Oslo Unpacked: A Cultural and Scenic Tour

• Explore the Vigeland brothers’ artistic contributions in Oslo. Frogner Park features Gustav Vigeland’s sculpture park with over 200 works depicting the human lifespan, including “Angry Boy,” the Fountain, and the Monolith. Open and free year-round, it merges art with nature. The adjacent Vigeland Museum, his former studio, displays early works, portraits, and his preserved apartment. Emanuel Vigeland’s museum, a dimly lit mausoleum, contains Vita, an 800-square-meter fresco of the human experience, known for its acoustics and symbolic low entrance.

• Explore Oslo's maritime history and culture at the scenic Bygdøy Peninsula, known as "Oslo's museum peninsula." It features top museums like the Norwegian Folk Museum and the Fram Museum. Enjoy coastal walks, beaches, waterfront cafes, historic estates, and parks. Bygdøy offers a blend of nature and culture, providing a peaceful escape and insight into Norway’s heritage.

• Oslo’s Norwegian National Opera House, a glacier-like architectural gem opened in 2008, is home to the national opera and ballet. Its sloping white marble and glass roof offers panoramic city and fjord views. Inside, multiple state-of-the-art performance spaces feature elegant wood and art. A visit to this cultural landmark is recommended for its art, architecture, and views.

• The Nobel Peace Center in Oslo honors Alfred Nobel and the Peace Prize through interactive exhibits on laureates and their work. Temporary exhibits cover global issues, and the “Nobel Field” installation honors winners. The Peace Prize Room features the latest laureate. Located by the waterfront, the center inspires visitors with stories of those promoting peace and human rights.

• Check out some of the over 50 museums in Oslo. The National Museum showcases Norway’s artistic legacy, including Edvard Munch’s The Scream, while the MUNCH Museum delves deeper into his life and work. Contemporary art thrives at the Astrup Fearnley Museum, alongside experimental galleries like Kunstnernes Hus. For history lovers, the Norwegian Folk Museum offers a glimpse into traditional life with its open-air exhibits, while the Kon-Tiki Museum tells the fascinating story of Thor Heyerdahl’s legendary expeditions.

• Go island-hopping in the Oslo Fjord. Explore Oslo's scenic coastline and islands (Hovedøya, Lindøya, Gressholmen, Langøyene) by ferry from Aker Brygge. Each island offers unique experiences like history, nature, swimming, and beaches. Use a standard Zone 1 public transport ticket, purchasable via the Ruter app, machines, or kiosks, at the Rådhusbrygge 4 ferry terminal.

• Take a sauna! Oslo boasts a strong sauna culture, providing peaceful retreats along the Oslo Fjord. Notable for their scenic fjord-side locations are floating saunas like SALT, KOK, and The Oslo Sauna Raft, which include cold fjord plunges. Popular year-round, saunas are a beloved tradition for both residents and tourists seeking warmth and relaxation.

• At Ekeberg Sculpture Park, you can explore the fascinating intersection of ancient history and contemporary art. The park features an impressive collection of modern sculptures by renowned artists such as Salvador Dalí and Damien Hirst. My favorite aspect is the prehistoric petroglyphs, which date back to the Stone Age (6,000–8,000 years ago). These rock carvings are located in a designated area of the park, beautifully integrated among the modern sculptures. This unique setting invites reflection on the evolution of human creativity over time.

Michelin-starred standouts

• Oslo’s three-Michelin-starred Maaemo, founded in 2010 by chef Esben Holmboe Bang, is a top-50 global restaurant serving New Nordic cuisine. Its seasonal tasting menu highlights pure, local, organic, biodynamic, and wild Norwegian ingredients. The Finnish name “Mother Earth” reflects this emphasis, with dishes like langoustine in pine butter and wild salmon in salted butter.

• Have dinner prepared by a Noma alumnus in a former sex shop. Oslo's Michelin-starred Hot Shop, a modern Nordic bistro in a former sex shop in Grünerløkka (Københavngata 18), offers a seasonal five-course surprise tasting menu by Chef Jo Bøe Klakegg. The canteen-style restaurant emphasizes fresh, local ingredients, serving elegant and flavorful dishes like reindeer with mushroom broth. Its minimalist yet cozy interior features exposed pipes.

• Visit sister restaurants Statholdergaarden and Statholderens Mat & Vinkjelleris. Statholdergaarden is a Michelin-starred restaurant, run by Chef Bent Stiansen, and has held its star since 1998. Housed in a historic 1640 mansion with fancy dining rooms, it features a seasonal six-course tasting menu with Norwegian ingredients. Downstairs, Statholderens Mat & Vinkjeller offers a more relaxed vibe in the 17th-century cellar vaults. They have a 10-course seasonal tasting menu that changes themes every seven weeks, from seafood to Tuscan.

Alternative dining options

Lunch, dinner, & snacks

• Check out Oslo’s food hall scene. My favorite is Oslo Street Food, situated in the historic Torggata Bad building in central Oslo. This food hall boasts 16 diverse food stalls and four bars, offering international flavors spanning Korean, Mexican, Middle Eastern, and Norwegian cuisines. It serves as a relaxed daytime spot. Pro tip: On Friday and Saturday evenings, it transforms into a lively nightlife destination featuring a central dance floor in the former “Bassenget” swimming pool, complete with DJs.

• Stop for a cup of coffee at a charming micro-café situated in the Galgeberg neighborhood of Oslo, Norway. Kiosk! Oslo is housed in a preserved 1935 gas station pavilion, and this 11-square-meter establishment has been transformed into one of the city’s coziest coffee spots.

• Take a break from sightseeing to have a quick bite at one of the Babbo Collective restaurants. My favorite is the adorable Babbo Parkveien, located in the charming Vika neighborhood. It’s a perfect place to have a leisurely bottle of organic wine coupled with fresh-baked breads and sweets.

• Try traditional Northern Norwegian cuisine at Rorbua, situated at Stranden 71 in Oslo’s Aker Brygge. The restaurant’s ambiance is reminiscent of a rustic fisherman’s cabin, characterized by wooden furnishings and maritime-themed decor. Its menu features a selection of dishes including reindeer steak, bacalao, and whale, alongside seasonal offerings such as cod tongues and lutefisk.

Bars & live music

• Get a dose of nostalgia to go with your craft beer at Tilt. Tilt, a popular arcade bar in Oslo’s city center at Badstugata 6. This multi-level venue features a wide variety of games, including classic pinball, retro arcade favorites like Pac-Man and Space Invaders, as well as shuffleboard and air hockey. The basement, Tilt Arkade, houses 29 arcade games, including my personal favorite Mortal Kombat 3. In addition to its extensive game selection, Tilt is known for its impressive weekly-updated offerings of Norwegian microbrews and high-quality imported beers. The atmosphere is particularly vibrant on weekends, with DJs playing pop, rock, and indie music.

• Enjoy a glass of natural wine and live music at Oslo’s smallest jazz bar, Juret Bar. Juret Bar offers live jazz, soul, and experimental music several times weekly, complemented by vinyl records, creating a unique atmosphere.