Pure Travel
  • About
  • Destination Inspiration
  • Tips & Advice
  • Guide
  • Travel Writing
  • Cookie Policy (UK)
  • Conservation
  • Privacy
  • Travel Writing Competition 2025
  • Reviews
  • Travel Resources
  • T&C
  • Contact Us
  • Conservation
  • Privacy
  • Travel Writing Competition 2025
  • Reviews
  • Travel Resources
  • T&C
  • Contact Us
Pure Travel
Pure Travel
  • About
  • Destination Inspiration
  • Tips & Advice
  • Guide
  • Travel Writing
  • Cookie Policy (UK)
  • Destination Inspiration

10 FREE Things to do in Oslo, Norway: World’s Most Expensive City

  • October 23, 2013
  • Jules

Compact, eclectic and lively capital city? Check! Stunning woodlands and pristine fjords? Check! The most expensive city on the planet? Check!

Yet fear not as there are plenty of FREE things to do in Oslo, whatever the weather and whatever your budget;

Vigeland Sculpture Park – Oslo’s Vigelandsparken is both free to explore and one of the most popular attractions in Norway, with over one million annual visitors. This unique park features over 200 works from Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland (1869-1943) in cast iron, granite and bronze. Vigeland himself designed the layout and content of the park which is studded with lavish fountains alongside tree lined lawns.

Oslo City Museum – Don’t miss this fascinating little museum which is located in the Vigeland Park (see above) within Frogner Manor. The museum contains exhibits spanning 1,000 years of Norway’s cultural history along with one of the biggest collection of paintings in the country. Of particular interest is the main building of the Frogner Hovedgård which retains its faithful interior, which dates from 1750-1900 and is only open to the public between July and August. The Oslo City Museum is free to all visitors.

National Gallery – Oslo’s Nasjonalmuseet features exhibits of Norwegian art, dating from the romantic period in addition to a few pieces from international artists. The main draw right now is the Munch 150 exhibit which features the country’s most famous artist, Edvard Munch of ‘The Scream’ fame. Don’t miss the upcoming exhibitions; “Scream” through the magnifier and ‘The Dance of Life’. The National Gallery has free entry every Sunday.

Botanical Gardens – Take a moment and chill out in Oslo’s Botanical Gardens which is largely set aside as an arboretum – dedicated to trees. Known in Norwegian as the ‘Botanisk Hage’, this is a great spot to chill out and gain inspiration from its beauty. The Arboretum area contains around 1,800 different plants covering a large varied collection of both shrubs and trees, all displayed in order of plant family. Don’t miss the exquisite Scent Garden and the ornate Palm House which dates back to 1868. The stunning Victoria House contains various species of exotic plants from all over the world. Open Tuesday-Sunday, the Botanical Gardens are free to enter.

Akershus Castle and Fortress – Situated in Oslo’s city center beside the Oslo Fjord, is the magnificent Akershus Castle and Fortress, which dates back to 1299. Norway’s King Håkon V commissioned the build which has gone through man changes over the years, most notably when it was remodelled as a Renaissance castle by King Christian IV (1588-1648). Sadly the castle fell into disrepair for two hundred years, prior to renovation in 1899. The castle and fortress are free to explore, and catch the annual programme of festivals and events which are held within the grounds. Don’t miss the centuries-old ‘Changing of the Guards’ spectacle which takes place each day at 1.30 pm.

City Walks – One of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to get your bearing around Oslo is to take a city walk. And the bonus is that the city boasts a few impressive vantage points! Wander the grounds of the historic Akershus Fortress (mentioned above) which combines history with stunning panoramic views over the harbour below. Head out to the scenic trail around Ekeberg and consider Frognerseteren, which is a little further afield but keen walkers are amply rewarded with the spectacular fauna and fauna of the lush Oslomarka Forest, which contains dozens of hiking paths of all lengths. If you prefer the sights of the city, then you can opt to walk the Akerselva River trail which takes in its pretty waterfalls, traditional bridges and old mills. And finally, it’s said that the Old Aker Church on Telthusbakken hill inspired Edvard Munch – a must for all budding artists!

