A Cozy Winter Weekend in Oslo, Norway - Christmas Markets, Saunas & Viking Adventures
While Norway wasn’t a new destination for me, returning to Oslo reminded me exactly why I’d go back again (and again). It’s one of those cities that feels peaceful the moment you arrive - clean, safe, scenic, and beautifully balanced between nature and modern design. And visiting in mid-November was especially lovely, with the Christmas markets already open and the city sparkling with lights.
When I went: November 2025
Duration: 2 days (including flights)
Tip: You can walk almost everywhere in Oslo. Public transport is great, but I didn’t need it at all - the city is compact, flat, and incredibly walkable.
Trolls of Norway
🗓️ Arrival, Saunas & Winter Markets
City highlights I explored all within walking distance:
Karl Johans gate - the main street lined with shops and cafés
Oslo Cathedral - quiet, warm, and beautiful
The Royal Palace - no entry, but the grounds are lovely
Oslo City Hall - striking architecture and free to enter
Akershus Fortress - amazing views over the fjord
And because it was mid-November… the Christmas markets were already open.
There is nothing more heartwarming than wandering through wooden stalls filled with ornaments, crafts, and warm treats.
I tried:
Caramelised almonds (dangerously addictive)
The traditional non-alcoholic Norwegian Christmas drink - sweet & spiced
In the evening, the city comes alive - Christmas lights everywhere, glowing against the cold air. It was magical.
SALT is hard to describe unless you’ve been - part art installation, part cultural space, part social sauna village right by the water.
SALT Sauna
Important tip:
👉 Sign up for the sauna ritual when you arrive.
Trust me - you won’t regret it. It was the highlight of the whole experience.
Practical details from my booking:
Bring a towel (rent 50 NOK)
Bring or rent a padlock (135 NOK)
Swimwear required
Flip-flops recommended
Outdoor showers (yes, even in November!)
A surreal, beautifully Nordic wellness experience.
SALT Street Food:
After sweating away all stress, I had a DIY Meat Platter at SALT Street Food.
Think: rustic wooden tables, a real fireplace, and delicious Norwegian flavours.
DIY meat platter
🗓️ Culture, Vikings & Winter Walks
Neighbourhood Strolls:
Damstredet - A little cobbled street with 18th-century wooden houses - calm, charming, picture-perfect.
Grünerløkka - Trendy cafés, vintage shops, local makers. A young, artsy vibe.
Vigeland Sculpture Park - Over 200 sculptures in a huge open-air space. Haunting, emotional, symbolic.
Street view
Opera House (I would highly recommend booking a tour):
The Oslo Opera House is one of the most iconic buildings in Scandinavia.
The guided tour is inexpensive (150 NOK) and surprisingly fascinating - backstage areas, rehearsal rooms, and insight into the architecture.
Before the tour, I grabbed a quick lunch at a nearby café - simple, fresh, very Norwegian.
Viking History Reimagined:
Museum of Cultural History - Viking Exhibition
Classic but great. Artefacts, burial ships, weaponry - everything you’d expect from a museum with real Viking heritage.
Then came the real highlight…
I can’t recommend this enough. It’s a digital, immersive museum featuring:
VR experiences
270° cinema
Interactive installations
VR Experience
👉 The VR sessions run every 20 minutes.
👉 Allow 1.5–2 hours minimum - it’s worth it.
This is one of the most modern and engaging ways I’ve ever learned about history. Absolutely brilliant.
Traditional Norwegian Dinner:
Dinner at Den Glade Gris - cozy, hearty, very local.
I had the three-course menu (549–579 NOK), and it was the perfect winter meal to end the day.
Den Glade Gris - restaurant
🌅 Daylight & Practical Notes
Sunrise: 8:15 AM
Sunset: 4:21 PM
Daylight hours: Just over 8 hours
Transport: Walkable city - public transport is barely needed
Atmosphere: Calm, clean, festive, and beautifully lit for Christmas
💬 Final Thoughts
Oslo in November is a perfect blend of winter coziness and cultural richness.
Between the Christmas markets, modern museums, fjord-side saunas, and walkable streets, it’s a city that invites you to slow down and enjoy being there.
I will go back again without hesitation.
View from the Opera house
