Winter activites
Winter in Oslo is great if you want to try skiing, sledding, ice skating or just want to have fun in the snow.
There are many ways to enjoy all kinds of different winter activities in Oslo, often without having to leave the city at all. No matter if you want to cross-country ski in the idyllic woods surrounding the city, or just have fun sledding with the whole family down a “corkscrew” hill, there’s plenty of opportunities to have a unique city snow adventure in Oslo.
Skiing
Cross-country
Cross-country, or Nordic skiing, is undoubtedly among the all-time favourite winter time activities in Oslo, and a must-do when staying here during winter. There are thousands of kilometres of ski tracks in Oslomarka that you can enjoy for free. Skullerudstua and Holmenkollen are good places to start if you're new to skiing.
Downhill
Oslo also offers skiing opportunities if you prefer downhill skiing. Tryvann is a large downhill ski centre with several slopes in the hills north of Oslo which is reachable with public transportation during winter. See a map of the slopes at Tryvann and more information on skimore.no
Ice skating
In Oslo you can find ice skating rinks where you can rent skates and equipment. The main ones are "Spikersuppa" along Karl Johans gate in the city centre, and "Frogner stadion" near Frogner park where you can skate in a historic stadium that has hosted several world championships dating back to the early 1900's.
As well as skating in the city, ice skating in Oslomarka is a popular winter activity for many, along with skiing, and if the ice is safe, you can often find people of all ages ice skating at Nøklevann and Østensjøvannet. You should always be careful when near icy waters, the ice can be dangerous and deadly, even if it looks safe. Read more about lakes in Oslo.
Sledding
When there is snow on the hills, you'll find there's a lot of people that enjoy going sledding. Especially at "Korketrekkeren" near Frognerseteren. A 2,700 metres long sledding hill that takes nearly 10 minutes from start to finish, and best of all, when you're at the end you can just take the metro to the top again. Sleds and equipment is available for rent.