With all our surroundings covered in snow one thing is clear: Winter season is finally in full swing in Oslo! It is time to whip out your thick winter jumpers and get to exploring Norway's beautiful capital in one of its most exciting seasons! If you are the lucky winter traveller who is looking for some insider tips for the cold days in the capital of the North, keep reading! In this post, we will present you the most amazing activities to enjoy in Oslo during the winter months, as well as an insider tip from a local about how to better survive the fierce temperatures.
1. Taste a gløgg, Norway's favourite winter beverage!
It's boozy, warm and perfect to be enjoyed with friends: gløgg is the perfect Norwegian winter experience. Most popular around Christmas, this fabulous winter drink will keep you warm all the way through winter! Whether you are warming up after a walk through wintery Oslo or ditching going outside into the cold all together, a cup of gløgg will help to make your day perfect! And if you are not fond of boozy drinks or have children with you there is no need to worry! Gløgg of course comes also in a non-alcoholic variant that you can enjoy with your whole family!
Need some insider tip? Stop by in Karl Johann to get a bite of some traditional Norwegian products, such as dried reindeer or smoked whale in Ost og Sånt, or book our walking tour! We will make sure you get to taste some wonderful gløgg along the way!
2. Have fun on a 2.5 km long sledging route
Do you want to have your own adventure in the snow? Get sledging right by one of Oslo's most famous landmarks: The Holmenkollen ski jump! Besides an amazing Winter Park that offers many possibilities for skiing and snowboarding (including several U-ramps and adrenaline boosters), the area hosts a two and a half kilometres long sledging route! The route was built in 1952 as a bobsleigh toboggan for the winter Olympics. Today it's one of the most popular activities for enjoying the fun in the snow among friends, families, couples of all generations. How does it work? You can either rent a sledge or take your own and enjoy the experience yourself or you can join our Sledging in Holmenkollen ultimate experience where we will take care of all the necessary equipment. Also included into the tour is some exciting info about Norwegians and their love of winter sports before we hit the toboggan for 1.5 hours!
3. Get warm in a sauna floating on the Oslofjord
Getting some extra heat in a sauna is definitely a good idea during the winter season in general. It is not only a great way how to get rid of the frost under your nails, but it is also super healthy and with the right people even super fun! And in case of the floating saunas in Oslo, it is also a once-in-a-life experience! There are several floating saunas in Oslo and all of them offer an exceptional view on some of the city's most famous highlights. If you are up for some extra heat with beautiful surroundings and a cold shower in Oslofjord, check out the Kok sauna or Sørenga Badstuflåte that are located close to the Opera House, or our favourite and brand new floating sauna in Aker Brygge operated by Green Boats! Just remember: you need to wear your swimsuit in Norwegian floating saunas!
4. Experience one (or more) of Oslo's amazing museums
Sometimes you might feel like it is just too much to go out in the freezing Norwegian cold during winter and we understand that! Luckily, you still have plenty of opportunities around town. Why not spend your day in one of Oslo's many museums? The possibilities are near endless. Between history, culture and art, Oslo is sure to have just the right museum in store for everyone!
A good way to get started on Oslo's museums is to take a trip down to Bygdøy, about 25 minutes from Oslo city centre. Here, you can choose between several different museums in close proximity! Fancy seeing some real life burial viking ships that were dug up right in the Oslo fjord? Head straight for the Viking Ship Museum. Interested in Thor Heyerdahl's adventures around the globe? The Kon-Tiki Museum is right there. Have you ever found yourself wondering about the fascinating details of the polar expeditions? The Fram Museum has got you covered!
Another fantastic museum option in Oslo are two art museums you have to visit while you are in town. Both the National Gallery and The Munch Museum have been remodeled recently and are scheduled to open soon. A true treat for any art fan!
5. Watch some professional skiing!
If going to ski yourself sounds a little too much to you, do not worry! If you visit Oslo in winter there is a chance that you might be able to see the world's best ski athletes live in action. The area around Holemnkollen ski jump hosts a variety of world class competitions every year. You can choose between cross country skiing (Norway's national sport), skijumping and biathlon and cheer on Norway's ski stars along with a huge crowd of spectators.
Especially spectacular of course is the skijumping from the famous Holmenkollen bakken so if you have never seen skijumping live before we recommend you try it out!
Just bundle up, wear thick sock and enjoy a day full of winter sports like a true Norwegian!
And the secret tip for staying warm during the winter season in Oslo is...
Ooops, we tricked you a bit here because of course there is no magical way how to stay warm for the whole day outside in Oslo during the winter that you would not already know (like the good old Norwegian advice to dress according to the weather conditions). But we still have great advice for you: If you are in Norway, do what locals do because they know why they do it! Get yourself a nice thermos, fill it with your favourite tea and go skiing in the woods! There are some amazing things that you can enjoy only in winter. So embrace it! Don't sit at home and come to visit us to have some fun in snow and ice together!
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