Six life hacks to make you feel like an Oslo local
For some foreigners, Oslo feels like a village, for others it's a big city.
Either way, most newcomers agree that living in Oslo is quite expensive and at times isolating.
From finding cheap drinks to joining local communities, these tips will ensure you learn to live like a local.
Where to find a cheap drink
If you enjoy a good pint, knowing where to find the cheapest drinks in Oslo can significantly cut down your expenses.
It's not much of a secret that the Mexican food chain Los Tacos draws in the crowds with cut-price beers, but if you are looking for somewhere less crowded there are some decent alternatives.
Fortunately, there's a regularly updated website,
Pilsguiden,
which lists the cheapest draft beers on offer in Oslo's cafes and bars.
It's a handy guide, allowing you to find best deals in each neighborhood so that you can plot your pub crawl in advance.
Advertisement
Get a library card
If you're looking for a refuge or a place to spend a rainy day, few places beat
Deichman,
the five-floor public library in the city center. It offers free resources and activities for all ages, offered in a relaxing atmosphere.
You do not need even need to get a library card to participate in the regular film screenings, embroidery workshops, to use its sewing machines, or to use its music studio to record podcasts or songs.
If you do get a library card, though, you gain access to an impressive selection of books in almost every imaginable language and you can also book meeting rooms or your own studio room to work in for the day.
The books on offer include language courses, travel guides and cookbooks so you can plan your next trip, put together a meal or improve your Norwegian skills.
With libraries located in each neighborhood, you can also use your card closer to your home.
The library in the city centre has a cinema room that you can book for free and a floor dedicated entirely to children. The Deichman library in Grünerløkka - sadly closed for renovation until July 2025 - has a tool library, renting out construction tools like skewers and drills free of charge.
The libraries also organize cultural events, including author talks, Norwegian speaking round tables and film screenings, to keep you engaged and entertained.
Advertisement
How to escape the home office
Working from within one of Oslo's libraries is easy as there is no shortage of seating
But if you want to try other spots with a community offering then it is worth checking out
MESH
' 's two locations, where you can also connect with local freelancers, entrepreneurs and startuppers, as well as joining their events.
Sentralen
's third floor, called Gullhallen (the yellow hall), is available to anyone who wants to work or study.
Trekanten
and
Kulturhuset
are also great options for freelancers and digital nomads.
Advertisement
Day trip like a local
You don't need to travel far from Oslo to experience breathtaking scenery and charming towns.
The nearby cities and islands offer perfect getaways, allowing you to escape the city for the day without breaking the bank.
Drøbak, with its picturesque streets and the famous Christmas House, is just a few hours away by ferry.
You can also spend the day hopping on and off the islands in the Oslo archipelago, with the closest of them, Hovedøya, just seven minutes away on the ferry.
The islands are perfect places to have a walk, picnic or swim. A lovely thing to do in summer is to go for lunch in the sun at
Gressholmen Kro
on Gressholmen island or at the Klosterkroa Café on Hovedøya.
Whether you're interested in hiking, sightseeing, or simply unwinding by the forest, the Marka forest is just a bus or tram ride away from the city.
Advertisement
Join a group activity or a workshop
Participating in group activities is a fantastic way to meet locals and immerse yourself in Norwegian culture.
Choirs are particularly popular in Norway, and joining one can be a fun and rewarding experience if you enjoy singing.
If you are more sporty, bars and cafés often have their own running clubs. Henry and Sally's hosts the
Mikkeller Running Club
once or twice a week, providing an excellent opportunity to stay active and socialize. You can also join a
game bar
.
Taking part in a pub or café quiz is a good option for low-stress mingling or for inviting new friends out. If your Norwegian is not yet good enough to partake in a quiz, you can find a list of English language pub quizzes in
this guide
.
Other popular activities include pasta-making classes, jewelry workshops, pottery crafting or morning saunas.
Advertisement
How to find discount deals
Oslo is known for its high cost of living, but if you follow the right social media accounts or sign up to the right newsletters, you can still find some good deals out there.
There are also regular special discounts available that can significantly reduce the expenses of those in the know.
The VEGA cinema sells tickets for a knock-down 100 kroner on Mondays.
Some of the more upmarket restaurants, such as
Smalhans
and
L
økka Bistro have special lunch deals, whereas
Palate
has a cheaper menu between 4pm and 6pm
.
Some museums also offer free admission on specific days. The
Munch Museum
is, for example, free between 6pm to 9pm on Wednesdays, and is free all day on December 12, the birthday of the artist Edvard Munch.
