Inspired by the new Hallmark movie, My Norwegian Holiday, I’ve decided it’s high time I post about my favorite things to do in Oslo, Norway. It makes sense since I have visited seven times!
But first, let’s talk about the new Hallmark Christmas Movie. My Norwegian Holiday is definitely one of my new faves (see the others here). I especially like the references to brown cheese, kransekake and julebrus. Oh, and the scene when he tells her, “Don’t talk to people you don’t know.” And that reference to Taylor Swift. I first kind of love it. After you watch, you will understand what I mean by that.
Ok, moving on.
Here are my favorite things to do in Oslo, Norway!
Norway in a Nutshell – Fly into Bergen and do the Norway in a Nutshell train ride to Oslo. Pro tip: I brought mini bottles of wine which I drank out of a coffee cup during the ride and it was lovely.
The Norwegian National Opera & Ballet – You don’t have to see a show, but you need to see this gorgeous building. On a summer day, lounge on the roof and watch the ships in the fjord. It is something you just must experience. By the way, this was featured in the Christopher Nolan film Tenet. In the scene where the characters of John David Washington and Robert Pattinson are talking about the airplane accident, they are standing on the opera roof.
Vigeland Sculpture Park (located within Frogner Park) – I’ve gone to this park every time I’ve been to Oslo, which, as mentioned, is seven times! The park is free to enter and open all year round, 24 hours a day. It contains more than 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland (1869–1943) in bronze, granite and cast iron. Highlights include: The Monolith (Monolitten in Norwegian), The Wheel of Life (Livshjulet) and The Angry Boy (Sinnataggen in Norwegian).
Here are more of my favorite Vigeland sculptures:
Munch Museum – I’ve yet to visit the new Munch Museum but even the older, smaller building in Tøyen was worth a visit. Now, the waterfront museum features 13 floors and 11 gallery spaces. There are over 200 works of Edvard Munch on permanent display plus a restaurant, cafe, bar, concert hall, cinema and fantastic view of Oslo.
The Royal Palace – Home to the King and Queen of Norway, the palace is open to tours only in the Summer. It’s been years since I toured it and photos are not allowed, but I recall enjoying the chapel most of all.
Bygdøy – You have to take a short ferry to reach the island of Bygdøy and it’s only open in the summer, but it’s a great way to get a feel for the real Norway. Here you will find the Fram Museum, Norwegian Museum of Cultural History (Norsk Folkemuseum) and Viking Ship Museum. Please note that the Viking Ship Museum is closed for rebuilding and will not re-open until 2026/ 2027.
Holmenkollen – On the drive up to Holmenkollen Restaurant, you’ll pass the Holmenkollen Ski jump where there’s a museum, though I’ve never been. I have, however, visited the restaurant numerous times. The reviews can be a little spotty, but the ambiance is fab and you can always count on it for the best views of Oslo.
Where To Shop In Norway
I love all the scandi style decor, clothing and accessories I find throughout the city. No, it’s not all trolls and gnomes (though I do seem to always come home with a slew of those). Here’s where I go:
- Majorstuen / Bogstadveien – Walking down Bogstadveien is kind of like being at the mall. There are a variety of stores ranging from H&M, to boutiques, to home decor shops and more.
- Karl Johans Gate and Stortingsgaten – These are both central streets near the National Theater and down the way from the Palace.
- Aker Brygge – If you’re headed to the Opera House, you might as well stick around for a while and shop, drink, dine in this neighborhood nearby.
- Grünerløkka – This is my favorite area to wander. It’s bohemian, trendy and there are thrift shops littered throughout this neighborhood.
- Steen & Strøm – This high end shopping center anchors the Rodeo Drive of Oslo.
Here are a few other things you may want to check out in Oslo:
- Akershus Fortress
- Kon-Tiki Museum
- Oslofjord – Jump on a boat to island hop or, if you’re there in the summer, take a dip!
- Oslo City Hall
- The National Musuem
- Nobel Peace Center (Nobels Fredssenter)Nobel Peace Center (Nobels Fredssenter)
- Christmas Market – If you happen to be there at Christmas time, you MUST go to Jul i Vinterland
While researching anything new, I found info on Floating Sauna Cruises on the Vogue website. I will definitely be looking into that on my next trip! I also found Mathallen Oslo, which is inspired by the great European food courts. And, this sounds like a must for me: Oslo’s brand new “Instagram spot” is Deichman library!
Filming Locations in Oslo
Here are a handful of movies and TV shows you may have seen that have filmed in Oslo.
- Rebel Moon Part 1 – premiered December 22 on Netflix
- No Time To Die
- The Snowman
- Tenet
- The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
- Home For Christmas
- A Storm for Christmas
- The Worst Person in the World
Find More Filming Locations Here!
As mentioned previously, the Oslo Opera House is featured in Tenet, as is the Thief Hotel, Tjuvholmen and Olav Selvaags Plass (located in Aker Brygge),
In the trailer for No Time To Die, you see a girl fleeing from a masked man on a frozen lake. Though not exactly in Oslo, the lake is called Langvann and is located near Hakadal, a village in Viken county. The village is about 30 minutes North of Oslo and then a one-hour hike through a forest away from the car park behind Hakadal’s train station.
The Oslo airport is seen in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo as well as the series A Storm For Christmas (which is streaming on Netflix).
The Snowman, starring Michael Fassbender, was filmed in Oslo. Key scenes include one on the tram, the Fram Museum, Restaurant Schrøder in St. Hanshaugen neighborhood, the Henie Onstad Art Centre, the Oslo Spektrum Arena, the Holmenkollen ski jump, and the Oslo City Hall in which Oslo’s candidacy for the Winter Olympics is celebrated with a grand gala.
Looking for more travel recs, check out these posts!
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