The Oslo Opera House (Operahuset) is the home of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, designed by the Norwegian firm Snøhetta and opened in April 2008. Its defining feature is a sloping roof of white Carrara marble and granite that descends all the way to the fjord's edge, so anyone can walk up onto it — free and ticket-free — for panoramic views of Oslo harbour and the city. Often likened to an iceberg, it won the EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture (Mies van der Rohe Award) in 2009. As of 2026 the building is operating normally, and its harbour-side seafood restaurant Havsmak reopened on 15 January. Even without seeing a performance, the rooftop walk and the sculpture floating in the fjord make it well worth a visit.
Walking up the angled marble roof for sweeping views over Oslo harbour and the Bjørvika waterfront
The wave-like curved oak walls of the interior foyer, finished in Carrara marble, granite and timber
'She Lies,' a stainless-steel-and-glass sculpture by Monica Bonvicini floating on the fjord that turns with tide and wind
Opera and ballet performances in the 1,364-seat main auditorium (plus 200- and 400-seat stages)
Harbour sunsets and, in the long light of Nordic summer, late-evening roof walks
Good to know
SafetyThe marble roof looks smooth but can be very slippery and surprisingly steep in rain, snow or frost. Wear shoes with good grip rather than thin-soled city shoes, and hold young children's hands on the slopes.
SeasonIn summer (June–July) the sky stays bright past 10 pm, making late roof walks popular; in winter, days are short and parts of the roof may be closed off during snow, ice or high winds, so aim for early afternoon light.
MannersOslo sits at 59°N — it is not an aurora-viewing spot and has no true midnight sun, so don't expect northern lights here (head north to Tromsø for those). This is also a working opera house, so keep quiet in the foyer and around performance times.
RulesThe roof and foyer are free and open without a ticket, but performances require a separate ticket. The upper roof may be closed for safety in bad weather, and since the marble is an artwork, avoid eating, littering, graffiti or flying drones on the surface.
CautionOslo is very safe with little scamming, but watch your belongings around crowded Oslo Central Station and the summer waterfront where pickpockets operate. It is a card-based city, so buy performance tickets only through the official operaen.no and avoid unofficial resellers.
Practical info
About a 5-minute walk from Oslo Central Station (Oslo S), directly on the Bjørvika waterfront, with buses, trams and the metro stopping nearby (check routes on Ruter.no). The roof and lobby are free; performance tickets are sold on the official site operaen.no, and guided tours run year-round except in summer (roughly 22 June–8 August). Foyer hours are typically Mon–Sat 11:00–16:00 and Sun 12:00–16:00 but vary with the performance schedule, so always confirm the latest hours before visiting.
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