Oslo Itinerary: How to Spend 2 Days in the Norwegian Capital

Oslo is a peculiar city. Quirky, yes, but also peculiar. Some of its charms are immediately evident, whereas others will take a bit of time to realize. Nonetheless, I do think that Norway’s capital has a lot to offer and is well worth visiting; controversially, I think it offers just as much as Bergen.

Whether you’re visiting for a quick weekend trip or as part of a bigger Norway itinerary, Oslo has enough to keep you entertained for 2 days. You’ll find numerous great cafés, interesting architecture, and nature that few cities can compete with. The city is also home to some fantastic museums. 

I have visited Oslo multiple times and for differing periods of time. In addition to staying for a week, I’ve also made quick weekend trips here. Thanks to this, I have explored Oslo in more detail than even some locals. 

Based on those comprehensive experiences, I’ve put together what I think is the best Oslo itinerary on the internet. 2 days isn’t enough to see the whole city, but after following my tips, you’ll have a well-rounded trip and a taste of the Norwegian Capital. It will be very action-packed, but I am sure you’ll still have fun. 

How to Use This Itinerary

I’ve designed this itinerary to be flexible. You can follow it to the letter, but it’s also possible to freestyle and add your own things if you want. There are plenty of fun things to do in Oslo, and with just 2 days, it’s important that you prioritize experiences that mean the most to you. 

I don’t think there’s a best time to visit Oslo, as each time of the year offers benefits and drawbacks. Winter is cold, often with snow, and always with short daylight hours. So, you will need to readjust when you start your day if you visit at this time of the year. 

On the flip side, summer in Oslo has long daylight hours. You’re not restricted by daylight, and for that reason, you only need to consider opening times for museums and other attractions. 

Day 1

On your first day in Oslo, you’ll get a mixture of parks, cafés, and nature. To make things easier for you, I’ve split your day into 3 parts. 

Morning

Start your day off with some pastries, coffee, and sandwiches at Pascal Konditori. You will find a handful of these around the city, but we went to the one on Prinsens Gate. It’s centrally located, allowing you to easily get around the Norwegian capital afterward. 

The coffee here is really good, and I also recommend the spandauer. Pascal has some nice sandwiches, too; I can vouch for the tuna one, in particular. 

After having some food, head down to the waterfront. Make a quick stop at the iconic Oslo Opera House, which is one of the coolest modern buildings in Scandinavia. You can walk to its rooftop for a free view over Oslo and toward the Oslofjord. 

From the Oslo Opera House, it’s easy to reach Akershus Festning. This fortress is still in use today, but you can wander around much of its grounds for free. You will be able to see Aker Brygge and the city hall from its lookout spot. I suggest spending around an hour here.

Afternoon

Before continuing your adventure, have lunch at Lofoten Fiskerestaurant. This seafood restaurant on Aker Brygge is one of my favorite places to get food in Oslo, and the fish soup is great. Though a bit more upscale, it still feels relatively relaxed. You can book a table on the website (select “Bestill Bord” in the menu). 

I suggest spending much of the afternoon out on the Oslofjord and exploring the city’s nearby islands. If you want to do this yourself, you can take the ferry. Buy the same ticket that you would for the bus or tram in the Ruter app, which is available on iOS and Android. 

When my friend and I did this, we visited Hovedøya, Bleikøya, Langøyene, Nakkholmen, and Lindøya. Hovedøya, just 10 minutes from Aker Brygge, is the closest island to Oslo; if you’re short on time and want to do other things, make this one a priority. If you have more time, Bleikøya and Nakkholmen are also cool, in particular.

If you’re visiting Oslo in the winter, I suggest island-hopping earlier in the day due to limited daylight hours. Besides doing it yourself, you can take an island-hopping guided tour. 

Much of your island-hopping will be determined by the ferry schedule. This will differ depending on the time of the year you visit and on which day you do it. You can check ferry departures on this page.  

Evening

In the evening, you can set out on the Oslofjord on your way to dinner. For example, we went to a great restaurant in Nesoddtangen called Signalen Sjøbad. Besides the great pizza (and excellent tiramisú), we had lovely views of the Oslofjord. 

To get here, you’ll need to take the ferry from Aker Brygge. The boat ride takes around 25 minutes, and the journey has excellent views of the islands and other parts of Oslo. It can get quite windy, but I recommend spending at least one leg of the journey on the deck and taking in your surroundings. 

You will need a 2-zone ticket, which is slightly more expensive than the ordinary public transport pass. You can buy your tickets in the Ruter app. If you’re going to visit this restaurant, be sure to book a table in advance; it was very busy when we came here. You can do so on the website. 

