SeeSentrum

Opera House

Norway's first entry into the top league of modern architecture. Awarded the 2008 prize for best cultural building at the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona, and the prestigious Mies van der Rohe award for best European contemporary architecture in 2009, its appearance is stunning. Shaped as a glacier or a ship, the amazing building seems to float by the inlet Bjørvika, giving a stunning impression. Climb the building on the marble slopes (summer only) for a unique Oslo view. The main highway, which used to pass just between the Opera and Oslo Central Station, is now moved to a sub-sea tunnel under Bjørvika.

Getting there: all trams and buses to Jernbanetorget or Oslo S then take the footbridge from the seaside exit of Oslo central station, next to the Airport Express train terminal
Website: operaen.no (opens in a new tab)

Directions Suggest a nearby place

Listing from Wikivoyage: Oslo/Sentrum, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

Close by

SeeInner East
Munch Museum
Opened in Oct 2021, this striking harbour building exhibits paintings by the Norwegian painter Edward Munch (1863-1944). Lots of his famous work is here - he made many versions of "The Scream" and these are rotated for display. Munch also produced huge paintings for the grandiose walls of the University of Oslo Aula, but these are seldom accessible to the public. Entrance is free on Wednesdays from 6pm-9pm, you still have to book a ticket. The former museum further out at Tøyen has closed.
Sun-Tue 10:00-18:00, Wed-Sat 10:00-21:00Adult 160 kr, student 100 kr, child free
BuySentrum
Oslo Gift Shop
Souvenirs.
EatInner East
Nodee
All-Asian gourmet offering south of downtown, at the waterfront. The best East-Asian restaurant in Northern Europe (competing it out with dinner), with prices to match. There are two restaurants: Barcode, and Sky. Sky is on the thirteenth floor, and is more of a bar/lounge; while Barcode is the main restaurant.
Barcode is closed 10 July - 14 August 2017
SeeInner East
Barcode
Barcode defines a new waterfront in the Bjørvika area. The plan for the new structures was adopted in 2003, and as of 2015 nine buildings are finished, and two are under construction. Three more are planned. While the buildings contribute to a spectacular waterfront, viewed from the seaside, they also block much of the sea-view from the other side, and therefore their contribution to the concept of "Fjordbyen", the initiative of the Oslo City Council to make the entire waterfront from Frognerstranda (west), to Bekkelaget (south-east) available for public recreation, is disputed. The buildings are mostly inhabited by actors in the financial and consulting business (PWC, KLP, Deloitte, etc.), while the MAD building holds private apartments. The neighborhood is famous from 2019 TV series Beforeigners.