Oslo is an expensive city and in 2014 Oslo was ranked the most expensive city in the world! Still there many ways to save money and below we have gathered some tips below that guaranteed will make your budget last longer when visiting beautiful Oslo ;)

Many of these tips are general and will also be relevant to travelers to other places in Norway.

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Find cheap Oslo accommodation

Getting a hotel in Oslo can potentially be difficult and expensive. In peak periods, when big fairs or conferences visit Oslo, tourists have been sent as far as Lillehammer (170 kms, 2h 15 min by train) to find accommodation. It would be smart to reserve a room in advance. There are also relatively few youth hostels, etc., for backpackers and people travelling on a budget. However, some cheaper alternatives exist.

Bring alcohol to Norway

Alcohol is EXTREMELY expensive in Norway (3 eur for the cheapest beer in a supermarket and 7-10 eur for a beer in pubs / resturants). So, if you plan to enjoy alcohol during your trip you should bring some or buy it from the Tax Free at the airport. However, make sure you dont bring more than you are allowed to (normally 1 litre of spirits, 2 litres of wine and 4 beers).

In Oslo you'll have to buy your beer before 20:00 / 18:00

If you forget to buy beers at the airport, buing beers in grocery stores is the cheaper option. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to understand that buing beers in a store is the cheaper option, however, it can be a bit difficult to understand why the sale of beer closes at 20:00 on weekdays and at 18:00 on Saturdays although the grocery stores are open longer. After the closing time of the beer sale the shops cover the beer behind big curtains. This is a part of the strict alcohol policy in Norway and you just have to accept it. If you're two minutes too late - sorry - no beer for you.

Find the cheapest way to get from the airports to the Oslo city centre

The difference between the cheapest and the most expensive option can be huge. For this reason, always check your best option. The prices may vary from season to season and there are discounts for students, seniors, families, children and groups. Check out your cheapest option below:

Shop in the low price grocery stores in Oslo

Many tourists find food in Norway quite expensive. But like most other places, some store grocery stores are more expensive than others, and you can save some money on going to the cheaper ones. The low price grocery stores are called Rema 1000, KIWI and RIMI and you can find them spread out all over the city. In addition you can buy cheap fruits and vegetables from the markets, many of them located in the Grønland area.

Low price grocery stores:

Rema 1000
Kiwi
Rimi
Local fruitmarkets / special stores

Other supermarkets / grocery stores (usually more expensive, but with a wider range of products):

Meny
Ultra

Split up your stay in Oslo

If you are staying in Oslo for more nights and if you are willing to move around a bit, you might save some money on staying in different places. If you search for one and one night instead of a longer period, you increase the chance of finding the cheapest room available. And if you are lucky, you might find two available cheap rooms in the same area.

Tips for tourists in Oslo: Visit the free Oslo tourist attractions

Many of the tourist attractions in Oslo are actually free, for example the Vigeland Park, The New Opera and the Medival Park. The city centre of Oslo is actually quite small and if you live in central Oslo you can actually reach most of the tourist attractions by foot.

Tips to save money in Oslo: Explore Oslo by walk

The city centre of Oslo is relatively small and if you stay in the central part of Oslo you can reach many of the attractions by walk. If you need to take public transport make sure you buy the tickets before you enter the bus or the tram. If you buy the tickets on the bus or tram it costs you extra.

Buy the Oslo card

If you plan to visit many attractions that cost money you should consider to buy the Oslo card. The Oslo Pass gives you free entry to more than 30 museums and attractions and free travel on all public transport in addition to discount on many resturants and activities. However, be aware of the time it takes to travel between the attracions and plan your trip to make sure you get the most out of the card.

Find the cheapest Oslo taxis

In general, taking a taxi in Oslo is very expensive and not recommended if you want to save money. The Oslo city centre is relatively small and compact and most of the tourist attractions can easily be reached by foot or by public transport. However, if you're more people travelling together (and you have luggage), a taxi can be a faster and more convenient alternative. To get an idea how much a taxi will cost you, use the taxi-calculator by following the link below. The result might not be 100% correct, but it will give you an idea.

Drink water from the tap

The water in Norway and Oslo is drinkable and of good quality. Therefore you can safely drink water from the tap instead of buing expensive water from the stores.