Top 10 Boat Tours In Oslo, Norway

Melanie
Contributing Writer
Updated
| 5 min read

Let the waters of the Oslo fjord stir the heart, inspire the imagination and bring joy to the soul when you visit Oslo, Norway. As the capital of Norway, Oslo is located at Norway’s southern coast at the head of the Oslo fjord, an inlet of the Skagerrak sea stretching from the south of Oslo city. Known for its green landscapes, maritime museums, Viking history, and Viking ship museum, Oslo is also gaining popularity as the city with beautiful boat rides. Hopping on a sightseeing cruise along the Oslo fjord is a wonderful way to see the sights, sounds and scents of Oslo. Simply scroll down to explore the top boat tours in Oslo, Norway.

1. Cruise along the Oslo fjord on a beautiful boat

boat tours in oslo | cruise along the oslo fjord on a beautiful boat

Beautiful waters! Brilliant boat! Bountiful views! Discover them all on this outstanding two-hour boat ride that brings guests on a cruise past lush landscapes, views of cityscapes and hills around Oslo. Sailing along the waterways offers plenty of photography opportunities, comfortable seats to enjoy the fresh air and refreshments for purchase onboard. Not to be missed are the views of Oslo’s maze of islands, deep bays, towering mountains, and summer homes. In fact, guests often gush about the beauty of the Norwegian coastline as seen back in the Viking days.

2. Dine by a spectacular sunset on a dinner cruise

boat tours in oslo | dine by a spectacular sunset on a dinner cruise

Life is always better on a cruise and those words ring true on this Oslo fjord’s three-hour evening buffet cruise. After boarding a traditional wooden sailing ship, guests set sail in a fully restored ship redesigned to its glory of heritage past. Then, cruise over the fjord waterways that stretch to the city centre. What to expect are views of idyllic islands, Hovedøya, and Dyna Lighthouse, Bygdøy peninsula and its museums, plus beaches. Just as amazing are views of the veteran sailing ships outside Norwegian Maritime Museum and Fram Museum. Also, enjoy the scrumptious buffet spread with delish Norwegian shrimp snacks.

3. Jazz along on Oslo's musical buffet cruise

boat tours in oslo | jazz along on oslo's musical buffet cruise

Life is a lot like jazz, and it’s best to enjoy it on a thrilling three-hour buffet and jazz cruise over the refreshing Oslo fjord. Be impressed by the brilliant buffet spread and entertained by live musical performances that invite you to tap your feet or dance along. During the cruise, guests enjoy many insta-worthy moments as the boat sails past green islands, ancient fortresses, inner segments of Oslo’s waterways, scenic bars and summer homes. The stellar views are best enjoyed with a true Norwegian style buffet feast.

4. Enjoy a winter sail aboard a gorgeous boat

Happiness comes in waves onboard this winter cruise on the Oslo fjord that brings guests on a tour of the Oslo’s best sights. Sail past Oslo Opera House, waterfront views, stunning forested hills, and cityscapes. Be it a morning or afternoon cruise, the two-hour tour drifts along the waters near the islands, Hovedøya and Dyna Lighthouse and even a stop at Bygdøy, a peninsula on the west side of Oslo city centre. Here, guests are allowed to alight for a visit to the museums before continuing the sightseeing cruise.

5. Indulge in buffet and beer on a beautiful boat tour

Cruising does the soul good. Even better is a cruise that includes beer tasting and a sumptuous buffet along the beautiful Oslo fjord. What makes this tour fantastic is the stops along Oslo fjord that allows guests to walk around the city centre and drop by local shops to sample dried or cured seafood. Next, they stop at traditional Norwegian restaurants to savour Norwegian pizza with salmon, old-fashioned potato desserts, as well as locally brewed Norwegian craft beers. Finally, guests get on board for an evening buffet cruise with Norwegian shrimp on the menu.

6. See waterfront sights from a wooden sailboat

Catch the wind in the sails of this handsome wooden sailboat that brings guests on a three-hour cruise around the waters of Oslo fjord at sunset. See the magical waterfront sights that light up at twilight as the boat goes past Akershus Fortress, Oslo Opera House and many islets that dot the fjord. Experience an unforgettable evening gazing at the idyllic islands and scenery all around whilst enjoying the popular Norwegian shrimp snacks served on board. Should the weather turn chilly, blankets are provided for guests to snuggle up and out of the cold.

7. Go fishing on a half-day fishing boat tour

Nothing beats fishing by the Oslo fjord and cooking what you catch to enjoy a meal with other fishing enthusiasts. Go on a glorious half-day tour with a fishing guide who provides all the fishing equipment, bait, instruction and leads you to the best places to fish. Ready, tackle and let your line fly across the icy waters, then wait to catch the Norwegian fish of the day. It’s also a great way to discover Oslo’s surrounding ecosystem with an expert guide who shares the history behind the city’s famous landmarks.

Book Tours : Fishing in Oslo Fjord

8. Explore Oslo's sights on a hop-on hop-off cruise

explore oslo's sights on a hop-on hop-off cruise

Travel to Oslo’s sights via the waterways on a unique sightseeing tour on a hop-on, hop-off cruise. It’s a novel way to discover Oslo’s rich heritage and culture, scenic landscapes and iconic landmarks with an expert guide on board. The combination boat tour starts at the new Oslo Opera House, one of the world’s leading opera houses, and continues to a mini-cruise that allows guests to board and alight at their convenience. Hence, guests have all the time to explore the islands and streets of Oslo. Stops are also available at Polar Ship Fram Museum, Norwegian Maritime Museum and Kon-Tiki Museum.

9. Make a splash on an Oslo fjord kayaking trip

Get up close with Oslo’s wonderful waterways from a kayak with this exciting two-hour kayaking tour around Bygdøy, the panoramic peninsula on the west of Oslo’s city centre. For aqua and sports enthusiasts, this tour is a dream come true as it starts with a brief introduction to kayaking before splashing along the waters of Oslo fjord. Next, kayakers paddle their way to the small islands with pristine, sandy beaches and marina with houseboats and vessels moored there. Informative guides provide a narrative of the architecture and history of the city along the way.

10. Sail away in a speedy mini-cruise to Oslo's sights

When time does not permit a lengthy cruise, go for a mini one. This fabulous 1.5-hour city cruise makes five stops at the best sightseeing landmarks in Oslo. Guests enjoy an audio commentary as the comfortable boat sails along the picturesque Oslo fjord and past the museums of Bygdøy Peninsula. Then, the boat tour cruises to Akershus Fortress, Oslo Opera House and the beautiful harbour. Best of all, the mini-cruise allows guests to hop off to snap pictures of the sights up-close and hop on again for an immersive tour.

Experience the best sights and sounds of Oslo

Fancy seeing Oslo and all its wonders over water? Now you can with a myriad of boat tours that range from magical day cruises, kayaking trips, fishing boat tours to sunset cruise buffets. Simply pick one that suits you best as each is designed to meet your budget and expectations. So, sail away from a safe harbour to dreams of a holiday fulfilled in Oslo, Norway.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Meet Melanie, a budding wordsmith and a full-time Trip101 writer with a penchant for weaving tales that transport readers to far-off lands. With five years of jet-setting experience as a travel...View profile

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