The Norsk Folkemuseum, focuses on the period from 1500 until the present time, with in-door exhibits featuring Norwegian folk costumes, folk art, church art and Sami culture. The open-air museum has over 160 buildings from rural and urban Norway – from the Middle Ages to the 20th Century. The open-air museum has a long heritage and was established by King Oscar II at Bygdøy in 1881 as the first open-air museum in the world.
In the 90 minutes we had we were not going to see everything, so we had to be selective. We decided to head for the Stave Church which had been relocated to the museum from the town of Gol. This church dating from approximately 1200, was due for replacement by a new church around 1880. The Society for the Preservation of Norwegian Ancient Monuments bought the church and presented it to King Oscar II. The King paid for its re-erection at Bygdøy in 1884. In line with the general enthusiasm for the Middle Ages, the stave church from Gol was restored to its supposed original look from the 1200s.
The church was stunning and whetted our appetite to find more stave churches during our time in Norway. Having seen the church, we wandered through the rest of the open-air museum stopping to admire the buildings from rural Norway. We particularly loved the houses with turf on the roof which not only had grass growing but also wildflowers, which were in bloom. As we were walking, we noticed that there was going to be a performance of traditional music and dance at 16:30, so we made our way to where it was happening. Karen grabbed somewhere to sit, while I went off to explore the close by ‘Old Town’ buildings.
The Old Town contains buildings from Christiania (Oslo) and some of its suburbs, and Chrystiegården from Brevik and Barthegården from Kragerø. I particularly liked the old petrol station and the preserved shops, some of which you could go inside.
I made my way back to join Karen for the show. There were three young women performers dressed in traditional Norwegian costumes. The performance started with one of the women giving a call, which was impressively loud. This traditional call, called kulokk in Norway, was used to call the herds of cows to come in. Kulokk is said to be the oldest musical tradition in Norway, dating back to at least the Middle Ages. Women typically tended the herds. In the summer months, teenage girls would take the herd to the higher mountain pastures to graze. The young farm girl would stay there for up to three months, tending to the herd, making cheese and butter, and lodging in a small hut. When it was time for the cattle to be milked and to rest for the evening, each girl used her musical call to bring them in. There were many girls around the mountaintops with their herds, and each herd knew the call of their mistress.
The performance was a series of traditional dances and songs performed by the young women, all of whom were handy on the fiddles.
Our day in Bygdøy was done, so we caught the bus back to where we started at the Kon-Tiki museum, where there was a ferry back to the city centre of Oslo, close to the National Museum. We were bushed from our day of exploring Oslo, so we made our way back to the metro station and from there back to our apartment.
Planning your visit to the Norwegian Folk Museum
Bus:
- Line 30: Nydalen-Jernbanetorget-Bygdøynes. Departures every 10 minutes.
Ferry:
- March 22 – October 6: The Bygdøy Ferry departs from Rådhusplassen (Rådhusbrygge 3). The journey takes 10 minutes.
Bike or On Foot:
- Pedestrian and bicycle path from the city center (along the waterfront) via Frongnerkilen, Kongsgården to Bygdøynes.
- City bikes are available at Bygdøynes (during the summer season).
- Bike parking available on site.
Car:
- From E18 or Bygdøy Allé, take the exit to Bygdøy.
- Private parking (APCOA), HC parking.
- Street parking in the area. HC parking and bus parking between Fram and Gjøabygget.
Getting around Oslo
Thanks to Oslo’s excellent public transportation system Ruter, it is easy to travel around the city. Distances between attractions are often quite short, so you can explore a lot of the city by walking or biking.
Public transport
All public transport in Oslo and the surrounding boroughs are included in one ticketing system. That includes city and regional buses, trams, undergrounds, local trains and ferries. The ferries to Bygdøy are not included.
Tickets and zones
One of the easiest ways to get and manage tickets for public transport is using the mobile app Ruter. If you prefer having physical tickets in your pocket, you can purchase them at the Oslo Visitor Centre, at Ruter’s customer service centre, and in Narvesen and 7-Eleven shops.
Get an overview of the prices for tickets here.
Please note that if you want a physical version of weekly, monthly or annual tickets, you need a reusable plastic travel pass costing 50 NOK. All tickets are transferable.
Oslo and the surrounding boroughs are divided into several zones. All of Oslo, including the last stops of the subway system, is included in zone 1. If you want to go to Oslo Airport Gardermoen, you need a ticket for four zones. If you have a period ticket of the Oslo Pass, you can buy the remaining zones separately.
Ticket prices for public transportation in Oslo
See all ticket prices for public transport in Oslo and find out where you can buy tickets.