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Six life hacks to make you feel like an Oslo local
For some foreigners, Oslo feels like a village, for others it's a big city. Either way, most newcomers agree that living in Oslo is quite expensive and at times isolating. From finding cheap drinks to joining local communities, these tips will ensure you learn to live like a local. Where to find a cheap drink If you enjoy a good pint, knowing where to find the cheapest drinks in Oslo can significantly cut down your expenses. It's not much of a secret that the Mexican food chain Los Tacos draws in the crowds with cut-price beers, but if you are looking for somewhere less crowded there are some decent alternatives. Fortunately, there's a regularly updated website, Pilsguiden, which lists the cheapest draft beers on offer in Oslo's cafes and bars. It's a handy guide, allowing you to find best deals in each neighborhood so that you can plot your pub crawl in advance. Advertisement Get a library card If you're looking for a refuge or a place to spend a rainy day, few places beat Deichman, the five-floor public library in the city center. It offers free resources and activities for all ages, offered in a relaxing atmosphere. You do not need even need to get a library card to participate in the regular film screenings, embroidery workshops, to use its sewing machines, or to use its music studio to record podcasts or songs. If you do get a library card, though, you gain access to an impressive selection of books in almost every imaginable language and you can also book meeting rooms or your own studio room to work in for the day. The books on offer include language courses, travel guides and cookbooks so you can plan your next trip, put together a meal or improve your Norwegian skills. With libraries located in each neighborhood, you can also use your card closer to your home. The library in the city centre has a cinema room that you can book for free and a floor dedicated entirely to children. The Deichman library in Grünerløkka - sadly closed for renovation until July 2025 - has a tool library, renting out construction tools like skewers and drills free of charge. The libraries also organize cultural events, including author talks, Norwegian speaking round tables and film screenings, to keep you engaged and entertained. Advertisement How to escape the home office Working from within one of Oslo's libraries is easy as there is no shortage of seating But if you want to try other spots with a community offering then it is worth checking out MESH ' 's two locations, where you can also connect with local freelancers, entrepreneurs and startuppers, as well as joining their events. Sentralen 's third floor, called Gullhallen (the yellow hall), is available to anyone who wants to work or study. Trekanten and Kulturhuset are also great options for freelancers and digital nomads. Advertisement Day trip like a local You don't need to travel far from Oslo to experience breathtaking scenery and charming towns. The nearby cities and islands offer perfect getaways, allowing you to escape the city for the day without breaking the bank. Drøbak, with its picturesque streets and the famous Christmas House, is just a few hours away by ferry. You can also spend the day hopping on and off the islands in the Oslo archipelago, with the closest of them, Hovedøya, just seven minutes away on the ferry. The islands are perfect places to have a walk, picnic or swim. A lovely thing to do in summer is to go for lunch in the sun at Gressholmen Kro on Gressholmen island or at the Klosterkroa Café on Hovedøya. Whether you're interested in hiking, sightseeing, or simply unwinding by the forest, the Marka forest is just a bus or tram ride away from the city. Advertisement Join a group activity or a workshop Participating in group activities is a fantastic way to meet locals and immerse yourself in Norwegian culture. Choirs are particularly popular in Norway, and joining one can be a fun and rewarding experience if you enjoy singing. If you are more sporty, bars and cafés often have their own running clubs. Henry and Sally's hosts the Mikkeller Running Club once or twice a week, providing an excellent opportunity to stay active and socialize. You can also join a game bar . Taking part in a pub or café quiz is a good option for low-stress mingling or for inviting new friends out. If your Norwegian is not yet good enough to partake in a quiz, you can find a list of English language pub quizzes in this guide . Other popular activities include pasta-making classes, jewelry workshops, pottery crafting or morning saunas. Advertisement How to find discount deals Oslo is known for its high cost of living, but if you follow the right social media accounts or sign up to the right newsletters, you can still find some good deals out there. There are also regular special discounts available that can significantly reduce the expenses of those in the know. The VEGA cinema sells tickets for a knock-down 100 kroner on Mondays. Some of the more upmarket restaurants, such as Smalhans and L økka Bistro have special lunch deals, whereas Palate has a cheaper menu between 4pm and 6pm . Some museums also offer free admission on specific days. The Munch Museum is, for example, free between 6pm to 9pm on Wednesdays, and is free all day on December 12, the birthday of the artist Edvard Munch.
