A trip to Scandinavia must include visiting the capital of Norway – Oslo. Situated on the Southeastern coast of Norway, Oslo is a beautiful, clean and interesting city to explore in one day, whether during a stopover, road trip or cruise. Oslo may be Scandinavia’s oldest city, but it’s considered one of Northern Europe’s coolest metropolitan areas.

Filled with innovative spaces, world-class museums, a renowned dining scene and an incredible art culture, there are plenty of great things to do for all in this thriving city! Oslo is not only the capital, but it’s the largest city in Norway. What’s also awesome about visiting this city is that it’s one of the most walkable destinations in the world.

Oslo, Norway was the first destination I visited in Scandinavia during the summer of 2023. I traveled to Oslo with Caitlin of My Darling Passport and we spent two nights and one full day exploring this fascinating capital city.

In this article, discover the best things to do in Oslo, Norway in one day during the summer months.

**Please note that this blog post uses affiliate links meaning that if you make a purchase via my affiliate link, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only promote and talk about products and services that I have used and like. During my time in Oslo, Saga Hotel Oslo hosted me for two nights. This article is also in partnership with KOK, where I was hosted for a private sauna experience.

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Traveling to Visit Oslo:

Traveling to Oslo, Norway is accessible from anywhere in the world. The main airport to fly into is Oslo Airport Gardemoen. It’s located around 40 minutes from the city center. You can find affordable flights through Skyscanner.

The fastest and cheapest way to get from Oslo Airport to the city center is by taking the Flytoget airport express train. It takes around 20 minutes to get from the airport to the Oslo City Centre and costs around 22€. You can take Flytoget from the airport to Oslo Central Station, which is in the Langkaia area by the Opera House, as well as to the train station by the Nationaltheatret, which is near the Royal Palace and Aker Brygge, and also Skyøyen, which is near Frognerparken.

Numerous airport express busses and shuttles also take passengers from Gardemoen to the city center and towns in between. Uber doesn’t operate in Norway; instead, you can request taxis from a kiosk at the airport. If you open your Uber app, it can connect you with a taxi driver, but it isn’t always guaranteed.

When you visit Oslo, it’s best to get the Oslo Pass, which gives you free admission to 30 museums and attractions, as well as public transportation (tram, subway, bus and ferry). The Oslo Pass will also provide discounts on sightseeing, restaurants, entertainment venues, shops and more.

Please note that all public transportation in Oslo, Norway is included in one ticketing system. A great app to use to manage public transport tickets is Ruter, but you can also purchase physical tickets from the Oslo Visitor Centre, Ruter’s customer service center, and in Narvesen and 7-Eleven shops throughout the city.

If you plan to travel around Norway, you can purchase train tickets on Omio and flights through Skyscanner. I suggest renting a car for travelers planning to explore Norway’s more off-the-beaten-path. (You do not need an international driver’s license to rent a car in Norway.)

Where to Stay During 1 Night in Oslo:

The best place to stay in Oslo, Norway is Saga Hotel. It’s a Best Western Premier boutique design hotel in the charming Uranienborg neighborhood by the Royal Palace and Frogner Park.

Saga Hotel Oslo is located in a late 19^th-Century building that was restored and renovated in 2011. The traditional architecture and appearance remain on the outside and around the hotel.

There are 47 cozy, well-designed rooms and suites. We stayed in the Double Room with a double bed, minibar, 40-inch flat-screen TV, Nespresso coffee machine and more. The other rooms you could choose from at Saga Hotel Oslo are the Junior Suite, Double Room Superior, Single Room Superior and Single Room.

What is also nice about staying at Saga Hotel Oslo is that it boasts Bar Eilert, where you can enjoy everything from a warm cup of coffee to a fine glass of wine. It’s located on the side of the lobby and allows you to relax at the bar and the nearby lounge.

