2 Day Oslo Itinerary – How to Spend 2 Days in Oslo (2024 Guide)

Looking for the perfect 2 day Oslo itinerary? Then you’ve come to the right place! I’ve made the perfect 2 day guide for you to have the perfect 2024 trip in Oslo.

Oslo is a fabulous city that many travellers have on their bucket list – particularly around Christmas time. The city really comes to life in November as it gears up for the Christmas season and I highly recommend booking your trip for this period.

This 2 day itinerary will suit you all year round but you should adapt it to add in some Christmas activities such as visiting the Jul Winterland Markets if you’re there while they are on.

Without further introduction…let’s get started!

The Perfect 2 Day Oslo Itinerary

Like all of my itineraries, I base my assumption on having full days in the city that you’re looking at visiting. Travelling by plane (particularly when on a tight budget) restricts your freedom of choosing when you might arrive or leave a destination, which is often unavoidable.

You may need to adjust this itinerary slightly to fit around your travel plans but with an early morning arrival and late night departure, this guide will be perfect for planning your activities.

Don’t have time to read the full article? Here’s a condensed 2 day Oslo itinerary!

Day 1	Day 2
Walking Tour Oslo City Library The Norweigan Opera and Ballet House Akershus Fortress Oslo City Hall Aker Brygge Karl Johans Gate The Royal Palace National Theatre	Fjord Boat Tour National Museum Vigeland Sculpture Park Holmenkollbakken Ski Museum and Jump Barcode Street Food

Day 1

As with all my travel guides, I recommend starting a trip with a hearty breakfast before setting off on a guided walking tour of the city.

Guided tours allow you to gain some insight into the city’s history, culture and top sights in the city you’ve just arrived in. Finding a free one is always a bonus, allowing you to tip your guide however much you see fit.

I used: Free Tour Oslo when I was in the city at the end of 2023, and while it wasn’t overly loaded with facts and information, it was interesting and covered a good section of the city.

After finishing up on the tour, it’s best to see some of the main talking points up close and get a feel for them yourself. Our guide raved about the Oslo City Library so heading there next was a top priority.

The library has been named the best in the world in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. The modern vibe and architecture bring a whole new atmosphere that I’ve never experienced in a library before. There are quiet study spaces, shops, cafes and of course, walls upon walls of books.

Spending some time walking around the library is a relaxing activity and one that will keep the chill off you, even for just a little while.

While on your city tour, The Norwegian Opera & Ballet House was likely pointed out to you as being one of Oslo’s favourite architectural masterpieces. It’s hard to miss as it’s right beside the library. Designed to look like a glacier, the building doubles as a rooftop viewing point from which you can see right across the city and beyond into its hills.

The side of the building is sloped with stairs allowing you to climb to the top and gain some amazing panoramic views. Should the outside convince you to take a stroll within, then guided tours of the building are available which you can book here.

Akershus Fortress was also a likely stop on your tour, but you likely didn’t get much time to explore it. You should take some time to wander around the site – especially since it is free. You can get some great views across the water to the newer district of Oslo and immerse yourself in the history of the city.

Many tours will likely also take you by the City Hall, but a walk past it does not do it justice, you should stop and take some time to walk around the grand building. You’ll be subject to a security check on your way in, so be sure that you’re prepared.

The City Hall is known for being the location of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize every year – awarded to key thinkers in peace promotion. Its stunning murals and architecture make it easy to see why they chose the location.

Just down from the City Hall you’ll find Aker Brygge which hosts many restaurants and cafes which are great for late lunch stops. However, if you’re anything like me, an on-the-go sandwich maximises exploration time.

After some sightseeing, it might do you well to change your focus slightly and hit up Karl Johans Gate – Oslo’s main street for shopping and coffee-grabbing. Spend a half hour or so here picking up some souvenirs of your trip before getting ready to tackle some more sightseeing.

The late afternoon should be spent walking to the Royal Palace to admire the grand building and gardens and talk with the friendly guards. While you can stop earlier in the day to catch the changing of the guard ceremony, I honestly wouldn’t recommend it. While it was interesting to see how different militaries operate, I wasn’t overly impressed with the ceremony and found it rather mundane compared to others I’ve seen across Europe.

On your way back down the walkway, make an effort to stop at the National Theatre to take a few snaps. Our guide informed us that unfortunately, all of the plays and musicals were being performed exclusively in Norweigan during our stay, but do check in case something has changed!

Finding somewhere for your evening meal shouldn’t be too hard in Oslo with streets practically coming down with restaurants and bars. For your first night, I’d highly recommend getting some tacos…yes tacos!

Tacos are one of the most popular dishes in Oslo, linked to the oil drilling industry in which thousands of Mexican labourers came to the city for work, bringing their favourite dish with them.

Oslo is littered with taco places and those that aren’t exclusively Mexican will still likely have them on the menu. I’d recommend stopping by a Los Tacos, should you see one – their tacos are the best. And if you find yourself in Oslo on a Friday, then even better! Fridays are considered “national” taco days!

