Most people will tell you that Norway is an expensive country to visit. They are not wrong but are things that you can do, that won’t cost a fortune and leave your wallet empty.
I spent two days in Oslo and managed to find plenty of things to do keep well within my budget.
Vigeland Park
The Vigeland Park is the world’s largest sculpture park, made by a single artist. It is free to enter, open 24 hours, and is a pleasant way to spend a morning. The park has more than 200 sculptures of naked people made from bronze, granite and wrought iron all made by Gustav Vigeland.
Vigeland Park, Oslo, Norway
Viking Ship Museum
The museum has Viking Longships that were discovered at various burial sites around Norway. Besides the ships, the museum houses many of the artifacts found with them, including weapons, clothing, gold and silver, and furniture. The Viking longship below dates from around 800. This and similar ships would be used to transport the bodies of important, but dead people.
A Viking longship.
Entry to the Viking Ship Museum was 100 NOK, which is about £10.00. Entry is free for under 18s. As I was only in Oslo for such a short period, I didn’t get the chance to visit the other museums close by.
The Norwegian National Opera & Ballet
The Norwegian National Opera House is located in the old harbour area of Oslo. Since it opened in 2008 it has become a landmark in the city. It is the first (and I think only) opera house in the world where you can walk up onto the roof!
Once on the roof of the building and have a good view of the Oslo skyline in one direction and a view over the old harbour in the other, and it’s FREE!
Walking on the roof of the Oslo Opera House.
The modern Oslo skyline.
If you feel like it, why not have a quick paddle in the old harbour like I did!
Me having a paddle in Oslo harbour.
Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress was built in the 1290’s although since then it has changed greatly. In the summer months (June – August) it is open from 10:00 – 16:00, Monday to Saturday and from 12:00 – 16:00 on a Sunday. From September – December it’s only open on a Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 – 17:00. As well as looking around the fortress, there are fantastic views from the grounds of the Oslo and the fjord. Entrance to the Fortress grounds in free.
Also located within the grounds of the fortress is the Resistance Museum, which provides an insight into Norway’s resistance to the Nazis during the Second World War. I didn’t visit this museum, but I believe that it costs 60 NOK, which is about £6 to enter. The Armed Forces Museum is also located within the grounds of the Fortress, the museum shows Norwegian military history from the Viking age up to more recent times. Entry into the Armed Forces Museum is free.
Travelling Around
Buy a zone 1 24 hour ticket, or if you are staying for 3 or more days, a 7-day ticket. The one day ticket is 105 Norwegian Krone, which is about £10.50 for adults and £5.30 if you are aged between 4 and 19 or are 67 or older. A seven-day ticket is 249 Norwegian Krone, about £24.90 for adults, and £12.50 if you are aged between 4 and 19 or are 67 or older. You can buy them from kiosks and shops, ticket machines and bus terminals. The ticket is valid on all buses, trams, trains, metro and ferries (except the ferry to Bygdøy). If you want to travel to Bygdøy, you can take bus number 30 to Vikingskipene and use your ticket instead of paying for the ferry.
Bygdøy ferry.
Oslo Pass
Another option is to buy the Oslo Pass. It gives you free entry to all the museums mentioned in this post and many more. It also gives you free travel on all public transport and free access to a walking tour. A 24-hour adult pass will cost you 395 NOK, or about £39.50, for children it’s 210 NOK or about £ 21.00.
The Oslo Pass gives you free entry to more than 30 museums and attractions, free travel on all public transport, free parking in municipal car parks, free entry to outdoor swimming pools, free walking tours, discounts on sightseeing, ski simulator, Tusenfryd Amusement Park, concert tickets, climbing, ski and bike rental, and special offers in restaurants, shops, entertainment and leisure venues.
You decide whether you want a card that is valid for 24, 48 or 72 hours. The card is valid from the time you validate it by writing the time and date in the space provided. From that moment, the pass is valid for the number of hours indicated on it. An Oslo Pass for children is available at a reduced rate. Along with the Oslo Pass, you will receive the Oslo Pass booklet, describing all the benefits for Oslo Pass holders.
Other Oslo tours:
Have you visited Norway? If you have any further questions about Oslo or Norway in general, just ask!
Prices are correct as of 5th March 2018.