things-to-do
Free things to do in Oslo
The Norwegian capital has a reputation for high prices, but many of its best experiences cost nothing.
How we reported this
Oslo is often described as an expensive city, and for restaurants and nightlife that reputation is fair. Yet a surprising share of what makes the capital worth visiting is free, from world-class outdoor art to forest trails that begin at the end of a metro line. Newcomers on a budget can fill several days without spending a krone on admission.
Frogner Park and the Vigeland installation
The most famous free attraction is the open-air sculpture park within Frogner Park, where more than two hundred bronze and granite figures by Gustav Vigeland line a long central axis. The park is open around the clock, all year, and doubles as a favourite spot for locals to picnic, jog and sunbathe when the weather allows.
Waterfront walks
The harbour promenade stretches for several kilometres along the fjord, linking the Akershus fortress, the city hall quays, the Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen districts and the newer Bjørvika waterfront. The walk past the Opera House, whose sloping roof you are free to climb for a view over the fjord, is one of the city's signature experiences and costs nothing.
Forests and islands
Oslo is ringed by the Marka forest, and trails at places such as Sognsvann, a lake reached directly by metro, are open to everyone. In summer the public ferries to the fjord islands are inexpensive rather than free, but simply swimming and walking once you arrive costs nothing. The right to roam, a long-standing Norwegian principle, means the outdoors is genuinely open to all.
Culture without a ticket
Several public spaces reward a visit on their own. The Deichman library in Bjørvika is free to enter and use, the Akershus fortress grounds are open to walk through, and many galleries hold free-entry days or open public areas. Checking a current listings source before you go will turn up seasonal markets, outdoor concerts and festivals that add to the free calendar throughout the year. Because so much of the city's appeal is outdoors and public, even a wet day can be spent well without spending, moving between the library, the covered central arcades and the fortress grounds until the weather clears.