With our surroundings covered in snow, one thing is clear: winter is in full swing in Oslo! Time to pull out your thick winter jumper and get exploring Norway’s beautiful capital in one of its most exciting seasons. If you are a lucky winter traveller looking for insider tips for the cold days in the capital of the North, keep reading. Here are the best activities to enjoy in Oslo during the winter months, plus an insider tip from a local on how to survive the fierce temperatures.
1. Taste a gløgg, Norway’s favourite winter beverage
It is warm, it is boozy, and it is perfect with friends: gløgg is the essential Norwegian winter experience. Most popular around Christmas, this fabulous spiced drink will keep you warm all the way through winter. Whether you are thawing out after a walk through wintry Oslo or ditching the outdoors altogether, a cup of gløgg will make your day. And if you are not fond of boozy drinks or have children with you, there is no need to worry: gløgg also comes in a non-alcoholic version the whole family can enjoy.
Need an insider tip? Stop by Karl Johans gate for a taste of traditional Norwegian products, like dried reindeer or smoked whale at Ost og Sånt. Or better yet, book our Christmas tour: we will make sure you get to taste some wonderful gløgg (and smultringer) along the way.
2. Race down a 2.5 km sledging route
Want your own adventure in the snow? Go sledging right by one of Oslo’s most famous landmarks: the Holmenkollen ski jump. Besides a Winter Park packed with options for skiing and snowboarding, the area hosts a two-and-a-half-kilometre sledging route, originally built in 1952 as a bobsleigh toboggan for the Oslo Winter Olympics. Today it is one of the most popular snow activities in the city, loved by friends, families and couples of all generations.
How does it work? You can rent a sledge or bring your own and enjoy the ride yourself, or contact us to arrange a private sledging day where we take care of all the equipment, and share some exciting stories about Norwegians and their love of winter sports before you hit the toboggan run.
3. Get warm in a sauna floating on the Oslofjord
Extra heat is always a good idea in winter, and in Oslo it comes with a view. Floating saunas are a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience: sit in the steaming heat, look out over some of the city’s most famous highlights, then take an ice-cold plunge straight into the Oslofjord. If you are up for heat, beautiful surroundings and the bracing cold rinse, check out the Kok sauna or Sørenga Sjøbadstu, both close to the Opera House, or our favourite floating sauna at Aker Brygge. Just remember one rule: you need to wear your swimsuit in Norwegian floating saunas.
4. Dive into one (or more) of Oslo’s amazing museums
Sometimes it is simply too cold to stay outside, and we completely understand! Luckily, Oslo has plenty of options for indoor days. Between history, culture and art, the city has just the right museum for everyone.
A great place to start is Bygdøy, about 25 minutes from the city centre, where several museums sit side by side. Curious about Norway’s polar history? The Fram Museum and the Kon-Tiki Museum tell the stories of the boldest expeditions to the poles and across the oceans. Love art? The National Museum, home of Munch’s The Scream, and the striking new Munch Museum in Bjørvika are both must-sees. And if the Viking Ship Museum is on your list, check before you go: it is being rebuilt into a new Museum of the Viking Age, and the ships return once it opens.
5. Watch professional skiing live
If skiing yourself sounds like a bit too much, do not worry. Visit Oslo in winter and you may well see the world’s best ski athletes live in action. The area around Holmenkollen hosts a variety of world-class competitions every year: cross-country skiing (Norway’s national sport), biathlon and, most spectacular of all, ski jumping from the famous Holmenkollbakken. Cheer on Norway’s ski stars along with a huge crowd of spectators, and you will quickly understand why this is the nation’s favourite time of year.
Just bundle up, wear thick socks, and enjoy a day full of winter sports like a true Norwegian.
And the secret tip for staying warm in Oslo is…
Oops, we tricked you a little, because of course there is no magical way to stay warm outside in Oslo all day that you do not already know (like the good old Norwegian advice: there is no bad weather, only bad clothing). But we do have one more tip: if you are in Norway, do what the locals do, because they know why they do it! Get yourself a nice thermos, fill it with your favourite hot drink, and go skiing in the woods.
There are amazing things you can only experience in winter. So embrace it! Do not sit at home, come and visit us, and let’s have some fun in the snow and ice together.