Every morning, Saga Hotel in Oslo has a buffet breakfast where you can enjoy freshly baked croissants, Danishes, homemade bread with different jams, delicious fruits, smoked salmon and more. Enjoying this buffet is the best way to start your day in Oslo, Norway!

Even though Saga Hotel is the perfect place to stay for one day and night in Oslo, we spent two nights there and it was perfect!

The Best Oslo Itinerary: What to See in One Day

From enjoying a beautiful summer day on the Oslofjord to visiting one of the many museums, there are plenty of memorable things to do in Oslo, Norway during the summer. The best way to see the city and its historic buildings and landmarks is through an Oslo walking tour.

Below are Oslo’s main attractions:

Enjoy a Relaxing Afternoon at a KOK Sauna: Fun Thing to do in Oslo in a Day

One of the best places to be on a beautiful summer morning or afternoon during one day in Oslo is to enjoy one of the floating sauna boats at KOK. With locations in Langkaia and Aker Brygge, KOK offers shared and private sauna experiences on the waters surrounding the city.

Caitlin and I enjoyed one of the private saunas at Langkaia, across from the Oslo Opera House. I recommend spending a little more to book a private sauna. It’s the best way to relax and make memories with friends!

If you book a KOK private sauna boat in Aker Brygge, you will experience views of the Medieval castle of Akershus Fortress.

For two hours, you can enjoy a private sauna boat for up to 10 people that either stays at the dock or goes out on the fjord. The best way to experience KOK is by jumping into the refreshing water, enjoying a swim and then warming up in the sauna afterward.

With a private sauna, you’ll also have access to a wireless stereo and a cold shower at the quay. Additionally, you’ll have a shared changing room that leads to the sauna. You must bring swimwear, two towels (one to dry off in and one to sit/lay on in the sauna), as well as water to stay hydrated.

In addition to the private and public saunas, you could also enjoy a KOKCRUISE, where you’ll have a skipper that slowly takes you out onto the fjord. During the sauna cruise, you will sail through the Oslo archipelago and you could ask the captain to stop so that you and your party could cool off in the freshwater before relaxing in the sauna. Cruises either leave from Aker Brygge or Langkaia.

Click here to see the pricing for the different sauna experiences with KOK.

Tour the Royal Palace: Must-See in Oslo

If you’re wondering what to see in Oslo in one day, you cannot miss out on visiting the royal residence in Slottsparken (Royal Park). Featuring a Neoclassical style, The Royal Palace has been one of Norway’s most important buildings since the early 19^th Century.

A prime time to visit the palace is during the summer months when it’s open to the public and you can enjoy the park. You could take guided tours from the end of June through mid-August. From early March through that time period, you could get tickets to see the palace on Ticketmaster.

It costs 175 NOK for adults over 18, 145 NOK for students and seniors, 125 NOK for children 6-18, and it’s free for young children five and under.

During a tour of the Oslo Royal Palace, you will learn about the royal family and see the elegant rooms like the Bird Room, where the king made his announcements; the Ballroom; the Banqueting Hall and more.

Visit the Oslo Opera House:

Unfortunately, the summer in Norway could bring a lot of rainy days, so if you’re wondering what to do in Oslo on a day trip with poor weather, then it’s best to visit the Oslo Opera House!

At the Oslo Opera House, you can enjoy a variety of performances, from the opera to the ballet to numerous concerts. Click here to check out the performances at the Opera House. You could also do a guided tour of the Oslo Opera House, which lasts 50 minutes.

The Oslo Opera House is situated along the Oslo Fjord, and it’s worth visiting during your one day in the city. You could do a tour in Norwegian, English and German, where you’ll see the backstage area, the Main Stage, and learn about the architecture, the opera and ballet, as well as what goes on behind the scenes before and during a show.

Daily tours are offered in English from Monday through Saturday at 1 pm and Sundays at 2 pm. It costs 130 NOK for adults and 75 NOK for children.

Savor the Best Food in Oslo:

Being a large international city with a prominent airport hub, Norway’s capital boasts a variety of great eateries ranging from Michelin-starred Nordic restaurants to Oslo street food stands.

