A student's guide to Oslo

Student life isn’t just about studying. As a new student, there’s so much to discover – and Oslo offers everything from a vibrant city vibe to beautiful nature. Here are our top recommendations!

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Feeling hungry? Oslo has something for every taste. Here are some of the coziest spots to grab a bite!

• Babbo Collective: Craving a good breakfast, coffee, or pastry? This is the place! The menu varies, but you’ll find sourdough treats, quality cheeses and butter, and delicious sweets – something a bit different from the usual sandwich.
• Oslo Street Food: With 16 food stalls and four bars offering cuisine from around the world, you're sure to find something you love! No need to book a table – there are 550 seats available. Every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM, it turns into a nightlife venue.
• If you like the food hall vibe, check out Barcode Street Food, Via Village, amongst others.
• Punjab Tandoori: Authentic Indian food served by the same couple since 1990. Quick, delicious, and satisfying meals for 109–230 NOK. Could it be any better?

Whether it’s pizza, ramen, or falafel, Oslo’s restaurants have it all!

• Koie Ramen: Tasty and affordable – Koie is a go-to for ramen lovers. Generous portions and deep flavors in a casual setting. Perfect for chilly days or when you want to try something new.
• Mamma Pizza: Dreaming of authentic Italian food? No need to travel far. Mamma Pizza offers a wide range of authentic Italian dishes. If you love pasta and pizza, this cozy restaurant is worth a visit!
• Jamal’s Falafel: One of the best falafel spots in town at a great price! Perfect for takeout or enjoying in one of Oslo’s many parks.
• Pust: Looking for the perfect café to study at? You’ve found it. Great coffee, food, and a cozy atmosphere. They also have large tables for your study group when you need to discuss something outside the library’s quiet walls.

Culture and nightlife

Oslo is packed with festivals, culture, and a buzzing nightlife. Here are some must-sees!

Nightlife

The eternal student question: Where to go out? Here are a few favorites:

• Rabalder Bar: A cozy bar with great vibes and prices on Løkka. Students get a 0.4L beer for just 59 NOK! Quiz every Tuesday at 6 PM.
• Fyrhuset Kuba: Located in Kubaparken with fair prices and lots of outdoor seating. A great place to relax with study buddies in the sun.
• Syng: Love karaoke? Rent a karaoke room with friends and relive your SingStar glory days. Mondays are half-price, and Tuesdays have free entry for students!
• Raadhuset Bar: Near the City Hall, this spot offers food, drinks, and activities like shuffleboard, darts, pool, and table tennis.
• Kulturhuset: Located at Youngstorget, open day and night with concerts, dancing, exhibitions, wine tastings, and games. Stop by for coffee or beer.
• Jubel on Adamstuen: A neighborhood bar with a beautiful rooftop terrace for sunny days. Just as cozy indoors when it rains!
• Tilt: A paradise for game lovers. This bar is packed with arcade machines, pinball, and shuffleboards—classic and modern games alike.
• SALT: A cultural village on Langkaia with six stages for concerts, festivals, theater, improv, and art. Plus, six saunas with events and DJ sessions.

From shuffleboard nights to dancing at clubs – Oslo has it all!

Oslo has a number of bars downtown, and many have an 18+ age limit. Bring your group of friends for a fun evening – see our list here!

You also definitely need to visit Kristiania’s student bars, Hvelvet at Kvadraturen and Sjenkestua at Fjerdingen!

Live music

Here are some of Oslo’s best music experiences:

• Musikkfest Oslo: On the first weekend of June each year, the whole of Oslo becomes a festival arena. 50 stages with 500 artists from morning to night, and the best part? It’s all free! Bring a blanket and refreshments, and enjoy new and exciting concerts around Oslo’s parks, streets, and squares.
• Over Oslo: A music and comedy festival held in June at Grefsenkollen. It’s a slightly smaller festival area than the biggest festivals, but it has hosted major artists like Pet Shop Boys, Veronica Maggio, Kaizers Orchestra, and Toto.
• Pipfest: Pipfest takes place in Sofienbergparken in June, and the lineup is packed with awesome artists!
• Melafestivalen: “Oslo in the world, the world in Oslo.” At Rådhusplassen in August 2023, you can experience the festival that celebrates unity, joy, and artistic expression.
• Øyafestivalen: One of Norway’s largest festivals featuring big, well-known artists. Held annually in Tøyenparken in August.
• Havstrøm: The festival that is a must for all music lovers! Every March, the Havstrøm Festival is held at SALT, where you can see many up-and-coming bands and artists. Maybe you’ll discover a new favorite? 

Follow Visit Oslo for a full list of concerts happening across the city.

Cinema and theatre

Looking for a slightly different cinema experience? During the summer, open-air cinema events are held at 3KT by Aker Brygge—follow on Facebook for dates and times. If you prefer to stay indoors, there are cinemas all over the city.

One cinema worth visiting in Oslo is Vega Scene. This is a cinema that focuses on quality films, offering a wide range of current movies. Vega offers student prices, and every Monday you can watch a film for only 100 NOK! Vega Scene also has an exciting theatre program, consisting of in-house productions, co-productions, and guest performances.

