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The Munch Museum opened in 2021 and hosts one of the world’s largest collections of works by Edvard Munch. Einar Aslaksen<\/p>\n
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).<\/p>\n
When it comes to Scandinavian cities, Oslo flies a little under the travel radar, with Stockholm (Sweden) and Copenhagen (Denmark) getting most of the attention. But those who make it to the Norwegian capital will find an underrated and unassuming city bursting with creativity and plentiful options for friluftsliv (outdoor living). There\u2019s a thriving street-art scene as well as galleries housing classic works; there are cafes serving casual fusion dishes as well as harbourside restaurants serving boat-fresh seafood; and there are many ways to enjoy the long days of summer, from walks in sculpture parks to dips in the sea.<\/p>\n
7am: Go for a swim<\/p>\n
What could be a more Norwegian way to start the day than taking an open-air dip? The S\u00f8renga Seawater Pool<\/a> is fed with water from the Oslofjord and sits beside the newly redeveloped harbour promenade. It\u2019s busy with swimmers even at this early hour.<\/p>\n 9am: Have coffee & doughnuts<\/p>\n Waterfront cafe Talormade<\/a> is the perfect place to warm up after a few laps, with fantastic coffee (beans are roasted on-site) and home-baked delicacies \u2014 the doughnuts are the speciality and the bagels, pies and croissants are all superb, too.<\/p>\n 10am: Browse the Munch Museum<\/p>\n The highlight of Oslo\u2019s waterfront redevelopment is the Munch Museum<\/a>, opened in 2021 as a cathedral to Norway\u2019s greatest painter, Edvard Munch. Be\u00a0sure, of course, to gaze at his masterwork, The Scream \u2014\u00a0a tortured portrayal of existential angst \u2014 but also take the time to enjoy lesser-known works, like his peaceful, colourful paintings of the River Seine.<\/p>\n 1pm: Have a traditional nordic lunch<\/p>\n Spor av Nord<\/a> is a cosy restaurant a couple of blocks inland from the waterfront. With its mismatched furniture and china teacups, it feels like you\u2019re dining in a rural Norwegian farmhouse. The menu is appropriately traditional, with S\u00e1mi reindeer stew, dried cod and flatbread with brown cheese on the menu.<\/p>\n Fiskieriet champions local seafood on their menu. Anne Andersen<\/p>\n The cocktails at Himkok in Oslo use unusual ingredients, like peanut. Lars Petterson<\/p>\n 3pm: Take a cruise<\/p>\n Make the most of Oslo\u2019s enviable position with a cruise along the Oslofjord; there are regular departures from the pier beside the Opera House. Norway\u2019s Best<\/a> offers cruises that take in sights like medieval Akershus Fortress, the Dyna Lighthouse and the many islands that dot the fjord.<\/p>\n 5pm: Relax in a sauna<\/p>\n Once you\u2019re back, head to Salt<\/a>, a floating \u2018sauna village\u2019 housed in tall A-frame wooden buildings. There are private and communal saunas and a designated silent sauna if you\u2019re seeking peace and quiet. Conversely, the complex also hosts standup comedy and music performances, best enjoyed with a pre-dinner drink.<\/p>\n 7pm: Enjoy seafood<\/p>\n Oslo\u2019s oceanfront setting means seafood plays a starring role in its restaurants, and nowhere more so than at Fiskieriet<\/a>, in the downtown Youngstorget neighbourhood. Highlights include sikrogn (whitefish roe), cod tongues and snowcrab with garlic butter. Warm up with an aperitif \u2014 aquavit is the local favourite \u2014 and leave room for the tonka brulee.<\/p>\n 9pm: Finish with cocktails<\/p>\n Close by Fiskieriet is distillery and cocktail bar Himkok<\/a>, a voguish space where exposed girders and pipework shelter large copper stills that hold aquavit, gin and vodka. These are combined to delicious effect with unusual ingredients in the house cocktails \u2014 try the sea buckthorn distillate with Cointreau and rhubarb wine.<\/p>\n Published in the May 2026 issue by National Geographic Traveller (UK).<\/p>\n![\"Fishmonger](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6a8cdb738f5c9636ca9076b058fbee14.jpeg\"\/)
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