Oslo is a beautiful city, one that rewards both exploring and slowing right down. Despite its contemporary appeal, there’s no hiding the fact that the Norwegian capital is notoriously expensive. Deutsche Bank has ranked it among the priciest cities in the world for a beer.

But here’s the thing. It’s still entirely possible to enjoy Oslo without spending a fortune. I lived in the city, and I want to make it accessible to any traveller, on any budget.

There are four main costs to pin down to make Oslo affordable: accommodation, transport, food, and attractions. Here’s how to handle each one.

1. Where to stay in Oslo on a budget

Finding a hotel in Oslo can be tricky and expensive, especially during conference and trade fair season, when visitors have been known to get pushed as far out as Lillehammer to find a room. Book ahead if you can.

For budget hostels, look at Anker Hostel and Haraldsheim Youth Hostel. My own top pick for a step up from hostel level is Comfort Hotel Xpress Youngstorget, a well-designed, budget-friendly option with a genuine eco angle: affordable vegan food on the menu and a wider focus on sustainability throughout. It has a rooftop terrace, a basement chill-out bar, a small fitness centre, and heated bathroom floors, a proper treat after a cold day out. It’s also close to the nightlife around Youngstorget, so it works well if you like being near the action.

For more tips on the best cheapest hostels and hotels in Oslo, check out our brand new guide.

2. Cheap Airbnb and free camping

Airbnb works the same way here as everywhere else, private apartments for less than a hotel room, and it’s a solid option if you want more space or a kitchen.

Norway’s “right to roam” law (allemannsretten) also means you can camp for free almost anywhere, as long as you’re at least 150 metres from an inhabited house, for up to 48 hours in one spot before you’re expected to move on.

 

3. How to get around Oslo on a budget- Hire a bike

Renting a bike is a great way to see more of the city, and Oslo City Bike makes it easy: download the app, then unlock and return bikes at docking stations around town. As of 2026, a single ride costs around 35 NOK, a day pass is about 69 NOK, and the 3-day “Discover Oslo” pass comes in at 119 NOK.

Otherwise, walk. Oslo’s centre is compact, and if you’re staying centrally, most attractions are within easy walking distance.

4. Invest in the Oslo Pass

The Oslo Pass is an excellent purchase if you are fond of museums, as the city caters to you the luxury of more museums and galleries than you can shake a stick at. Available for 1, 2 and 3 days, the Oslo Pass takes care of your public transport including bus, trams and a boat to Bygdoy in addition to free access to more than 30 galleries and museums across the city.

There are three types, based on how long your stay is

• 24 hours: 580 NOK (roughly €49)
• 48 hours: 845 NOK (roughly €72)
• 72 hours: 995-1045 NOK (roughly €85-90)

 

 

5. Visit Bygdoy Island

 

45 NOK: Boat 91 to Bygd1oy

Have an early start and catch the ferry to Bygdoy peninsula which showcases some of Oslo’s most famous galleries, museums, and beaches.

Bygdoy has a quaint, rustic feel with a rich history. Highlights here are The Norwegian Folk Museum, the Viking Ship Museum, the Kon-Tiki, Polarship Fram and the Norwegian Maritime museum. These are clustered together in a small radius making seeing everything simple and easy.

Catch the ferry (Boat 91) from Pier 3 by City Hall out to the Bygdøy peninsula. The crossing takes about 15 minutes and runs from mid-March to mid-October. It’s free with the Oslo Pass, or a few hundred kroner return if not.

6. Visit the Kon-tiki museum 

Entry Fee: 180 KR or Free with Oslo Pass

While everyone heads straight for the big names on Bygdøy, the Kon-Tiki Museum often gets overlooked, and it shouldn’t be. It tells the story of Thor Heyerdahl, the scientist and adventurer who crossed the Pacific on a balsa raft to prove early humans could have sailed to Polynesia long before anyone thought possible. You can see the original Kon-Tiki raft, the Ra II reed boat, and a 10-metre Easter Island statue replica.

Worth knowing: the nearby Viking Ship Museum is currently closed for a major rebuild and isn’t expected to reopen until around 2027, so don’t plan your visit around it.

The museum also has a film screening room and souvenir shop.

7. Visit the Nobel Peace Centre

 

Entry Fee: 180 KR or Free with Oslo Pass

An excellent museum which is thoughtfully laid out in different themed rooms, the Nobel Peace center features an exciting combination of changing and permanent exhibitions that promote popular interest in issues relating to war, peace and conflict resolution.

Taking off with a guided tour describing the current issues, you are presented with the digital displays about the Peace Prize laureates in the Nobel Field, a garden of 1000 fiber-optic lights.  On top of that, you can unveil The Electronic wallpapers, the magical book describing Alfred Nobel’s life.

The museum also features an interactive 30-minute activity called the “Fred and Toca Loca,” which is suitable for children accompanied by adults. So, It’s an inspiring, hands-on kind of museum which makes it great fun for kids and big kids alike.

8. Visit the Munch Museet

 

Entry fee: 120 KR, free with the Oslo Pass

Oslo has a great selection of museums, but for me, the standout museum is the Munch Museum.  Edvard Munch bequeathed a significant portion of his work to the city before his death in 1940, and this great museum is the result.

