Oslo
Oslo is Norway's capital, a fjord-side city known for waterfront museums, a sculpture park and forest trails close to the center.
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Oslo is the capital and largest city of Norway. It sits at the northern end of the Oslofjord, with forested hills and mountains rising around most of the city. Akershus Fortress, begun under King Haakon V, stands by the harbor. Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen, two waterfront districts, lie near the center. The city is compact, and public transport and city bikes cover most sights.
Start with a few major sights. Frogner Park holds the Vigeland sculptures, and the Munch Museum displays The Scream. The Opera House in Bjørvika has a roof visitors can walk on. Bygdøy, reached by ferry or bus, holds several museums, including the Fram Museum. Nordmarka, a large forest on the city's northern edge, suits hiking and skiing. Oslo is one of the most expensive cities in the world, so plan your budget for restaurants and lodging. Summer brings warm weather and long days, with more than 18 hours of daylight around midsummer. Winter suits skiing at Holmenkollen.
Oslo in five
- Take the train from the airportAirport express trains and cheaper regional trains run from Oslo Airport to Oslo S in about 20 to 25 minutes.Is a rail pass worth it?
- Buy Ruter tickets in the appOne ticket system covers the metro, trams and buses in the city. Buy and activate the ticket in the Ruter app before you board.
- Walk on the opera house roofThe sloping roof of the Oslo Opera House is free to walk on and looks over the fjord and the Munch museum.
- See Vigeland Park for freeThe sculpture park inside Frogner Park is free and open all day, every day.
- Pay by cardCards and phone payments work almost everywhere, and some places no longer take cash.
Things to do in Oslo
See all attractions in Oslo
Need to know
- Airport
- Oslo Gardermoen (OSL), about 20 min by train
- Getting there
- Trains from Stockholm and Gothenburg; ferries from Denmark and Kiel
- Getting around
- Metro, trams and buses; Ruter app
- Best base
- Sentrum or Grünerløkka
- Time needed
- 2–3 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh-1°Low-6°Snow, darkJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- -1°
- Low
- -6°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, dark
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh1°Low-5°Snow, skiingFebruaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 1°
- Low
- -5°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, skiing
- MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low-2°Cold, sunnierMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 5°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 53 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, sunnier
- AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh11°Low2°ThawAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 50 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Thaw
- MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh17°Low6°Constitution DayMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Constitution Day
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh21°Low11°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh22°Low12°WarmestJulyRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 110 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warmest
- AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°WarmAugustRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 98 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Cool, calmSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 93 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, calm
- OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh10°Low4°Autumn, wetOctoberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 97 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn, wet
- NovemberRain12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh4°Low0°Dark, grayNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 4°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, gray
- DecemberSnow13 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh1°Low-3°Christmas, darkDecemberSnow
Poor
- High
- 1°
- Low
- -3°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas, dark
Average daily high and low in Oslo, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Mar Inferno Metal Festival · Apr Inferno Metal Festival · Jun Tons of Rock · Aug Øyafestivalen
Right now in Oslo
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
1
- Feels like
- -1°
- Humidity
- 81%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Oslo
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today8°2°0%Monday: Clear. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue7°1°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 7°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed6°1°0%Wednesday: Fog. High 6°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu6°0°0%Thursday: Fog. High 6°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri3°0°0%Friday: Fog. High 3°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat3°0°0%Saturday: Fog. High 3°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun3°0°0%Sunday: Drizzle. High 3°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 07:27 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 9.213 NOK
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Coming up
Every year
- Mar–AprInferno Metal FestivalOslo
- JunTons of RockOslo
- AugØyafestivalenOslo
Day trips by train
- Drøbakabout 1 hour by bus or summer ferryA small fjord town of white wooden houses.
- Fredrikstadabout 1 hour by trainA fortified old town on the Glomma river.
Before you go to Oslo
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Oslo, checked
- Norway is in the Schengen area but not the EU. Check visa and entry rules for your passport on UDI's website before you book.Source
- Wine and spirits are sold only at Vinmonopolet, the state-run chain. Beer above a set strength is sold there too.
- Dial 112 for police, 113 for an ambulance and 110 for the fire service.
- Service is included in restaurant bills, so tipping is optional. Rounding up or leaving a small amount is the usual custom.
Plan around Oslo
Fjords, the Arctic north and the cost of travel
Read the guideBergenSeven hours west on the Bergen line
Read the guideSouthern NorwayThe Sørlandet coast toward Kristiansand and Stavanger
Read the guideTrondheimNorth of Oslo on the Dovre line
Read the guideStockholmTrains link the two capitals
Read the guideCopenhagenOvernight ferry from Oslo to Denmark
Read the guideIs a rail pass worth it?Single tickets against a pass for Norway and beyond
Read the guideOslo FAQ
How many days do you need in Oslo?
Two days covers the Munch museum, the opera house, Vigeland Park and the Bygdøy museums. Add a day for a fjord trip or a forest walk.
Is Oslo expensive?
Yes. Rooms, restaurants and alcohol are costly. Transit tickets, the free parks and the opera roof help keep costs down.
When is the best time to visit Oslo?
May to August, for long days and outdoor life. Winter is cold and dark but good for skiing within the city limits.
Is an Oslo city pass worth it?
Only if you plan several paid museums and a lot of transit in one or two days. The opera roof, Vigeland Park and the fjord paths are free, so add up the tickets you actually want before you buy a pass.
What is there to do in Oslo in winter?
Skiing and sledding in the forests reached by metro, the museums, saunas by the fjord and Christmas markets. Days are short in December and January, so plan indoor stops and keep a layer for the wind off the water.