Best of Oslo walking tour review
My verdict: a solid second option and the only walk here that runs in German. It rates 4.6 from 522 reviews, two hours, with Akershus Fortress as a named stop. If English is your language and you are choosing between overview walks, the Central Oslo tour has three times the reviews behind a slightly higher score. If you want German, or the English departure point suits you better, this is the one.
Two languages, two starting points
The English departure meets at the Faculty of Law entrance of the University Aula on Karl Johans gate 47, by the P.A. Munch statue. The German departure meets at the Nobel Peace Center, which is a different part of town and a different first ten minutes. Check which one you have booked before the morning of, because these are not two doors on the same building.
The listing includes a guide with live commentary in the language you book, a sightseeing mobile app, public transport tickets and entry to attractions. That is a broader inclusion list than any other walk here. I would confirm the exact format and what the app does on the booking page itself before you pay, because this activity has appeared under more than one description and the page you book on is the one that binds.
What people who took it say
- “The activity was just exactly what I wanted.” Gwen, United States
- “Minji was very knowledgeable about Norwegian history and culture and she also gave us tips on where to find the best gelato in town” Shampa, Australia
- “Csilla was our excellent guide. She was very informative and provided us with a really good overview of the history of Oslo and Norway.” Jakub, Germany
The word that keeps appearing is overview, and that is the right description. This is a breadth tour: a lot of Oslo, lightly, in two hours, with Akershus among the stops. The same guide name turns up spelled two different ways across the reviews, which tells you the roster is small and that people remember who took them round.
What works
- The only walking tour here that runs in German
- A live guide in the language you booked, not a recording
- Akershus Fortress is a named stop rather than a passing mention
- The listing includes public transport tickets and attraction entry, which the other walks do not
- 4.6 from 522 reviews is a respectable, unspectacular, believable number
Worth knowing
- A third of the review volume of the Central Oslo walk at a slightly lower score
- Two different meeting points by language, which is a booking mistake waiting to happen
- Two hours of breadth means very little depth anywhere, including at the fortress
- Confirm the format and inclusions on the booking page; this listing has been described more than one way
- No Spanish option, unlike the Central Oslo walk
Usually included
- A guide, with live commentary in English or German
- A sightseeing mobile app
- Public transport tickets
- Entry to attractions, as listed on the booking page
Not included
- Entry to Akershus Castle, which is closed to all visitors until further notice
- Food and drink
- Depth on any single site, the fortress included
If you are booking the German departure, the meeting point is the Nobel Peace Center and not the university. It is the single most common way to lose the first twenty minutes of a tour you have paid for.
Who should not book this
English speakers with no particular reason to prefer it should look at the Central Oslo walk first, purely on sample size. Anyone whose interest is Akershus specifically should treat this as the wrong tool: the fortress is one stop of many, and the private museum tour or the fjord cruise do far more with it. And anyone hoping to get inside the castle is out of luck on every tour in Oslo this year.
The alternatives
Most bookedOslo: Guided Walking Tour of Central Oslo with Local Guide
Highest ratedOslo: Historic Myths & Legends Evening Walking Tour
Inside the wallsNorway Home Front Museum Oslo Private Tour & Transport
Compare the whole field on the reviews hub, or read guided walking tours for the walks on their own.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Best of Oslo walking tour visit Akershus Fortress?
Yes, the fortress is a named stop on the route. It is one stop among several in a two-hour overview walk, so expect the outline rather than the full story. For that, read the history of the fortress or book a tour built around it.
Where does the tour meet?
It depends on your language. The English departure meets at the Faculty of Law entrance of the University Aula, Karl Johans gate 47, by the P.A. Munch statue. The German departure meets at the Nobel Peace Center. Check your confirmation, because these are different parts of town.
Is it better than the Central Oslo walking tour?
Not on the numbers. This rates 4.6 from 522 reviews; the Central Oslo walk rates 4.7 from 1,692 and also runs in Spanish. Book this one for the German departure, or because its meeting point or timing suits you better.
What is included?
The listing includes a guide with live commentary in the language booked, a sightseeing mobile app, public transport tickets and entry to attractions. That is broader than the other walks here. Confirm the details on the booking page before you pay, since this activity has been described in more than one way.
Can this tour get me inside Akershus Castle?
No tour can at the moment. The castle, the castle chapel and the Royal Mausoleum have been closed to all visitors since King Harald V died on 28 August 2026, with no reopening date announced. The grounds stay free and open, and the two museums reopened on 11 September 2026.