A Complete Getaway: An affordable escape in (famously pricey) Oslo

In our A Complete Getaway series, writers share their spending on recent trips. In this installment, London-based writer Tasmin Waby reveals how she transformed a high-cost destination into an affordable escape.

After receiving a last-minute invitation from my best friend in Australia, who’s now living in Norway, to celebrate his [insert significant number here] birthday in October, I decided to treat myself to a solo long weekend.

My goals were to explore some inspiring art, stunning architecture, and the beautiful autumn colors; to cycle around Oslo; and to enjoy a sauna.

From London, it’s just a two-hour flight to Oslo – similar to flying from Sydney to Hobart or New York to Chicago. Since it was the shoulder season, I was pleasantly surprised by the affordable flight prices (as long as I traveled with just cabin baggage and accepted a middle seat). I hadn’t flown within Europe since the pandemic, so the low fare to Norway was a delightful surprise.

I knew that traveling in Scandinavia could be quite costly, but living on a budget in London has taught me to keep a close eye on my expenses. Unfortunately, the deals ended with my flight.

Daily Expenses

Pre-Trip Expenses

I reserved a simple room at Cochs Pensjonat for three nights (£62 per night) since Citybox (which was highly recommended) was fully booked.

Total: £186

On the Ground

Thursday

Arriving in Oslo: Oslo Lufthavn immediately impressed me with its luxurious atmosphere. There were two ways to get into the city; feeling weary, I opted for the easily accessible Flytoget (£17.37) – which I later realized was a costly choice.

My accommodation was just across Slottsparken (which is free) from Nationaltheatret Station. As it was getting late, I wondered about the safety of walking through a large park alone at night... but it turned out to be perfectly fine. The tram around the park would have taken 12 minutes and cost me. Plus, I was able to admire the Royal Palace beautifully illuminated at night.

Groceries: After checking in at my hotel, I stepped out to grab some groceries for the next few days: yogurt, muesli, and berries for breakfast, along with lunch items (Norwegian beetroot salad, smoked salmon, rye biscuits) totaling £19.89. A year ago, the cost of food in Norway would have shocked me – but due to the inflation crisis in the UK, this felt quite reasonable.

Total: £37.26

Friday

Coffee and Nature: With sunny weather predicted for Friday, I decided to start my day at the park. After enjoying a black coffee (£2.65) at Kaffebrenneriet, right next to my hotel, I took a 20-minute uphill walk through charming historic streets to Frognerparken (free).

Central Vigelandsparken (free) was bustling with tourists – myself included – snapping photos of the impressive statues by Gustav Vigeland. However, as I wandered along the autumnal paths, I mostly encountered locals walking their dogs or pushing strollers. It was sunny (though chilly), so I spread out my picnic lunch and soaked up the sun on a park bench, feeling thankful.

Sightseeing: Next, I hopped on the tram to Central Oslo (£3.03) and admired the architecture at Deichman Bjørvika (free), Oslo’s main public library. Adjacent to it, I explored the Oslo Opera House (free) and watched locals dive into the chilly Oslofjord from the floating sauna village across the harbor. At Operastranda (free), I saw people kayaking from the small beach.

I popped into the foyer of the newly opened Munch Museum and browsed the museum shop (free), but I decided to save my museum visit for a rainy day. Instead, I headed to Inger Munch’s pier to admire The Mother, a large bronze sculpture by Tracey Emin (free), along with a complimentary outdoor photography exhibition.

Biking: It was time to explore further, so I rented a Lime bike (£5.46) to ride over to Grünerløkka. I got lost a few times, so the cost should have been lower – but I ended up seeing much more of central Oslo.

Dinner: I spent the afternoon soaking in the atmosphere: exploring local shops, cafes, and squares under the late afternoon sun before taking the tram back (£3.03) to my hotel. I stopped by another supermarket to pick up Norwegian egg salad, a baguette, and some chocolate for dinner (£8.70). On my first day, I had explored a lot of Oslo while sticking to my budget. Success!

Total: £22.87

Saturday

Transport: My best friend was celebrating his birthday today; he lives an hour south of Oslo, in Horten. I met some friends on platform 2 at Nationaltheatret Station to board the train to the stunning new Holmestrand train station (£32.49 round trip), which is an architectural marvel in itself.

We spent the rest of the day preparing for the afternoon party, indulging in plenty of delicious home-cooked food. Later that evening, a small group of us made our way to the local sailing club, where my friend had reserved the floating sauna (a bucket-list experience for me). I ended up staying overnight.

Total: £32.49 (plus gifts for the host’s children).

