Location: Oslo
Top Things to do in Oslo
The 10 Best Things to do Good for a Rainy Day in Oslo, Eastern Norway
The 1000-year-old Norwegian capital sits at the head of Oslo Fjord. This stunning setting gives hints of the wild wonders that lie just beyond the city. From taking in visual delights at Vigeland Sculpture Park, the Viking Ship Museum, the Munch Museum and Holmenkollen, to the challenging content within the new Nobel Peace Centre and the Holocoust Center, Oslo offers plenty of food for thought. The Oslo Pass allows free travel on public transport, free parking and many museum and sight admissions.
Restaurants in Oslo
1. 22 July Centre
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 107 reviews
The 22 July Centre is a learning centre that works with the mediation of memory and knowledge about the terror attacks in Oslo and on Utøya on the 22nd of July 2011. The centre’s educational programme invites school pupils and teachers into the discourse about the 22nd of July and encourages active participation in the negotiation of the attack’s significance both at present, and in the future. Our website is developed with a particular focus on digital resource material, as an offer to schools to strengthen education on the topic of the 22nd of July and related topics. 22 July Centre opened in a temporary location at Teatergata 10 on 27nd of June 2020.
2. Viking Ship Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9,929 reviews
Come face to face with some of the world's greatest Viking treasures! Experience the best-preserved Viking Ships in the world and unique burial artefacts from boat graves around the Oslo Fjord. These ships have been on voyages of the sea before they became the final resting place for their wealthy owners. Here you will see incredible woodcarvings, mysterious skeleton remains and an immersive film that takes you into the Viking era. This is a museum experience out of the ordinary. Two Museums for the price of one! With a ticket to the Viking Ship Museum, you also get a free pass to the Historical Museum within 48 hours. Closed: 24-26 December; 31 December; 1 January.
Reviewed By johnsbailey77 - York, United States
This place is everything I had hoped it would be. As a person with an interest in Norse and Northmen history, particularly the Viking culture this museum offers much to see and enjoy. From the well preserved ships themselves to the artifacts and treasures on display this museum is a fantastic place to visit and a must see while in Oslo. Pricing is very reasonable and the location is easy to find. Once you leave this location it is a short walk to the Fram Museum. Very easy to get to and from the City Hall Ferry as well. Highly recommend.
3. Norges Hjemmefrontmuseum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,131 reviews
Reviewed By TravelTrooperX2 - San Mateo, United States
This was an excellent museum and a great history lesson regarding the Norwegian resistance during WWII. There is a lot of reading. You must put in the effort to learn. It is well worth it. The amount of artifacts that were preserved were amazing, such as smuggled letters and secret resistance correspondence. You may think you know everything about WWII, but come here and you will learn more. Norway definitely put up a fight to help preserve the rights of people all over Europe. Very impressive exhibit. We spent 2 hours here. The museum is a small building inside the Akershus Fortress. Entrance fee was covered by the Oslo Pass.
4. Kon-Tiki Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,302 reviews
Visit The Kon-Tiki Museum and be inspired by Thor Heyerdahl! See the original balsa wood raft from 1947 and the Oscar-winning film from 1951! The museum houses original boats and artifacts from Thor Heyerdahl's world-famous expeditions such as the original Kon-Tiki balsa raft which crossed the Pacific Ocean in 1947 and the original reed boat Ra II which crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 1970. Both exhibitions have separate children storylines. The Kon-Tiki Museum also houses one of the most comprehensive exhibitions about Easter Island in the world, including a replica of a family cave from Easter Island. Underneath the Kon-Tiki raft is a special underwater exhibit that is fun for kids. Cinema screening the original Kon-Tiki documentary movie (Oscar for best documentary in 1951) every day at 12:00. Great museum shop. Free with Oslo Pass. A must when visiting Oslo!
