Bjørvika

Welcome to a modern part of Oslo's city centre, where you'll find high quality restaurants, museums, galleries and popular Norwegian brands in the shops. 

Once a container port and a major highway junction, Bjørvika has undergone major urban redevelopment and is now a natural extention of the city centre. Not only has the highway been moved underground and the containers gone, but the waterfront is open to the public, offering ample leisure opportunities for visitors and locals alike. 

Modern architecture by the fjord

For fans of modern architecture, Bjørvika is a treasure trove ready to be discovered. Admire the white marble of the Opera house, as it emerges out of the fjord like an iceberg. Explore the narrow buildings of the Barcode ensemble and the quirky angles of Akrobaten pedestrian bridge. Wonder at how it might feel to live so close to the water, as you admire the asymmetrical residential buildings nicknamed "Little Venice" for the canals the run right outside the residents' living room window.

Art is all around

Looming above it all, on its own pier on the fjord, is MUNCH, a vast museum dedicated to the famous expressionist painter Edvard Munch. The museum also exposes other artists, juxtaposing contemporary art with Munch's.

Make sure to check out the other art features decorating the neighbourhood, such as Tracy Emins monumental sculpture The Mother, Jeppe Hein's Modified Social Benches or galleries such as KÖSK,  and Kunsthall Oslo.

Shopping

While you explore this part of the city, you might come upon signs saying "Oslobukta". While the term (literally "Oslo Bay") is sometimes interchangeable with the more general name Bjørvika, it refers more specifically to the shops, restaurants and other experiences accessible to the public at street level.

Playgrounds and beaches that kids will love

Little travellers will love Bjørvika just as much as the big ones, thanks to its many opportunities for water activities and playtime. Families with toddlers might prefer the Operastranda beach for its shallower water, sand and playground features, while older children might prefer jumping straight from Munch Brygge. Sørenga offers something for all water enthousiasts, with a shallow sandy pool, a diving platform and a wheelchair accessible ramp descending into the water.

Beach life and saunas

Sukkerbiten, a small islet south of the Opera, is where you'll find the ever-growing and incredibly popular sauna village created by Oslo Badstuforening. In the warmer months you can also sit down for some street food and a drink at the outdoor bar right next to the saunas, and enjoy real beach club vibes.

By crossing the pontoon bridge at Sukkerbiten, you'll reach Sørenga, where you can join the locals in jumping into the fjord for a swim, or rent a kayak for further maritime exploration. Across the bay from Sørenga, you'll glimpse some triangular shapes, which constitute the one-of-a-kind art and sauna village SALT. SALT plays host to many cultural events and boasts the world’s largest wood-fired sauna.