Oslo is an incredible city that would take days if not weeks to explore to the fullest, but if you’ve only got one day to spend in the city, it is still possible to see many of Oslo’s top things to do and attractions.

As the gateway to Norway through Oslo’s international airport, it is not uncommon to have some time to spare in the country’s capital city no matter the itinerary of your trip to Norway.

Peter and I had one full day to spend in Oslo at the end of our one week in Norway. We tried to do as many fun things in the city as possible, including visiting many museums, sight-seeing, and eating pølse of course.

In this post we will share how to spend one day in Oslo to the fullest, with a list of fun things to do in Oslo that we were able to do all in one day!

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Along with this blog post, you can watch the video above to see our one day in Oslo and all the fun things we managed to do in one single day. If you enjoy the video, please give it a “thumbs up” and consider subscribing.

Where to Stay in Oslo

Where to stay for one night in Oslo: Sentrum

The best area to stay in Oslo if you will only be in the city for a short time is definitely Oslo’s “Sentrum” (City Center), the modern and historical downtown of Oslo. This is where many of the top things to do in Oslo are located and is recommended for any first-time visitor or short stay in Oslo.

This is also where Oslo’s central train station is located, connecting you to the rest of Oslo and beyond. In our case, this was essential because at the end of our one day in Oslo we needed to catch the express train to the airport for our flight home.

Hotels in Oslo Sentrum for Every Budget

All of these hotels are located within Oslo’s Sentrum, close to the main attractions of downtown and the Oslo Central Station.

Here are a few of the top rated hotel options in Oslo’s city center for every budget:

Hostel ($): Anker Hostel, K7 Hotel Oslo

Budget ($$): Citybox Oslo, Anker Hotel

Mid-range ($$$): Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz, Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel

High-end ($$$$): Grand Hotel Oslo, Hotel Bristol

Want to explore more options for your stay in Oslo? Search available hotels in the Oslo City Centre on Booking.com using the widget below:

Where we Stayed: Thon Hotel Astoria

For our short stay in Oslo, we booked a night stay at Thon Hotel Astoria. This hotel is only a 3 minute walk from Oslo Central Station, which was perfect for us since we were on a tight schedule. Being located in Oslo Sentrum was perfect so we could easily explore the downtown.

Thon Hotel Astoria also met our needs as a nice hotel for a decent price. Since we would only have one day in Oslo, we knew that we would not be spending much time at the hotel. It was basically a nice place to sleep that allowed us to make the most of our limited time in Oslo.

Book your stay: Thon Hotel Astoria on Booking.com

Recommended for your day in Oslo: the 24hr Oslo Pass

For your one day in Oslo, I recommend getting the Oslo Pass. It gives you free admission to 30 sights in Oslo, including all of the top museums and attractions. You can see the full list of activities included on the Visit Oslo website. The Oslo Pass also provides unlimited free public transport throughout Oslo. That includes public ferries, trams, subway, and buses.

It’s convenient and it quickly pays for itself (and saves you money!) when you are trying to see all of the top attractions in Oslo. Especially for a jam-packed one day itinerary like this one!

If you are staying in Oslo longer than a day, they also offer a 48hr Oslo Pass and a 72hr Oslo Pass.

Learn more about the Oslo Pass at VisitOslo.com.

Admire the Oslo Opera House

Cost: Free to visit (unless you want a tour or to see a show)
Time: 15–30 minutes
Website: Oslo Opera House
Location: Google Maps

Start your one day in Oslo by visiting the symbol of the city: the Oslo Opera House. The Oslo Opera House is perhaps the most iconic building in Oslo and is a must-see for anyone’s first visit to the city.

The Opera House is free to visit and you can even walk on it! Yes, you read that correctly. The Opera House was built in 2008 with the intent to be an extension of nature that can be climbed on and interacted with. So you can walk and run all over it. Pretty cool, right?

*If you’re wondering why I look so tired in this picture – this was right after we arrived in Oslo by overnight train! But I swear I am having fun.*

You can spend as much time here as you wish walking on the building’s roof and getting those iconic pictures. We spent about 30 minutes here exploring the exterior and admiring the view.

If you are interested in getting a more in-depth look at the Oslo Opera House, there are 50-minute guided tours available for 120 kr a person: Guided Tours. You can see the upcoming shows and performances on the Oslo Opera House website.

