Cheap things to do in Oslo
Free rooftops, fjord-side food halls, and the best curry in Grünerløkka
This is Oslo for people who want the real city, not the expensive version of it. Three days move between the waterfront, the Akerselva river corridor and the sculpture-filled west side, with free art, cheap curries and good local bars holding the whole thing together. If your idea of a great trip is coffee from a world-class roaster, a smashed burger for under 200 NOK and a pint at a corner pub with no attitude, this plan is yours.
Day 1: Waterfront, Opera and Vippa
Start at the fjord, walk the Opera roof for free, eat Syrian food at harbour-side tables, then end the night at Oslo's best no-frills corner pub.
- 9:30 AM
Åpent Bakeri
Oslo bakery for a cinnamon bun and a cheap coffee before the walk to the waterfront.
Map - 10:30 AM
Oslo Opera House
Walk up the white marble roof for the best free panoramic view in central Oslo, no ticket needed.
Map - 12:30 PM
Vippa
Scruffy harbour food hall with Syrian, Polish and Mexican stalls, eat at fjord-side tables for cheap.
Map - 2:00 PM
Ekebergparken
Free sculpture park on a forested hill with international art, Stone Age carvings and a Munch-view panorama.
Map - 7:30 PM
Illegal Burger
Tiny charcoal-grill smashed burgers with Brie and truffle mayo, serious flavour for very little money.
Map - 9:00 PM
Per på Hjørnet
Classic local corner pub, cheap pints, no fuss, exactly the kind of neighbourhood bar a thrifty traveller wants.
Map
Day 2: Grünerløkka, Munch and Curry
World-class coffee, the largest Munch collection on earth and home-style Punjabi curries that cost less than a cinema ticket.
- 9:30 AM
- 12:30 PM
Punjab Tandoori
Home-style Punjabi curries since 1991, large portions at 100 to 200 NOK, best value curry in the neighbourhood.
Map - 2:30 PM
MUNCH
The world's largest Munch collection, several versions of The Scream among them, and a top-floor fjord view.
Map - 7:30 PM
Gutta fra Calcutta
Neighbourhood Indian with a long curry list, a filling dinner that stays inside the budget.
Map - 9:30 PM
Happy Ending
Late cocktail bar near the Akerselva for a well-made drink and a bar snack to end the night.
Map
Day 3: Fuglen, Vigeland and Craft Beer
A cult coffee shop, 200 free sculptures and a solid local microbrewery to close out the trip.
- 9:30 AM
- 12:30 PM
Pastis Bistrobar
French bistro near Aker Brygge: steak frites or moules for a sit-down lunch before Vigeland.
Map - 2:30 PM
- 7:30 PM
Foodie Asian Restaurant Foodie Asian Restaurant 丽华餐厅
Top-rated Chinese nearby, solid cheap eats to fuel the evening.
Map - 9:30 PM
Oslo Mikrobryggeri
Oslo Mikrobryggeri, local craft pub, perfect for a cheap nightcap before midnight.
Map
Where to stay
Bunks at Rode
Budget bunk right in Grünerløkka, the neighbourhood where you'll spend most of your time.
Citybox Oslo
Cheap, no-nonsense city-centre room that keeps you close to the waterfront on day one without breaking anything.
Make Oslo your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
Get Swearby on the App StoreBefore you go
Book ahead
- MUNCH: a few days ahead
- Oslo Badstuforening: a few days ahead
- SALT: a few days ahead
- KOK Oslo: a few days ahead
- Oslofjord: a few days ahead
- Oslo Golfklubb: weeks ahead
Skip these
- Don't plan around the Viking ships: the old Viking Ship Museum is shut until the new Museum of the Viking Age opens, planned for late 2027.
- Aker Brygge marina facing restaurants are the most tourist priced. Eat a street inland instead.
- Karl Johans gate souvenir and traditional restaurant fronts, and hop on hop off buses, are poor value.
The full Oslo travel guide: when to go, safety, getting around