Overview
Oslo is Norway's compact, design-forward capital at the head of the Oslofjord — a city of bold modern architecture, world-class art from Munch to the Vikings, a swimmable harbour dotted with islands, and forests and ski trails right on its doorstep.
Travel
Oslo, Norway's capital at the head of a long blue fjord and ringed by forested hills, has transformed in recent years into one of Europe's most rewarding small capitals — a place where striking contemporary architecture meets deep history, and where nature is never more than minutes away. The waterfront, the museums of Bygdøy, the medieval fortress and the Nordmarka forest each carry their own distinct character, covered in full below. Oslo is also the natural starting point for a wider Norway trip, with the western fjords and the country's own scenic rail routes reachable directly from the city. It's best enjoyed in the long, light summer (May to August) for harbour and island life, or in winter for skiing and a cosy, snowy city.
Oslo's reinvented harbourfront is the place to start. The Oslo Opera House, opened in 2008, is the city's signature building — a glacier of white marble and glass rising straight from the fjord, with a sloping roof that doubles as a public plaza you can walk up for views over the water and city (a wonderful free experience). Right beside it, the bold new Munch museum tower devotes thirteen floors to Edvard Munch, Norway's greatest artist, displaying versions of his haunting masterpiece The Scream alongside the breadth of his work, with a rooftop bar over the fjord. The angular Deichman Bjørvika library and the waterfront promenade complete a strikingly modern quarter. From here the harbour walk leads past the fortress to the western waterfront, and the fjord ferries and sightseeing boats depart from the quays nearby — the easiest way to feel Oslo's setting on the water.
Frequently asked questions
Diplomatic missions in Oslo
8 embassies based in this city, grouped by region.
Visaja keeps this page's contact details and visa guidance under continuous review — still, requirements can change at short notice, so confirm the essentials with the mission or the official government portal before you travel.