Oslo Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Oslo, Ostlandet, Norway)

There are various different guided tours available in Oslo, allowing you to learn more about the city and its many varied tourist attractions. Popular coach tours and boat trips around the Oslofjord Bay (Oslofjorden) are operated by Batservice Sightseeing and often depart from outside of the Town Hall (Radhus), running from May until the end of September.

If you prefer a stroll, guided walking tours around central Oslo are provided by Guideservice AS, which is based at the cruise terminal and features more than 100 trained guides, fluent in many different languages. Expect to see tourist attractions and sights such as Viking Ship Museum, the Vigeland Sculpture Park and the famous Holmenkollen Ski Jump. Guided walking tours of Oslo can even be tailored to meet your exact requirements.

Beaches

Address: 35 Huk Aveny, Oslo, NO-0286, Norway, NO
When the summer sunshine warms up the city of Oslo, many tourists choose to head to the beaches to soak up the sun and enjoy a range of beach-related attractions and activities. The neighbouring peninsula of Bygdoy features some of the best beaches, where you are able to swim and promenade along the waterfront. Nudists will be pleased to find the secluded Huk Beach, where you are freely permitted to sunbathe and swim without clothes. The beaches of Bygdoy are best reached by regular ferries, which travel to and from the pier, next to the Town Hall (Radhus). A number of further popular beaches can be found at Langoyene, which is also situated well within the Greater Oslo area. Many beachfront kiosks and shops are available, along with boat trips from Vippetangen, which operate hourly between 10:00 to 19:00.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free, charge for some of the popular waterfront attractions

Blaafarvevaerket

Address: Modum, NO-3340, Norway, NO
Tel: +47 032 78 6700
Once the biggest industrial companies in the whole of Norway and featuring in excess of 2,000 works, the Blaafarvevaerket was once an extremely busy mine manufacturing cobalt blue. The Blaafarvevaerket attraction stands on the westerly outskirts of Oslo and was opened to the public in 1993, 100 years after it ceased its mining. Guided tours allow you to learn more about its past, when it was responsible for supplying over 80% of the world's total cobalt market.
Open hours: daily - 11:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge

Langrenn i Nordmarka / Cross-Country Skiing

Address: Nordmarka, Oslo, Norway, NO
During the harsh winter months, the resultant snowfalls mean that the surrounding countryside becomes a haven for winter sports. Cross-country skiing is especially popular, particularly around the heavily wooded area of Nordmarka, which surrounds the entire city and features skiing conditions suitable for beginners to more expert skiers alike. Many people choose to ski from Frognerseteren, which is always a good starting point for everyone.
Open hours: seasonal variations, weather dependent
Admission: charge for equipment hire

Tryvann Vinterpark (Tryvann Winter Park) / Holmenkollen Ski Jump

Address: Holmenkollen 20, Oslo, NO-0791, Norway, NO
Tel: +47 02 213 6450
The Holmenkollen Ski Jump lies within the suburbs of Oslo and this ski arena has become famous all over the world. Boasting spectacular city views from its tall observation tower and also home to an interesting museum, which traces the history of skiing over the past 4,000 years, the Holmenkollen Ski Jump is at its best in the winter months, when various championships take place. This attraction is still popular during the summer, when you can try your hand at skiing on a realistic simulator.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 22:00, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available

Nobel Peace Centre

Address: Brynjulf Bulls Plass 1, Oslo, NO-0250, Norway, NO
Tel: +47 048 30 1000
A relatively recent addition to Oslo's main attractions, the Nobel Peace Centre opened in June of 2005 and celebrates the contributions of the many past winners who have been awarded this most prestigious of prizes. The Nobel Peace Centre is actually housed within a historic railway station and features an interesting exhibition explaining all about Alfred Bernhard Nobel (1833 - 1896), who used his considerable wealth to form the world-famous Nobel institution of today.
Open hours: January to May and September to December, Tuesday to Friday - 10:00 to 18:00, Saturday and Sunday - 11:00 to 18:00 ; June to August, daily - 10:00 to 19:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children and students

Panasonic IMAX

Address: Holmensgate 1, Oslo, NO-0250, Norway, NO
The only IMAX cinema in the whole of Norway is located in central Oslo, within the Karl Johans Gate area and extremely close to the Aker Brygge. Home to an enormous movie screen, the interior of the Panasonic IMAX is of epic proportions and regularly features three-dimensional shows with exceptional sound to accompany the action.
Open hours: daily - 12:00 to 22:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children

EKT Rideskole og Husdyrpark (Ekeberg Park)

Address: Ekebergveien 99, Oslo, NO-1181, Norway, NO
Tel: +47 02 219 9786
The perfect family attraction for when you feel like escaping from the city, a trip to the easterly Ekeberg Park offers a strong countryside feel, despite still being within the actual city environs. Apart from the exceptional views across the cityscape, visitors to the park can also enjoy a small petting zoo with friendly farmyard animals, a popular playground, pony rides, picnic tables and a rather long miniature golf course, which features a total of 36 holes.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 14:00
Admission: charge for farm and pony riding

Pegasus Helicopter Tours

Address: Gardermoen Vest, NO-2061, Norway, NO
Tel: +47 048 30 3000
Perhaps the most memorable way to view the Oslo area, Pegasus Helicopter Tours offer nothing short of a birds eye view of the cityscape and the surrounding region, flying close to sights such as ancient fortresses and similar medieval attractions. Although the trips are expensive, they last up to one hour and you can be assured of a memorable experience and endless photo opportunities. Pegasus Helicopter Tours can accommodate up to five passengers at any one given time.
Open hours: seasonal variations, weather permitting
Admission: charge

Vigeland Sculpture Park

Address: Frognerparken, Kirkeveien, Oslo, NO-0268, Norway, NO
Situated around 3 km / 2 miles to the north-west of central Oslo, the Vigeland Sculpture Park is currently one of the most popular of all Norway's many different tourist attractions, seeing more than one million visitors each year. In total you will find 212 different sculptures of various sizes and sculpted in both bronze and granite, created by the famous Norwegian artist Gustav Vigeland (1869 - 1943). The Monolith (Monolitten) is amongst the most photographed sights within the Vigeland Sculpture Park and enjoys an elevated setting, in the highest part of Frogner Park.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free