24 Hours in Scandinavia
Oslo Walk to the ferry piers near City Hall and board a public boat to Hovedøya, whose name means“ Main Island.” Standard public transportation tickets are valid on the island ferries. Hovedøya is the closest island to central Oslo and has beaches, wooded paths and the ruins of a medieval Cistercian monastery. The ruins date to the 12th century, when monks from the Cistercian Catholic order established an abbey on the island. Make sure to stay on the marked trails because parts of Hovedøya are protected for their plants, wildlife and geology. Back in the center, have lunch near the harbor and walk east. The route passes the Oslo Opera House, whose sloping roof is open to pedestrians, and MUNCH, a waterfront museum named after Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. Choose one museum and give it enough time. Reserve a session at one of the floating saunas along the Oslofjord. Operators run them throughout the year. Visitors can alternate between the heated sauna and the cold water, although the dip is optional. Finish at Ekebergparken, the Ekeberg Sculpture Park, which is reached by tram from the center. Its wooded paths include works by international artists and viewpoints over the harbor.
Stortorget, Gamla Stan
Hovedøya, Oslo
12 · ESCAPE Fall 2026