The Royal Palace is a great spot to start your trip in Olso. The Royal Palace is located at one end of Karl Johans gate, Oslo's major avenue, atop a rise known as the Bellevue. It is one of the most significant structures in the nation and a physical representation of Norwegian history since 1814. The palace was built as the home to King Charles III John who reigned over both Norway and Sweden. Interestingly enough, it’s still the current home to King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway! It is where the King presides over the Council of State, grants audiences, and holds official dinners. Foreign heads of state who visit Oslo stay at the Palace. Most of the members of the Royal Court have their workplace here.

The Royal Palace is quite unique in that you can practically walk up to it! This plush stucco-clad palace is couched in the Royal Palace Park. You can actually enjoy a guided tour of the well-known palace at specific times of the year, especially from the end of June until the middle of August, you can enjoy a tour of the grounds of the palace. If you’re just here to see the sights, then try to stop by at 13:30 for the changing of the guard.

Free to enter at any time of year, wandering around the famous Frogner Park is the next thing you should do in Olso. Frogner Park is a public park located in the West End borough of Frogner in Oslo, Norway. The park is historically part of Frogner Manor, and the manor house is located in the south of the park and houses the Oslo Museum. Both the park, the entire borough of Frogner as well as Frognerseteren derive their names from Frogner Manor.

This park is a joy for the installations by 20th-century sculptor Gustav Vigeland. In total, there are 212 sculptures made of granite and bronze from Iddefjord. Realist works by Vigeland sometimes feature strange subjects, such as a man battling with infants or a woman being ridden by a child using her slicked-back hair as reins. Like the Angry Boy (Sinnataggen), several of these pieces have become associated with Oslo. Between the eastern Main Gate and the Fountain, The Angry Boy is a part of the 100-meter-long ensemble known as The Bridge. A few hundred meters farther along the same axis is the Monolith, a raised 14.12-meter monument made up of 121 human figures. One enormous block of granite was carved into this piece alone over the course of 14 years.

If you want to see a more peaceful side of Oslo, you can take a walk along the Akerselva river. The Akerselva river starts at Maridalsvannet in Oslomarka and traverses the boroughs of Nordre Aker, Sagene, Grünerløkka, central Oslo, and Grønland, whereby it finally ends at Paulsenkaien and Oset in Bjørvika. The river is considered to be the border between the eastern and the western part of Oslo and is one of the most worth-visiting places in Olso.

A walk along the Akerselva river will take you through former factories that are now cafés and art galleries and through stunning natural areas inside the city. Most people begin from Maridalsvannet Lake, which is about 8 kilometers from the heart of Oslo. You can break up the two-hour walk by stopping at a few cafés along the way. Even if you are not a fan of walking, you can still enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the Akerselva river by cycling, or using an electric scooter. Electric scooters have become a thing in Olso lately, and you can find these scooters scattered throughout downtown Oslo. For renting an electric scooter, you only have to pay 10 kroner for the unlocking fee + 2 per minute. Just download the VOI app and follow the instructions.

There are a number of ways to get to Bygdøy, but taking a boat to this beautiful island is surely the best way since this is a great way to not only enjoy the beautiful view of Olso's harbor but also see the history of Norway. The Bygdøy island itself is also a wonderful place with some beautiful beaches to walk around and enjoy the scenery. However, back to the main topic - This island alone has no less than six museums to immerse yourself in Norway’s culture.

The Norwegian Museum of Cultural History is an open-air museum, and it is a must-do for a taste of rural Norwegian life. The highlight of the museum is a genuine medieval stave church from the town of Gol. Farmsteads from all across the valleys of Norway have been acquired and relocated here, including a mustard yellow 19th-century farmhouse from Stiklestad with a refurbished interior to show how a busy farming family would have lived during the 1950s.

The Viking Ship Museum is another great museum of Bygdøy. It is one of the city's most popular attractions where visitors get to see three genuine Viking ships excavated from the Oslofjord region: The Gokstad, Oseberg, and Tune ships. But as much as the ships play a starring role, the exhibits around the periphery take you on an eye-opening journey into Viking life. Besides, there are the Kon-Tiki museum, Fram museum, Norwegian maritime museum, etc. The museums in Bygdøy are a little spread out, so if you are walking, it could take 15-30 minutes to get between areas. The bus goes to all the areas, and all you have to do is take that between museums if you don’t feel like walking.

Oslo in winter is so magical, and the city gets even more beautiful during Christmas. If you’re visiting Oslo around Christmas time, you have to check out the city's Christmas markets! Norwegians are extra good at decorating for the holidays because it’s so dark in Norway in December, and Norwegian handicrafts and baked goods are ideal for filling up cute Christmas market stalls.

