Take the ferry to Hovedøya for abbey ruins in the fjord

Grand Hotel on Karl Johans gate is a landmark stay tied to the Nobel Peace Prize, where laureates have greeted crowds from the balcony of the Nobel Suite. In December the laureates are celebrated with a banquet here and the torchlight procession passes below. Even if you do not book the suite, the hotel's lobby bar…

Oslo Jazzfestival has run since 1986 and fills a week in mid-August with concerts on stages from the Opera House to small clubs. A share of the programme is free, so look for those shows first on the official program. Venues change each year, so confirm times and tickets there. Book the headline concerts early and…

Once a year, on a Friday in September, the city runs Oslo kulturnatt, a one-day festival where every event is free. Museums, galleries and cultural houses open with concerts, tours and talks, and some tours cover buildings that are closed to visitors the rest of the year. Check the program on the festival website once…

Herr Nilsen is a music club on C. J. Hambros plass beside the old courthouse, and it started life as a jazz club. It still leans toward jazz and blues, with a varied concert programme that now covers most genres. Check the program on its website before you go and buy a ticket in advance for the shows you want. During…

Vestkanttorvet is a long-running antique and secondhand market in Frogner that opens every Saturday from March to December. Expect antiques, vintage clothing, ceramics and kitchenware, and arrive early for the best finds. Pair it with a waffle from a stand nearby, then walk on to Vigeland Park or the Palace. Winter…

Vettakollen is a rocky hilltop in Nordmarka that looks south over the city, Holmenkollen and the Oslofjord. Reach the trailhead by metro line 1 and walk up on the short route. Weekends fill up with locals, so a weekday visit is calmer, and the summit is exposed enough to justify a jacket. Bring snacks and a thermos…

The Munch museum sits on the Oslo waterfront, and the museum itself recommends pre-booking a timed ticket because entry at your preferred time is not guaranteed at the door. Lines can be long in summer, so book a slot and arrive at opening on a weekday. From Wednesday to Saturday it stays open into the evening, a good…

Ekebergparken is a sculpture park on a wooded hillside in southeast Oslo, free to enter and open all day. Works by Dalí, Hirst and Turrell sit among the trees, with wide views of the city below. Free drop-in tours of Turrell's Skyspace and Ganzfeld light rooms run on Sundays, so plan your visit then. It is a few…