10 Things to Do in Oslo on a Small Budget

The Oslo Pass provides you with attractive discounts on the city’s amusement and sightseeing spots, such as the Tusenfryd Amusement Park, as well as special offers at shops and restaurants. The pass also grants you free entry to around 30 of Oslo’s museums and attractions, including Holmenkollen Ski Museum & Tower, Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, and The Viking Ship Museum. Single-day passes are available for adults and kids under 15 years. Pick up yours at the Oslo Visitor Center at the Østbanehallen, by the Oslo central station.

Bicycles are one of the most popular options for getting around Oslo. As a visitor, you can partake in Oslo’s city bike scheme, referred to as the Oslo City Bike or Oslo Bysykkel. It’s a result of a collaboration between the city and Clear Channel Norway AS, an urban sharing software platform. You can download their app to start subscribing, with day passes available. It shows you hundreds of station maps around the city where you can unlock a bike and start riding.

You can visit the Royal House of Norway in Oslo during the summer months (around June to mid-August). Guided tours will lead you through the palace and give you a glimpse into the regal quarters of King Harald V and Queen Sonja. The highlight of the visit is the changing of the guards, which usually takes place after lunch time, at around 1.30pm. The palace and its beautiful park grounds are free to visit and can be very pleasant at sunset.

The roof of the Oslo Opera House is one to behold – and walk on. While you can watch the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet perform inside during scheduled shows, the snow-white roof attracts more visitors with its cool contemporary design. The roof seemingly slopes down into the calm waters of Oslo Harbour. Afternoons are enjoyable here for the views, and you can even expect free concerts or live cultural performances taking place here throughout the summer months.

Oslo has a great collection of feature-filled urban parks. Among these are the vast Frogner Park, with its Vigeland sculpture installations, and Ekeberg Park in the lush namesake neighborhood southeast of Downtown Oslo. The Vigeland park inside Frogner features a huge collection of open-air granite and bronze installations around fountains and bridges, which were designed by the late Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland. Ekeberg Park, on the other hand, features wooded areas with nature trails lined with beautiful sculptures. Both parks are free to visit.

Established in 1814, Botaniske hage is the botanic garden of the University of Norway in Oslo and the country’s oldest. You can find these vast and beautiful arboretum grounds in the neighborhood of Tøyen, right in the heart of the city. It retains much of its classical charm, with beautiful paths that lead you through well-manicured botanic collections and the 2 main greenhouses. The Palm House and The Victoria House both date back to the 19th century, housing exotic plants collected from around the globe.

Oslo’s street markets are a paradise for shoppers, offering affordable prices and a good mix between fresh local produce and one-off treasure finds. Most open on specific days of the week (particularly over the weekends), and there are some markets that specific to certain season. Various neighborhood flea markets, such as Vestkanttorvet, Krakabøla, Birkelunden, and Blå pop up in the spring months of April and May and the autumn months of September and October, offering interesting bargains ranging from fashion items to vintage homewares and art pieces.

As some of the quaintest districts in Oslo, Damstredet and Telthusbakken offer pleasant walks along a series of narrow, undulating, cobblestoned streets. They are mostly lined with quirky 18th-century wooden houses that form picturesque rows with each of their different pastel-colored walls. A trip to these neighborhoods, just on the border of Oslo, offers you an escape from the more modern scenes of downtown. To reach Damstredet, you can start off north from the Akersgata main street. Neighboring Telthusbakken is just a little further.

Summer in Norway is a time for festivities, and the calendar is particularly packed in the capital. Oslo’s summer festivals include everything from classical music and opera to rock, jazz and gospel. These events are held in the city’s collection of top-notch venues, each usually with a roster that’s filled by homegrown and international talents. Music festivals such as the Norwegian Wood Rock Festival, Øya Festival, and Oslo Jazz Festival require tickets. However, National Music Day in June, and Mela at the city hall and The Oslo Philharmonic outdoor concert in August, are free.