Oslo Pass
If you are planning to spend a few days in Oslo, using the public transport system and visiting several of the city’s attractions then the Oslo Pass could be a good option for you. We purchased the pass for our stay and it was great value for money and made our lives easier. Find out more about the Oslo Pass and what is included here.
With the Oslo Pass, you can travel for free within zone 1 (Oslo) and zone 2. In addition to Ruter’s public transport network, also the ferries to Bygdøy are included in the Oslo Pass.
It comes as an app as well, so you can handily have it on your phone when using the transportation or visiting one of the tourist attractions.
Eating out for vegans in Oslo
While Oslo might not be the most vegan-friendly city in the world, there are still plenty of high-quality options to choose from.
- Oslo Raw – Address: Skovveien 16, 0257 Oslo, Norway osloraw.no
- Dirty Vegan at Barcode Street Food – Dronning Eufemias gate 14, 0191 Oslo, Norway https://www.dirtyvegan.no
- Nord Vegan – Kristian IVs gate 15B, 0164 Oslo, Norway 3 https://www.nordvegan.no/
- Cultivate – Helgesens gate 18a, 0553 Oslo, Norway – https://cultivatefood.no
- Torggata Botaniske – Torggata 17B, 0183 Oslo, Norway https://www.torggatabotaniske.no/
- Veggie da Luca – Thorvald Meyers gate 34, 0555 Oslo, Norway https://delideluca.no/
- Silk Road at Oslo Street Food – Torggata 16, 0181 Oslo, Norway – https://www.oslo-streetfood.no/silk-road
The best time to visit Oslo
Positioned in the southern part of Norway, Oslo experiences a Humid continental climate; no dry season, warm summer, according to the Köppen climate classification, symbol Dfb. The climate bears a strong influence of Gulf Stream, thus enjoying a warmer climate than other regions of similar latitude around the world.
For Oslo annually, monthly average temperatures range between -6.8°C (19.8°F) to 21.5°C (70.7°F), showing significant fluctuations as the season change. Moreover, rainfall is experienced all year round, with monthly averages ranging from 36mm (1.42″) to 90mm (3.54″). The city endures between 4 and 8 rainy days per month, with the maximum number of rainy days in August and November.
The best time to visit Oslo
For visitors, the best time to visit Oslo is usually between June and August. Temperatures during these months range from 15.1°C (59.2°F) to 21.5°C (70.7°F), which is quite pleasant for outdoor activities. The sea temperature is at its highest, around 17.3°C (63.1°F) in June and 17.9°C (64.2°F) in August. These months also provide the longest daylight hours, between 17.9 and 18.7 hours, providing ample opportunity to explore the city’s attractions.
The worst time to visit Oslo
The winter season, from December to February, is regarded as the least attractive time to visit Oslo due to the cold temperatures and short daylight hours. The average temperatures plummet to cold levels between -6.8°C (19.8°F) to -0.9°C (30.4°F), and daylight is restricted to between 6.1 and 9.2 hours. Additionally, the sea temperature is at its coldest, dipping to between 3°C (37.4°F) to 4.2°C (39.6°F), making it unsuitable for water-based activities.
Where to stay in Oslo
1. Mid Range: Hotell Bondeheimen
This central hotel is just 100 metres from the National Gallery and Oslo’s main shopping street, Karl Johans Gate. Free WiFi and a popular in-house restaurant is available. The Oslo Opera House is 1.3 km away.
Hotel Bondeheimen’s spacious rooms also include cable TV, a tea/coffee maker and ironing facilities.
Hotel Bondeheimen’s restaurant, Kaffistova, specialises in traditional Norwegian food such as potato dumplings and cod.
Tinghuset Tram Stop is just around the corner from Bondeheimen and is a 4-minute ride from Oslo Central Station.
2. Luxury – Hotel Continental
The elegant Hotel Continental is centrally located in Oslo, only 150 metres from Oslo’s main street, Karl Johan. It is the only 5-star hotel in Norway, and offers free in-room Internet access.
The individually decorated rooms at Continental Hotel include a cable TV, minibar and an in-room safe. Bathrooms include amenities and a separate shower and bath.
Leisure options include a free 24 hour gym and a lobby lounge featuring Edward Munch lithographs.
Guests can enjoy fine dining at Restaurant Eik Annen Etage. The historic Theatercaféen has been the Oslo’s most popular dining and meeting place for over 100 years.
3. Budget -Bunks at Rode
Situated in Oslo, Bunks at Rode has a shared lounge, terrace, bar, and free WiFi throughout the property. The property is around 4.1 km from Akershus Fortress, 6.9 km from Sognsvann Lake and 2.4 km from Oslo Bus Terminal. The property is non-smoking and is located 2.5 km from Oslo Central Station.
Certain rooms are fitted with a kitchenette with a fridge, a microwave and a stovetop. The rooms have bed linen.
