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I believe we have all heard about how pricey Norway and the capital, Oslo, can be. And I’m willing to bet that this keeps many people from coming to visit this.
There are ways of having enjoying this city on a budget, and here are 7 awesome things to do in Oslo, for free!
1. Stroll around the city
Norwegians love to walk. They love walking so much that for most of us a sunday is only complete with a nice Sunday walk. Preferably with the sun in our face and a coffee in hand. So why not join in on this tradition and soak up some nice scenery at the same time
Cobblestone streets are a staple in European cities, although they make travel with a suitcase a nightmare, i think they give a nice historic flare
Damstredet, one of the most charming streets of Oslo is definitely worth a visit and if you are here in spring you will have the added bonus of cherry blossoms in bloom.
The sun just hits different by the ocean, it brings a sense of ease. So do not miss the chance while in Oslo to absorb the diversity and beauty along the harbor. Great efforts have been made in recent years to give this part of the city a face lift, and it has paid off.
If you are into architecture this walk is not lacking. Here you can find everything from a fortress dating back to the 1200´s to the modern opera house.
For the polar plunge enthusiasts, this is a good spot for you. Saunas has increased in popularity over the resent years and therefor it seems to be a new sauna put up here every year. Nothing like warming up in a sauna after a little ice bath, am I right?!
2. Architechtour
The modern opera House is a must see when coming to Oslo, both for the architecture and the stunning sunset views
Timetravel in Oslo by viewing architecture with a span of almost a thousand years. And everything in between. Buildings in Oslo I feel has both ugliness and beauty to them. Some are functional some mere decorative. But what they all have in common is that they have been part of and shaped in the time they were made. And that to me is quite remarkable.
A stroll along the harbor will show you a fortress, build to defend the town, to barcode a complex of modern, shiny cubes filled with offices and apartments.
3. Take a walk in Nature
As i mentioned earlier Norwegians do enjoy walking, maybe because walking keeps you warm when it’s very cold. And most people, there are of course exceptions, love hiking outdoors.
Therefor even in the capitol Oslo you can find some pretty great hiking trails and here is a selection of my favorites
Grefsenkollen
In my opinion there is no better place to see the sunset in Oslo. Its a bit of a hike up here, but absolutely worth it. An added bonus is the restaurant at the top, where one can have a bite to eat and a drink with a view. If this is out of your budget, there is also benches to sit on, where the view is just as spectacular.
Østmarka
Come here for some forrest bathing and take some time to unwind for a bit. Here you will find plenty of forrest paths and lakes for a refreshing swim. In season there are both berries and mushrooms along these paths. But i urge you to be cautious as they can be poisonous.
Akerselva
Akerselva (the aker river) is an unofficial seperator of the east and west side of oslo, and it runs it´s corse from the maridals water all the way down to Bjørvika in the city center.
Akerselva had been used as a power source in local industry and you will find traces of this all along the river in the form of old industrial buildings. As well as housing for the workers. In fact you can find a free museum called the Workers museum in this area which can give you an insight to the history of the use of Akerselva.
Holmenkollen
At the end of the subway line that in winter is filled with cross country skies and their owners, ready to have a nice sunday outing, whitch in winter often icludes skies.
The trip up here is well worth the crowds, as the surroundings are beautiful, walking possibilities are plentiful and you can have a coffee with a view.
While you are up here, why not also check out the Holmenkollen ski Jump
4. Piknik in the park
There is an interesting phenomenon that happens in Oslo in spring. The city is suddenly filled with people, the crowds are everywhere! The truth is they never really left, but Norwegian winters are quite long, dark and cold so people spend their time inside their homes instead. Or do specific winter activities, like skiing, sled-riding, or iceskating, among others.
However come spring and the city fill up with people. One of the places this is most visible is indeed in the many parks you will find here. In fact wherever you stay there will most likely be a park close by. Find your google maps and see where the nearest park is and have a nice picnic, or just sit down on a bench and people watch for a bit.
If you choose to just walk through or sit down is up to you but i would highly recommend giving some parks a go.
To see some of my favorites check this out The best parks in Oslo, Norway
5. Check out some free museums
Many of the museums in Oslo, as most places do have an entrance fee, but there are some worthwhile with free entry.
On the top of my list is not really a museum, its the city hall. Here you can enter an look at some art by some of Norways established painters
Next i would go to Akershus fortress. This 700 year old fortress is an important historical piece of Norwegian history and is even more interesting to see if you read up a bit before hand. If not you can walk around in this medieval courtyard and just imagine what can have happened here.
The City museum gives you an insight to the history of life in Oslo through times. This museum is not always free, but they have free entry on Saturdays. For more info about this museum and other Local history museums have a look at the official website Oslo Museum
If you are very interested in museums i would advise you to look into the Oslo pass, this gives you access to several of the best museums in Oslo, including Norwegian folk museum, one of my favorites. It also gives you free public transport, a great way to explore Oslo. If you only want public transport this is cheap and easy with the ruter app. However if you are intrigued about what the Oslo pass gives you look here Oslo pass
6. Island hop in the oslofjord
Yes you heard me. Island hop. I would recommend to give this a go in the summer if you need a bit of fresh air from the city life. The boats are not free, but you can use the same type of ticket on these boats as on the tram and subway. Both the ruter ticket, local public transport, and the Oslo pass will be valid on the boats.
Because of this the boats do tend to get quite full, but it is well worth it.
7. Chill at a beach
If you are in the Bygdøy area, where the folkemuseum is, you will find Huk beach, also a popular choise on those hot summer days.
Summers in Norway are short and the average temperatures are not super high, however there usually are a few really hot days during summer. And on those days the beaches around Oslo fills up. And if you have the time why not grab your beach kit and take a breather.
The most central options are Sørenga, Tjuvholmen and the Opera beach.
