Those planning to spend 2 days in Oslo, Norway are probably amazed at all there is to do in this city. With a compact city center and great public transportation, Oslo is easy to explore on your own or with your family.
If you are heading here and wondering how to best spend your time, we have a great 2-day Oslo sightseeing list to share with you.
Guide to Spending 2 Days in Oslo Norway
When planning your time in Oslo, you want to make sure that you make a list of everything you need to do in advance of your trip.
This includes getting tickets and booking your accommodation. Besides that, you should try to make a list of what you would like to do & see.
This Oslo guide will help you see what you can look forward to experiencing when you only have a short time in this amazing city.
Get the Oslo Pass
Whether you are going to be in Oslo for one day or 2 days, the Oslo Pass is something you should purchase before your trip.
It gives you free entry to more than 30 museums and attractions, free travel on all public transport, and other great perks.
You will find that many of the sites on our Oslo sightseeing list have free admission with the Oslo Pass.
Getting Around Oslo
Oslo is a city that is easy to navigate, especially if you have the Oslo Pass.
Ruter is the name of the public transport system in Oslo and the surrounding county, Akershus. You can take all public transport within Zone 1 (Oslo) and Zone 2 for free with the Oslo Pass.
You will also be able to use the ferry to Bygdøy for free with the Oslo Pass.
When spending 2 days in Oslo, these are the sites you will want to make sure you visit.
If you have a little bit longer than 2 days, you could spread it out even more, but two days will give you enough time to fully enjoy all of these activities and sites.
Day One in Oslo
For your first day in Oslo, we suggest that you spend time checking out sites in the city.
All of these should be an easy walk or a quick tram stop from one another.
Oslo City Hall
While you might think that a government building isn’t anything special to see, Oslo’s City Hall is quite different.
Not only is it an example of some of their best architecture, but it also houses frescoes (inside) by such notable artists as Henrik Sørensen and Edvard Munch.
It is free to the public.
Nobel Peace Center
Learn about Alfred Nobel and the Nobel Peace Prize. Exhibits change throughout the year and are meant to give engage guests to thoughtfully explore topics related to war, peace, and conflict resolution.
Free with the Oslo Pass
National Gallery in Oslo
Those who are hoping to see Edvard Munch’s “The Scream,” will want to visit Norway’s largest public collection of paintings, drawings, and sculptures in Oslo.
If you are traveling to Oslo with children, museums can sometimes be “boring.”
Keep your kid’s attention by taking them to The Fairy Tale Room where they can see art showcasing princesses, trolls, and other fairy tale creatures.
Free with the Oslo Pass
Akershus Fortress
Built in 1299 under King Håkon V, Akershus Fortress saw several sieges before being turned into a Renaissance castle and royal residence of King Christian IV.
You can get a guided tour of the fortress throughout the day to learn its history and use it as a prison.
Entrance to the fortress and to the Norwegian Armed Forces Museum is FREE
Day 2 in Oslo
Take the ferry to Bygdøy so that you can experience a few different things that are all in this part of town. If you have the Oslo Pass, the ferry ride is FREE!
Norsk Folkemuseum – Norwegian Museum of Cultural History
There is no better place to learn about the beautiful history of Norway than through the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History.
There are both indoor and outdoor exhibits and so much to explore!
You could easily spend an entire day here, but since you are only in Oslo for 2 days, you won’t want to spend more than a few hours at this open-air museum.
Be sure to wear appropriate clothing and shoes because you will be doing a lot of walking outside!
There is a lot of walking on hard & soft surfaces and you want to make sure your shoes are sturdy for the terrain.
The Viking Ship Museum (Currently Closed)
Viking history is strong in Norway. At this museum, you will be able to see authentic Viking ships and other artifacts from the time of the Vikings.
You will be amazed at the quality of this collection of artifacts. Plan on spending about an hour looking through the collections.
Free with the Oslo Pass
The Kon-Tiki Museum
Thor Heyerdahl gained worldwide fame when he crossed the Pacific Ocean on a small raft made from balsawood in 1947.
The Kon-Tiki Museum showcases the original Kon-Tiki raft along with other impressive objects from Heyerdahl’s later expeditions to places like Galapagos Island.
Free with the Oslo Pass
Fram Museum – The Polar Ship Fram
One of the most popular museums in Oslo, the Fram, houses the largest wooden vessel ever built. The Fram was built to explore the Arctic and that is exactly what it did.
In this museum, you will be able to board the ship and experience what it was like when it sailed in the late 19th century.
The Fram Museum also has a polar simulator that allows you to feel what it would have been like during the polar expeditions.
Free with the Oslo Pass
A trip to Oslo will give you the chance to see a part of Scandinavia that has a rich history for you to explore. We hope you find your time in Oslo as enjoyable as we did!
Have you been to Oslo? Is there anything you would add to our 2-day Oslo Itinerary?