We love Scandinavia and have been meaning to visit Norway for a while now. With my son’s fascination with Vikings, it was the perfect destination for us to go on our first mother-and-son adventure. We dove headfirst into a world of Viking lore, artistic wonders, and historical treasures. Here’s my itinerary for 2 days in Oslo, where we managed to fit in six museums!
Length of Stay: 2 days
Hotel: Comfort Hotel Børsparken
Airline: RyanAir
Transportation: Public Transportation (Oslo Pass)
Things we’ve done:
Day 1:
- Munch Museum with scream painting
- Akershus Castle
- Royal Palace
- Opera House
Day 2:
- Norwegian maritime museum
- Polar ship Fram
- Norsk folkemuseum with the medieval Stave church
- Historik Museum
Our favourite Café: Cafe Cathedral
Top tips:
- consider purchasing the „Oslo Pass“, which gives you free entrance to a list of museums and public transportation
- Ruter app for busses
- Visit Norway app for travel tips
- Oslo pass app to purchase the pass, scan the pass when you arrive at various attractions, and check out the map locate nearby attractions
Day 1: We flew from London with RyanAir and arrived in Oslo in just under two hours. After going through arrivals, we hit the ground running, hopping on the train from the airport to the vibrant city center. The train took only 25 minutes and cost 124 NK (around £9).
Upon our arrival in the city center, we had lunch at Cafe Cathedral, where my little chess prodigy challenged me to a game. After lunch, we headed to our hotel. Our home away from home for the next two days was the cosy Comfort Hotel Børsparken, the perfect launching pad for our Oslo adventure. The hotel is located in the heart of Oslo and is just a 3-minute walk to the Oslo Central Station, where you can catch the train to and from the airport.
Bags dropped off, energy replenished, and it was time to hit the streets. First on our list was the majestic Akershus Castle, standing guard by the shimmering fjord, a silent sentinel of Oslo’s storied past. From there, we wandered past the Royal Palace, the official residence of the current Norwegian monarch.
Next, we paid a visit to the iconic Oslo Opera House, a stunning piece of modern architecture that allows you to walk up onto the roof to enjoy a breathtaking view of the city.
But the pièce de résistance awaited us at the Munch Museum, where Edvard Munch’s iconic “The Scream” beckoned us into a world of swirling emotions and vivid colours- my son was captivated and it was one of his highlights.
Day 2: With our Oslo Pass* in hand, courtesy of the Oslo Pass app, we set out to conquer the city once more. Navigating like pros with the Ruter app, we hopped from one museum to another, our hearts set on uncovering Oslo’s hidden gems.
We purchased an Oslo Pass for 24 hours which gives which gives you free entrance to a list of museums and public transportation. You can download the Oslo pass app to purchase the pass, scan it when you arrive at various attractions, and check out the map to locate nearby attractions.
Our day 2 adventure began at the Norwegian Maritime Museum, where tales of sea voyages and daring exploits captured our imaginations. Continuing on the maritime theme, we went to see The Polar Ship Fram, the first ship specially built in Norway for polar research.
Our next stop was the Norsk Folkemuseum, home to the legendary stave church and a treasure trove of Norwegian cultural heritage. My son, enthralled by tales of Vikings and folklore, revelled in every moment.
Our final museum on the list was the Historisk Museum, where the echoes of Norway’s past reverberated through time. From prehistoric fossils to medieval artifacts, we traced the footsteps of generations past, our hearts heavy with the weight of history.
Oslo is a wonderful city with a rich history. It’s easy to navigate and only a few hours from London. I’d highly recommend staying somewhere central and downloading the Oslo Pass App and Ruter App. We’ll definitely be coming back to Norway- this time with the whole family.
