Oslo in winter: 15 things to do

Before visiting Norway in the winter, you tend to imagine yourself preparing for an expedition to the North Pole. In Oslo, the capital of Norway, the weather can fluctuate and vary quite a lot in the wintertime, with temperatures ranging from -10°C to +5°C, rain, freezing winds, drizzle, black ice, fog, brilliantly sunny, cloudless days, heavy snowfall or just a light dusting of snow…  It’s no coincidence that there are over 20 words for snow in Norwegian. There is also less light: at the end of December, daylight lasts from around 9 AM to about 3 PM. if you’re planning a winter trip to Oslo, it’s vital to adapt your schedule to the season.

Here are our 15 recommendations for winter activities and sights in Oslo, as well as a list of practical advice.

15 things to do in Oslo in winter

Share a meal around the fire at Grefsenkollen

On the terrace of the restaurant at Grefsenkollen, one of the hills around Oslo, there are several areas set up with comfortable benches around an outdoor fire pit.

First, you are served a pot of gløgg (mulled apple juice), to which you can add a few spoonfuls of a mix of almonds, raisins and minced apple. The perfect drink to warm your hands

Then, you wind some pinnebrød (bread dough) around a skewer, before grilling it over the flames. Little by little, birchwood logs are added to the fire.

The main course is a delicious bowl of venison stew, before you finish the meal with some house-made grilled marshmallows.

This typical wintery, nostalgic and cozy experience makes for a wonderful couple of hours spent together.

Our advice: Wrap up warm. Reservations are a must (for a minimum of 4 people). On weekends, bus number 56B runs all the way to the top of Grefsenkollen.

Explore the Vigeland Park

Built in the early 20th century, the Vigeland Park is home to a collection of over 200 sculptures by Norwegian artist Gustav Vigeland.

Most of the sculptures are nudes representing the different ages of life, of which the most famous are “Sinnataggen” (the Angry Boy), the great fountain, and the Monolith.

Have an afternoon tea at the Bristol Hotel

Enjoy an exceptional experience in the timeless Library Bar (Bibliotekbaren) at the Bristol Hotel: crystal chandeliers, dark wooden bookshelves, soft lounge chairs and couches with tufted backs. The tables are set with monogrammed porcelain, along with matching teapots and cutlery.

Take the time to savor the delicious finger sandwiches, elegant petits fours, and warm scones from the tiered cake stand. The Bristol also has a reputation of making the best hot chocolate in town. Reservations are mandatory.

Go for a walk in Bjørvika, around the Opera

Bjørvika is a former industrial harbor area that has been transformed into a vibrant, contemporary neighborhood. The Oslo Opera house, which was designed by Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta, was the very first building in this new district built on the waterside along the Oslo fjord. The Norwegian Opera and Ballet is now Norway’s main institution for arts and music.

If the weather permits, make sure you walk up to the roof of the Opera to enjoy the stunning view of the fjord. Careful, the marble can get slippery with ice and snow.

A stroll along Langkaia (to the west, across from the Opera) will reveal the unique architecture of the Opera House. The white marble roof seems almost to emerge from the cool waters of the harbor.

On the other side of the Opera, you can extend your walk to Sukkerbiten, an ideal spot to watch the sunset, and further along to de Sørenga, a whole neighborhood built on the water.

Take a break at the Deichman public library

Deichman Bjørvika was conceived as a modern multimedia library and a true third space. It contains a vast collection of works organized by genre, a movie room, multimedia workshops, games, lounge spaces and a restaurant.

5 floors of couches and comfortable chairs make it the perfect place to study and relax.

From the large windows on the 2nd and 4th floors, you can enjoy a peaceful view of the Opera and the fjord.

Admire the view from the Ekeberg Park

The Ekeberg Park is perched on a hill above the Opera, Bjørvika and the east end of Oslo, offering spectacular views of the city and the fjord.

The park also contains one of Europe’s largest and most stunning collections of sculptures. The works are spread out all over the park and throughout the forest.

The latest light installation, Nordic Pixel Forest by Pipilotti Rist, has already become a must-see piece.

The park is on quite a steep hill. The pathways may get slippery in case of snow or ice.

Stroll around Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen

A walk along the water at Aker Brygge offers a gorgeous view of the Oslo fjord, Akershus fortress and Oslo City Hall. If you’re feeling peckish or in the mood for shopping, the docks are lined with lots of restaurants and stores.

Our favorite part is the Tjuvholmen peninsula, at the far end of Aker Brygge.

Tjuvholmen is home to a sculpture park with works by major artists such as  Louise Bourgeois and Anish Kapoor, as well as the Astrup-Fearnley Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.

Warm up with a coffee and a bolle

When the weather is cold and gloomy, the cafés and bakeries of Oslo are the ideal places to boost your mood: soft lighting, cozy interiors, comfy chairs, relaxing music… Order a hot drink with a sandwich or a bolle (a sweet bun, like the classic kanelbolle, which means cinnamon bun in Norwegian).

