Downtown Oslo: Exploring the City's Highlights and History

(185 reviews)

Oslo audio tour: Downtown Oslo: Exploring the City's Highlights and History

This is a 1.8mi walking tour

It takes an average of 90 mins to complete.

Oslo

Norway

$9.99

Access all 36 locations offline with the VoiceMap app

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About the Tour

We're used to thinking that the world is out there but on this walking tour, you'll find that the world is contained within Oslo. Let one of Europe's most beautiful capitals seduce you as we take in the city's highlights from the Royal Palace and Parliament to the Noble Peace Centre and Oslo's Opera House.

Artist Lars Lillo Stenberg once described Oslo as the “smallest among Europe's colleagues, but largest in our small, long country. Located in the lap of Scandinavia, Located with the weird name - Oslo.” On this tour, I'll show you how apt a description that is. As you walk the city's downtown area, I'll tell you about the Munch Museum, the Nobel Peace Prize, Main Street, and Norway's National Day. I'll point out the city's unique proximity to nature too and shed light on what makes the city so typically Norwegian.

Whether it's your first time in the capital or you're a curious local wanting to find out more, this tour from town hall to the Norwegian Opera and Ballet in Bjørvika is a valuable introduction to Oslo's history and culture.

Tour Producer

Stormposten Lars Engerengen

31 tours

In the northern reaches of Europe, amidst the crisp air and breathtaking landscapes, resides an Arctic storyteller whose words weave magic into the frozen silence. Meet Lars Engerengen, a passionate narrator of the Arctic wilderness, a voice that carries the echoes of history and the whispers of untamed nature.

Living beneath the shimmering Northern Lights and the endless glow of the Midnight Sun, Lars discovered his fascination for the Arctic’s lore in childhood. Nights spent listening to age-old tales by the fireside sparked a curiosity that would shape his life’s journey. That spark grew into a flame as he ventured across icy tundras, sailed through fjords, and trekked along snow-laden paths, collecting stories etched into the land and its people.

His storytelling is more than words—it is an immersive experience. With a voice that soothes and inspires, Lars transports listeners to remote landscapes where ancient myths meet modern realities. Through his narratives, one feels the biting wind, hears the crunch of snow underfoot, and senses the resilience of those who carved out life in this harsh yet beautiful region.

Lars doesn't tell you everything, but he tells you enough to pique your curiosity. Enough to make you want to learn more. Enough to make you want to stay a while longer.

Join Lars on a journey beyond the ordinary—a voyage into the soul of the Arctic. Each tale is an invitation to explore a world where nature reigns supreme, and history lingers in every frozen breath. Step into the story, and let the Arctic speak through him.

Preview Location

Location 12

The Royal Palace

You're now at the square in front of the royal palace, where the King and Queen of Norway lives. Please stop for a moment, while I tell you more about the palace.

The architect of the royal palace was Hans Ditlev Franciscus von Linstow, and the construction took place from ... You're now at the square in front of the royal palace, where the King and Queen of Norway lives. Please stop for a moment, while I tell you more about the palace.

The architect of the royal palace was Hans Ditlev Franciscus von Linstow, and the construction took place from 1824 to 1849. The palace was originally built for King Karl Johan, but he died five years before its completion. It was therefore his successor King Oscar the 1st who moved became its first resident. July 26, 1849 was the official opening of the royal palace of Norway.

Only the King and Queen live here. The Crown Prince and his family lives at “Skaugum”, a farm located in Asker, just outside Oslo.

From 1849 until 1905 the palace was used only when the royal family was in Oslo – or Kristiania, which was the name of the city at that time.It became the royal family’s permanent residence in 1905, when King Haakon VII arrived with his family, after the union resolution of Sweden.

It’s a tradition in Norway, that on our constitution day – May 17th – we have a children's parade up along the main avenue to the palace. The royal family stand at their balcony waving to the children. The parade is so big, that the royal family normally spends 4 – 5 hours at the balcony, to see all of it.

Another tradition is that every Friday, the Norwegian government has its meeting with the King here in the palace, to discuss and inform about the status of the country.

To your left, behind the palace are two great parks – The Queens park, and the Park of the castle. The Queen's Park was created in 1751, as a private rococo garden. Since 1840 the Queens Park has been part of the Palace Park, but it's open only in the summer time between 18 May to 1 October.
Feel free to pause the tour and go explore the parks.

When you're done, or if you prefer to keep moving now, make your way over to the statue of the man sitting on his horse, in the middle of the square. I'll meet you there. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Honnørbrygga
Pipervika
City Hall Square
Aker Brygge
Nobel Peace Center
The National Museum
Nationaltheatret metro station
IBSEN Museum & Teater
Karl Johan-monumentet
The Royal Palace
University of Oslo
National Theatre
Grand Hotel Oslo
EGER
Dronning Mauds gate
Studenterlunden
Spikersuppa Ice Skating Rink
Jernbanetorget
Oslo Opera House

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Rådhusplassen, 0160 Oslo, Norway
Total distance

3km
Final location
Havnelageret, Langkaia 1, 0150 Oslo, Norway
Distance back to start location

948.78m

Directions to Starting Point

City Hall Square, Oslo.

The tour starts by the pier, opposite the City Hall building, in between the fountain and the pier. To get there, you have a few options. I would take the tram line 12 to Aker Brygge, and then walk in front of the ferries, to the middle of the square at the port. You may also get there using bus 31 to Rådhuset, and then cross the square to the portside.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

Royal Park, the bazaars, Eger Square, Østbanehallen, the National Opera

Best time of day

Anytime is good, but daytime is ideal. If you would like to take some photos, and avoid peak traffic, take the tour in the evening, right after the sunset.

Precautions

There might be a lot of traffic, so be careful crossing the roads.

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App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”