What to do in and near Oslo?

Question

I will be in Norway for 3 weeks staying with a family. What are some relatively inexpensive things I could do or places I could go, or what would be worth a splurge?

Answer 1

If you are going to Norway, Oslo may not be your primary target, as Norway's nature is more exciting in other parts of the country. Nevertheless, Oslo has plenty of sights, good nightlife and is worth seeing.
-The Viking Ship Museum
-The Munch Museum
-Kon-Tiki Museum
-Vigeland Park
-Akershus Castle and Fortress
-You should not miss Holmenkollen, the ski jumping hill located on the west side of Oslo.
You can get all the way up to the top of the ski jump tower, where you have a great view of the city.
-Visit the wooden areas of Oslo like Kampen (bus 60), Vålerenga (bus 37), Rodeløkka (tram 17, bus 31) and Telthusbakken (bus 34/54). They are a "must" for lovers of old wooden town houses.


A brilliant area for budget dining is Torggata and the surrounding streets.
If you feel like splurging, try Ekebergrestauranten, Ekeberg. An architechtural monument, this place offers gourmet dining and Oslo's best views. Hugely popular.

Once you're done with Oslo, you can take the "Norway in the Nutshell tour" to Bergen and view some incredible fjords along the way.http://www.norwaynutshell.com
No visit to Norway is complete without seeing the Fjords. You really should not miss them.

Answer 2

Oslo isn't such a great tourist city, in my opinion. I do, however, highly recommend the train trip from Oslo to Bergen--it is spectacular. Bergen is neat little city. Coming back, you could take the "Norway in a Nutshell" diversion, ferry to Flam, then train back up to the main rail line to go back to Oslo.

Answer 3

Oslo is a nice city, not as crowded with tourists as other are but there is enough to do.
I liked:
the Vigeland park (free entry): http://www.visitoslo.com/?cat=58934&tl=%3Fsp=GB%26dv_variables=visitoslo/inc/variables%26icp=visitoslo/produkt%26PR=23_5078_42
Open air museum: http://www.visitoslo.com/?cat=58934&tl=%3Fsp=GB%26dv_variables=visitoslo/inc/variables%26icp=visitoslo/produkt%26PR=23_6703_2
Kontiki museum: http://www.visitoslo.com/?cat=58934&tl=%3Fsp=GB%26dv_variables=visitoslo/inc/variables%26icp=visitoslo/produkt%26PR=23_5023_1

But there is much more to do and see:
http://www.visitoslo.com/en/attractions-and-sights.49105.en.html

And do not forget to make daytrips out of town, even near Oslo Norway is beautiful.
If your host family is likely to take you out tell them what you like.
If you like shopping there is no use in them spending a lot to take you to a museum, but on the other hand, if you like a particular museum or something like mountainbiking you would regrett spending a day with just shops full of things you do not want to see and even less buy.