How we spent one day in Oslo [2024]
We ended up in Oslo as a happy(ish) accident. We were on our way to Tromsø, in the Arctic Circle, from Luton Airport in London. But due to bad weather up in the north of Norway, we were unable to land. After two failed and very bumpy attempts, our pilot announced that we would be diverting to Oslo to await further information.
And so, we got to spend an unexpected day and night in Norway’s capital city. Which was enough time to fit in some of the main sights. This was one ‘one night in Oslo’ travel itinerary.
How to get to Oslo
We obviously hadn’t planned our trip to Oslo. But you can fly to Oslo Airport regularly from all London airports, and most major airports across the UK. As it’s only two hours away, you can fly fairly cheaply with budget airlines or splash out on higher end options.
Getting into Oslo Sentrum from the airport
Making the most of an annoying situation we decided to drop our luggage in a storage locker in Oslo, and leave the hotel arrangements in the hands of Wizz Airlines.
Getting into the centre of Oslo from the airport is easy, and not too expensive. We caught the train (not the Fly 1 or Fly 2 airport shuttle which is twice as expensive!) from Oslo Airport to Oslo S, the central train station.
We booked this ticket from a desk rather than the machines which is how we found out that getting the train rather than the airport shuttle is a much cheaper option. And it takes about the same amount of time. We were on the train for two stops which took 23 minutes. And when it was time to head to our airport hotel, we took the same route back.
Luggage lockers in Oslo
When we arrived at Oslo S station, we used the bag drop for our large suitcase. This is easy to find downstairs in the station, close to the main exit. A medium-sized locker which was big enough to fit our large hold luggage cost 80 NOK (about £6.50) for a day. There were hundreds of lockers available, including larger and smaller sizes. And while it’s self service, there are staff around to help out if you need it.
You can also leave your luggage in lockers at Oslo Airport, and with other private locker companies. However, we found using the ones in Oslo S to be more convenient.
Things to do in Oslo
As a capital city, there’s a lot to see and do in Oslo. But since we only had a few hours to properly explore the city, we decided to fit in the main sights that we could easily walk to. This meant we didn’t have time to fit in any of the museums or galleries. But we still got to see some of the best attractions in the city.
See the fjord and iconic buildings
Leaving Oslo S brings you out onto Oslo Fjord by the Opera House. So we walked around the fjord, past the iconic opera building and the floating saunas.
Akershus Fortress
Around sunset we walked to Akershus Fortress, which dates back to 1299. It is open until 9pm daily, and it was dark when we arrived. But we were still able to walk around the outside of the church and castle and view the city’s harbour from the grounds.
During summer you can pay for guided tours of the fortress, and you can enter the castle itself for an entry fee.
If we had more time in Oslo I’d have love to go to:
The Munch museum (Munchmuseet)
One of the floating saunas
Frogner Park
The Nobel Peace Centre (which we did get to see from the outside)
The National Museum
Where to eat and drink in Oslo
We arrived in Oslo before 3pm, but we’d not yet had lunch. So one of our first stops was to find food… And research where to eat for dinner. This was where we ate and drank in Oslo.
For lunch: Mexican at El Camino
This Mexican diner in the centre of Oslo, not far from the Opera House, was an untraditional first taste of Norwegian food. But it was delicious… And also introduced us to how expensive this holiday was about to be!
We had one taco each, a portion of guac and chips (which was big), and two 33cl Coronas each which came to about £50. But everything we ate at El Camino was tasty and served quickly, and the restaurant itself had a laid-back, modern vibe.
For dinner: Sushi at Hanami
For dinner, we booked a table at Hanami, a waterfront Japanese restaurant in the Akre Brygge neighbourhood. We walked here from the centre to explore a bit more of the city. The area is full of nice bars and restaurants that we’d have loved to try if we had more time.
At Hanami, everything felt high end. From the wait staff that took our coats and consistently filled our water glasses, to the classy, well-dressed Scandinavian clientele. We ordered… maybe too much! From sushi to traditional Japanese small plates with a Scandi twist, everything we tried here was delicious.
Don’t miss the crispy artichokes, roasted sweet potatoes, and California maki. And if you’re drinking, try the Yuzu Sake Sour.
For cosy drinks: Dubliners Whiskey Bar
Okay, going to another country and heading straight for an Irish bar does seem like a classically British thing to do. But that’s really not our vibe! This one (which I actually didn’t realise was an Irish pub and not a high-end whiskey bar until we were seated) is so cute, we were enticed by how cosy and welcoming it looked.
We stumbled across Dubliners on our walk from Akershus Fortress to Aker Brygge. They have a huge range of whiskeys, as well as wines and beer and cider on tap. And while sitting in an Irish whiskey bar, in Norway, drinking an English cider did seem faintly lacking in local culture, it was still a great spot.
The bottles hanging from the ceiling, the wood-panelled walls, and the warming fire all give this bar a homely atmosphere that is a far cry from your typical Irish pub in Europe!
Learn more about our adventures in Norway here.