
Downtown Oslo: Self-Guided Highlights and History Audio Tour
Traveler rating
3.9/5
Based on 10 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Downtown Oslo: Self-Guided Highlights and History Audio Tour worth booking?
Downtown Oslo: Self-Guided Highlights and History Audio Tour is a 0.7-hour experience in Oslo, Norway, from $5 per person. It scores 57 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 3.9/5 rating across 10 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 57 / 100
- Rating
- 3.9/5 (10)
- Duration
- 0.7 hours
- From
- $5 per person
Are you tired of having to be a part of large tour groups? Well, don’t worry because this self-guided audio tour through Oslo was made for you! Explore the downtown highlights of Oslo with me the right way: Walk at your own pace, relax when you feel like it, and take as much time as you like. The tour starts from Oslo's famous public square in front of the town hall and traces a route up to the Royal Palace, before walking down Karl Johan Avenue, Oslo’s main street. Along the way, I'll fill you in on some of Norway's history, its royal family and its famous writers. You’ll take in Oslo's famous historic sights and also experience a more modern side of Oslo, with its shops, street musicians and parliament. We'll end the tour in Bjørvika, a bay with a perfect view of the National Opera and Ballet. The tour is ready whenever you are and the audio plays automatically at exactly the right time and place using your smartphone's GPS and the VoiceMap mobile app, which also works offline.
What you get
About this experience
Are you tired of having to be a part of large tour groups? Well, don’t worry because this self-guided audio tour through Oslo was made for you! Explore the downtown highlights of Oslo with me the right way: Walk at your own pace, relax when you feel like it, and take as much time as you like. The tour starts from Oslo's famous public square in front of the town hall and traces a route up to the Royal Palace, before walking down Karl Johan Avenue, Oslo’s main street. Along the way, I'll fill you in on some of Norway's history, its royal family and its famous writers. You’ll take in Oslo's famous historic sights and also experience a more modern side of Oslo, with its shops, street musicians and parliament. We'll end the tour in Bjørvika, a bay with a perfect view of the National Opera and Ballet. The tour is ready whenever you are and the audio plays automatically at exactly the right time and place using your smartphone's GPS and the VoiceMap mobile app, which also works offline.
What's included
Included
- VoiceMap Application
- Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
- Lifetime access to Exploring Downtown Oslo tour
Not included
- Smartphone
- Transportation
- Food/Drink
- Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route
What you'll see and do
Aker Brygge
Aker Brygge is a shopping center built on the remains of an old shipyard. It's a popular meeting spot to grab a bite to eat or a drink after work.
Pass by without stopping
Nobel Peace Center
The Nobel Peace Center building used to be an old railway station, where trains from the western parts of Norway arrived. The building now serves as a museum about the Nobel Peace Prize and tells the story of the Peace Prize founder Alfred Nobel, as well as past winners.
Pass by without stopping
The Palace Park
The park that surrounds the Royal Palace was built during the 1840's. It has many majestic trees, well-kept lawns and beautiful ponds, some of them with fountains. The park is a popular recreational area for the citizens of Oslo, and even served as a base for hippies in the mid-1960's.
Pass by without stopping
Karl Johans Gate
Paris has its Champs Elysees, New York has its Broadway, Oslo has Karl Johan Avenue – or just “Karl Johan”. The first part of the street was already established in the 1500s, but since 1852 it has been known as “Karl Johan” – named after the King.
Pass by without stopping
Ostbanehallen
In the old days the Østbanehallen was the central railway station for the northern routes in Norway. After a complete transformation, the Østbanehallen reopened in 2015 and features shops, restaurants, a hotel and the Oslo Visitor Center.
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Oslo
Before arrival, please install the VoiceMap mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. This is a self-guided audio tour that you can start, pause, or restart at any time and complete at your own pace. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Returns to the starting point
Before you book
- Cancellation
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
- Languages
- cmn, en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- VoiceMap Audio Tours
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 10 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
5 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
5 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Pace and timing
4 mentionsSeveral reviewers found the schedule tight or the day long.
Food and drink
2 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Traveler reviews
10 verified traveler reviews for Downtown Oslo: Self-Guided Highlights and History Audio Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Waste of time
The best part was turning of your completely out of date information and just walking and reading the signs. Waste of time and money.
