Stockholm or Oslo? Here Is Where You Should Spend Time

If you’re planning a trip to Scandinavia, you might be asking yourself: Should I spend more time in Stockholm or Oslo? Having spent time in both cities I feel that I can give you an honest opinion to help you answer the question.

You should prioritize visiting Stockholm over Oslo. Naturally, all cities have their strengths and weaknesses, but to me, Stockholm is the clear winner when choosing between Stockholm and Oslo. Stockholm is both cheaper and offers more things to do; it’s also more beautiful and is the most walkable city between the two. If you are staying longer than a couple of days, Stockholm offers more options for day trips to neighboring cities.

This blog post aims to help you decide on whether to spend more time in Stockholm or in Oslo based on factors like food, sights, cost, and weather.

Cost of Living

Stockholm or Oslo

Stockholm is not a cheap city by any means, but it is cheaper than Oslo. On the other hand, Oslo is known for being one of the most expensive cities in the world, and you will definitely feel it. However, you’ll find that eating out and staying in hotels can get pricey in Stockholm.

For comparison, a quick meal at a food stand in Stockholm will cost you between 120-130 SEK (around €12). The same meal in Oslo will cost you around 200 NOK (around €18). That’s 50% more expensive in Oslo than in Stockholm. Stockholm also has a wide range of museums that are free of charge, making it the more budget-friendly option of the two.

Verdict: If you’re looking to save money, Stockholm is cheaper than Oslo. This makes it a better choice for travelers watching their budget.

Food and Cuisine

Stockholm or Oslo

In Stockholm, you’ll find a lot of different food options. The city is famous for Swedish meatballs and seafood like herring and crayfish. There are many restaurants where you can try both local and international dishes. Oslo is famous for its fresh seafood, especially salmon, and you should definitely try it if you decide to visit. However, in general, I found that Oslo had fewer food choices compared to Stockholm, both in terms of budget and general food options. In Stockholm, you can still find reasonably priced restaurants that serve good quality food. In Norway, I felt that the options were either fine dining or a local food stand.

Verdict: If you like trying a variety of foods, Stockholm has more to offer. It gives you more choices, both local and international, and in terms of budget.

Tourist Attractions

Stockholm or Oslo

Stockholm is rich in history and architecture. Some must-see spots include the Royal Palace, the Vasa Museum, and Gamla Stan, the old town area. The city is made up of more than 14 islands, so there’s a lot to explore. If you are visiting for more than just a weekend, there are plenty of options for great day trips from Stockholm, including taking a boat trip to see the archipelago.

Oslo also offers many sites, such as the Opera House, where you can walk on the roof, and the Viking Ship Museum, which is a top attraction. If you are into skiing, there are many ski resorts within close proximity to Oslo, making it a great place for those interested in outdoor and sports activities.

Verdict: Although Oslo offers more options for skiing close to the city than Stockholm, this is most likely not the main reason someone would visit either city as a first-timer. In general, there is more to see and explore in Stockholm. I also did not find as many day trip options around Oslo as there are in Stockholm, making Stockholm a better option if you are visiting for a longer period.

Getting Around

Stockholm or Oslo

Stockholm and Oslo both have a lot of public transportation options, including buses, trams, and subways. Both cities are also bike-friendly, so you can easily rent a bike to explore them. However, Stockholm also offers several ferries as a mode of transportation to explore its 14 different islands, giving Stockholm a slight edge. I also consider Stockholm to be more walkable than Oslo, since most attractions are concentrated around the city center. In Oslo, you do need to take public transportation to reach some attractions, like the Viking Ship Museum.

Parking: When it comes to parking, Oslo is, to be quite honest, a real nightmare. I visited Oslo by car from Sweden, and our hotel was located a bit outside the city center. Even there, parking was 60 NOK (€5.50) per hour between 9 am and 8 pm (the remaining time was free). Parking is more reasonable in Stockholm, although not cheap, costing roughly 20 SEK (€1.7) per hour on weekdays (between 7 am and 7 pm) in Kungsholmen.

Pro tip: Instead of parking your car the full day in Oslo and paying a lot of money, drive to the Sognsvann parking lot, where parking is free. From there, take the metro for 20 minutes into the city center.

Verdict: If you aren’t traveling by car, both cities offer good modes of transportation. Stockholm has an edge since it’s more walkable and also offers the ferry as an interesting way to explore the city.

Weather

Stockholm or Oslo

Stockholm has cold winters, usually between -5 to -10°C (23 to 14°F), and mild summers of around 20-25°C (68 to 77°F). It also has less rain compared to Oslo, making it a bit more predictable if you’re planning outdoor activities. Oslo generally has colder winters with more snow, which is good if you like winter sports. The summers are mild, similar to Stockholm. However, Oslo has more rain throughout the year.

Verdict: Stockholm and Oslo have similar weather. However, if you are choosing between the two cities for a city break, Stockholm generally has more stable weather with less rain. If you want to visit one of the two and enjoy a bit of skiing in winter, Oslo is the better option.

Conclusion

My recommendation is that you should prioritize spending more time in Stockholm than Oslo if you are choosing between the two for your next trip to Scandinavia. Stockholm is cheaper, offers more things to do, and has more options for day trips if you are staying longer. You are also more likely to experience good weather in Stockholm since Oslo is known to be more rainy than Stockholm.