National Museum of Contemporary Art – In total there are six museums that offer free entry each Sunday, including the National Gallery (mentioned above) and the National Museum of Contemporary Art which is located on Oslo’s Bankplassen 4. Opened in 1990, the museum hosts both temporary and permanent exhibitions. The permanent displays include the fascinating ‘The Garbage Man’ from Ilya Kabakov, Per Inge Bjørlo’s ‘Inner Room V’ and Richard Serra’s ‘The sculpture Shaft.  In total there are some 5,000 works housed within the museum by both international and Norwegian artists, with pieces dating back to 1945. The exhibitions include sculptures, paintings, drawings, photography and installations.

Other Free Oslo Museums – The other participating museums with free admission on Sundays includes the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, the Museum of Architecture, the Historical Museum and the Stenersen Museum, which also has free entry each Tuesday.

Ekebergparken Sculpture Park – One thing Oslo does particularly well is parks: vast sprawling city parks, and the Ekebergparken is a fine example. Not only does this park offer fine sculptures and a vast green national heritage park for its people, it also offers superb views over the rolling hills. Spanning 63 acres, this park is about the same size as the Vigeland Sculpture Park (mentioned above) and contains many sculptures well-known international artists. Don’t miss the traditional sculptures of Rodin and Renoir within the Villa Gardens. And make your own mind up about ‘The Dance’ installation by George Cutt’s which is über modern! Ekebergparken is free to the explore 24 hours a day.

Markets and Festivals – Hang with the local at one of Oslo’s city markets, such as the Vestkanttorvet Market which sells pre-loved items and antiques. The Sunday flea market at Birkelund is great for browsing and picking up unique pieces. The highlight has to be the traditional Christmas markets, where authentic Norwegian food, drink and locally made handicrafts are sold. The biggest is undoubtedly the market at City Hall’s Rådhusplassen.

Oslo also has a packed annual calendar of festivals and events. Don’t miss the National Music Day each June when the city comes alive with music spanning every genre. The multicultural Mela Festival which is held each August is a must-experience with its exhibitions, film previews and world music. And each 17 May is always great fun, as locals take to the streets to celebrate Norway’s national day, where you can expect city parades, vibrant fireworks and much flag waving!

Share
Tweet
Related Topics
  • Ekebergparken Sculpture Park
  • Europe
  • Free Oslo Museums
  • free things to do in Oslo
  • Northern Europe
  • Norway
  • Oslo
  • Oslo Christmas markets
  • Oslo city guide
  • Oslo festivals
  • Oslo travel guide
  • things to do in Norway
  • Travel Top 10
  • Vigeland Sculpture Park
  • world's most expensive city
Jules

Previous Article
  • Destination Inspiration

Top 10 Amazing Things to do in Laos

  • October 22, 2013
  • Jules
View Post
Next Article
  • Travel Resources

European Holiday Hot Spots

  • October 23, 2013
  • Jules
View Post
You May Also Like
Las Vegas sign
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration

Elopement or Honeymoon? Why Las Vegas Is the Perfect Couples’ Destination

  • Jules
  • May 22, 2025
Waikiki
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration

Planning Your Next Break: What to Look For

  • Jules
  • May 20, 2025
Multi generational family on a beach
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration

Cocoa Beach for Every Generation: A Family Travel Guide That Grows with You

  • Jules
  • May 20, 2025
Bourgainvillea on house in Greece
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration

Golden Visa in Greece – A Comprehensive Guide for 2025 from Greca House

  • Jules
  • May 15, 2025
Thailand's Islands longtail boats
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration

Why Thailand’s Islands Are the New Frontier for Luxury Travel

  • Jules
  • May 15, 2025
Amsterdam
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration

Tips for Memorable Urban Adventures

  • Jules
  • May 13, 2025
Must see vienna
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration

A Weekend in Vienna: Must-See Spots & Hidden Gems

  • Robert
  • May 13, 2025
The Best Destinations for Independent Travelers
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration
  • Tips & Advice

Solo Summer Adventures: The Best Destinations for Independent Travelers

  • TotalSEO
  • May 12, 2025
Pure Travel
  • About
  • Destination Inspiration
  • Tips & Advice
  • Guide
  • Travel Writing
  • Cookie Policy (UK)
A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Pure Travel
Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}