Winter Wonderland: Our Top 10 Winter Activities in and Around Oslo

If you want to get into the winter and Christmas spirit, you must go to Norway. Here in the far north, an incredible winter wonderland awaits you, where you can not only enjoy many activities but also indulge in culinary delights. Norway's capital, Oslo, offers many fantastic winter activities that you should not miss. We'll show you what to do in winter in Oslo and around the city.

During the Christmas season, Oslo transforms into a sea of lights. The large Christmas market in the center, Jul i Vinterland, welcomes visitors with a breathtaking atmosphere. In the park in front of the National Theatre, there's a huge ice rink where everyone can skate for free. Countless wooden stalls are set up around it, showcasing not only Norwegian treats but also handcrafted goods. A beautifully illuminated Ferris wheel offers a fantastic view from above. In the light tunnel, not only kids are amazed; adults also take photos.

But there is also a small Christmas market at the alternative SALT site, which is right by the Oslofjord. A market in tents features great jewelry and many other products. Christmas wreaths are adorned with the Peace logo; a DJ plays music, and delicious food from around the world is available.

Oslo is indeed a winter paradise. The entire downtown is beautifully decorated for Christmas. For example, the main street, Karl Johans Gate, is draped with giant bells. It's worth walking through the wintery downtown Oslo. On the Visit Oslo website, you'll find an overview of all Christmas markets and events during the Advent season.

At the SALT site, you'll also find an exciting sauna area. It's a bit rougher, more alternative. You pack your clothes into bags and off you go. Past burning barrels, we head into the largest sauna, one of the biggest in the world. Under a huge peaked roof, multiple sauna stoves are heated, with club music mixed by a DJ. In the red light, you relax on wooden benches while drinking beer (very expensive) or water, which is available for free. Outside, there are smaller wooden barrel saunas. If you're brave enough after sauna bathing, you can jump into the fjord or lie down in a barrel of ice-cold water.

Please note that you need to book a time slot for the sauna at the SALT site.

Taking subway line 1, we travel about 30 minutes to Holmenkollen, a 1,217-foot high mountain in the Frognerseteren district. Even the train ride is a must. On the left side, you have a breathtaking view of the snow-covered trees, the fjord, and grassy houses in the midst of the snow.

From the last stop, Frognerseteren, we hike with our guide Einar from Oslo Hiking, on a route of about five kilometers. Soon we reach a bobsled track from the first ever bobsleigh world championship in 1955. We stroll past amazing viewpoints until we reach the Holmenkollen chapel and finally arrive at the Holmenkollen ski jump. The Holmenkollbakken is one of the oldest ski jumping facilities in the world, which also houses a ski museum. We are speechless standing before the giant ramp.

If there's no snow in Oslo at the start of winter, we recommend an incredible experience: visit the year-round ice hall SNØ. It takes you about 20 minutes by train from the city to Lørenskog station. From the station, follow the signs to the huge ice sports hall. Once you arrive, you'll need to orient yourself. In the basement, you'll find ski rentals and changing rooms that only work via smartphone app.

On 36,000 square meters, there's an ice climbing course and three large ski slopes of varying difficulty levels. The snow park is perfect for kids. We were on the 1.5-kilometer long cross-country ski trail that runs high above the ski slopes. For children just learning to ski, there's a separate area. Additionally, the hall features various shops and restaurants as well as cafes.

Depending on whether the lakes outside of Oslo are frozen or not, Wild Oslo offers winter kayaking or ice skating on the lake. We paddled with the kayak on Sværsvann Lake, which is about a 25-minute drive or a 40-minute bus ride (number 550) from Oslo, and we really enjoyed this experience. Switch off your mind, and embrace complete tranquility and nature. You only hear the occasional paddle strokes in the water, nothing else.

With our guide Oddbjørn, we landed on an island and sat by the campfire, grilling veggie hot dogs in typical Norwegian lompe bread (potato flatbread) while enjoying the wilderness and solitude.

Are you looking for a spectacular overnight stay? Then definitely check out the Konglehytten at Villa Heidi in Espa, north of Oslo. You can reach the accommodation, for example, by rental car in about an hour from Oslo city center, and only 40 minutes from the airport. The beautiful cabins with private sauna are situated in the middle of nowhere above Lake Mjøsa. They look just like a real igloo. In the tiny house with self-catering, you enjoy the evening, watch the campfire, and savor the moment, secluded in nature.

Right next to the igloo, there's also a small sauna that can be heated with firewood. After a sauna session, you cool off with snow. Wonderful.

Not far from the town of Son by the Oslofjord lies the well-known Son Spa. The elegant 4-star hotel impresses with an excellent restaurant and service as well as a beautiful spa area.

The experience sauna infusion in shaman style with herbs takes place in a sauna hut on the sea. The sauna hut even has direct access to the Oslofjord. You can jump directly from the sauna bench through the hatch into the ice-cold water of the Oslofjord (caution, seawater)!

Every child knows that Santa Claus comes from Norway - at least those who believe in Santa. The Christmas mail arrives in Drøbak, at the Tregaardens Julehus, one of the places in Norway for Christmas letters.