Response from the operator: Hi there, I'm sorry you were disappointed with your experience and felt you would be better off turning the guide off. It would be helpful to know what parts of the content were outdated. Specific information like this can help us identify which parts of a tour need updating. Could you send more information about what was not up to date to support@voicemap.me?
via Viator
Introduction to Oslo
Great introduction to Oslo through this audio tour - enabled me to take it at my own pace, and stop and enjoy various points along the route. Very easy to follow and quite informative. Would look to do similar tours again.
via Tripadvisor
Another excellent audio tour from VoiceMap
I came across VoiceMap earlier this year and since then I have downloaded several self guided audio city tours. I love this way of discovering a new city, without being tied down to a group tour, but able to pause and resume whenever I like, and even take a diversion if I wish. The narrative is very informative and I like the occasional personal touches that the guide mentions. The narration sometimes goes quiet while you walk a stretch, then resumes when you get to the next point of interest, so you don’t feel overloaded with information.
via Tripadvisor
Great idea but areas for improvement
The audio tour by a personality who knows the city well is an excellent idea. However, I would have liked the content to be more detailed and informative. The moments between speaking times are sometimes a little long because when there is a gap that lasts too long, you always wonder if you are taking the wrong route.
via Tripadvisor (translated)
Good price downloadable funny very informative audio tour
I downloaded it directly from App Store so its a little cheaper than via trip advisor. But thanks to Trip Advisor I found this lovely app! Walked from Central station to the starting point and passed by a lot of places that the audio tour guided. I don’t know if there’s a function in the app to start the tour in the middle which would be better, but it’s still enjoyable. At least I know the way/roads more clearly having walked past once before the tour. There’s a voice showing up telling me I might have gone to wrong direction from time to time but actually I’m going towards the correct direction, so I guess the GPS sometimes malfunctions a little bit.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 0.7 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 4
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by VoiceMap Audio Tours, who run 703 experiences we rank across 222 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 54.8.
See everything VoiceMap Audio Tours runsWhy this scores 57
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Downtown Oslo: Self-Guided Highlights and History Audio Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Oslo.
How much does Downtown Oslo: Self-Guided Highlights and History Audio Tour cost?
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Prices start at $5 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Oslo usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Downtown Oslo: Self-Guided Highlights and History Audio Tour take?
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Plan for about 0.7 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Oslo is not rushed.
Is Downtown Oslo: Self-Guided Highlights and History Audio Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 57 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (3.9/5 across 10 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Oslo, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Downtown Oslo: Self-Guided Highlights and History Audio Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Downtown Oslo: Self-Guided Highlights and History Audio Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 0.7-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Downtown Oslo: Self-Guided Highlights and History Audio Tour?
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Around 4 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Oslo can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Oslo and add a light layer if any part of the 0.7-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Downtown Oslo: Self-Guided Highlights and History Audio Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Oslo within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Oslo?
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On Outty we rank every Oslo experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Oslo Highlights Bike Tour, Oslo Nature Walks: Island hopping, Central Oslo Guided Walking Tour with Local Guide. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Oslo?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Oslo?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Downtown Oslo: Self-Guided Highlights and History Audio Tour?
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Included: VoiceMap Application; Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata; and Lifetime access to Exploring Downtown Oslo tour. Not included: Smartphone; Transportation; Food/Drink; and Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Downtown Oslo: Self-Guided Highlights and History Audio Tour?
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Before arrival, please install the VoiceMap mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. This is a self-guided audio tour that you can start, pause. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Downtown Oslo: Self-Guided Highlights and History Audio Tour offered in?
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It is offered in Chinese and English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Downtown Oslo: Self-Guided Highlights and History Audio Tour?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Downtown Oslo: Self-Guided Highlights and History Audio Tour wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Wheelchair accessible; Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; and Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Downtown Oslo: Self-Guided Highlights and History Audio Tour if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Oslo. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Downtown Oslo: Self-Guided Highlights and History Audio Tour?
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Across 10 reviews averaging 3.9 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, food and drink. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works. One thing to know: Several reviewers found the schedule tight or the day long.
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