Sightseeing Places in Oslo, Norway

A sprawling city of green parks, austere landmarks and a seafaring history, Oslo has a unique culture that sets it apart from the rest of Europe. Here, a quick subway ride can whisk you from a museum of Viking ships to a forest that feels worlds away from urban life. Sculptures decorate a buzzing modern park, while an open-air museum offers a rare chance to step into Norwegian history. Whether you come for the culture or a simple escape, you can't escape Oslo's offbeat energy.

Historical Highlights

• The open-air Norwegian Folk Museum (norskfolkemuseum.no) is Norway's biggest and most impressive attempt to recreate the Norway of the past, with 140 buildings such as sod roof farmhouses, elevated storehouses called stabburs and an early 20th century petrol station. For Viking history, head to Vikingskipshuset (khm.uio.no) to view oak ships from the ninth century, used for expeditions as well as noble burials. Meanwhile, Akershus Fortress and Castle (forsvarsbygg.no) is a stone castle that's been standing since 1299, used sometimes as a royal home and other times as a military fortress.

Art and Culture

• Though it's hard to escape the contagious sense of culture Oslo possesses no matter where you go in the city, certain sightseeing spots are ideal for learning more. The National Gallery (nasjonalmuseet.no) is home to Norway's largest art collection, including Munch's "The Scream," Van Gogh's self-portrait and works by Rubens, Cezanne, Picasso and Matisse. Meanwhile, Det Kongelige Slott (kongehuset.no), the stately royal palace, offers guided tours in English from late June to mid-August and has a daily changing of the guards.

Outdoor Attractions

• Few cities can match Oslo for its seamless blending of cityscape and greenery. Surrounding the city, the Marka forest has hiking in summer and skiing in winter, and the brave can swim in the loch if they can handle the cold temperatures. Another option is Frogner Park in the city central, where jogging trails, badminton courts, a cafe and barbecue facilities entertain visitors when the sun comes out. It also hosts the country's largest rose collection, with 14,000 plants sprawled across the green landscape.

Where the Locals Go

• If you really want to get to know Oslo, two main sightseeing places give you a chance to brush shoulders with locals while you enjoy history, art and culture. The first is Stockfleths (stockfleths.as). Established in 1895, it's one of the city's first coffee shops and remains a bustling place to people-watch as you brave a cup or two of black coffee. Another must-see place the locals go is Vigeland Sculpture Park (vigeland.museum.no), home to 212 sculptures made from wrought iron, granite and bronze by Gustav Vigeland. An on-site museum provides background and context for Vigeland and his works, but part of the fun of being here is watching kids climb on the sculptures and enjoying the fresh air.