End your evening with a leisurely walk along the waterfront and enjoy the wonderful pink sunset.

Day 2

Getting up bright and early will maximise your second day in the city, there are plenty of great breakfast spots for a relaxed, cooked meal or you can easily stop by and grab a quick bite at a 7Eleven or a Kiwi.

My first recommended activity of the day was my favourite thing that I did in Oslo – a fjord boat cruise! The Oslo Fjord is just incredible and a great stop for any geography/geology lover!

The boat cruise I opted for left at 10 am (sharp!) and lasted for two hours. It was the perfect mix of peaceful and informative and I was so impressed with the staff onboard.

With a fully equipped bar and snack stop, the tour could not have been more luxurious. I highly recommend opting for Brim Explorer if you decide to take a boat tour along the fjords.

The fjords are so peaceful and a tour gives you a good opportunity to relax your legs but still do some sightseeing.

After disembarking from your tour, I recommend that you head straight to the National Museum, to see some of Oslo’s finest art pieces.

The National Museum is so much bigger than it looks from the outside (and it looks huge!), you can spend hours on end in the museum admiring all different art styles, but on average, most people stay around 2-3.

The museum has a great mix of paintings, sculptures and fashion designs, with many other slightly ‘weird’ pieces – if you go you’ll see what I mean!

The museum is also a great stop for a spot of lunch, with many raving reviews of the cafe located in the courtyard.

It’ll not take you long in Oslo to realise that the city LOVES sculptures! There are a couple of different spots that I’d suggest to admire them. Depending on your timing you could venture out of the city to Vigeland Sculpture Park – infamous for its stomping, angry boy.

You can reach this on foot, but you’d be far quicker taking some public transport. Find the best transport routes to Vigeland Sculpture Park here.

The park has over 200 sculptures, so walking around can take quite a chunk out of your day but the visit is well worth it.

If art isn’t your thing or you don’t want to be bombarded with art twice in one day then I suggest going to the opposite side of the city, to view the largest ski jump in the country at Holmenkollbakken with its museum and souvenir stalls.

The ski jump’s location offers some of the best panoramic views of the city of Oslo. It is one of Norway’s top attractions, drawing in visitors from all over.

Dinner is an easy shout – Barcode Street Food! I loved this place and if I’d found it on my first night I would have gone every evening to try something new.

Barcode Street Food is located just a short walk from the city library and is an indoor food market with lots of stalls selling different cultural specialities.

It’s also a great spot for vegan eaters as there is an entire stall dedicated to vegan food – which is pretty hard to find in Oslo!

If you’re a bit of an indecisive eater like me then I highly recommend visiting Barcode Street Food as the choices are endless and there is bound to be something suitable for every member of your group.

What else is there to do in Oslo?

My 2 day Oslo itinerary has highlighted some of the top things to see and do, but there are still plenty of other great attractions that you could add to your to-do list.

Here’s a list of a few other spots you might like to consider on your trip:

• The Fram Museum – focuses on polar exploration with expedition, vessel and famous explorer exhibits.
• Kon-Tiki Museum – explores Thor Heyerdahl and his famous expedition across the Pacific Ocean on a raft called Kon-Tiki.
• Munch – a museum filled with hundreds of pieces by famous artist Munch including an edition of his famous Scream painting.
• Mathallen Oslo – a perfect lunch or dinner spot with plenty of food options to suit all tastes.
• Nobel Peace Centre – exhibits on the Nobel Prizes and a revelation as to why the Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo rather than in Sweden, like the science ones.

Is Oslo expensive?

Oslo is renowned for being an expensive city and you’ll likely want to have a good amount saved before you begin exploring the city. However, most activities are free or relatively cheap if you are a student.

Paid-for activities are well-worth the money and with most attractions within walking distance, you’ll rarely use public transport apart from the airport, lowering your costs.

Finding food halls is a good option for food, with prices being lower than sit-in restaurants. Don’t be afraid to eat at chain restaurants if it is more suiting to your budget – you don’t have to indulge in Norweigan cuisine.

Shopping in supermarkets for lunches and breakfasts is one of my favourite tips for lowering spending on trips. You can likely feed yourself for less than a few pounds and have leftovers.

Is 2 days enough in Oslo?

Oslo isn’t exactly the biggest city in Europe and all of the highlights can easily be explored in 2 days. Should you want to travel at a more relaxed pace or visit more attractions than those I’ve listed then I recommend 3 days in the city.

With an early morning flight and late departure on the following day, I’m sure you’ll have sufficient time to cover my 2 day Oslo itinerary.

FAQs: 2 day Oslo itinerary

Conclusion: 2 day Oslo itinerary

Planning a 2 day Oslo itinerary is pretty easy as the city has lots to see and do. My itinerary covers all of the main attractions that most tourists want to visit, along with a few hidden gems.

Hopefully, you find it useful in your planning and will have a fun-filled trip just like I did!

Have fun in Oslo!