Is Oslo a good long weekend trip with children in October?

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am considering a long weekend in Oslo at October half-term. Have found a hotel that includes breakfast, dinner and fika and cheapish Ryan Air flights, although I have seen that the Ryan Air Oslo airport is about 90 minutes from the city. Anyone who has been to Oslo think it would be a good weekend trip? Any reccommendations? We would be going with children and were thinking of going to the big sculpture park, a boat trip and just a mosey around the city.

Not sure. A boat trip could be windy and wet. The Royal Palace is interesting and the art galleries (Munch in particular) but it’s not the best sightseeing city in the world but it has some interesting museums. The Fram museum and the Norway folk museum are good and there’s a Viking ship museum. So I’d check if these are of interest.

It’s an expensive city so watch alcohol prices.

I’d also say it’s not the most touristy of capital cities, so do your research first. I think places like Amsterdam may have more appeal.

We took our kids but in summer. It might get dark quite early.

How old are the kids?

We did the folk museum, the park with the very weird sculptures (!!), the palace, the ski jump, the art museum and DH and I did the Munch museum (kids stayed in the hotel). Great public transport.

kids are 13,11,7 and 4. Weirdly we were looking at somewhere more sunny and the older two both have said they want to go to Norway! We don't drink much and hoping by getting a hotel with breakfast and dinner. I'm thinking summer might be better.

We were in Oslo in June. It's a fun city that is easy to navigate with lots of interesting museums. But the weather is likely to be bad (colder than here and darker). If you are happy with that and have found a good deal with food then I think it could be a good trip.

but is Oslo in October what your kids have in mind when they asked for Norway? It isn't snow and spectacular scenery.

I think Ryanair still fly to Torp airport, there is a bus to the centre of Oslo so it's easy enough.
You can take a boat trip to the museums on the Bygdøy peninsula from the harbour, or a trip out to one of the islands. Frognerpark for the sculptures, get the metro (t-bane) to the holmenkollen ski jump, go to Frognerseteren at the end of the line for a good view, or go to Sognsvann for a walk around the lake. You could do the one day 'Norway in a nutshell' trip. Akershus fortress and the Munch museum.
Can you tell I love Oslo!

Lived in Oslo for a few years, and go back most years with kids currently 14, 12 and 8.

It's a fantastic city with loads to do. Look at getting the Oslo pass, then look at the included attractions for an idea of what's worth seeing based on your interests.

Definitely get the boat from aker brygge to the Folksmuseum, and tie in the Fram museum. That was an unexpected favourite with my kids.

If you can, I'd go in the Christmas break instead. You'll have snow then, at least at the higher levels. You can get the train up to frognerseteren, and walk down a beautiful snowy trail about 2km to holmenkollen ski jump and museum (which has a super cool troll themed soft play inside). Or if enough snow you can rent sledges up there and do the sledge trail a few times. It is bloody amazing!

I’d say go for it. Beer was about €12 for 500ml so as long as you are aware of this and checked entry prices- weather could be cold but not necessarily. It will get dark a bit earlier than here

some great suggestions. The idea of Christmas holidays or feb actually does sound a good idea, I think they are imagining snow and ice and the dark and cold will feel exciting then. I think I will go back to the drawing board for a proper winter break

It's beautiful in the snow. I've been in December and February- December was better, in Feb the pavements were really icy and I should have taken those grips you put over your shoes, as me and my friends had to hold into each other to walk anywhere outside the very centre, where they have heated pavements. We went on the boat from the harbour to the museums in December and I've never been so cold! You'll need lots of warm layers.

It’s a gorgeous city.

Skip the boat rides and use the ferry that goes around all of the islands in the harbour for a boat tour. If you get off make sure you’re at the port again for the last boat back.

Flying for a long weekend is so unnecessary. Find a UK city to mooch around and make a tiny contribution to the future of the earth your children will have to inhabit.

I live in Oslo, you’ve had great advise already. October can be magical. One poster mentioned “the park with the weird statues in” and it’s so beautiful in the autumn, the leaves of the oak trees have all come down and you wade through them. The statues depict the seasons of life, so infant through to old and death. And all of lived life in between so lovers having a fight, grief etc. You really need to walk the right way around and preferably have someone point out what the various statues mean. It all crescendos in a monolith formed entitled of human forms. I have lovely memories of autumn walks throwing leafs around. In December there is the winter wonderland, like a small Christmas market but sadly you cannot be guaranteed snow in December. Some years the snow comes later, in January. The museums mentioned are great but just check opening times. One museum not mentioned is the Resitance Museum at Akershus Festning that focuses on the underground Norwegian resistance during the Second World War. But likely more of a hit with older children if they take the time to digest what it all means. For the younger ones Oslo has lots of playgrounds, some in interesting locations. And you can walk all over the Opera House. Food and drink is expensive but frankly I was just in London and we are pretty much on par now. No one looks down on a packed lunch in Norway. Check with the hotel if you’d be allowed to make sandwiches for lunch and pack sandwich bags. Being water bottles and you can fill them up from any tap, all drinking water. If your budget stretched and your intrigued, book one of the saunas on the Harbour front by either Aker Brygge or Bjørvika. Unique experience, particularly if paired with a dip in the sea. Not suitable for very young children though. Lots to do hiking wise and for free too. And there’s the Technical Museum, the Paradox Museum and the Reptile Park. You’ll need good shoes and jackets and not be faced too much by wind, rain or cold. It will nevertheless feel different than the UK so great as a weekend getaway. I hope you come and have a great time!

@Idlewilder Maybe post on the “we are all doomed” thread? Whether we have the odd holiday abroad, or not, makes little difference to anything!

There’s always one 🙄

See “the scream” by Edward Munch. I visited oslo in July and loved the city. Lovely cafe culture. I preferred the national museum over the munch museum altho it is exhibited (both originals) at both museums. Very nice cafes in the national museum It was lively and busy.

The train service from Oslo airport was excellent. However, I haven't stayed in the city (leapt straight onto a nasty un-eco cruise ship) and agree with a PP that it isn't perhaps the spectacular Norwegian scenery your kids might be imagining.

Have you considered Bergen? It's smaller and ideal for a long weekend (can be v. wet mind you) and presumably has plenty of flights there. Lots of history, funicular, cable car, walks, etc It's also hillier and with actual fjords.