Oslo also has a lot of fun bars and drink spots to make memories at. Below are the best food and drink venues to choose from during your Oslo 1 day itinerary during summer:

Hrimnir: One of the best places to enjoy lunch during your one day in Oslo is Hrimnir. It’s located at the bottom of Maridalsveien and offers a variety of selected ramen bowls that change per season. Ingredients also come from the fjords to the mountains.

Caitlin and I visited Hrimnir for lunch during our time in Oslo. I enjoyed the chicken shoyu paitan ramen that included koji confit chicken, black garlic fat, picked Jerusalem artichoke, egg, spring onion, goji berry crumble and handmade wheat noodles. Caitlin savored the spicy hazelnut tan tan men that came with handmade wheat noddles in a spicy hazelnut sauce with Jerusalem artichoke, fried cabbage, spring onion, crushed hazelnuts and chashu egg with mushroom.

Maaemo: To savor delicious Norwegian cuisine, you must visit Maaemo. Located by the Opera House, Maaemo is a Michelin-rated restaurant in a minimalist setting.

There’s a surprise menu that features crafted and memorable dishes that taste incredible. No matter what you choose, you will be amazed!

Hanami: Located in Aker Brygge, Hanami is a Japanese restaurant specializing in sushi, izakaya and robata grill dishes. Not only is each dish tasty, but they are also uniquely presented.

You could also enjoy a variety of craft cocktails at Hanami and there are views of the water from around the restaurant. It’s one of the best places to be during sunset.

Ekebergrestauranten: An excellent restaurant with eclectic European cuisine is Ekebergrestauranten. It’s situated along the Oslo fjord, where you could watch a boat or cruise ship sail by.

It’s a great place to celebrate a special occasion and one of the best places to enjoy a 1920s ambiance in Norway’s capital.

Olivia: A fantastic Italian eatery with locations in the Aker Brygge, Tjuvholmen, Hedgehaugsveien, Østabanehallen and Eger areas of Oslo, along with restaurants in the cities of Trondheim, Bergen, Stavanger, Lillestrøm, Bodø and Sandnes, Olivia feature dishes from the chef’s favorite cities in Italy.

At Olivia, you can enjoy a variety of antipasti, salads, artisan pizzas, pasta and risotto dishes, meats and seafood plates, along with fabulous desserts.

Vippa: This fabulous food hall across from Akershus Fortress has incredible grub stalls ranging from Norwegian seafood to Chinese food and Neapolitan pizzas to falafel. Vippa always has easy seats to find, but for groups of 20 or more, it’s best to make a reservation.

Vippa is a fun spot to enjoy a day with friends and family and you could sit indoors or outside on a nice day. There are murals to admire as well as live music to enjoy.

Amazonia by BAR: A great Latin restaurant in Oslo’s Aker Brygge area is Amazonia. It’s a fun spot for all to enjoy, where you’re surrounded by tropical plants with views of the fjord.

We visited Amazonia for dinner and savored the delicious mini salmon tacos with avocado, mango, coriander and salmon roe with a side of pimentos de padron (deep-fried green peppers). I had a pisco sour with my meal and Caitlin had a rosé.

HIMKOK: Situated in the heart of Oslo’s City Centre, HIMKOK is a speakeasy and institution that strives to embody Norwegian culture through crafted cocktails. Caitlin and I visited HIMKOK through a walk-in, but you can book a table for a minimum of eight people.

This swanky spot is the perfect way to spend an evening with friends, enjoy a romantic date night and simply enjoy spirits that are distilled on-site.

Walk around Vigeland Sculpture Park: Best Things to See in Oslo

A cool place to visit in Oslo in a day is Vigeland Sculpture Park (or Vigeland Park). Located in Frogner Park, this sculpture park and museum has more than 1,600 bronze, granite and cast iron sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. You can also admire 12,000 drawings and 400 woodwork pieces.

