A Total Trip: A budget-friendly break in (notoriously expensive) Oslo

24.10.2023 - 23:17 / lonelyplanet.com / Gustav Vigeland

In our A Total Trip series, writers document what they spent on a recent getaway. In this edition, London-based writer, Tasmin Waby, shows us how she turned an expensive destination into a budget-friendly break.

After I got a very-last-minute call from my best friend from Australia, an expat in Norway, to come to his [insert significant number here] birthday party in October, I decided to treat myself to a solo long weekend away.

My aims were to see some inspiring art, architecture and autumnal colors; to cycle around Oslo; and to sauna.

From London, it’s a two-hour plane trip to Oslo – the equivalent of flying from Sydney to Hobart or New York to Chicago. As it was the shoulder season, flights were surprisingly inexpensive (as long as I took only cabin baggage and didn’t mind a middle seat). I hadn’t flown in Europe since the pandemic grounded everyone, so the low airfare to Norway came as a surprise. 

I was aware travel that in Scandinavia is notoriously expensive, but living on a budget in London means I’m accustomed to minding my pennies. Yet my flight, however, was where the bargains ended.

I booked a basic room at Cochs Pensjonat for three nights (£62 per night) – because Citybox (which everyone recommended) was full.

Total: £186

Arriving in Oslo: Oslo Lufthavn immediately dazzled me with its luxe feel. There were two options to get into town; since I was tired, I got the super-easy-to-find Flytoget (£17.37) – which I later realized was a budget-blowing mistake.

My accommodation was on the other side of Slottsparken (free) from Nationaltheatret Station. Since it was late, I wondered if it was safe to walk through a large park alone at night...and it was fine. The tram around the park would have taken 12 minutes and cost me. Plus, I got to see the Royal Palace lit up at night.

Groceries: After checking in at my hotel, I popped out to get some groceries for the next few days: yogurt, muesli and berries for breakfasts, plus lunch supplies (Norwegian beetroot salad, smoked salmon, rye biscuits) for £19.89. A year ago, the price of food in Norway would have made my eyes water – but the inflation crisis in the UK meant this seemed perfectly reasonable. 

Total: £37.26

Coffee and the outdoors: The Friday forecast was for sun, so I hit the park first. After a black coffee (£2.65) at the Kaffebrenneriet next door to my hotel, I walked 20 minutes uphill through historic streets to Frognerparken (free).

Central Vigelandsparken (free) was full of tourists – myself included – taking photos of the many fascinating statues by Gustav Vigeland, yet when I wandered off along autumnal paths I mostly saw locals walking dogs or baby strollers. It was sunny (if cold), so I unpacked my picnic lunch and caught some rays on a