Things to do in Oslo, splurging
Tim Wendelboe's coffee, the Opera House and MUNCH, Bar Amour and Himkok at night.
This is Oslo for people who eat and drink for a living, or wish they did. Three days move between the roastery cool of Grünerløkka, the architectural drama of Bjørvika and the gallery-to-bistro rhythm of the city centre, with a fine-dining table or a world-class bar waiting at the end of every night. Pack a decent jacket and a card with no foreign-transaction fees.
Day 1: Grünerløkka and Vulkan
The day opens at Tim Wendelboe's roastery bar, takes in fish soup at Fiskeriet and the botanical garden, and ends with dinner at Bar Amour and aquavit cocktails at Himkok.
- 9:30 AM
Tim Wendelboe
World-champion roaster Tim Wendelboe, the gold standard for Oslo coffee, tiny and perfect.
Map - 12:30 PM
Fiskeriet Youngstorget
Fishmonger with tables: fish soup, cod tongues and fish and chips straight from the counter.
Map - 2:30 PM
Botanisk hage
Botanisk hage, Oslo's beautiful botanical garden, perfect for a post-lunch wander.
Map - 4:30 PM
Schous plass
Leafy Grünerløkka square by the old Schous brewery buildings, a pause before dinner.
Map - 7:30 PM
Bar Amour
Norwegian-Portuguese tasting menu in a red, low-ceilinged former brothel above Tranen; Wed to Sat.
Map - 10:00 PM
Himkok
Himkok, working aquavit distillery behind an unmarked door, one of the world's best bars.
Map
Day 2: Bjørvika and the waterfront
White marble rooftops, the world's largest Munch collection and two serious dinner addresses bookend a day spent entirely on Oslo's most architecturally charged kilometre.
- 9:30 AM
Spor av Nord
Northern Norwegian café and flea shop on Tollbugata; try the møsbrømlefse, and the furniture's for sale.
Map - 10:30 AM
Oslo Opera House
Free public roof walk over white marble gives the best panoramic view of the fjord and Bjørvika, a genuine Oslo highlight.
Map - 12:30 PM
Madonna
Acclaimed Modern Cuisine steps from the Opera, the top lunch destination in the neighbourhood.
Map - 2:30 PM
MUNCH
World's largest Munch collection including multiple versions of The Scream, plus a rooftop fjord terrace worth the climb.
Map - 7:30 PM
Palate
Charcoal-grill plates to share in Bjørvika, Italian and French with a Scandinavian accent.
Map - 10:00 PM
Svanen
Cocktail bar in a restored 19th-century pharmacy on Karl Johan, the old apothecary shelves behind the bar.
Map
Day 3: City centre to St. Hanshaugen
The Nordic's largest museum, a corner bistro the locals actually fight for, and an acclaimed close at Arakataka before a quiet last drink at London Pub.
- 9:30 AM
- 10:30 AM
The National Museum
Nordic's largest museum, National Gallery, design and architecture all merged under one roof.
Map - 12:30 PM
Kolonialen
Lively corner bistro, Spanish-French short menu and a serious wine list, locals actually book ahead.
Map - 2:30 PM
Akershus Fortress
Medieval fortress and castle on the harbour, free to walk the ramparts with views over the Oslofjord.
Map - 7:30 PM
Arakataka
Open-kitchen restaurant on Mariboes gate with a short, seasonal Nordic menu and a good bar.
Map - 9:30 PM
London Pub
Atmospheric bar just around the corner, easy wrap to a stellar evening, well before midnight.
Map
Where to stay
Amerikalinjen
Sits squarely between Grünerløkka and Bjørvika, beautifully converted ocean-liner offices and one of the sharper hotel bars in the city.
Sommerro
A converted 1930s power station in St. Hanshaugen with a rooftop pool and the kind of design credentials that make the splurge feel justified.
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