The biggest Christmas market in Oslo is the “Christmas in Winterland,”, which is right next to Karl Johan street, in front of the Royal Palace. This Christmas market is the most like the Christmas markets you’ll see around Europe at this time of year, with lots of little stalls selling handicrafts, sweets, and hot drinks. There’s a lot to do here, including a Ferris wheel, a merry-go-round, and ice skating at the ice rink Spikersuppa. Since it is located right in the center of the city, you can easily stop by the market while doing some Christmas shopping.

Another Christmas market that is loved by many is the one that is a little bit off the main street, at Youngstorget. This is an indoor market (good for those cold, rainy days in Oslo) in heated lavvu-style tents. Visiting this market, you will get a sense of Olso's wonderful traditional culture through shops selling traditional Norwegian products, like reindeer skins, woolen sweaters, hats, slippers, and Christmas decorations. There are tons of other markets around Olso during Christmas time, so make sure to check them out while you're there!

One of the best things about Oslo, and really about every Norwegian city, is that you can easily access stunning natural beauty from everywhere in the city by taking a short public transportation ride. Especially, when winter comes, the nature of this country turns into a breathtaking snow kingdom that is totally worth visiting. Therefore, besides visiting Olso's Christmas markets, exploring Olso's Nordmarka in Winter is also a great thing to do in this city.

Nordmarka is a large forest just outside Oslo. It is close to public car traffic and there are several hundred kilometers of gravel roads. A large part of these are plowed for snow during winter, so you can ride your gravel bike all through the winter! In fact, Winter cycling in Nordmarka has always been a famous activity that tourists love to do in Olso.

On your way to Nordmarka, you'll go through Hollmenkollen, which is actually the start of Nordmarka - Oslo’s main outdoor recreational area. Ski jumping in Hollmenkollen is also a great thing to do if you like a little bit of thrill. In addition to having one of the best views of Oslo, the Holmenkollen Ski Jump also houses a small ski jumping museum where you can learn more about the sport and the region.

TusenFryd Amusement Park is Norway's largest amusement park, and is truly heaven for both adult and young thrill seekers! TusenFryd Amusement Park is located in Vinterbro, which is around 20 kilometers south of Oslo, and opens from April to October. The Amusement Park is an excellent place for fun, or rather for a shake. It offers around 30 smaller and bigger rides, including various carousels and roller coasters that will meet the needs of both adults and kids.

The Speed Monster roller coaster must be one of the most famous among all the rides with its ups and downs. Another famous ride is the iconic Spin Spider. It is kind of a round swing, enormously huge, and it moves not only back and forward but also spins around. Another famous attraction is the so-called Space Shot that rapidly thrusts you into the sky—hence the name. The Amusement Park has separate sections for little kids—these are Barnas Fryd and Frydskogen. BadeFryd water park operates only in summer since the park closes during winter. It has a swimming pool, a river, and also a huge water ride. TusenFryd has a varying schedule of opening hours, so it's recommended to check the dates on its official website.

A trip to a city is not complete without getting to know the taste of that city. And if you want to look for a place to try out Olso's cuisine, check out the Mathallen Market. Mathallen is a massive food market that serves local and international specialties. It is modeled after other European food courts but with a modern Norwegian twist. With over 40 restaurants, shops, and bars, there’s sure to be something for everyone in the Mathallen Market. There are annual festivals held here and other great activities to take part in. So whether you’re looking to grab a coffee or a full hearty meal, Mathallen Market will be a blast!

The Mathallen Market is open every Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm and Sundays from 11 am to 6 pm. Unfortunately, Mondays the entire place is closed so you’ll have to look elsewhere for food. The first thing you’ll notice when arriving at Mathallen Market is the stalls from around the world! It’s almost overwhelming the flavors and dishes from Asia, Europe, and even South America to experience. But the traditional dishes here are also perfect for those who want to experience Olso through its cuisine. There is also a great spot called Hopyard which offers over 200 types of beer!

While wandering around Olso, you might be surprised to see some small huts floating along the Oslo Norway harbor. They are in fact, floating saunas! This is one of the most unique activities in Olso that you can experience, and of course, is one of the best things to do in the city. If you want to get on a floating sauna in the harbor of Olso, sign yourself up for KOK - the floating saunas in the harbor. KOK offers private or social sauna cruises. A cruise takes about two hours and stops here and there so you can take a dip in the water. The whole experience will cost 490 kr, and a normal session in the harbor is 200 kr.

Taking a sauna is healthy for the body and the soul, and is at the same time a very social thing to do. The basic idea is to overheat your body, and then jump in ice-cold water. Several rounds after each other. That way, you improve your blood circulation and train your immune system. Floating saunas in Olso let tourists experience the combo of sweating like a beast in a very civilized box and carefully monitored cold-swimming in a fjord. All with a great view of the city!