Oslofjord
Walk a total of 2 miles along the waterfront with the Oslo fjord. It is not that much walking for the day, but there are plenty of photo opportunities and places to stop along the way.
Opera House
The coolest part about the Oslo Opera House is that you can walk up the slanted roof for panoramic views of the city. If you visit during the winter be careful as the steep incline and steps are slippery!
They also offer hour long guided tours of the opera house every day at 1PM. We suggest getting your tickets in advance as the can sell out if show up the same day.
Akershus Fortress
Climb atop the Akershus Fortress, dating back to the late 1290s. Throughout its history, it has served as a royal castle, fortress and prison. From the top of the fortress you get the best panoramic views of the harbor and bustling Aker Brygge pier.
Oslo City Hall
Take a free tour of Oslo’s City Hall and explore its many beautiful examples of art throughout the building. Its main hall is the location of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.
Nobel Peace Center
Just across the street is the Nobel Peace Center, a museum which highlights much of what the Nobel prize embodies. Its permanent exhibit is an interactive experience on the just over 100 Nobel Peace prize winners and their stories.
Aker Brygge
You have already been spending the day in the Aker Brygge neighborhood, but now is the perfect time to walk along the pier and enjoy what the area is most well known for: dining, entertainment and a great place to sit down and rest your feet.
Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art
End the day at the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art. This contemporary art museum houses an eclectic mix of works, with an ever rotating set of exhibitions. No matter how many times you visit Oslo, there will always be something new to see.
Day 4: On the peninsula of Bygdøy
The Kon Tiki Museum and the Norwegian Maritime Museum is in the same complex. Then take the bus or walk to the Viking Ship and the Norsk Museum. The last two are next to each other. Finally take the bus to the Vigeland sculpture park.
The Fram Museum (Polar ship)
Take the bus from downtown Oslo to end of the peninsula of Bygdøy to the first stop of the day at the Fram Museum. The museum houses the the Fram ship, the vessel used by Roald Amundsen in the first expedition to reach the South Pole. Learn all about the trips to the polar ends of the world, with a chance to step aboard the Fram.
Kon Tiki Museum
Just next door is the Kon Tiki Museum dedicated to small raft used by Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl to travel from South America to the Polynesian islands in 1947.
Norwegian Maritime Museum
Across the street is the Norwegian Maritime Museum, which focuses on the coastal culture and maritime history in Norway. Learn all about the ship building process and the impact it has had on so many facets of life.
Viking Ship Museum
Take a peek back to the time of the vikings at the Viking Ship Museum. Witness some of the greatest viking artifacts along with several nearly complete boats, including the Oseberg ship, excavated from the largest known ship burial in the world.
The Norsk Folkemuseum
The Norwegian Museum of Cultural History is an open air museum that gives you a look back at the way of life in Norway ranging from the 1200s to modern times. In the area for each time period there are buildings that you can enter for a complete view on society at the time. A surprisingly fun place to get a wide range of photographs as well.
Vigeland Sculpture Park
Walk through the intriguing Frogner park with over 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. Each sculpture features a human figure or figures in thought provoking postures and designs.
Where to sleep in Oslo?
For our time in Oslo we stayed at the Saga Hotel Oslo Central, located in the heart of the city. This modern hotel has all the comforts needed for your time in Oslo. We were amazed on how short of walk it was to every attraction downtown, and easy to catch a tram to further destinations. The comfortable beds and filling breakfast had us wanting to stay in bed just a little too much!
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Oslo Pass
The Oslo Pass tourist card allows you to save time and money with free entry to various museums in the Norwegian capital and the unlimited use of public transport.
The 10 most popular attractions included on the Oslo Pass are:
- Nobel Peace Center
- The Holmenkollen Ski Jump
- Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology
- Viking Ship Museum
- Edvard Munch Museum
- Maritime Museum
- The Norwegian Museum of Cultural History
- Oslo Reptile Park
- Popsenteret Musical Centre
- Henie Onstad Art Centre
Besides free entry to all those places, with your Oslo Pass, you will have important discounts in restaurants and shops around the center of the city.
You can use the tourist card as many times as you want over a period of 24, 48, or 72 hours, inside zones 1 and 2, on the bus, tram, or metro of Oslo. Get your Oslo Pass here.
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