‘The Scream’ is the painting most synonymous with Munch and for many is the standout painting in the exhibition. However, there are some incredible works on display here like “Dance of Life” (my favorite), “Winter Night,” “Jealousy,””Eye to Eye,” and his “Self Portrait with Paint Brushes.” Munch’s art is incredibly intimate; the subjects painted are revealing which makes it very accessible to even the most casual observer and lover of art. I left the exhibition stunned, my mind filled with all kinds of imagery and a portrait of a wonderfully, talented but tragically flawed genius. I dare you not to fall in love with Munch’s art after seeing this exhibition.A must Oslo see.

9. Visit Vigeland Park

 

Vigeland Park is scattered with 192 sculptures in total. The park is Gustave Vigeland’s artistic statement about the quintessential themes of life and relationships. It ranges from the very expressive like the Angry Boy (in the picture, no not me, the wee boy above me) to the monumental Monolith: containing 121 figures at the height of 17 meters it symbolizes man’s longing and yearning for the spiritual and divine. Madman or genius –whatever you make of sculptures this is a unique display and very much worthwhile visiting during your Oslo visit. Plus it’s free.

10. How to eat in Oslo on a budget

Food and drink is where Oslo really earns its expensive reputation. A meal for two at a mid-range restaurant typically runs 300-800 NOK (roughly €22-44). Multiply that by three meals a day and it adds up fast. PS Checkout my cheap eats guide to Oslo

Supermarkets: Your newly found friends in Oslo

You could save a lot of money buying grocery and food from the supermarket and preparing your own sandwiches if you crave for a quick snack during the day (or night, if you struggle with night eating syndrome).  P.S. I managed to save a lot of money with the basics — fruits, veggies, eggs, bread, and yogurt.

With few extra NOK’s in your wallet, you can still have some meals out without breaking the bank.

11. THE LAST DROP: BOHEMEN

I discovered this pub by chance looking for somewhere to watch the football. It was absolutely packed to the rafters with football fans, plastered with football memorabilia from tip to toe and plasma screens in every corner. Every football team in the premiership I think is represented here by the local fans. Manchester United fans outnumber everyone which is understandable given the Norwegian association by native Ole Gunner Solsjkear.

Price Check: Pint of Frydenlund: 120 NOK.

There was good banter amongst the watching locals, and I felt really at home in this place. Supposedly it’s Travel Channel: Ian Wrighty’s fave hangs out in Oslo.  If you are a footy fan in Oslo and looking for a place to watch the game here- Bohemen is a local institution not to be missed.

So these were the best tips to save money when traveling to one of the most expensive cities in Europe because high prices and costly reputation shouldn’t put you off from experiencing this beautiful city.

Here’s the FAQ block, written to match the Copenhagen guide’s format and grounded entirely in the figures and recommendations already in the rewritten piece.

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FAQ: Oslo on a Budget

Q: Is Oslo really as expensive as people say?

Yes, Oslo is consistently ranked among the most expensive cities in the world, Deutsche Bank has even ranked it among the priciest for something as simple as a beer. That said, with the right approach to accommodation, transport, food, and attractions, it’s entirely possible to visit on a budget.

Q: Is the Oslo Pass worth buying?

It depends on how much sightseeing you’re packing in. At 580 NOK for 24 hours, 845 NOK for 48 hours, or 995-1045 NOK for 72 hours, the pass only pays off if you’re realistically hitting two or three paid attractions in that window, on top of using the free public transport and ferry access. Do the maths against individual entry fees (Kon-Tiki and the Nobel Peace Centre are both 180 NOK, the MUNCH Museum is around 220 NOK) before you commit.

Q: What’s the cheapest way to get around Oslo?

Walking, if you’re staying centrally, since the city centre is compact. For longer distances, Oslo City Bike is the best value option: around 35 NOK for a single ride, 69 NOK for a day pass, or 119 NOK for a 3-day “Discover Oslo” pass.

Q: How much should I budget for food per day in Oslo?

A mid-range restaurant meal for two typically runs 300-800 NOK, so it adds up fast over three meals a day. Buying basics from a supermarket (fruit, veg, eggs, bread, yoghurt) and self-catering where you can is the single biggest money-saver. For eating out, budget-friendly options like Deli de Luca and Peppes Pizza help keep costs down without sacrificing a proper meal.

Free and Budget Attractions

Q: What can I do in Oslo for free?

Vigeland Park is free year-round and home to 192 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland, including the towering Monolith. It’s one of the best free things to do in any Scandinavian capital.

Q: Is the Viking Ship Museum open?

Not currently. It’s closed for a major rebuild and isn’t expected to reopen until around 2027, so don’t plan a Bygdøy day trip around it. The Kon-Tiki Museum, on the same peninsula, is a great alternative and often gets overlooked by visitors expecting the Viking ships.

Q: Where has the Munch Museum moved to?

The MUNCH Museum relocated from its old Tøyen site to a striking new waterfront building near the Oslo Opera House. Entry is around 220 NOK, or free with the Oslo Pass.

Q: Can I camp for free in Norway?

Yes, Norway’s “right to roam” law (allemannsretten) allows free camping almost anywhere, provided you’re at least 150 metres from an inhabited house, for up to 48 hours in one spot before moving on.

Q: What are the cheapest places to stay in Oslo?

Hostels like Anker Hostel and Haraldsheim Youth Hostel are the most budget-friendly options. For a step up without a big price jump, Comfort Hotel Xpress Youngstorget offers a well-designed, eco-conscious stay with extras like a rooftop terrace and heated bathroom floors.

Q: Is Airbnb cheaper than a hotel in Oslo?

Generally yes, particularly if you need more space or want access to a kitchen to self-cater, which also helps offset Oslo’s high restaurant prices.

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