Our recommendations:
• Kveitemjøl (Fjordalléen 10): focuses on sourdough, with breads, buns, croissants, pastries and pizza. The cinnamon, cardamom and pistachio buns are rich and moist, not to mention they’re among the best in Oslo
• Erketunet Gardsbakeri (Tordenskiolds gate 12): this family-founded farm bakery exclusively uses Norwegian ingredients and recipes. Buns, bread, griddle-baked pastries, sandwiches and pizza
• Åpent Bakeri: sandwiches made to order with house-made sourdough bread, and various buns (such as the classic kanelbolle). Several shops all over town, among which is the bakery in the Barcode area (Dronning Eufemias gate 16)
• Godt Brød: salads, sandwiches, organic bread, and sweet buns (including cinnamon). Several shops all over Oslo, such as the one in Bjørvika (Operagata 29)

Visit a museum

• The National Museum
The new National Museum, which opened in 2022, offers over 80 rooms of paintings and sculptures dating from the Antiquity to recent years, as well as works of architecture and design.

Works by well-known international artists such as Claude Monet or Pablo Picasso are displayed side by side with Norwegian artists like Johan Christian Dahl, Harriet Backer and Theodor Kittelsen. An entire room is dedicated to famous Norwegian painter Edvard Munch.

• The Fram Museum
The Fram museum is dedicated to the polar expeditions that took place between 1893 and 1912. The museum was named after Fram, a 39-meter ship used by explorers on both Arctic and Antarctic expeditions during this period, and which visitors can now explore.

• The Munch Museum
Over 13 floors, the Munch Museum (pronounced Moonk in Norwegian) houses the world’s largest collection of works by legendary Norwegian painter Edvard Munch.

Have lunch at Mathallen

This indoor market and food court is located in a former industrial warehouse, and houses around thirty restaurants, cafés and specialty food shops selling products and dishes from Norway and all over the world. Buy from your stall of choice before heading to the common seating area to enjoy your meal.

Try a sauna

Enjoying the heat of a sauna before taking a dip in the ice-cold waters of the fjord is a typically Scandinavian tradition. Along the Langkaia dock, as well as at Sukkerbiten and Aker Brygge, you’ll smell the cozy, smoky aroma of burning birch wood wafting from the floating saunas.

Experience the Christmas atmosphere

In December, many apartments and houses are decorated with the warm glow of Christmas lights, bright stars at the windows, and beautiful Christmas trees. This way, everyone contributes to creating a Christmassy atmosphere all over town.

In the center of Oslo, the Christmas market at Spikersuppa (Karl Johans gate) is comprised of a selection of stalls offering street food, local artisanal products and clothing, a tunnel of lights and a Ferris wheel. This Christmas Market is generally open from late November to the end of December.

Go skiing around Oslo

• Downhill skiing and snowboarding: the Skimore resort at Tryvann can be reached in about 30 minutes from the center of Oslo.

• Cross-country skiing: one of the best cross-country itineraries runs for about 10km between Frognerseteren and Sognsvann (both accessible by metro).

Try sledding at Korketrekkeren

A sledding course is available at Korketrekkeren (can be reached by metro to Frognerseteren, followed by a 5-minute walk). Rent a sled and helmet for the day at the sledding club Akeforeningen. At the end of the course, you can take the metro back up to Frognerseteren and go again as many times as you like.

See the northern lights at Sognsvann

The northern lights are rarer in Oslo than further north. However, if the weather and solar activity are favorable, Sognsvann lake is a great spot to watch them from. In about half an hour from the center of Oslo, take the metro to Sognsvann (at the end of the number 5 metro), then walk for about ten minutes around the lake to get away from the city lights.

Where to stay

• Amerikalinjen

Amerikalinjen is a 4-star boutique hotel in the former headquarters of the Norwegian America Line, whose legendary cruise ships transported passengers from Norway to America throughout the 20th century. The interior, which has been very tastefully renovated, has preserved the spirit of the building all while adding an elegant touch of modernity. The rooms are very comfortable and stylish, they too having been inspired by the cabins on the ships sailing between Norway and the US.

• Sommerro House

Sommerro House is located in Frogner, one of the chicest neighborhoods in Oslo, not far from the Royal Palace. During its full renovation, this iconic 1930s Art Deco building was imagined as a modern social and cultural hub. The interior of the rooms is cozy, unique and meticulous, with high-end materials and Art Deco-inspired elements..

• Citybox

An affordable hotel with 341 simple and functional rooms, just a stone’s throw from the central station and the Opera.

Where to eat

• Nedre Foss Gård (Nordre gate 2 ): this gourmet restaurant near the Akerselva river offers classic dishes prepared with Norwegian ingredients.

• Trattoria Popolare (Trondheimsveien 2): an Italian restaurant in the style of a modern trattoria. The ambiance is refined and softly lit, and the dishes are simple, generous and delicious. Special mention for the ravioli con patate, salvia e ragù and the fish of the day, which was a piece of halibut cooked to perfection.

• Kanpai Izakaya (Parkveien 1b): a Japanese restaurant specializing in sushi and small, tapas-like dishes to share. While the decor is colorful, the atmosphere is intimate. We particularly enjoyed the salmon nigiri and the chicken yakitori skewers.

Our practical advice

• Pack warm clothes (layer wool or thermal underwear with wool or fleece sweaters), as well as removable ice cleats and warm shoes/boots with textured soles fit for walking on snow.

• Check the times for sunrise and sunset in order to make the most of daylight hours.

• The 7-day public transport card is cost-efficient from the 11th journey. It’s available in-store at 7-eleven, Narvesen, Mix, and Deli de Luca, or on the Ruter app.

• Many restaurants are closed between Christmas and New Year. Before you travel, we recommend you check if the restaurants you want to eat at are open, and make a reservation (whenever possible).

Don’t miss the article about our favorite areas in Oslo