Oslo/Sentrum

Sentrum, literally Centre, is the core of Oslo inside the first ring road, plus the area around the Royal Palace and Tjuvholmen island. This is the area around Oslo's main street, Karl Johan street, and the Akershus fortress overlooking the harbour and the great Oslo fjord. The Sentrum area is home to many key sights, national institutions, and an array of hotels and restaurants. Sentrum is the starting point for most visitors. Inner East and inner North also have some downtown functions within a short walk from Karl Johan street or from the Central station.

Understand
The Sentrum area is home to key national institutions such as the Parliament, the Royal Palace, the City Hall, the Supreme court and most government ministries. The original buildings of University of Oslo occupy a prominent position. The main theater, opera and national museums of art are in the centre. Shopping, eating and drinking dominate main streets. Only about 1000 people live in the centre, including the royal family.

Karl Johans gate, or just "Karl Johan", is the main street and the central axis around which Sentrum is organized. Karl Johan is mostly pedestrian or closed to regular traffic for security. The upper (west) part of Karl Johan is dominated by the Parliament building (Stortinget) and the Royal Palace facing each other across a long wide, partly green space on the south/west side of Karl Johan. The lower (east) end Karl Johan begins at the Central station and passes Oslo cathedral, and is mostly frequented by out-of-town tourists.

Torggata (street) including Youngstorget square is a friendly pedestrian area with small shops and cafes. Torggata connects to the bridge across the river to Grünerløkka area. Akersgata and some other streets around ministry buildings are also pedestrian.

Get in
Sentrum, or downtown, is easy to get to.
 * See also the Color Line ferry to Kiel, Germany
 * The cruise ports in Oslo are on four different Sentrum piers, from west to east: Filipstad (330 m (LOA), 8,5 m draft), west of Aker Bryyge; Søndre Akershuskai (345 m (LOA), 10,3 m draft), the main pier by Akershus Fortress; Vippetangkaia (249 m (LOA), 7,3 m draft), south of Akershus Fortress; Revierkaia (294 m (LOA), 8,3 m draft), south of the Opera House. Annually, about 200,000 cruise passengers visit Oslo from these piers.
 * You can get in by car too, but there are tolls on all main roads to the city. Parking is limited and costly. The fine network of public transport in the centre means that a car is of limited use for most visitors.
 * The district is directly connected by public transport from all other parts of the city, for instance all subway lines pass through downtown. All local trains between east and west of the city pass also through (mostly underneath) downtown.
 * See also the Color Line ferry to Kiel, Germany
 * The cruise ports in Oslo are on four different Sentrum piers, from west to east: Filipstad (330 m (LOA), 8,5 m draft), west of Aker Bryyge; Søndre Akershuskai (345 m (LOA), 10,3 m draft), the main pier by Akershus Fortress; Vippetangkaia (249 m (LOA), 7,3 m draft), south of Akershus Fortress; Revierkaia (294 m (LOA), 8,3 m draft), south of the Opera House. Annually, about 200,000 cruise passengers visit Oslo from these piers.
 * You can get in by car too, but there are tolls on all main roads to the city. Parking is limited and costly. The fine network of public transport in the centre means that a car is of limited use for most visitors.
 * The district is directly connected by public transport from all other parts of the city, for instance all subway lines pass through downtown. All local trains between east and west of the city pass also through (mostly underneath) downtown.

On foot or by bicycle
The easiest way to move around Downtown Oslo is on foot. There are rental bicycles and micromobility options, a quick way to get around. Strolling the city centre allows you to experience the expected as well as the unexpected. Places to stroll are the main street Karl Johan upwards towards the Royal Palace by the park Studenterlunden and Kvadraturen, the part of the city that was founded by King Christian IV. In Kvadraturen and the Akeshus Fortress you find some of the oldest preserved buildings in Oslo.

The harbor side of the fortress and the Oslo City Hall is a car-free area. Here you can stroll, watch the boats – some even take passengers – or buy fresh shrimps directly from the fishing boats.

Aker Brygge is a pedestrian area where there are numerous restaurants and stores along the quayside.

There are also guided city strolls available if necessary.

Sight seeing by bus or railless train
If you want a quick summary of the main sights in the city center, there are also double-decker buses for longer trips and railless trains in Sentrum. However, this offer is not cheap, you may save money by using this Wikivoyage guide. Hop On - Hop Off. Guiding in English and several other languages. Starts at Karl Johans gate by Nationaltheateret.

By car
The Oslo city center may seem unavailable by car and parking in the few outdoor parking areas or in a parking garage is expensive. Public transport is recommended, instead of getting around by car.

By public transport

 * See get around throughout the city by public transport

See






Art galleries

 * Munch Museum is across the bridge just east of the Opera House, see Inner East. It relocated there in Oct 2021.
 * The collections of the National Gallery and the Museum of Contemporary Art which used to be in this district are now on display in the new National Museum right by the City Hall
 * Munch Museum is across the bridge just east of the Opera House, see Inner East. It relocated there in Oct 2021.
 * The collections of the National Gallery and the Museum of Contemporary Art which used to be in this district are now on display in the new National Museum right by the City Hall

At Akershus Castle
Museums

Do

 * For more to do in a larger area of Oslo, see also the do sections of the Oslo/Inner East, Oslo/Inner North, Oslo/North or the Oslo/West article.



Theatres

Cinemas Foreign language movies are not dubbed, except movies for children. They are performed in the original language (such as English) with Norwegian subtitles. Tickets may be purchased at the cinema or pre-booked online. To pre-book, remember to choose the date and the cinema from "alle kinoer" on the website in Norwegian only.
 * Olav V's gate 4 cinema center
 * Stortingsgata 28 cinema center
 * Ruseløkkveien 14 cinema center (Age limit 18 years at Vika kino only)

Shopping malls

 * Please note that most stores and department stores are closed on Sundays.



Mid-range




Sleep

 * For more accommodations in the most central Oslo, see also the sleep sections of the Oslo/Inner North or the Oslo/West article.

The categories refer to normal prices. Budget: normal prices from under 850 kr, mid range: 850-1500 kr and splurge: over 1500 kr a night.

Stay healthy
See "Stay healthy" for Oslo.
 * (Jernbanetorget 4 B) is open 24/7.

Connect

 * As for the whole of Oslo

Go next

 * Within central Oslo: see the Oslo/Inner East, Oslo/Inner North or the Oslo/West article
 * Suburbs within Oslo: see the Oslo/North or the Oslo/South article

Further afield

 * see further afield from Oslo/Sentrum
 * Gardermoen, the main airport.
 * Tusenfryd Amusement Park, a family attraction, a 30 minute drive southeast of downtown..
 * Follo is a landscape southeast of Oslo within the wider Oslo region, where you will find more surprises.