Walk along the water and enjoy the views of the city

Cost: Free
Time: 1–2 hours

After admiring the Oslo Opera House, take a stroll along the waterfront. It’s free to do and there is so much to see! From Oslo’s harbor boardwalk, you can discover impressive architecture, art and sculptures, cafes and restaurants, and so much more.

Learn more about Oslo’s harbor promenade and the things to do and see there on VisitOslo.

One interesting spot to check out is the nomadic art project, SALT (pictured above). It is impossible to miss the wooden, pyramid-like structures that make up this little village of shops containing music, art, food, drinks, and saunas. Learn more about SALT on VisitOslo.

Spend as much or as little time as your day in Oslo itinerary allows enjoying the scenic views of the city from the water. Peter and I spent about an hour walking along the boardwalk before heading to the public ferry to go to the Norsk Folkemuseum.

Explore the Norsk Folkemuseum

Cost: Adult: NOK 180, Children: Free / Free with the Oslo Pass
Hours: Oct. 1–Apr. 30: 11.00–16.00, May 1–Sept. 30: 10.00–17.00
Time: 1–3 hours
Website: Norsk Folkemuseum
Location: Google Maps

A part of the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, the Norsk Folkemuseum is an open air museum of 160 historic buildings across its grounds, representing different parts of Norway across the centuries. There are sod-roofed farm houses, an old town with homes, stores, and workshops, and the iconic stave church from 1200s.

Besides the open air portion of the Norsk Folkemuseum, the indoor exhibits showcase extensive collections of artifacts from all social groups and all regions of the country. Including historic furniture, clothing, sliver wear, altarpieces, Sami handicrafts and the interior of Norway’s first parliament.

Gol Stave Church

Arguably the most iconic building of the Norsk Folkemuseum is the Gol Stave Church. Its intricate design and history make it a main attraction of the museum that you won’t want to miss.

This stave church was originally from Gol, a region of Hallingdal in Buskerud county, Norway, built around 1200. The church was moved to Bygdøy (its current location) in 1884 by King Oscar II and restored to its original look.

Learn more about the Gol Stave Church at StaveChurch.com.

We really enjoyed the Norsk Folkemuseum

The Norsk Folkemuseum was possibly our favorite part from our entire day in Oslo! Walking through the different historic building and seeing how people lived centuries ago was incredibly fascinating.

We spent a couple of hours here but could have easily stayed longer. To prioritize our time, we focused on the historic buildings of the open air museum and didn’t go into the visitor center or exhibits.

Visit the Viking Ship Museum (Update: Closed Until 2025/2026)

Cost: Adult: NOK 100 / Free with the Oslo Pass
Time: 1 hour
Website: Viking Ship Museum
Location: Google Maps (5-min walk from Norsk Folkemuseum)

UPDATE: The Viking Ship Museum in Oslo closed September 2021 for renovations. According to the Viking Ship Museum website, it is set to reopen by 2026 as the Museum of the Viking Age.

Oslo’s Viking Ship Museum has three wooden 9th century Viking ships on display. All three ships were found as a part of Viking burial graves. Of the three ships, the Oseberg ship (pictured here) is the most famous. The Oseberg ship was excavated from the largest known ship burial in the world and is completely whole.

The Viking Ship Museum was and is a national symbol of Norway. Once it reopens in 2025/2026, it will most definitely be worth checking out during your visit to Oslo.

Visit the Fram Museum and learn about the Polar Expedition

Cost: Adults: NOK 140, Children: NOK 50 / Free with Oslo Pass
Time: 1 hour
Hours: 11am to 5pm
Website: Fram Museum
Location: Google Maps (18-min walk from Norsk Folkmuseum)

The Fram Museum tells the history of the Norwegian polar exploration and is home to the polar ship Fram, launched in 1892 and one of the most enduring symbols of early polar exploration. According to VisitOslo, “Fram is the strongest wooden ship ever built and still holds the records for sailing farthest north and farthest south”.

At the Fram Museum you can come on board the Fram polar ship and see how the crew and their sled dogs survived in the perilous Arctic and the Antarctic.

Along with the Fram ship itself, the museum has a polar simulator where you can experience the cold and the dangers of polar expeditions. The museum is also home to Gjøa, the first ship to be sailed through the entire Northwest Passage in 1903.

When we visited in 2018, there was also a fun little simulator (pictured above) to see if you could pull the weight of a sledge through the snow. It’s tougher than it looks!