Vigeland Sculpture Park has free entry and is one of the top Oslo sightseeing attractions, with over a million visitors annually. What’s also wonderful about visiting this great place is that it’s open 24/7.

This fascinating spot is recognized as the world’s largest sculpture park. The top things to see at this sculpture park are the Angry Boy, which resembles an angry little boy and The Monolith, which showcases 121 humans climbing around and clinging to each other; every figure represents a different stage of life.

You can learn more about Gustav Vigeland and his works by visiting the Vigeland Museum. Located inside the museum is his old apartment, where he lived from 1924 to 1943.

The Vigeland Museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm. It costs 100 NOK for adults, 50 NOK for seniors, students and children and it’s free for children under seven years old.

Sail around the Oslo Fjord: Memorable Things to Do in Oslo

A lot of the main cities in Scandinavia boast an archipelago to explore. During a summer day in Oslo, a great thing to do is enjoy a fjord cruise with the ferry or a traditional wooden boat.

You can pick up the ferry boats from Rådhusbrygge in front of Oslo City Hall, which will take you to the islands of the inner fjord. In the summer, ferries run from early morning until late evening. During wintertime, there are only seven or eight departures per day. You can purchase ferry tickets on the Ruter app.

On a Fjordtours, you could enjoy a 3-hour cruise on a traditional wooden boat that passes through poetic islands, picturesque inlets and sheltered bays.

The boat will sail around the island of Hovedøya and Dyna Lighthouse. Additionally, you’ll sail around the Bygdøy Peninsula, which boasts the Maritime Museum that houses veteran ships; the Fram Museum, which holds a polar ship and the Gol Stave Church.

Different cruises sail the Oslo Fjord. Click here to book the perfect sailing cruise for you and your party during your day trip to Oslo!

Check out Akershus Fortress: An Oslo Must-See

You must tour the Akershus Fortress during your first visit to the Norwegian capital! It’s free entry with the Oslo Pass and it’s where you can learn more about Norway’s royal residence and Oslo’s rich history.

Opening in 1299 under King Håkon V, this Medieval castle was built to protect the royal residence for the city of Oslo. At the beginning of the 17^th Century, the Danish/Norwegian King Christian IV modernized the castle and rebuilt it in Renaissance style. In the 19^th Century, the castle was abandoned and was almost demolished until it was restored when Norway regained its independence in 1905.

During a tour, you could see the banquet halls, Royal Mausoleum, government reception rooms, the church and more.

The Akershus Castle is open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm and Sundays from 12 pm to 4 pm from May through August. You could also tour the fortress from September through April on only Saturdays and Sundays from 12 pm to 5 pm.

Akershus Fortress costs 100 NOK for adults over 18, 60 NOK for students and seniors, 40 NOK for children 6-18 years old and it’s free for children under six.

Treat Yourself to Retail Therapy on Karl Johan Shopping Street:

Another one of the best things to do during one day in Oslo, Norway is shopping. Karl Johans gate goes from Central Station Square to the Oslo Royal Palace. It’s also located across from the National Theatre, which you can also check out!

On this famous Norwegian shopping street, you could enjoy some retail therapy from tourist souvenir shops to local boutiques along with large department stores to high-end fashion designers. There’s everything from Zara to Louis Vuitton.

Explore a Norwegian Museum:

If you’re wondering what to do in Oslo, Norway with limited time, you can never go wrong with visiting a city museum! In fact, Oslo is known to have some of the best in Europe.

Below are the top museums to visit in Norway’s capital city:

Viking Ship Museum: Also known as the Museum of the Viking Age, this museum is currently closed for renovations; it will open back up in early 2026. It’s the best place to see the world’s top-preserved Viking ships.

Norsk Folkemuseum: Also known as the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, this Open-Air Museum is one of the best places to learn about Norway’s history from the 16^th Century until now. You could see traditional Norwegian folk outfits, art and more.