How about an open-air cinema trip this summer?

How about going to the theatre? Oslo has many small and large theatre stages, and several offer student discounts! Black Box Teater is a programming theatre without a permanent acting ensemble, presenting independent Norwegian and international theatre companies. Det Andre Teatret in Torshov is Norway's first and only theatre focusing on improvisation.

Oslo also has several institutional theatres that offer cheaper tickets for young people. If you’re between 15 and 25 years old, you can join Unge National and get theatre tickets at the National Theatre for only 130 NOK! Det Norske Teateret has a similar offer: those aged 18 to 28 can join Yngda for discounted tickets. Both memberships are completely free!

Nature adventures

Did you know that Oslo’s bustling main street is just a short public transport ride away from beautiful nature? If you need a break from city life, just hop on a tram, bus, or metro.

Oslomarka

Take the metro to Frognerseteren and you'll be greeted with a spectacular view of Oslo. Here you can choose from numerous marked hiking trails in summer, and cross-country ski trails in winter. Prefer sledding to skiing? Bring a sled and race down Korketrekkeren! Other places to explore in Oslomarka include Nøklevann, Sognsvann, Vettakollen, and Ullevålsseter. These offer great hiking, cycling, skiing, or even canoeing opportunities. For great hiking tips, check out Oslomarka on ut.no.

Oslo offers both vibrant city life and beautiful nature.

Picnics in the park

If the forest isn't your thing, you can instead take a break in one of Oslo’s many green parks. A day in the park is a cozy activity with new study friends! Topping the list is Sofienbergparken, centrally located in Grünerløkka. Here you’ll find a large play area, shared grills, and free public toilets. A walk through Frognerparken is enjoyable both summer and winter, with the famous Vigeland sculpture installation at its center. Another favorite is St. Hanshaugen – where you can sit in the park or enjoy a drink at one of the outdoor cafés.

If you're new to Oslo, you should definitely visit Slottsparken and see the Royal Palace. Lots of squirrels have made their homes in the big trees lining the paths here.

Or how about playing football? Ekebergsletta, Voldsløkka, Dælenenga, and Marienlyst offer grassy fields perfect for kicking a ball around. Prefer volleyball? You’ll find several courts at Voldsløkka and Torshovparken. If frisbee golf is more your style, there are courses at Ekeberg, Holmenkollen, and Muselunden!

Time for a swim

Does summer in the city sound sweaty? Don’t worry! Just a short bus ride away are the beaches at Katten, Nordstrand bad, Ulvøya, and Malmøya. In the city, head to Sørenga or Tjuvholmen, but get there early—it fills up fast!

Prefer freshwater? Check out Brekkedammen at Frysja or Sognsvann.

Or how about island hopping in the Oslofjord? Take the boat from Aker Brygge and hop off wherever you like – or stay on for a full-day boat ride. If you have a Ruter monthly pass, the boat ride is included. 

Prefer chlorine to saltwater? Head to Frognerbadet. Here you’ll find several pools and, not least, diving towers!

Be a tourist in your own city

Oslo offers beautiful architecture, with grand old apartment buildings in the west and charming wooden houses in the east. In the city center, the Bjørvika district is being developed with new, modern buildings. With a cup of coffee in hand, it's lovely to stroll through Oslo's streets and get to know the different neighborhoods. You can also follow the Akerselva river, which winds through the city, right past many of our university buildings.

Take a walk through Oslo’s streets and explore its neighborhoods.

Student associations

Oslo has a wide range of student associations for nearly every interest, and you can see many of them here: https://www.sio.no/foreninger

All students at Kristiania also have their own associations, organized by the Student Union in Oslo. The Student Union is behind most social events at the school, including student parties, group trips, and much more. They also run sports teams you can join, such as football, handball, and volleyball.

Each year, the Student Union also organizes the highlight of the fall semester: the welcome week Into Campus. This week marks the start of the academic year for new students at Kristiania.

Useful apps

From public transport to food, here are the apps you should download!

• Ruter: With the Ruter app, you can easily buy the ticket that suits you—whether for bus, tram, train, or boat. You can also plan your route here.
• Too Good to Go: The app that helps reduce food waste. Every evening, eateries post food that would otherwise be thrown away—at a great price. Save money and the environment. Win-win!
• Mattilbud: A fantastic app showing you all the food discounts at various grocery stores.
• Foodora: Get food from the city’s restaurants delivered to your door by bike courier. Takeaway is no longer just for pizza.
• Oslo Bysykkel: With a subscription to Oslo Bysykkel, you can bike as much as you want all year! It’s easy: download the app, find a bike, unlock it, and ride for up to 60 minutes. A great alternative to public transport in the summer!
• E-scooter: Loved and hated, but definitely worth trying! Whiz through Oslo’s streets on one of the many e-scooters you’ll find. Just remember to watch out for others and park it properly.

For more tips, check out VisitOslo’s website. There you’ll find an overview of everything happening in the capital!