Alternatively, you can take an evening Oslofjord tour; some tours include food, meaning you get the best of both worlds. For example, the one below offers a 3-course meal. 

Day 2 

For your second day in Oslo, I suggest spending the bulk of your time in Grünerløkka. This, in my opinion, is the Norwegian capital’s coolest neighborhood. You’ll also spend some time in Downtown Oslo and other parts of the city. 

Morning

If you don’t have breakfast included in your hotel, visit Frognerparken before getting something to eat. This is Oslo’s best park, and it features several sculptures by the iconic Norwegian artist Gustav Vigeland. I’ve been to this park in all seasons, and it always looks different depending on when you visit. If you do have breakfast included at your hotel, have some food before making your way here. 

If you haven’t yet had breakfast or coffee, get the tram over to Grünerløkka. Start with some coffee at Tim Wendelboe. It’s Oslo’s most famous coffee house, and watching the baristas make everything feels like seeing an artist create something. There’s often a queue here, so be prepared to wait. 

W.B. Samson has various bakeries throughout the city, but I still think it’s pretty good and worth a quick stop. You’ll find one of them just 8 minutes away from Tim Wendelboe on foot. 

If you’re willing to wait until 11 a.m., Haralds Vaffel is worth going to for some food. You’ll find typical Norwegian waffles here, and it’s a great place to try the polarizing brunost (brown cheese). I personally love it, but my girlfriend and mom do not share the same opinion. 

Afternoon

Spend the bulk of your afternoon walking around Grünerløkka and checking out its various stores. The district also has a number of nice parks, and close to here, you’ll find my top suggestion for lunch. Mathallen is a decent-sized food hall with plenty of places to eat. 

Mathallen has large communal benches where you can sit down to eat. The building itself is also pretty cool. If you want to learn more about the many flavors of Oslo, you can alternatively take a food tasting and walking tour. 

Head back into Downtown Oslo via the Askerselva River. This is the most scenic walk in Downtown Oslo that doesn’t involve hiking, in my opinion. You can alternatively take the tram back into town. 

Before leaving Oslo, make some time for Ekebergparken. Getting here by tram is the easiest option. Besides the sculptures, you’ll get another great view of Oslo and its downtown area. 

Depending on how much time you have before your flight, I recommend visiting the Munch Museum—which isn’t too far away—thereafter. It’s open until 9 p.m. on Saturday and 6 p.m. on Sunday. This large museum is a great place to spend a few hours, and it’ll give you an incredibly detailed overview of Edvard Munch’s life. You can buy tickets online.

From Oslo, the airport is just under 25 minutes away. Depending on when your flight leaves, make the journey back in good time. 

How to Get the Most Out of a Short Weekend in Oslo

Besides giving you a useful itinerary to follow, I also felt it was a good idea to give you two extra tips for making the most out of a short weekend in Oslo. 

Stay in Downtown Oslo

While Oslo is compact, getting around by public transport will add up and eat away at your time in the city. For this reason, I suggest staying as centrally as possible. While more expensive, you will find plenty of hotels in this part of town, many of which are of high quality. 

I have stayed in countless hotels throughout Oslo; Clarion Hotel Oslo (Booking.com / Hotels.com / Expedia) is my one of my top recommendations. It’s right next to the Oslo Opera House and has a fantastic breakfast. It also had fish oil supplementation, which is great in the winter when vitamin D from the sun is nonexistent. The beds are also comfortable. 

Another fantastic hotel in Oslo is Revier  (Booking.com / Hotels.com / Expedia). We actually stayed here as a last-minute choice when our Airbnb rental was canceled after we had landed. Thankfully, we found this hotel—which is in a quiet part of the city center. The staff were very helpful and friendly, and it also had blackout curtains (trust me, this is a must for a summer trip to Oslo). The rooms were also spacious, with free umbrellas, too. 

As a side note, I’ve written a comprehensive guide on where you should consider staying in the Norwegian capital. It includes some of my favorite hotels, along with a comprehensive breakdown of each neighborhood (and the types of travelers that’ll enjoy staying in each of them).

Get a Public Transport Pass

Oslo is very walkable, but if you only have 2 days, you’ll be trying to cover as much of the city as possible. When traveling from east to west (and vice versa), public transport is more effective. Moreover, you’ll need a public transport pass if you plan to use the ferry. 

You can buy tickets in the Ruter app. I recommend buying a public transport zone 1 ticket and then a separate single ticket if you then plan to visit the restaurant in Nesoddtangen. 24-hour and 7-day tickets are available for periodized public transport passes, but annoyingly, you can’t buy a 48-hour pass.

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