The home of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet opened in 2008 on the Bjørvika waterfront and quickly became the symbol of the new Oslo. Designed by the Norwegian firm Snøhetta, it slopes straight down into the fjord, and its great angled planes of white stone are designed to be walked on. Visit Oslo notes that you can climb the roof all year round for panoramic views of the city and the fjord, and it is free. Inside, the foyer is lined with oak and lit through tall glass walls, and it hosts concerts as well as performances. In the water beside the building floats She Lies, a glass and steel sculpture inspired by Caspar David Friedrich. If you want to see behind the scenes, the house runs a guided tour of about fifty minutes in English at weekends, covering the architecture, the art, stage technology and the life of the opera and ballet companies.
How to visit: walk up the long ramp from the harbour side to the top of the roof, where the view takes in MUNCH, the fjord islands, Akershus Fortress and the hills behind the city. The stone is smooth and can be slippery in rain, ice or snow, so wear shoes with grip in winter and stay away from the edges.
The tour: English guided tours run on Saturdays and Sundays, start on the hour, take up to twenty-five people and go on sale on the Tuesday of the same week. They are the best way to see the stage machinery and workshops of a working opera house. Catching a performance is the other way in; ballet tickets are often easier to get than the big opera nights.
Pairing: MUNCH is next door and Oslo Central Station a few minutes away. Come for sunset on the roof, then walk the waterfront to dinner in Bjørvika or the old Bispevika quarter.
What to expect
The experience
A free walk over the sloping marble roof, with an optional fifty-minute guided tour inside at weekends.
Best time
Sunset for the light on the fjord, or a weekend morning to join the English tour.
How long
Thirty minutes on the roof, an hour with the tour.
Tips
Wear shoes with grip, book the weekend tour from Tuesday, and look for She Lies in the water.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Every visitor; it is the quintessential free Oslo experience.
- Families
- Children love running up the slopes; keep hold of small hands near the edges.
- Couples
- Sunset on the roof, then a performance or dinner on the waterfront.
- Pair with
- MUNCH next door and a fjord cruise from the City Hall pier.
- Time needed
- An hour.
Good questions
Is it free to walk on the Oslo Opera House roof?+
Yes. The roof is free and open to the public all year round.
Are there guided tours in English?+
Yes, tours of about fifty minutes run in English on Saturdays and Sundays; tickets go on sale on the Tuesday of the same week.
Who designed the Oslo Opera House?+
The Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta; the building opened in 2008.
Is the roof safe in winter?+
It is open, but the stone can be slippery with ice or snow, so wear good shoes and keep away from the edges.
How do I get to the Opera House?+
It is a few minutes on foot from Oslo Central Station, on the Bjørvika waterfront next to MUNCH.