Sunday

Coffee and museum: On a crisp early morning (with ice on the car window!), I was dropped off at the station to catch the train back to Oslo and visit the Nasjonalmuseet (£15), grabbing a coffee from Espresso House for the journey (£3.68).

I'm passionate about art galleries, and this one featured works by Norwegian artists I had yet to discover, so I lingered for several hours. The Edvard Munch section showcased well-known pieces like The Scream, Madonna, and The Day After – but it was his self-portraits that intrigued me the most. My favorites from the permanent collection included a painting titled Summer Night by Kitty Kielland (1886) and the In a Norwegian Landscape series (1993) by Torbjørn Rødland.

I crossed the street to explore the grounds of Akershus Fortress (free), as the Nobels Fredssenter (Nobel Peace Center) was unfortunately closed until November 2023.

Lunch: I continued north, passing by notable civic structures such as the Rådhus (Town Hall) and the elegant Universitetsplassen (University Square), before stopping for lunch at Nordvegan (£19.06).

From there, I took a 25-minute stroll to the Interkulturelt Museum (free), navigating through the vibrant Grønland district, where I unexpectedly discovered Scandinavia’s ties to the Aswan High Dam in Egypt.

A brief walk brought me to the Botanical Garden (free), where I particularly appreciated the informative displays in the Viking Garden (free). Unfortunately, Oslo’s renowned Viking Ship Museum remains closed until 2026.

I decided to make my way to Ekebergparken (free), which is just a short tram ride or a steep uphill walk away. Feeling a bit lazy after a late night, I opted for another Lime bike (a choice I'd come to regret). The ride up turned into an adventure, with a stop at Gamlebyen Gravlund (the old-town cemetery).

Upon arriving at Ekebergparken, I found there was no designated place to securely park my Lime bike. As time was running out, I took a chance and left it at the general bike-parking area. I then wandered to one of the lookout points for stunning views over Oslo and explored some sculpture paths. Fortunately, my bike was still there when I returned 25 minutes later. The entire trip totaled 55 minutes (£12.77).

I headed back to Deichman Bjørvika to relax, recharge my phone, and fill up my water bottle. At 5:55 pm, I joined the crowd to catch the sunset from Opera Oslo, then made my way to Barcode Street Food for some plant-based comfort food from Dirty Vegan (£16.39). After a long day, I walked back to my hotel room for an early night with my book.

Total: £66.90

Monday

Before my departure for London, I returned to Grünerløkka, where my friend met me for coffee at Tim Wendelboe’s Espresso Bar (he had been rather underwhelmed by my previous coffee choices). I decided to switch things up and ordered a cascara tea (essentially, tea made from coffee cherry husks – which I absolutely loved!). I covered the cost (£8.20).

Just a block away from the café was the Akerselva River walk (free). Since my friend needed to return to work, I continued along the path towards the city center. The river gorge was stunning with autumn colors – though I missed out on the more impressive waterfalls further upstream. At Nybrua bridge, I hopped on the tram (£3.03) for the rest of the journey, regretting my decision to carry my luggage around.

Without a specific plan, I aimlessly roamed the central shopping area searching for souvenirs for my kids, but I couldn't find anything they would like. (Teenagers!) In the end, I settled on some cute toothbrushes (£4.85)...I know, not my best moment.

I recalled reading about a relatively new year-round rooftop pool at the art deco hotel, Sommerro. However, upon arrival, I learned that the pool is exclusive to hotel guests, and the basement pool and sauna (£18), which sounded heavenly, was about to close. Clearly, life favors the organized.

I should have visited the Ibsen Museum nearby, but I was done lugging my baggage around. Instead, I strolled past Slottsparken again to Nationaltheater Station, stopping for a café sandwich and coffee (£11.57) before catching an early RE10 train to Oslo airport (£8.90).

I have a history of missing flights, so this seemed like a prudent conclusion to my mini-break. It also meant I wouldn’t be tempted to overspend. At the airport, I pre-downloaded some Netflix episodes for my journey home. It turned out to be a laid-back final day – and even if I didn’t accomplish much, I departed feeling content.

Total: £36.55

Final tally: £326.71

Notes

The total mentioned includes my on-the-ground expenses and accommodation, but it doesn't account for airfare or my side trip to my friend's birthday celebration. Oslo can be pricey, yet it’s an ideal destination for solo travelers: easy to navigate, very safe, and rich in culture. I explored much of the city – from key attractions to local experiences – and I left eager to return at the first opportunity.

If I had a bigger budget, I would have dined at least once at a top-tier restaurant and visited more paid attractions, like the Munch Museum and the Norwegian Folk Museum. With additional time or better planning, I would have also ventured to an island and enjoyed some forest walks beyond the city limits.