Visit Oscarshall
Oscarshall Summer Palace is located on the Bygdøy peninsula just outside Oslo, surrounded by a romantic park. It is open to the public in the summer.
Oscarshall was built as a private summer palace dedicated to the celebration of art, music, and poetry. It was constructed around the same time as the completion of the Royal Palace in central Oslo and was completed in 1852. The architect was Johan Henrik Nebelong, and leading Norwegian artists of the time — including Adolph Tidemand, Hans Gude, Joachim Frich, Hans Michelsen, and Christopher Borch — were commissioned to create works to decorate the interiors.
Explore on your own
The doors of the summer palace are open, and guests are welcome to explore the various rooms. Guides are present and available to answer questions.
Upon entering Oscarshall, you are greeted by the intensely blue vestibule, where the rose window lends the space an almost sacred atmosphere. The adjoining salon is decorated with carved figures inspired by Norwegian medieval art.
The dining hall is located in a separate building, and its walls are adorned with paintings by Joachim Frich and Adolph Tidemand.
At Oscarshall
The Park
The park surrounding the summer palace is open to everyone during Oscarshall’s opening hours. No ticket is required to enjoy the gardens.
Architect Nebelong regarded the park as an integral part of his overall design. The park and buildings were meant to complement one another, with romantic, winding paths following the natural curves of the landscape.
Over the years, the paths and vegetation in the park changed. In recent years, considerable effort has therefore been made to recreate Nebelong’s original plan, and the romantic park has been restored.
From the park surrounding Oscarshall
Practical information
Oscarshall is located at the Bygdøy peninsula, approximately 5 km west of Oslo city center. The adress is Oscarshallveien 15 (The Oscarshall road).
The public entrance is through the main gate.
Public transport to Oscarshall:
- Bus no 30 to the stop at Bygdø Kongsgård (Bygdø Royal Farm) or Norsk Folkemuseum (the Bygdøy Open-Air Museum)
- The Bygdøy ferry to Dronningen.
The Salon and Dining room on the ground floor are easily accessable, but due to historical considerations, there is no elevator in the main building. The first floor is therefore difficult to reach for the mobility-impaired.
Palace personnel will gladly assist anyone in need of help using the stairs. Folding chairs are available if needed.
Mobility-impaired persons can easily reach the terrace, from where there is a nice view of the park. The park itself, however, is difficult due to many stairs.
There is no parking at Oscarshall, exceptions are made for cars with a disability permit.
For part of the season there is a café on the grounds serving caffee, tea, mineral water and ice cream. During the main season, sandwiches, waffles and cakes are also available. It is not allowed to bring food or drink inside the palace.
The café has the same opening hours as the rest of the summer palace. A ticket to Oscarshall is not required to visit the café.
The address to Oscarshall is Oscarshallveien 15.
The phone number is 482 04 107.
Out of courtesy to the guides and other visitors, mobile phones must be turned off during the tour.
Oscarshall is open to visitors during the summer season. In 2025 this lasted from 10 May until 31 August.
Opening hours during the season is Thursday-Sunday from 11:00 until 16:00 and guests are welcome to explore the rooms on the ground floor and first floor. Guides are available to answer questions.
Due to closed events, Oscarshall may be closed to the public at certain times during the season. These dates are announced here and on Facebook.
The doors to the summer palace are open during visitor's hours and guests are welcome to explore the rooms on the ground floor and first floor. Guides are available to answer questions.
Please note:
Due to closed events, Oscarshall may be closed to the public at certain times during the season. These dates are announced here and on Facebook.
There is no parking for private cars and busses at Oscarshall. Public parking is available at the entrance to Oscarshall road and by the Bygdøy Open-Air Museum. It is av few minutes' walk from there to Oscarshall.
An exception is made for cars with parking stickers for disabled persons, for which two parking spaces are available.
Photography is permitted both inside Oscarshall and in the surrounding park.
Wedding photography in the surrounding park is also permitted within regular opening hours and as long as it does not disturb other visitors. We kindly ask that wedding photographers report to the Gatekeeper’s Lodge upon arrival and complete a registration form there.
There is a selction of souvenirs for sale in the lodge, such as books, post cards, caffee mugs, pencils, writing pads etc.
Tickets for entrance to the summer palace are available through Ticketmaster, usually from early March the same year. During the season tickets may also be purchased on the premises.
Ticketmaster.no
Everybody is welcome to walk in the surrounding garden or visit the café - no ticket needed.
There are public toilets in the old lodge, along with ticket office and a small souvenir shop. Wheelchair-accessible toilet facilities are available located near the cloakroom.
