Find bus tickets from and to Oslo

Things to do in Oslo

About Oslo

Many people are wary of traveling to Oslo, and Norway in general, because of its statistic of being one of the most expensive countries in the world. Don't be fooled – Oslo is expensive, but with careful planning, you can see Norway's capital on a student budget. Surrounded by mountains and the sea, this fast-growing cultural city is definitely worth the trip, no matter the time of year.

Places of Interest in Oslo

If you don’t mind putting your walking shoes on and facing whatever weather Norway brings, you can find many free things to do in Oslo. With Oslo located right on the sea, it allows for many pleasant walks along the harbor.

The Oslo Opera House, is one of the most iconic modern buildings in Scandinavia and was built to resemble a glacier floating in the waters of the Oslofjord. The building was designed to enhance the enjoyment of Oslo and allows visitors and locals alike walk on the roof of the Opera House. From here you can see some amazing views of the surrounding Oslo as well as into the harbor. Close to the Opera House lays Akershus Fortress which once protected the city from any impending invaders in the 1300s, but now is a pleasant place to wander around learning about Norway's history- if you’re lucky you may see some people dressed in historical costumes! This building inspired a few of the buildings in Frozen – see if you can recognize the building and architecture in the film!

Located near the center of Oslo is artist Gustav Vigeland’s lifework of about 200 sculptures in properly named Vigelandsparken. Vigeland’s statues are meant to represent life and its many stages. The park’s most famous statues include The Angry Boy (Sinnataggen) and The Wheel of Life (Livshjulet). Continuing into the center of Oslo is Karl Johans Street (Karl Johans Gate). Along this street, you can find many different high-end shops, perfect for window shopping and little cafes to grab coffee and people watch. At the end of the street lies the Royal Norwegian Palace, which unlike Buckingham Palace, you can go right up to it and take pictures. Before arriving at the palace, you'll pass the Norwegian Parliament and National Theatre.

If you need a place to relax, head to Oslo’s Botanical Garden. Here you will be able to walk and enjoy around 1,800 different plants. What’s so cool and unique about this Botanical Garden is that there is a Scent Garden designed for the blind, mentally-handicapped and wheelchair bound so they can enjoy the garden as well. The garden is open only from mid-March until the end of September but is free to enter. Depending on when you visit, you may be able to enjoy a concert in the gardens as they run regularly through the summer.

The final free destination is Oslo’s City Hall. This may not seem like a tourist hotspot at first, but it is home to two famous pieces of artwork, Alf Rolfsen’s “Et bilde av vår nasjon” and Henrik Sørensen’s “Arbeid. Administrasjon. Fest”, both of which depict Norwegian life, culture, and history. The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo’s City Hall so enjoy some time walking around soaking up the history. During the summer months, the city offers free guided tours of the City Hall.

Culture and History of Oslo

There are many different museums to choose from in Oslo, but depending on your time, interest and wallet, you may not be interested in visiting some of them. Here are three of the most crowd-pleasing Oslo has to offer.

The Norwegian Folk Museum is one of the world’s oldest and largest open-air museums and features 155 traditional Norwegian homes from across the country. It’s star resident is the Stave Church from the year 1200. It is recommended wearing comfortable footwear and clothing as the museum is spread out and some walking will be involved. During the summer, you’ll be able to view demonstrations of different farm activities and baking of fresh Norwegian bread and pastries. For students, tickets are 100 NOK ($13).

Right next to the Folk Museum is the Viking Ship Museum. Here you will find some of the most well-preserved Viking ships, as well as other artifacts from Viking age Norway. A student ticket is 80 NOK ($11) and includes entrance to the Historical Museum within 48 hours. Since both the Viking Ship Museum and the Folk Museum are about a 20-minute bus ride outside the city, depending on the time you have in the city, it may be the best use of your time to visit both museums in the same day.

The last museum, the Nobel Peace Prize Museum, is in the center of Oslo right next to Oslo City Hall. Here everyone will be able to find something or someone that interests them. Each Peace Prize winner has a description in the Nobel Field along with the history of Alfred Nobel himself. Check out the website before your visit as they do have rotating exhibits. Entrance for students is 65 NOK ($8).

Discover Oslo through Macy's eyes

Hej! I am an American grad student studying and living in Sweden. Being a grad student, I have perfected the act of budget traveling. I have a fierce passion for cute dogs, film festivals, coffee and traveling. Join me as I work towards my personal goal of visiting all 28 EU countries before I graduate in June 2019! Feel free to pop over to my personal blog, Little Mouse. Big World, to read more about my travels while balancing grad school life.

Buses to Oslo

Find the most affordable buses to Oslo

With FlixBus, it’s easy to travel to Oslo, as 50 rides are available starting from only $3.49 depending on the departure city, date and time. Booking a coach ticket to Oslo is effortless: you can book on our website or through the FlixBus App. If you prefer paying cash or if you're a last-minute traveller, you can also get your ticket at our shops or aboard the FlixBus. Booking in advance with our app guarantees the lowest fares, and you get your ticket digitally in the app, so you don't have to print your ticket before hopping onboard, sitting back, relaxing and enjoying a comfortable ride to Oslo!

Why traveling to Oslo with FlixBus

You can get to Oslo from 50 different cities, and when it’s time to move on, there are as many connections from Oslo to other destinations. No matter the journey, bus travel is always a better and more sustainable choice than other means of transportation (on a person/km basis, traveling by bus is more environmental-friendly than driving, flying and, in certain countries, even going by train). Plus, when you ride with FlixBus, you can offset your CO₂ emissions by clicking the CO₂ compensation box when you book your ticket, helping the planet and supporting us towards our sustainability goals! You can get your ticket at one of our service desks and pay cash or with a payment card. You can also book it on our website or our FlixBus app with a credit card, PayPal or Google Pay if you're a more digital person. Then you can look forward to enjoying our onboard services including free Wi-Fi, plenty of legroom, comfortable seats and power outlets.

Onboard services

Reserve a seat when you book your FlixBus ticket to Oslo online or in the app. Whether you want peace and quiet or to sit close to your friends, we've got seat reservation options that suit everyone. Choose a classic seat or a table seat if you need a little extra space to work or relax. You can also go for a panorama seat on the bus front for a great view or book a spare seat next to yours and enjoy that extra space. There's no need to worry about what to pack when you travel with FlixBus, as we offer hand luggage and check-in luggage to every traveller. After stowing your luggage, head to your seat and enjoy our onboard services, including free Wi-Fi on most buses. All our buses have toilets and power outlets.