Reviewed By MartyB719 - Jensen Beach, United States
There is a tee-shirt in the Kon-Tiki Museum which quotes the adventurist Thor Heyerdalh who once said, “Borders? I have never seen one. But, I have heard they exist in the minds of some people.” This quote is so apropos to one of the greatest explorers in the 20th century. With six crew members, the 1947 voyage of 6,900m/4,300 miles on a balsa made raft across the Pacific from South America proved that civilization could have actually spread westward. Thor Heyerdalh wrote a book and an award-winning video documentary was made from the sojourn. My biggest regret was not keeping the National Geographic magazine about this epic voyage. The museum is actually a collection of all his “7” exploration trips. Just the Kon-Tiki raft and the Ra II raft, similar to an Egyptian boat—that sailed from North Africa to the Caribbean—are on display. There is a short video that explains his Kon-Tiki trip. There is also a longer version. Most of the films are in black and white. The museum is more about Thor Heyerdalh life, struggles and accomplishments. He was actually quite interested in exploring the mysteries of Easter Island. There are a number of artifacts from that exploration. Taking my wife to see the Kon-Tiki museum was a treat. We took the ferry over from the Oslo harbor known as “Aker Brygge.” It is a short comfortable ride. We then walked up along this road to and came across the unpretentious Viking museum. The road takes a sharp left. Just follow the signs! The Kon-Tiki Museum is in a complex with the Maritime Museum. There is a good café at the Maritime Museum. You can actually catch the ferry back to Oslo behind these museums along the waterfront. If you found this review “helpful” in any way, please press “LIKE” to let me know.
5. Armed Forces Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 265 reviews
Reviewed By Sliemiz
This is a free entry museum located close to the Askerhus Castle. When we entered on the ground floor we thought that it was a small museum detailing the various campaigns in which the Norwegian armed forces participated. Then we walked up to the first floor. There unfolded a vast, detailed exhibition of all the conflicts that Norway was involved in - starting from the Vikings, through the numerous wars with Sweden right up to the Second World war and beyond. Each section of the exhibition displays numerous artifacts and information.
6. The Norwegian Theater (Det Norske Teatret)
7. The Ibsen Museum
8. Emanuel Vigeland Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 111 reviews
Actually a mausoleum, this unusually-shaped building is decorated inside with an 800 square meter fresco which took Emanuel Vigeland 20 years to paint.
Reviewed By TankGrrrl - Scottish Borders, United Kingdom
My second time here, I've been itching to get back! Happy to see they now have some more funding, and will be opening the second room later this year :) As I said in my first review, DO NOT LEAVE TOO SOON to get the effect of this mausoleum. The light changes hugely over time, and you need to give it at the very least 20 minutes to start to experience what it has to offer. I stayed over 2 hours this time, and it's worth the effort! Fabulous place - the acoustics, the imagery, the lighting, the friendly staff, it's definitely my favourite place in Oslo - which is saying something in such a great city.
9. The Norwegian Museum of Science and Tehnology
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 530 reviews
Museum of science and technology (Teknisk museum) is the national museum for technology, industry, science and medicine. The museum hosts over 100 interactive installations and 25 permanent and temporary exhibitions about energy, oil, industry, medicine, airplanes, cars and trains. Oslo Science Cente is a place for curious minds. Explore natural science and technological principles in the areas of energy, physical phenomena, the body, mathematics and the universe. The Robot Centre and The Planetarium are both found here. The National Museum of Medicine explains how people's lives have changed over the last 150 years through improvements in public health, medicine and healthcare. The museum is integrated in the Museum of Science and Technology. The museum cafe serves Italian and Greek specialties, hot dogs, coffee, ice cream and cakes. Remember to visit the museum shop for fun and surprising gifts and souvenirs.
Reviewed By ccittykitty - Oslo, Norway
Easy to reach by buss from centrum. Over 2h visit is deffinetly worth almost price of a ticket. Lots of fun and plenty to see!
10. Sporveien T-Banen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 293 reviews
Reviewed By camillag639
I travel with T-banen everyday for work and also on my free time - it is seldom delays (at least lately ; ) - departures are frequent and connections between t-bane and bus/trains/trams are good. Reccomend to use the "ruter reiseplanlegger" which will give you excellent suggestions on how to get easily from A-B using public transport in the Oslo area