Try a pølse at Syverkiosken

Cost: Hotdog: NOK 30
Time: 15–30 minutes
Hours: Mon–Fri: 10am–11:30pm, Sat–Sun: 12pm–11:30pm
Website: Syverkiosken Facebook Page
Location: Google Maps

Syverkiosken is one of the oldest hotdog kiosks in Oslo, serving up traditional Norwegian pølse for around 100 years. Here they serve hotdogs the traditional way in lompe, a flatbread made from potatoes. You can order with the traditional toppings or with some of their innovative pairings. All of the toppings are homemade and high quality

Syverkiosken has become a landmark of the city and is well worth the visit if you are in Oslo. The hotdogs are not only delicious but also cheap! A rare combination in the notoriously expensive city.

Learn more about Syverkiosken on VisitOslo.com.

Peter and I both got our own pølse to try and they were delicious! Peter ended up going back for a second. I am not a big hot dog person but I can genuinely tell you that I enjoyed these. I guess it was the high quality ingredients and that delicious lompe flatbread that won me over. It was the perfect last meal for our day in Oslo.

Explore the Vigeland Sculpture Park

Overlooking the Oslo Vigeland Sculpture park

Cost: Free
Time: 1 hour
Hours: Open 24 hours a day, every day
Website: Vigeland Sculpture Park
Location: Google Maps

The Vigeland Sculpture Park, located within Frogner Park in Oslo, is the world’s largest sculpture park by a single artist. The sculpture park displays over 200 sculptures in bronze, granite and cast iron by Gustav Vigeland (1869-1943).

Peter and I spent over an hour here walking through the park and admiring the sculptures, narrating some and trying to guess what was going on in others. It was also a beautiful, sunny day and we appreciated the opportunity to enjoy the day outdoors. There were stands selling water and snacks and we ended up buying some icecream to eat while we strolled through the park.

The Angry Boy

Perhaps the most famous of all the sculptures in Vigeland Sculpture Park is The Angry Boy (or Sinnataggen in Norwegian). Pictured above, The Angry Boy sculpture depicts a young boy with clenched fists throwing a tantrum.

It is popular to take a picture with The Angry Boy and hold his hand, perhaps for good luck. As you can see, his little right fist is a bright, polished gold compared to the rest of his body from wear.

Oslo Vigeland Sculpture park man kicking baby

Vigeland Museum

Along with the sculpture park, there is also a Vigeland Museum. Just outside of the park, the museum is actually located in the home of home of sculptor Gustav Vigeland and the building is considered “one of the finest examples of neo-classical architecture in Norway”. The museum houses Vigeland's early works, his portraits and monuments, and plaster models for the sculptures in Vigeland Park. (Source: VisitOslo)

The hours of the museum are 12pm–4pm on Tuesday–Sunday and closed on Mondays. The admission price to the Vigeland Museum is Adult: NOK 100, Children: Free or free admission with the Oslo Pass.

Peter and I were not able to check out the museum as we visited the sculpture park at the end of our one day in Oslo (past its closing time at 4pm). However, we felt satisfied after exploring the Vigeland Sculpture Park as it alone has so much to offer.

Learn more on the Vigeland Museum website.

Walk through downtown Oslo

Cost: Free (not including souvenir shopping!)
Time: 1-2 hours
Website: City Centre Guide on VisitOslo
Location: Google Maps

During your day in Oslo, it is worth spending some time walking through the downtown city centre, or Oslo Sentrum. Explore the shops, do some people watching, and grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants or cafes.

Whenever Peter and I visit a new city, one of our favorite things to do is to explore the city’s downtown to get a lay of the land and a feel for the city. Wandering without a set destination is best. There is always something interested to discover, whether it is a cool building or street art or event going on that we otherwise would not have stumbled across.

Karl Johans Gate

Make sure to check out the main street of Oslo, Karl Johans gate (pictured above). The street is named in honor of King Charles III John. Karl Johans gate is pedestrian only, so walk down the street and admire the historic architecture and maybe do some souvenir shopping.

Are you planning to visit Oslo, Norway?

Planning a trip to Oslo Norway, one day in Oslo

Will you be in Oslo for a day on an upcoming trip to Norway? Or have you been to Oslo before? If so, please leave any other recommendations of things to do in Oslo in the comments below. We know we would like to visit Oslo again someday and explore more of this beautiful city!

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