Top Rated Attracties in Oslo

At Parkteatret (the old cinema at Grünerlkka) you will find an exciting theater company that has performed a number of interesting plays. Nordic Black Theater is a drama school specifically aimed at young people with origins in Third World countries. It readily experiments with alternative methods and forms of expression. This is a good place to visit if you are looking for a different and unusual theatrical experience.

Inspired by the Norwegian wilderness, the Oslo Opera House is a marvel of modern architecture and the home of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet. The glass facade of the playhouse is embraced by a marble roof that swoops down to its base in a graceful arch, inviting the audience to take a walk on the roof and drink in sweeping views of the waterfront. Inside, the spacious hall is a tapestry of textures and patterns designed by local artists; a visual and tactile experience that mimics the country's natural wonders. The concert hall itself is illuminated by a moon-like chandelier of hand-cast glass bars, beneath which sprawls a horseshoe chamber replete in wood. On stage, the Oslo Opera House hosts a diverse program of the performing arts, showcasing classical performances alongside contemporary renditions by some of the world's best-known artists. A cultural and artistic pearl, the Oslo Opera House is a contemporary wonder that was built to be touched by the masses.

Vigeland Park is the world's largest sculpture park dedicated to the work of a single artist, and an ode to one man's obsession with the human form. The park displays over 200 sculptures fashioned from granite, bronze and wrought iron by the Norwegian artist, Gustav Vigeland, created over a period of 20 years from 1924 to 1943. In fact, the park itself was designed by the famed sculptor and is actually a mammoth installation in Frogner Park. Vigeland's work varies from depictions of humans engaged in everyday tasks, to more symbolic and abstract works like The Monolith, a 14.12-meter (46.33-foot) high sculpture composed of 121 human figures intended to represent the human desire to reach out to the divine. Other notable sculptures include The Wheel of Life and The Fountain. Although each is a masterpiece in its own right, the interplay with the layout and architecture of the park creates a whole that is more amazing than the sum of its parts. Today, Vigeland Park is one of Oslo's most popular attractions, visited by over one million tourists each year.

Holmenkollbakken on the west side of the city is famous for the enormous ski jump that can be seen from just about everywhere in Oslo. The most popular sports arena in Norway, Holmenkollen also contains the world's oldest Ski Museum and an exciting ski-simulator (on which visitors can try out the Holmenkollen ski jump themselves!). Holmenkollen hosts a variety of winter sports events, culminating in the annual ski festival in March. Even those not interested in winter sports should not miss the chance to enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of the city.

The former studio of sculptor Gustav Vigeland's lesser-known brother, Emanuel, is now a combined museum and mausoleum. The windowless, church-like room plays tricks on your eyes when you enter, but after a few minutes an impressive mural covering the walls and ceiling will unravel, a truly awe-inspiring representation of entire human life.

Norsk Folkemuseum, het 100 jaar oude openluchtmuseum, heeft meer dan 150 authentieke gebouwen uit verschillende regio's. Het gebouw dateert uit de middeleeuwen, ook de Gol stave kerk uit de 13e eeuw. De permanente tentoonstelling heeft onderdelen handwerken, traditionele kleding en de cultuur van het Sami volk. Op de benedenverdieping zijn een souvenirwinkel, een café en een restaurant.