The Open-Air Museum is open from May through September every day from 10 am to 5 pm. It’s also open from October through April from Tuesday to Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm.

Admission fees are 180 NOK for adults 18 and older, 140 NOK for students and seniors and it’s free for Oslo Pass holders and children 17 and under. It’s situated on the Bygdøy Peninsula.

Kon-Tiki Museum: Norwegian adventurer and ethnographer, Thor Heyerdahl, became famous worldwide when he crossed the Pacific Ocean on the balsawood raft Kon-Tiki in 1947. You can learn about Heyerdahl’s expeditions at the Kon-Tiki Museum and see the original vessels.

The Kon-Tiki Museum is open every day from June through August from 9:30 am to 6 pm, September through April from 10 am to 5 pm and May from 10 am to 6 pm.  

Tickets cost 140 NOK for adults 18 and older, 50 NOK for children ages 6-17, 100 NOK for students and seniors and it’s free for Oslo Pass holders and children under six. It’s located on the Bygdøy Peninsula.

Holmenkollen Ski Museum: The 1952 Winter Olympics took place in Oslo, Norway. The Holmenkollen Ski Museum is where you can learn about the Olympics and experience the best views from the top of the iconic ski jump!

During a summer trip to Oslo, go zip lining at Holmenkollen and during a winter visit, enjoy cross-country skiing.

Oslo’s ski museum is open daily from 10 am to 4 pm. Prices vary based on the activities you choose, along with guided tours. Click here to learn more. (Please note that Holmenkollen is located a little outside the city center.)

The New National Museum: Recognized as the largest museum in the Nordics, the National Museum in Oslo is a great place to visit when you only have one day. It features paintings by Edvard Munch, including The Scream and Madonna. It’s located in Aker Brygge.

The National Museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm on Sundays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10 am to 8 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and it’s closed on Mondays. It costs 200 NOK for adults 18 and older, 110 Nok for seniors and students under 25 and it’s free for children 17 and under.

Make Memories at SALT in Oslo:

One of the most fun things to do during one day in Oslo in the summer is to enjoy a beautiful afternoon at SALT.

This fun cultural arena is a short walk from KOK in Langkaia and has everything from performance stages to saunas as well as indoor and outdoor food and drink vendors. Visiting SALT is a great way to enjoy a beautiful summer day in Oslo and the venue has something for all to enjoy.

When you book tickets to SALT Sauna, you can enjoy the sauna bar, cold pool, shower and changing rooms. With single tickets, you can join a public or private sauna session. SALT will also have DJs and events in the sauna on certain days.

For food and drinks, you can sip on a refreshing Norwegian cider from the Hardangerfjord region to local craft cocktails, and savor mouthwatering street food like Roman pizzas, tacos, veggie bites, bao buns and traditional Nordic cuisine, including Norwegian waffles.

In addition to the sauna and food vendors, you could enjoy concerts, local theater performances, stand-up comedy, movies and dance lessons at SALT. During our day in Oslo, a salsa dancing class was going on.

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I hope you all enjoyed discovering the best things to do in Oslo, Norway in one day. If you have any questions, please email me at info@browneyedflowerchild.com.

Basic Facts of Norway:

Currency: Norwegian Krone, Capital: Oslo, Time Zone: Central European Standard Time

*Anything could happen during your travels. Always make sure you are insured in case there are unforeseen circumstances such as lost luggage/theft, natural disasters, personal liabilities and more. Click here to get insured for your next trip.

In addition, a great and secure luggage storage to utilize during your summer Europe trip is Nannybag! It is easy to use; all you do is download the Nannybag app, type in the city that you will be visiting and when you plan to arrive and depart. At a small cost per luggage, Nannybag will list the stores, restaurants or hotels where you could drop your bag off at the city you are visiting.

Nannybag is also insured against theft, loss and breakage. It’s a convenient way to store your bags when you are traveling from one city to the next in Europe.

Shop my Oslo Look:

Click here to shop my Poshmark closet!