In this article, I share my favorite 13 fun facts about Oslo, Norway based on my travels to Scandanavia’s best locale.
More than anything about Oslo, I remember the city’s population keen to share their culture with a young backpacker. As I arrived in Oslo Central Station in city centre, I felt nervous. I settled my jitters and tried local favorites like brunost (brown cheese), lutefisk (dried fish soaked), rakfisk (fermented trout).
Honestly, none were really my favorites.
I spun around and found a giant bronze tiger statue in front of the station. It turns out Oslo is known as “Tiger City” thanks to a poem by Norwegian writer Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, who referred to Oslo’s city centre as a “tiger.” She did it to describe it as a dangerous place compared to Norway’s countryside.
“Tiger” was not my sense of Central Oslo. My sense was that it was a peaceful city, alive with historic buildings and rentable city bikes.
I did a one-day fjord cruise and had the chance to go kayaking. It felt freeing to kayak along the Oslo Fjord and to see the landscapes of the city as well as the natural beauty of the crystal-clear waters. Certainly, as compared to my native London. I wouldn’t kayak there if you paid me.
But that was just my experience. For those who can’t yet make it to Norway’s capital city, let’s learn some fun facts about Oslo.
13 Fun Facts About Oslo
- You can watch the changing of the guard at Oslo’s Royal Palace
- The Viking Ship Museum in Oslo displays three 1,000-year-old Viking ships
- After a fire, King Christian IV moved Oslo 2 miles to the west
- Akershus Fortress is a medieval stronghold in Oslo with a replica in Disney World
- Oslo donates London’s Trafalgar Square Christmas tree annually as a thank-you
- Vigeland Park in Oslo is the world’s largest sculpture park by a single artist
- Most tourists won’t see a Norwegian opera, but should walk on the roof of the Oslo Opera House
- Oslo hosts the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony each December 10th
- Oslo built the world’s first “bee highway” to support urban biodiversity
- Norway has the world’s largest museum dedicated to a single artist
- Oslo is warmer than you think during the winter
- The Fram Museum in Oslo celebrates Norway’s polar exploration
- Holmenkollen Ski Jump Tower symbolizes Norway’s deep-rooted skiing heritage
1. You can watch the changing of the guard at Oslo’s Royal Palace
London isn’t the only place to watch the changing of the guard; I did it in Oslo.
The Royal Palace is a 19th-century neoclassical palace, and it is the official residence of Norway’s king, Harald V. Tourists can watch the changing of the guard ceremony at 1:30pm every day of the year.
I’d definitely recommend it.
2. The Viking Ship Museum in Oslo displays three 1,000-year-old Viking ships
The Viking Ship Museum on Bygdøy Peninsula in Oslo has attracted international Viking history enthusiasts for years.
It has three well-preserved Viking ships from burial sites in Tune, Gokstad, Oseberg, and Borre, and the first of the ships was discovered in 1867.
Unfortunately, this museum is temporarily closed for redevelopment, but it will open again in 2027!