Travel Tips for Oslo, Norway

Cost: €€ (expensive)

Safety: 4/5 for solo female travellers

Oslo is quite different to any other European city I have visited. Founded by the Vikings, it is a young city (1,000 years old) that has a very interesting history (it was on fire several times, so it had to be rebuilt in the 17th century).

I must say, I was impressed by how accessible Oslo is by foot and public transport. It also has interesting buildings to explore, great museums and their walking tours are excellent.

However, as as a solo female traveller, I didn’t feel as safe walking around at night and I found the city a little lonely. I would recommend a visit for just 2 days, but consider a longer stay if you wish to book a day trip via boat around the Oslo Fjords or a cruise to Copenhagen.

How to get there

From Dublin, you can fly direct to Oslo via Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) or Norwegian. The flight takes just over 2 hours. 

As I was already in Stockholm in Sweden, I travelled via Norwegian airlines from Stockholm Arlanda to Oslo Gardermoen. The flight took about an hour.

Language, Currency & Weather

The main language in Norway is Norwegian, however English is widely spoken. The currency in Norway is the Norwegian Kroner (NOK) however, I primarily used my visa debit card or Apple Pay.

The weather during summer in Oslo can be quite fine, however winter temperatures drop below 0 degrees Celsius. If travelling between October and March particularly, I would recommend you bring very warm clothes.

Public Transport

Oslo’s public transportation system is called Ruter, and it’s very easy to travel around the city. Tickets can be used on the metro, trams, buses, ferries and on Vy’s trains. You can purchase single, 24-hour or 7 day tickets.

There are many options to and from Oslo Airport, as it is served by buses, local and express trains. The Flytoget airport express train departs every ten minutes, taking about 20 minutes to get to Oslo Central Station.

Where To Stay

Accommodation in Oslo is expensive, so it can be tricky to find something decent yet affordable.

However, if you are looking for luxury I would recommend Grand Hotel or Hotel Bristol in the city centre. 

If you are looking for something a bit cheaper, I would advise you to book Att Revier or Scandic Victoria, both in the city centre.

If you are on a budget, I would look at Smarthotel Oslo or Citybox Oslo. They are also in the city centre.

Where To Go & What To Do

I would recommend booking a walking tour at the start of your trip. In my opinion this is the best way to view the city and soak in the atmosphere, as well as learning about the city’s history and culture.

Oslo has 30 museums, so while you’re in the city you should visit a few! My favourites were the Paradox Museum, the Fram Museum, the Viking Ship Museum and the Nobel Peace Centre.

Meanwhile, stop by the Opera House, which is an iconic building that is designed to resemble a glacier rising out of the fjord. If possible, try book tickets to see one of the opera or ballet performances.

If you’re interested in saunas, then try one of the many places along the harbour, like SALT or KOK.

I also enjoyed my visit to the Royal Palace, Oslo Cathedral, Akershus Castle and City Hall. If you have time, book a boat trip to the islands along the Oslo Fjord, including Hovedøya and Gressholmen, which are great spots for hiking.

What & Where To Eat

The most common dishes are “ribbe” (pork belly) and “pinnekjøtt” (salted and dried lamb ribs). To try this traditional cuisine, I would recommend you visit Den Glade Gris, Rorbua Aker Brygge or Vaaghals which is located in the Barcode area.

Travel to the city’s food court, Vippa, which is located inside an old industrial building. It has stalls serving a mix of cuisines, including incredible seafood.

You can’t speak of the local cuisine without mentioning Oslo’s coffee. Since Norwegians are the world’s second-biggest coffee drinkers, it’s vital you try one of the many coffee shops dotted around the city.

I would highly recommend visiting Himkok, which is a speakeasy bar serving spirits distilled on site. It also has a greenhouse which grows the plants and herbs used in its drinks and food.

There are many spots around Grünerløkka, but the cafe I visited was Lio’s Cafe Bar for lunch. This is a great spot, and is also vegetarian friendly.

Enjoy exploring Oslo!