All year round, you have the opportunity to send Christmas mail and purchase Christmas decorations at the Christmas house. Make sure to plan time, because there's so much to discover. So far, 500,000 letters from 119 countries have arrived in Drøbak, which are currently all being archived. Santa has his hands full. And you're guaranteed to get into the Christmas spirit. The entire town is beautifully festively decorated.

On Lake Randsfjorden, the fourth largest lake in Norway, lies Hadeland Glassverk. The glassworks was founded in 1762 and is Norway's oldest industrial company. Open year-round, you can watch the glassblowers at work. Glass is held in hissing furnaces and worked while glowing.

There are also various shops in the traditional wooden houses. Here, you not only find glass from the factory but also porcelain and Italian delicacies. In the restaurants, you can enjoy the typical cinnamon roll. During the Christmas season, you can also stroll through their small Christmas market in the main hall.

Hadeland Glassverk is just over an hour's drive from Oslo and is perfect for a day trip. By bus number 113 and number 200, it takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Our tip: Stay at the Thorbjørnrud Hotel. It's just a few minutes' walk from Hadeland Glassverk. Book a room with a romantic view of Lake Randsfjord. You can take a walk along the fjord directly from the hotel. Enjoy breakfast with waffles in the morning and treat yourself to a glass of wine with a delicious fish dish in the evening.

We are sure: we have found one of the most beautiful cities in Norway. Especially during Christmas time, Fredrikstad looks like it came straight out of a Christmas movie. Small, lovingly decorated shops shine with Christmas lights. The Christmas tree in the city center is also impressive, and the white stalls of the Christmas market are so charming that just seeing them brings on the Christmas spirit.

Fredrikstad has a long history. From 1663 to 1666, a star-shaped fortress was built on the east bank of the Glomma, the largest river in Scandinavia. It still exists today and is Northern Europe's best-preserved fortress. Here you will also find old cannons and a stocks on the marketplace.

Our tip for the evening: Take the free city ferry to the new district of Fredrikstad. Here, one of the best fish restaurants in Norway awaits you, the Restaurant Slippen. If possible, reserve a window seat with a view of the river and the city.

Tip: A beautiful little hotel is located directly at the Christmas market with the romantic white stalls. The Gamlebyen Hotell feels like it came straight out of a Norwegian winter fairy tale. The decor is perfectly matched and creates a very romantic atmosphere. From there, you can directly take your walk into the old town.

Lillehammer is about two hours by train or car from Oslo and is perfect for a winter weekend trip. Lillehammer is known beyond Norway's borders because of the 1994 Olympics. You can learn all about the background and history of the games at the Norwegian Olympic Museum. The museum is integrated into Maihaugen, one of Europe's largest open-air museums. Here, you can look into 200 houses, including the homes of Norwegians from the golden 1920s.

There's also a beautiful Christmas market in Lillehammer where you can stroll and taste treats like fried apples or donuts filled with vanilla cream. One of the absolute winter highlights in Lillehammer is the FIS World Cup in cross-country skiing held in December.

Lillehammer is not far from Sjusjøen, one of Norway's best cross-country skiing destinations. You'll find about 217 miles of groomed trails. With our cross-country skis, we could directly start from our self-catering cabin right in the winter wonderland.

The Rustad Hotell is located right by Lake Sjusjøen - from which the place derives its name. In winter, the lake is frozen and forms a huge ice surface. You can also go ice skating here (ask the locals if it's safe). The hotel offers cozy self-catering cabins, picturesque by the lake. The cabins accommodate two families and ensure adventurous feelings. In the evenings, you sit by the warm fire oven while the kids can sleep on mattress piles right under the roof.

Can you ski well in Norway?

Norway is a paradise for skiers. In areas like Sjusjøen, Lygna Ski Center, Lillehammer, and in the vicinity of Oslo, you'll find fantastic ski slopes.

When do Christmas markets start in Oslo?

The large Christmas market in Oslo begins already in late November and runs until just before Christmas. Selected smaller Christmas markets often only take place on weekends. You'll find a good overview of all Christmas markets in Oslo and events during the Advent season on the Visit Oslo website.

What should I keep in mind during winter in Oslo?

Winter in Norway is cold and icy. Make sure you are always dressed warmly enough. For shoes, spikes are recommended in rural areas. We had double-digit minus degrees in December.

What else should you know about Oslo?

In Oslo (as in all of Norway), everything is paid for by card or mobile app. Cash is not welcome even at the Christmas markets. However, the Norwegian app Vipps can only be used by Norwegians. Always ask at the market stalls beforehand if you can pay by credit card. Sometimes you might still be able to pay in cash.

Where is the best place to stay in Oslo?

The Karl Johan Hotel is located in the city center of Oslo, directly at the Christmas market during the Christmas season. You can expect elegant rooms with a great city view.

The newly opened Revier in Kongens gate in Oslo is fully digital (room keys via app) and offers modern rooms and apartments with kitchens.